The Lessons Not Learned.

[ForteNightshade]

Keep in mind that if it did reward gear, SE would force a weekly lockout on it.

Do you guys really want another weekly chore that the raiding community is going to decide is mandatory for you to do simply because it has a chance to provide gear?

Are you going to be happy when what drops isn't what you need or you keep losing the rolls on coffers so you fall behind in ilvl compared to those who are getting lucky with their drops/rolls and have a harder time getting invites in PF?

Think carefully about what you really want this content to be for you, and think of the probable consequences if it was turned into a gear piñata.

All of this is nonsensical fearmongering.

If Criterion dropped raid equivalent gear, it would either have the same exact stats if they didn't want to add new pieces or be an entirely minor DPS increase literally nobody will give a damn about. People do "barse" parties without even full BiS yet. Saying the raid community will make it mandatory you have say, that one extra healer ring from Criterion de to the tome ring being awful is ridiculous. All Criterion would accomplish is giving people more avenues to gear alt jobs.

[aveyond-dreams]

It seems that there’s a small amount of people who want FFXIV to have a “grind” because they just want something more to do. The game falls short of repeatable content. And it’s disappointing that SE sells this game in the same category as WoW and GW2 when it’s anything but. As many (likely most) people agree, FFXIV is just a numbered Final Fantasy game, which means it’s largely single-player. There’s no repeatable content for the most part. And a lot of you all love that, that’s fine. That’s why you like Final Fantasy games. After all, 14 is just one less than 15 and one more than 13, so how big of a difference can you be?

But it would benefit everyone, and make a lot more sense, if SE didn’t charge a sub fee. That makes us think this game is like FF11 (the black sheep of the franchise) and WoW, which we all agree it’s not. They need to make the difference clear from a financial standpoint just like they have from a gameplay standpoint.

You are absolutely correct. The disastrous state of current content rollout in no ways justifies the current sub fee. Abolish it.

[Hazama999]

The devs have always said that this is a “stop-and-go” type of game. Yoshida tells us to unsubscribe when we’re bored. He and SE clearly don’t expect this game to hold our attention like World of Warcraft or other MMOs, and that’s fine. That game charges a sub too, and I don’t want to pay two at once. Just do as Yoshida says and sub a couple times a year. It’s a small game and most of it is reading. I like reading, but I read fast, so this game is over quickly for me. That’s just how FFXIV is, just like the other Final Fantasy games. Play it, finish it, and put it down. It’s not a “serious” MMO.

Just an observation.

The devs have a vision for their game, and there are of course, a number of players who disagree with said vision. A lot of it really seems to just come down to that divide in ideology. I'm a bit torn on this issue myself, because on one hand, I do feel like I have, to some extent, accept that sometimes people want to make things the way they do because that's just how they want to do it. On the other hand, this game is an MMO, and there exists a sort of symbiotic relationship between the developers and the players, so to some extent, yes, people can and should continue to voice their concerns for the devs to consider. Finding the middle ground between authorial decisions and player suggestions is the tricky part. It's fine if you want to put your foot down on X and Y issue with Z game and say "no, this is how I want it." but you have to be willing to make concessions when the lifeblood of a live-service game is... well... the players.

With how busy my day-to-day is, I am really not inclined nor am I even able to glue myself to the game, so issues of content droughts don't really hit me as hard. That said, I really can't dismiss OP outright. I do believe they have valid concerns.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

You are absolutely correct. The disastrous state of current content rollout in no ways justifies the current sub fee. Abolish it.

They have a handy button on the Mogstation for abolishing the sub fee.

[caffe_macchiato]

I seriously dont ever want this game to further follow in the unfun grind mentality akin to WoW for character progression. It does just enough for me to not make me further hate myself for playing the game.

And that's fine! FFXIV is at a crossroads right now. It seems like the devs want to cool things down and give FFXIV a place on the shelf along with other numbered single-player Final Fantasies. The heydays of this game being an active, vigorous and grind-filled MMO are over. Square Enix is moving on, and many people here will need to as well. All games have their expiration date. You can't expect Square Enix to continue propping us up forever as though this is Blizzard and WoW (a company that has 10x the assets and operating income). Soon most of us will move on from this game, likely within the next one to two years.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

But it would benefit everyone, and make a lot more sense, if SE didn’t charge a sub fee. That makes us think this game is like FF11 (the black sheep of the franchise) and WoW, which we all agree it’s not. They need to make the difference clear from a financial standpoint just like they have from a gameplay standpoint.

