Can we talk about the neglect Square Enix shows towards the playerbase?

[Valence]

And I would just use the same matchmaking from ranked for the remaining mode if there is only 1. Why does it need to be hidden? It is already public information anyway. Just as frontline wins are public even though its "casual" content.
There can be even another mode like The Fold (no respawn), that is faster for a casual round

Because if you make everything ranked then by definition people aren't queueing into something casual anymore because they'll constantly be ranked, rated and placed into different leagues. I don't think it's exactly rocket science to see how it would completely kill CC participation and push everybody into FL exclusively. Most people don't want to play ranked.

Oh I very much think there should still be matchmaking. I think that should occur whenever possible in any PvP mode. Just seems to me this artificial distinction between ranked and casual in CC causes a lot of problems for ranked, such as this irritating DC travel requirement.

But what would it achieve to merge both? I'm not against it, but if we keep matchmaking as current, this isn't helping current ranked leagues in any way since they'll just keep being matched between each other anyway. Unless the idea is to have matchmaking expand and bleedover the current league barriers and encompass a higher elo/mmr pool of player, and thus, do we mix casual players with diam/crystal? Else I really don't see what it changes.

DC travel is another story altogether, we didn't have this before and I don't think mixing this problem with a ranked/casual merge makes a lot of sense.

[Mawlzy]

Because if you make everything ranked then by definition people aren't queueing into something casual anymore because they'll constantly be ranked, rated and placed into different leagues. I don't think it's exactly rocket science to see how it would completely kill CC participation and push everybody into FL exclusively. Most people don't want to play ranked.



But what would it achieve to merge both? I'm not against it, but if we keep matchmaking as current, this isn't helping current ranked leagues in any way since they'll just keep being matched between each other anyway. Unless the idea is to have matchmaking expand and bleedover the current league barriers and encompass a higher elo/mmr pool of player, and thus, do we mix casual players with diam/crystal? Else I really don't see what it changes.

DC travel is another story altogether, we didn't have this before and I don't think mixing this problem with a ranked/casual merge makes a lot of sense.

I guess I regard the casual/ranked distinction as artificial and simply something that splits the player pool, thereby prompting things like DC travel.

I like the idea of opting in to actually appear on a ranked leaderboard. My guess is that outside of the very top players, there are likely players currently queueing for casual who dislike the notion of rankings that would help populate the upper echelons.

[ThreeBeastSmile]

Speaking of "reaching crystal and parking there", got this crazy wild suggestion for now: rank decay.

What is even the point of having a season last for as long as it does when by the waning weeks of it it's nearly impossible to find a decent queue (unless running the nightstalker 12am-6am bracket /wink). Never did understand that, instead, the devs are encouraging layabout tendencies further by keeping that daft rank passover headstart system as well. Ranked should go boom, frankly. Ah-ah-aaaah! But not without making the previous rewards obtainable some way. Keep accessibility (and incentive...) simple and you'll have more activity at the very least. Unless the devs are that intimidated by the 1-2 guys from 9 years ago resubbing just to vent about "but muh exclusiiives!!" the moment that's mentioned, rather than acknowledging what a waste of pixels those are in the grand scheme of things presently. (Actually they'd probably like that given they'd be resubbing...) I get it, blah blah other games... but this is FFXIV. Not even Marvel Rivals.

Hot take(?) but more exclusives will only reinforce the cycle, but with the devs doing even less for it. Watch as they create a dunce cap with the Solution 9 energy drink glow, something the current crowd will grind for furiously but ultra ephemerally as is the status quo. But hey they're happy so job done! Happiness all arooooound~ as emphasized by the eruption of hearty mirth and cheer such a prestigious item as an exclusive glowy dunce cap is sure to inspire among the general populace~ or was that meant to be awe and reverence? Oops I guess? Either way the devs will be overjoyed they barely had to lift a finger to make that scene of boundless cordiality happen, almost like a classic DT cutscene with our favourite chatty catto, wouldn't you say?

