What 1.0 and Tanaka did good

[Dannythm]

So now as this version is near to a close, and we've all seen all the negativity, I'd like to take some time and revisit 1.0 and think what we liked about the game, and would/were sad to see go, even if it wasn't as well implemented as we expected.

I, for once, loved the concept of a different physical level from the class/job/weapon or skill you were using. It was a powerful concept but sadly it didn't catch and to be honest, wasn't as polished as it should have been. I liked it because, how many times during FFXI didn't we wondered "if I'm a warrior lvl 75 why the same character starts as a lvl 1 thf/monk/whatever, now I'm welding a different weapon and suddenly I'm weaker?" I understand that Tanaka asked himself the same and that's why he tried to do that distinction in FFXIV.

Crafting and gathering as a full fledged jobs/classes rather than sub-professions. It goes without sayign that this concept hasn't been fully explored well, and I'm glad it persists and I have high hopes in 2.0 to see how Yoshida explores it.

Classes and interchangeable skills. This is so powerful that I cannot even start to imagine the possibilities it holds in the hands of a good designer. For now it's been phased out because of the jobs, but I really really think the core of FFXIV is here and I hope Yoshi don't disregard this aspect of the game and leave it as a curiosity, and improves upon it and gives more class content and depth to the system. It also tied really well with the distinction of a class/physical level, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the future holds.

Slow paced, positioned combat. This comes from FFXI, and it's here as well, but I think it's one of the things I like more, to have to move and dance around the mobs and bosses as a melee DD having to time and position correctly for my attacks to have full effect. I hope they keep this feature and expand on it with the limit system so the whole party is involved, not just skill chaining with ourselves.

Aesthetics and art direction. True that some maps were copy/pasted and are repetitive and dull, but the cities and general design idea of the world of Haydelin is gorgeous. For me every other game now looks way more boring and bland compared to FFXIV, and I think it's one of the things that kept me here and will keep me for a long time.

Final Fantasy themes. Going hand to hand with the aesthetics point, I loved how this game is a Final Fantasy to the core, with all the great elements in it: The music, the crystals and it's influence on the world mechanics and structure, the evil guys that in truth may be not so evil, the characters and story lines, chocobos, the steampunk feel to the technology, mixing a science fiction with a medieval fantasy feel perfectly, it's just great and it's all I ever wanted in a Final Fantasy game.

I know a lot is changing in 2.0, and I'm sad I had to see the physical level/class level go, but I hope to see all the things that 1.0 did right stay and get better and better.

How about the rest of you? What did 1.0/Tanaka did right for you?

[Yucie]

He did nothing right.

[Meatdawg]

He made pretty grass

[Obsy]

That he... made way for Yoshi-P?

I dunno lol

[Dannythm]

He did nothing right.

Then why did you picked up in the first place? If there was no concept that he did right it wouldn't have reached your attention. Why did you keep playing?

[Azurymber]

Tanaka's xiv was unique with things no other games had.
ARR seems like it will just be a wow clone

too bad :x I really hope they do something to set the game apart

[Zyph]

Did well.

/10ch

[Dannythm]

Did well.

/10ch

Ooops, corrected already, thanks =).

Argh! It doesn't change in the main title T_T

Tanaka's xiv was unique with things no other games had.
ARR seems like it will just be a wow clone

too bad :x I really hope they do something to set the game apart

That's why I liked it in the first place. There were great concepts, just not so well implemented. In my opinion, when I heard about 2.0 and it being a whole new game... I was not so convinced, for me, if they decided to keep updating the current version, it would have been perfect. But still, we have to wait and see to judge ARR.

[Soukyuu]

I agree on physical levels and cross class skills. The system was unique in this combination because it allowed for more interesting combinations than the job system.

Allowing us to move stat points after a certain timespan gave us the opportunity to actually experiment with our builds.

Once they removed physical levels, the whole stat system died because now you don't think about how you distribute your points beyond being optimal in only one way - your job. Or is there someone putting any stat other than required by the job?

There could have been multiple combinations of classes, and while cookie cutter builds would certainly appear, other builds could still be viable. As it stands now, whether you put your stats "right" or "wrong" doesn't really change anything.

As it is now, the only advantage to armory (= all jobs on one class) over the classic system is not having to switch between characters.

[Obsy]

Ooops, corrected already, thanks =).

While you're making corrections, I believe you meant "Aesthetics" vs. "Ascetics"
/thumbsup