You are absolutely correct. The disastrous state of current content rollout in no ways justifies the current sub fee. Abolish it.

This makes...no sense.
Just because it charges a Sub Fee, does not mean its like FFXI ( 11 ) or like WoW at all. And not charging a sub fee would benefit everyone on every game ever. Because hey, we all like Free stuff.
Its an MMO: Mass Multiplayer Online, its very clearly in the correct Category, its just that the game is Single Player Friendly, they give you the ability, options to play by yourself. That doesn't change anything.
Saying to Abolish the Subscription, just means you dont want to pay for it. If the game isnt worth your time and money...stop paying for it.

Also, hey, subjective opinion. You and others might say and think there isnt repeatable content, but for me, there is still PLENTY to do, and quite alot of repeatable content. To this day, playing for 8-9 years, I STILL have something to do. And some of that content is stuff I just haven't touched yet.

[kpxmanifesto]

Soon most of us will move on from this game, likely within the next one to two years.

Until the next expansion at least. I think 7.0 and the graphics update will bring a lot of inactive players out of retirement.

[caffe_macchiato]

Saying to Abolish the Subscription, just means you dont want to pay for it.

there is still PLENTY to do, and quite alot of repeatable content.

But you already paid for that content. Each expansion costs $40 and has as much content as you'd expect from a $40 game towards the end of its cycle. If you were a long-time subscriber, you paid $40 several times over just from buying those expansions. What's the sub fee for? Servers? That comes with the territory of having an online game. You don't need to pay a subscription for many other online games. Patches? What exactly are we getting from patches that can't come from the purchase price? Each expansion has a low amount of multiplayer content on release, and the devs trickle out the rest over time.

If they want FFXIV to become like all the other numbered Final Fantasies, they need to look at how they work. You do not need to pay a sub fee for FFXV, you pay for the game and its DLC. I assume that FFXVI will be the same way.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

To be honest?

Doesnt matter what they do, doesnt matter what they put into the game...you lot will ALWAYS find something to complain about.

Its funny..in a sad, tragic kind of way.

Calling me a "white knight" for praising the game, appreciating their hard work and enjoying myself. GOD FORBID I should do that..........

Sheesh.

Yeah, pretty much this.

In other words....no matter what, they cant win.
-They do something: People complain
-They try a new thing: People complain
-They try something completely new taking in feedback: People complain, saying how its locked to 1 system and its slow
-They retry it, taking in feedback allowing more paths to goal: People complain, say they liked old way
-Do something else: People complain it should be like last time

No matter what, they cant win.

So Really, there are always gonna be people that can't be Pleased.
Thats why they should focus on the people that are happy. Which I think is a Bigger Percentage then the people who are unhappy. But of course, always look to improve.
We all agree that OP has often weird and bad takes, but we arnt blind to the fact he and others do say things that are agreeable. There is always ways to improve.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

But you already paid for that content. Each expansion costs $40 and has as much content as you'd expect from a $40 game towards the end of its cycle. If you were a long-time subscriber, you paid $40 several times over just from buying those expansions. What's the sub fee for? Servers? That comes with the territory of having an online game. You don't need to pay a subscription for many other online games. Patches? What exactly are we getting from patches that can't come from the purchase price? Each expansion has a low amount of multiplayer content on release, and the devs trickle out the rest over time.

If they want FFXIV to become like all the other numbered Final Fantasies, they need to look at how they work. You do not need to pay a sub fee for FFXV, you pay for the game and its DLC. I assume that FFXVI will be the same way.

So you know how f2p games have loot boxes and worse RNG and pay to make RNG better mechanics?

Imagine a world where you have to pay to see a chance at loot in savage, or it's got gear drop rates like ex mount whistles.

Imagine if, instead of crafted glams, loot boxes.

F2p games are terrible. There's a reason people say they spend more on f2p games than sub games.


Crafting? Need a craft boost or you can't get above 15% hq chance. Melding? Same thing.

People really don't understand what it means to be f2p.