Also to those that are for some reason concerned that casual would be destroyed if they merged the modes, where do you think those rank-sitting players end up after they're done? Other games? Yeah some might, but you'll absolutely find some slipping into the casual queues as well. It really doesn't matter much.

Btw, JP don't appear too peachy keen on this situation as late either, as plucking one part of a single sample post out of their forums and running it through the googtrans blender reveals:

"What exactly are they trying to protect? ? Although matching is supposed to happen with the DC integration, it's impossible to play outside of prime time. What are they trying to protect about sparsely populated content that doesn't even attract 10 people? ? If the player population doesn't increase, the same people will always be playing, and the matching problem won't be resolved. Or are they just reluctant to spend money on content with a low player population?"

Ruh-rohs... not looking good chaps, and that's my tl;dr spare change insomnia-fuelled offering. *cringe hat-tip*

[Loggos]

Oh I very much think there should still be matchmaking. I think that should occur whenever possible in any PvP mode. Just seems to me this artificial distinction between ranked and casual in CC causes a lot of problems for ranked, such as this irritating DC travel requirement.

I do think that ranked and casuals have their purposes. Casuals are a place where low (or no-)rank players can play with high-rank players. That may sound like a headache at first but it also enables things like friends of different skill levels or even whole discord communities queueing together. I don't think custom PF matches can replace this, esp. if it's just two or three people wanting to get into matches together.
So I would like to keep both. Otherwise there are friends I'd never be able to play with (or against) again.

[Bureda]

Speaking of "reaching crystal and parking there", got this crazy wild suggestion for now: rank decay.

What is even the point of having a season last for as long as it does when by the waning weeks of it it's nearly impossible to find a decent queue (unless running the nightstalker 12am-6am bracket /wink). Never did understand that, instead, the devs are encouraging layabout tendencies further by keeping that daft rank passover headstart system as well. Ranked should go boom, frankly. Ah-ah-aaaah! But not without making the previous rewards obtainable some way. Keep accessibility (and incentive...) simple and you'll have more activity at the very least. Unless the devs are that intimidated by the 1-2 guys from 9 years ago resubbing just to vent about "but muh exclusiiives!!" the moment that's mentioned, rather than acknowledging what a waste of pixels those are in the grand scheme of things presently. (Actually they'd probably like that given they'd be resubbing...) I get it, blah blah other games... but this is FFXIV. Not even Marvel Rivals.

Hot take(?) but more exclusives will only reinforce the cycle, but with the devs doing even less for it. Watch as they create a dunce cap with the Solution 9 energy drink glow, something the current crowd will grind for furiously but ultra ephemerally as is the status quo. But hey they're happy so job done! Happiness all arooooound~ as emphasized by the eruption of hearty mirth and cheer such a prestigious item as an exclusive glowy dunce cap is sure to inspire among the general populace~ or was that meant to be awe and reverence?

Also to those that are for some reason concerned that casual would be destroyed if they merged the modes, where do you think those rank-sitting players end up after they're done? Other games? Yeah some might, but you'll absolutely find some slipping into the casual queues as well. It really doesn't matter much.

Btw, JP don't appear too peachy keen on this situation as late either, as plucking one part of a single sample post out of their forums and running it through the googtrans blender reveals:

"What exactly are they trying to protect? ? Although matching is supposed to happen with the DC integration, it's impossible to play outside of prime time. What are they trying to protect about sparsely populated content that doesn't even attract 10 people? ? If the player population doesn't increase, the same people will always be playing, and the matching problem won't be resolved. Or are they just reluctant to spend money on content with a low player population?"

Ruh-rohs... not looking good chaps, and that's my tl;dr spare change insomnia-fuelled offering. *cringe hat-tip*

Krile Maya Baldesion is that you in disguise? Anyway, good takes. I agree. Get back in Eureka though.

