This game needs PvP, and Yoshida explains why.

[Andrien]

Source: http://www.usgamer.net/articles/fina...living-economy

copy/pasted for those who don't want to click the link:

Final Fantasy XIV’s Yoshida: PVP Creates a “Real, Living Economy”

In a post-launch interview, Mike talks with Naoki Yoshida about PVP, evolving Final Fantasy design, and bringing the East and West together.

USG: With that big focus on story, the game seems mostly complete. Do you really need PVP in FFXIV?


NY: This is decision that gets really deep into the basic design of an MMORPG. In most MMORPGs, you have crafters and gatherers that support and build the economy of an MMO. The gatherers will gather the material and the crafters will take the materials and they're craft things. But to make sure that gatherer and crafters have things to create, you need content that uses these things. You need to create a demand for those items. By having more content, like PVP, then it will use these items.

In a game like this, we don't expect every player to play PVP. We actually think it's going to be around 15 to 20 percent of the userbase. These players, when they really get into PVP, are going to need different types of items and armor than they will need in PVE. For example, when you're fighting a single monster and that monster casts Sleep on you, you won't really need an armor that might cut that Sleep in half, because it's a one-on-one thing and you can wait that 30 seconds. But in a PVP-type of battle you're not going to want to stand there for 30 seconds because that could be the end of you. So, you're going to need a different type of armor, armor that will cut that Sleep versus fighting a regular monster. You're going to need all of these specialty items that won't really help a lot in PVE, but will help in PVP. By creating this new set of items that are only for PVP, it's creating more work for those crafters and gatherers.

PVP armor will be different from the FF-style armor you'll be using in encounters like this.
And of course, we have other items like potions and food. These things are going to be used a lot more in PVP than they will be in PVE. On top of that, you have things like the housing system, things that players don't have to play; if they want to concentrate on PVE that's fine. If they don't want to concentrate on PVP, that's fine. Maybe they just want to focus on housing. You have all of those different aspects of games beyond just one single one that you can build the economy off of. Crafters will be able to create for not just one of these areas, but for all three areas. That will create a real, living economy and support those players and what they want to do in the game.

Because this game, while it is a Final Fantasy game, it is also an MMORPG. We have to recognize what things are necessary for an MMORPG. I personally like PVP and want to have that in the game.

[Mega_Man_U]

I'm all for PVP. I don't even like PVP myself, but I think it should be an option for those who do. Don't want it? Don't play it then.

For some people it's a dealbreaker, so if PVP equals more satisfied players equals long lasting game, I say bring it.

[Tupsi]

I'm all for PVP. I don't even like PVP myself, but I think it should be an option for those who do. Don't want it? Don't play it then.

For some people it's a dealbreaker, so if PVP equals more satisfied players equals long lasting game, I say bring it.

The thing is - When PvP is an element or gets introduced into a primarily PvE MMO, the PvE side ends up suffering. This is why it's a deal breaker for some and the whole "dont like it? don't do it" approach is rendered moot if the developer ends up making it very important to do in any way.

[Welsper59]

The thing is - When PvP is an element or gets introduced into a primarily PvE MMO, the PvE side ends up suffering. This is why it's a deal breaker for some and the whole "dont like it? don't do it" approach is rendered moot if the developer ends up making it very important to do in any way.

At some point in time, that might happen. But given the way this games combat system works, not to mention the way we interact with the environment, PvP is going to take a backseat for a while when it comes to it affecting PvE in any truly noticeable way. I mean we might see some ability adjustments, but nothing too major. Unlike games like WoW, FFXI and FFXIV both seem to focus on the visual presentation with a higher priority. Animation plays a significant part to much of this game, changes made for the sake of PvP would jeopardize that and force the system to be adjusted greatly (potentially for the better). That's going to take a long time to accomplish, and by then, it might end up being that PvP is merely an extra activity to the devs. Competitive, but nowhere to the degree of an e-sport attempt.

[Alhanelem]

The thing is - When PvP is an element or gets introduced into a primarily PvE MMO, the PvE side ends up suffering. This is why it's a deal breaker for some and the whole "dont like it? don't do it" approach is rendered moot if the developer ends up making it very important to do in any way.

This is a false problem people make up to fight PvP's existence. PvE rarely if ever suffers because of PvP. It should never be a dealbreaker because it just doesn't cause the problems people think it will cause.

PvP's mere existence does not harm or otherwise impact PvE. In the case that it does, it speaks of other design problems in the game as a whole. PvP by itself does not innately harm anything.

[Pellegri]

This is a false problem people make up to fight PvP's existence. PvE rarely if ever suffers because of PvP. It should never be a dealbreaker because it just doesn't cause the problems people think it will cause.

PvP's mere existence does not harm or otherwise impact PvE. In the case that it does, it speaks of other design problems in the game as a whole. PvP by itself does not innately harm anything.

I wonder if you ever played a little game called WoW, where literally 80% of all balance changes were made because of pvp and that starts the never ending cycle of making sure classes are still competitive in pve which then makes them balance pvp(guess what happens next?). Maybe you were one of the people who kept white knighting it saying it was nothing but coincidence they keep making all those changes which in turn effect one or the other, while thinking that though you cried yourself to sleep every night knowing it was all a lie.

[Noahlimits]

To satisfy 20% of the user base as stated by Yoshida. That's fine. But also recognize that he's saying those that wish to stay PVE will never be forced into doing anything PVP related (AKA getting PKed).

I don't think anyone would argue that there's not any harm in there being zones / arena / etc for PVP. Call them/me/whomever carebears, but they just want to make sure it won't effect them. Having his plan as it is, I'm sure everyone will be happy.

*considering he doesn't make it suck

[Hachiko]

I don't think anyone would argue that there's not any harm in there being zones / arena / etc for PVP. Call them/me/whomever carebears, but they just want to make sure it won't effect them. Having his plan as it is, I'm sure everyone will be happy.

*considering he doesn't make it suck

That depends on how they approach it. If they plan on balancing the game (i.e. PvE abilities) around PvP it can have pretty detrimental impact on the PvE game. Otherwise it's fine.

[PallasLloyd]

Creating something he thinks only 15-20% of the playerbase will ever use was way more important than making sure everyone had something to do at endgame besides grind tokens and BC one hour a week. Way more.

[HunkyJimpjorps]

Creating something he thinks only 15-20% of the playerbase will ever use was way more important than making sure everyone had something to do at endgame besides grind tokens and BC one hour a week. Way more.

I'm confident there will be just as many, if not more, people interested in PVP as there are people interested in endgame progression PVE.