Request: I don't want to solo the main scenario

[Majidah]

I'd be willing to bet that 85% of the player base has no idea what's going on in the story. Completely oblivious to the fact that this is a numbered Final Fantasy title, people just want end-game content, which already has the team work element you want.

I think this has an easy solution though, just put some semi decent rewards at the end of hard boss battles. XI had those cool rings that were the best rings in the game. That enough of a reason for a player to actually care about beating it.

Don't get me wrong, I want more stuff similar to Final Fantasy XI (similar, not copy/pasted for all of you with easily bunched panties) in terms of story progression, instead of just trading in a bunch of seals to rank up. I want content, missions, dungeons to explore...

^^^^ This

but I also realize that it's 2012, and hardly anybody actually cares about that stuff anymore. It's all about getting the best gear so you can do the next thing to get the next best gear... It's sad.

I'm not sure why would anyone play a final fantasy title if it wasn't for the story; maybe the graphics? But one wouldn't just pick up XIV for the smooth gameplay. This puzzles me.
In any case, I think the answer isn't to dumb things down; I think that properly actor voicing every cut scene is kind of stepping from literature into cinema. Its more mainstream and up to the times. Doesn't mean they should sacrifice difficulty or content.

Yoshi said FFXIV was a theme park... it really feels like this sector of old school FF is getting left out. I honestly don't care about end-game or HNMs. I just want plot and epic fights that go with it.

[KiriA500]

Yoshi said FFXIV was a theme park... it really feels like this sector of old school FF is getting left out. I honestly don't care about end-game or HNMs. I just want plot and epic fights that go with it.

Me too...me too...

[Platinumstorm]

The story and associated quests need major reforms, but there's a major problem involved with this.

As people pass the content it becomes more and more difficult to get a group for the content. This is why you see games like World of Warcraft go back and revamp their previous group style combat to make it solo friendly.

Secondly, I also want more detailed combat at all level ranges, whether I'm fighting solo or in a group, but that would be a lot of development time for a one time experience. It might be worth it because it is core story content; a main focus for many FF players that don't solely exist in FFXI. They definitely need something in place better than what they have now, which are completely underwhelming scenario quests.

The answer isn't necessarily doing it in a large group, though; but introducing mechanics that make the story content engaging could be the solution.

[Hiruke]

100% agree with the OP. I admit I was mystified when I found out you could just solo the whole thing. I was especially mystified when whoever thought parley was fun thought it was so fun that folks would rather do that than defeat a monster.

[Pyretta_Blaze]

100% agree with the OP. I admit I was mystified when I found out you could just solo the whole thing. I was especially mystified when whoever thought parley was fun thought it was so fun that folks would rather do that than defeat a monster.

Parley has its own unique charm and is reasonably enjoyable once figured out how it works. It was supposed to be the peaceful resolution to the conflict. Very much a letdown for the type of story line problems you were trying to solve...

But then again, I never would have even considered doing it on a DoH/DoL. Honestly in my mind you don't win main storyline content by sewing stuff...

[Possum440]

The OP wants a game done their way, to suit their playstyle, this is wrong in so many ways. Young kids have been brought up over the last decade to adulthood to believe what has been thrown at them by developers, that an MMO means "Must Group" That was not or should not be the interpretation, it means massively online, lots of folks DOING WHAT THEY WANT. Not the way you want OP. What you call challenge is simply your wanting things to be made your way and everyone else be damned. Any group of people or solo person can be "challenged", using this term as your soapbox is laughable, a dev can make a game any way, to suit any type of player, it simply comes down to money and resources, and right now it is far cheaper to make games fro groups of folks than to accomodate solo folks, so do not try using the word "challenge" in any game, especially a rote game and think you will accomplish something.

To many people are busy bodies and worry about what the player standing next to them are doing, throwing labels around like they have a right to do so. How about instead of hardcore or casual, people call themselves Gamers, and let the person next to them play the game the way they want and not have to listen to someone rail on about what they want other people to do or what they dont want other people to do in a particular game.

I prefer choice myself, in any game, i could care less if "you" want to group all the time or solo all the time, as long as i have a choice in the matter to do what i want, how i want, when i want and get the bling i want without "you" worrying about "me".

I do not want my paid subscription limited by a dev that likes to listen to to one particular microcosm group of a gaming community and have it spill onto me.

I do not care that you need your hand held by being in a group to do Rote action encounters or dungeons, regardless of the hp of a particular boss, if you call that a challenge then enjoy it, if thats your gig then fine, just do not try to influence a developer to make content only one way.

How does my getting the same legendary whoopy item solo, that you got in a group affect your life? Why would you even remotely worry about that? Because you think like a busybody? (hypothetical) Would you jump up and down and rage and yell over Vent or Teamspeak, or rage on the foums because someone got something you have a different way? Do you think we all need to play your way or be penalized because we choose not to do so?

You want challenge? Then tell the devs to take aggro control away from all encounters, no CC, take away hate, take away the ability of warriors and pallies to hold a mob, let that big mob or mobs run amok and go after whomever it wants until it is dead, then you have a challenge, not this pre-programmed "let me keep the mob focussed on me" tripe, Where is the challenge in that? let line of sight rule, so when you attack one mob, everything in the area, like minded will pour onto you. If a boss wants to spend the entire fight going after the squishy folks then you would have a challenge to try and kill it before it kills all your healers or magic users, not like they do now, looks like you would have a challenging scenario....right?

No OP you do not want a challenge, because there is none in Rote action games, only a time sink and repetition until you get the pre-programmed encounter correct. What you want is a game made for your playstyle, nothing more. i prefer a game that has choice for gamers, if a group, or a solo person, wants to finish a dungeon or boss then let them, and dont worry about it. Though i will wager developers will go the more cost effective route.

[Cendres]

I do not want my paid subscription limited by a dev that likes to listen to to one particular microcosm group of a gaming community and have it spill onto me.

Bingo. \o/

[Dragon]

Go ahead for the love of Pete. People still play Eq1, you want to ruin your entire game because of one expansion? Abandon it and try to mold the casual one, and yes actually FFXIV is supposed to be a more casual oriented FF Online, it never was intended to replace FFXI.

Instead of moaning here, why do you not go back to FFXI and moan there where you actually want to be? Where maybe they'll listen to you and release content you'll be happy to grind through? But no of course not, let's do like all the disastisfied players (WoW I'm looking at you) not happy with their current content, go to another MMO and whine on their forums on how much it's not like that other MMO they used to play and love but chose to abandon instead of continuing to support that and give those devs this feedback that actually belongs there and not to the new MMO with a whole other vision and purpose.....

/phew *wipes brow*

Except for the fact I tried twice to go back since Abyssea was released. The fact is the player is pigeonholed into doing everything the easy way, it's almost impossible to play FFXI the way it was before Abyssea.

Since other people are allowed to move on, so can I. Since other people are allowed to want the game shaped their way, so too I am. So get your head out of your self-righteous ass, there are more than enough MMORPGs out there to make room for a few less-than-casual MMORPGs.