[Mawlzy]

I do think that ranked and casuals have their purposes. Casuals are a place where low (or no-)rank players can play with high-rank players. That may sound like a headache at first but it also enables things like friends of different skill levels or even whole discord communities queueing together. I don't think custom PF matches can replace this, esp. if it's just two or three people wanting to get into matches together.
So I would like to keep both. Otherwise there are friends I'd never be able to play with (or against) again.

Custom matches?

[Mawlzy]

Speaking of "reaching crystal and parking there", got this crazy wild suggestion for now: rank decay.

How this wasn't included from the start is baffling to me.

[ThreeBeastSmile]

Krile Maya Baldesion is that you in disguise? Anyway, good takes. I agree. Get back in Eureka though.

Just so happens I'm there to grind out yet another hat to annoyingly gesture with, might say I was inspired~ but mainly very very bored. Glad you enjoyed the read though, figured a Brit' would appreciate a more theatrical flourish of critique. Since there's little point in getting those things out clearly when they aren't read for feedback.

How this wasn't included from the start is baffling to me.

Likely because it runs contrary to the view that players are encouraged to play other games. The real question is how those ethos evolved into a want to will any part of this game's PvP into an eSport, leading to the creation of ranked in the first place.

Wait, you mean it doesn't?

Again, I've never played ranked, so I just ASSUMED it worked like ranked modes in most other PVP games where you can only hold onto gold (sometimes diamond) once you've reached it, but anything higher and you'll start dropping ranks from decay and defeats.

Nope. Defeats ofc yes, decay no. Decay doesn't exist in this game. A rank handicap that gets carried from one season to another does however, making rank-sitting ezpz with a little light lifting and a sprinkle of RNG, once you get off the ground floor.~

[Mawlzy]

Likely because it runs contrary to the view that players are encouraged to play other games. The real question is how those ethos evolved into a want to will any part of this game's PvP into an eSport, leading to the creation of ranked in the first place.

The fact such encouragement tacitly assumes such players will remain subscribed to FFXIV while doing so is even more puzzling to me. Having worked for a subscription-based service, I can see the appeal of reducing server load while maintaining gross income. Why players accept this I cannot fathom.

"Play other games" should be written in gaming history with the same quill of infamy as "Do you guys not have phones?"

[Valence]

I guess I regard the casual/ranked distinction as artificial and simply something that splits the player pool, thereby prompting things like DC travel.

I like the idea of opting in to actually appear on a ranked leaderboard. My guess is that outside of the very top players, there are likely players currently queueing for casual who dislike the notion of rankings that would help populate the upper echelons.

You could probably consolidate the CC queue into a single one called "Crystalline Conflict" and only have people be asked if they want to opt-in when they reach a certain hidden elo (sending them to bronze+). And potentially have casual queue not-so-secretly sharing the same pool as bronze to gold for example.
But then, the main issue I see with this is that it would remove an absolutely fundamental tool we currently have with casual in that it allows ranked players to try and play jobs other than their mains or the ones they're comfortable with. The only other solution to this is something I've already proposed (somewhere on this forum) where pvp ranks are tied to jobs instead of characters.

Speaking of "reaching crystal and parking there", got this crazy wild suggestion for now: rank decay.

What is even the point of having a season last for as long as it does when by the waning weeks of it it's nearly impossible to find a decent queue (unless running the nightstalker 12am-6am bracket /wink). Never did understand that, instead, the devs are encouraging layabout tendencies further by keeping that daft rank passover headstart system as well. Ranked should go boom, frankly. Ah-ah-aaaah! But not without making the previous rewards obtainable some way. Keep accessibility (and incentive...) simple and you'll have more activity at the very least.

Not that I am against ranking decay per se, but how would this reconcile with the rank one achieves at the end of a season? Currently they changed the model after S1 or S2 to allow people to rank according to their highest reached instead of the current one they ended the season with (which encouraged parking in crystal and not touching queues ever again until the end of the season). How do we keep a highest achieved with decay? How would this work?

Custom matches?

You're not keen into pvp discords and wide communities, yet you'd tell the CC crowd to have to get painfully through this just to get games running?