DC Travel and its decimation of non-Aether NA PF

[Ivtrix]

Been trying to run through possible ways to discourage use of data center travel or encourage remaining on a home data center. I keep coming up with how they either can be countered or would hinder the intent of data center travel.

The only thing I can think of would feel harsh to players and generate very strong pushback - debuff Traveler attributes.

Friends trying to play with actual friends probably wouldn't mind that the traveling friend has had their attributes debuffed by 2-3% (or whatever amount) - they just want to play with their friend. But how many would tolerate it in PF filled with random players, with potentially multiple (or even all of them) having the debuff?

Those who want to be part of a specific raid static will feel forced to change home worlds but then they would still have the option of using data center travel to play with friends on their old home world. The debuff would only affect Travelers and not Wanderers so needed transfers wouldn't be blocked by the Congested world status unless all worlds on a data center are Congested.

It's an ugly solution but I can't think of something better that would allow data center travel to remain as is while getting players to prioritize play on their home data centers and only using data center travel to play with friends/do more casual content or as a last resort during offpeak hours to find parties.

No, lol. You never want to punish players in this regard. Forcing players to remain divided into insular communities is pretty much the opposite of what your design goals are in a MMORPG.

Sometimes homogenization is a good thing. This is a good example.

[littlehobbit13]

Sometimes homogenization is a good thing. This is a good example.

I don't think anyone is arguing against homogenization. Frankly, having all worlds get on the same page for strats is pretty appealing so you're not required to keep half a dozen in your noodle for a single instance at any given time.

But this isn't about homogenization so much as it's becoming a PF monopoly, and monopolies typically tend to be bad and inhospitable for innovation and tolerance. This issue isn't about DC traveling allowing Aether to lead the way in PF, it's straight up killing other PF environments.

I absolutely despise having to travel to Aether to raid. I'm getting a lesser experience than Aether players because I can't use my FC buffs, my retainers, my house, my Island, or my Linkshells.

Honestly same. My first P9S reclear, I scored a coffer. Was super excited, equipped the item and went to grab materia from my retainer for it....no retainer. No materia, no clusters to buy materia, only MB prices (yikes). My only option was to log out, transfer home, log back in; either I stay somewhere without supplies or I have to interrupt my gameplay to travel home for my stuff. A raw deal either way.

If they could find a way to give access to those things it'd be a different story, but essentially right now DC travel has created an inequity of game experience depending on home world. Aether players don't have to give up a single thing in order to raid, while other players who are now forced to travel for PF have to give up a TON of content. We're all paying the same subscription and now getting two very different experiences for it.

[Tsumdere]

Honestly same. My first P9S reclear, I scored a coffer. Was super excited, equipped the item and went to grab materia from my retainer for it....no retainer. No materia, no clusters to buy materia, only MB prices (yikes). My only option was to log out, transfer home, log back in; either I stay somewhere without supplies or I have to interrupt my gameplay to travel home for my stuff. A raw deal either way.

If they could find a way to give access to those things it'd be a different story, but essentially right now DC travel has created an inequity of game experience depending on home world. Aether players don't have to give up a single thing in order to raid, while other players who are now forced to travel for PF have to give up a TON of content. We're all paying the same subscription and now getting two very different experiences for it.

Exactly.

I mean... at the very least I started doing Bicolor FATE grinding waiting for PFs to fill because that's all I can do when on Aether (that or Discord chat). FATE Grind in my boredom! I got 300 vouchers now! Silver linings!