Can we get an idea on what to expect from the open world in version 2? (A bit long)

[Hyrist]

Not for me.

I want to watch people wipe and be ready to claim. I want to have to claim under less than ideal conditions. I want my LS to fight its ass off to make sure we don't wipe in front of someone else. I want to overcome through the skill and strength of my LS the most trying MPK attempts while we're on the brink of failure and win despite it.

That's an MMO.

Addressing the bot issue is IMO addressed through addressing the pop system.
Give future Tiamats enough spawn locations way off the beaten path that an entire linkshell can not sit waiting for them with a kill alliance in one place and a bot at the ready. Or make every mob in the game, from a boar in some remote corner of the world to a marmot squirrel 2 feet outside Uldah's gate, a potential place holder for an HNM.

Make the claim reliant on who can find them and who can muster an alliance the fastest.

There are plenty of solutions short of throwing the baby out with the bath water.

I agree with all but the bolded.

The playerbase, what we have of it, is already devided enough between this so called 'casual vs hardcore' where I just see it as an issue of having Varied content.

But within hardcore content lies a very wrong player-created conception that, honestly, I would love to get stamped out. And that's the feeling of unfriendly rivalry. It's fine to sit and wait for a group to fail so that you may get your shot. But MPKing to try to make them do so? Not cool at all in my book. You might find it exciting, for me, I want to go on a murdering rampage when attempts like that are made.

Competitiveness is ok when it's done with good sportsmanship. The idea of having varied spawn locations varying claim conditions, things that keep the game interesting. But never should the players feel as if they have to stab one another in the back just to get a fair share at the challenge, and the loot. And on the other side of the coin, it should not be possible for those that are greedy to be able to monopolize content so others cannot get at it. If some Noob Company tries at a HNM, even if they are destined to fail, they should get the fair shot to try. Even if that means a true endgame shell-er Company in this case, can be sitting and waiting in the sidelines for it. But at that point the feeling should be. "Ok, we can root these guys on, but be prepared to claim if they wipe."

That's the sort of environment I want encouraged. And while a lot of that can rely on the playerbase's conduct, the gameplay itself can enforce prevention of the worst case scenario.

Call me carebear, but comradeship and good will is a huge theme of a Final Fantasy game. I would like that theme to be supported as best as possible.

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Just to clarify, and because you start your post with my name (albeit mispelled): The person you quote, and to whom I imagine you direct the attack contained in the second paragraph of my quotation, is someone other than me. Please be careful not to (accidentally, I suppose, but equally carelessly) taint my good name, Hyrist.

R

My apologies, Rutelor. It was not my intention to sully your name, rather to save on posting space by condensing repeated posts together so as not to spam the thread. The difficulty of course is that I'm trying to fit posts within tight timeline constraints.

I shall try to better separate different discussions/subject matters when I cover more than one in a post. (Is this any better?)

Additionally, let me commend you in so far retaining a constructive and respectful tone in your responses and posts - something that even I am guilty at failing to do. It is most appreciated and helps keep the tone of the discussion positive. I like it a lot, please keep it up!