Quote Originally Posted by DoctorMog View Post
I can't like your post enough.

We need a MMO with engaging, thought provoking combat.

If the core, and beginning of a game isn't fun, what makes anyone think it will magically be fun at endgame?

Positioning, enemy abilities, environmental effects, party makeup, elemental wheel, status effects, a diverse bestiary, thoughtful action use, resource management, diversified encounters and a slew of other things should play a role in making combat enjoyable from beginning to end.

Similar monsters, tank and spank, same 2-5 skills used from 1-50. {no thanks}

(All hypothetical and needed for any game really, not just FFXIV)
I really like your post Mog!

I know people will probably slay me for saying this, but I did enjoy aspects of FFXI combat, like how technical it could be at times with positioning, stunning attacks and whatnot.
I still hate with a passion how as my RDM I was stuck on haste/refresh duty while everyone got to have fun haha, but I did enjoy the depth that fights had outside of the boring XP grind.

I hope to see more fights that require one to think on their toes (Running from cracks isn't thinking! lol ) and adapt. I didn't feel this in 1.0 at all, even the harder fights were kinda tank n' spank.

Take chimera for instance (Not saying he's hard but it's an example):
Tank stood in his spot, everyone else clustered together out of range (this is when they first implemented him and not after they toyed with him) and it was pretty much that for 5~ mins. The only real 'challenge' came from ganking those ants, but with 2 BRDs on the job it was no sweat at all.

This wasn't technical for me, this didn't have us changing our tactics depending on the enemy's actions. And some could say that XI wasn't exactly 'technical either' but it felt more involved there.

I know some are going to want to say "If you want XI go back to XI!" But I don't want XI, I just wish the fights were a little more involved. I don't need a list of 50 bajillion actions, 49 bajillion of which I'll never use because I'e outlevelled them; I don't need a red mage to follow me around to give me haste to make me feel special or a BRD to do nothing but sing marches and minuets so I can feel great about my weapon skills.
I just want something a little more involved @_@.