New Letter from the Producer, XII

[Rowyne]

Tanaka wanted them to be the main form of grinding (the time limit was designed to slow down hardcore players) which was a bad idea knowing how monotonous they are. Now YoshiP wants them to be an addition to the main way of grinding which I suspect will be grind parties

Actually, Yoshi-P said this:

We still have some ways to go, but FINAL FANTASY XIV will gradually shift from being a grind-centric game to one that offers enjoyment for all playing styles and circumstances with its ever-expanding variety of content.

Which means to me that they want to start focusing on other leveling options, such as SP gained in dungeons and quest-based leveling, not just straight up grind parties. IMO, it's a huge step in the right direction.

Edit: DOH, Wolfie beat me to it.

[giftforce]

Actually, Yoshi-P said this:



Which means to me that they want to start focusing on other leveling options, such as SP gained in dungeons and quest-based leveling, not just straight up grind parties. IMO, it's a huge step in the right direction.

Edit: DOH, Wolfie beat me to it.

It might be hard to produce enough content for a game where players can level multiple classes.

[Richard]

It might be hard to produce enough content for a game where players can level multiple classes.

in the end it will most likely be monotonous (XI had tons of ways to level even though 1/2 of it was on Robber Crabs) but the fact that there will be so many different options to leveling will break up the monotony. As opposed to doing Dunes and Ranine x8 each reset.

[Physic]

They were actually designed to be party content, which is why there was the link bonus which had been in since alpha.

Tanaka wanted them to be the main form of grinding (the time limit was designed to slow down hardcore players) which was a bad idea knowing how monotonous they are. Now YoshiP wants them to be an addition to the main way of grinding which I suspect will be grind parties

there was no link bonus in alpha, and no link bonus until nov SP patch change. It was designed to be something that people could do fast, the main benefit was being able to set monster level, and get money/gear/sp at the same time, and the only way to get marks.
As people started to get better leves became just about the money, or small parties, there was a couple good leves SP wise, but overall parties blew them out the water. especially in groups with 6 or more.

[Zenaku]

So he making this game Casual ok i can deal with that. I just hope there more fun things to do as a party. If he make this to casual more people would just solo then party because he just mess everything up and no reason to party beside dungeons.

anyways i guess i have to move my butt and get 50 before they fix the leve and can't get 1.1k leve linking maybe i should have not reroll oh well i like my elvaan now.

can't wait for next week letter.

[Richard]

So he making this game Casual ok i can deal with that. I just hope there more fun things to do as a party. If he make this to casual more people would just solo then party because he just mess everything up and no reason to party beside dungeons.

anyways i guess i have to move my butt and get 50 before they fix the leve and can't get 1.1k leve linking maybe i should have not reroll oh well i like my elvaan now.

can't wait for next week letter.

he is not making the game more casual he is optimizing it for casual players. there will still be the party based leveling through grind camps + xp chains + quests. More options = better game. The fact they are also going with a more sideways content progression vs. upwards leveling progression = AMAZING.

[Zenaku]

he is not making the game more casual he is optimizing it for casual players. there will still be the party based leveling through grind camps + xp chains + quests. More options = better game. The fact they are also going with a more sideways content progression vs. upwards leveling progression = AMAZING.

You mean like FFXI camps? where you pick a area and fight? or more like pick up a quest and do it with players?

[Richard]

You mean like FFXI camps? where you pick a area and fight? or more like pick up a quest and do it with players?

If they are talking about implementing XP chains then yes that should be the general idea. Players would be able to:

a) get a light/full party together and run an instance, behest or find a mob grinding camp to get XP. The incentive to do this is that the faster you kill, the more XP bonus you get.

b) solo leves for XP or do them in a party to complete them faster. Remember Yoshida said REDUCTION of bonus not REMOVAL. The XP will not be as great as before but I doubt it will be so drastically reduced that leves will never be worth your time.

c) pickup sidequests or (hopefully daily/repeatable) quests at frontier hubs for XP. They may also optimize some for party play.

[Zenaku]

If they are talking about implementing XP chains then yes that should be the general idea. Players would be able to:

a) get a light/full party together and run an instance, behest or find a mob grinding camp to get XP. The incentive to do this is that the faster you kill, the more XP bonus you get.

b) solo leves for XP or do them in a party to complete them faster. Remember Yoshida said REDUCTION of bonus not REMOVAL. The XP will not be as great as before but I doubt it will be so drastically reduced that leves will never be worth your time.

c) pickup sidequests or (hopefully daily/repeatable) quests at frontier hubs for XP. They may also optimize some for party play.

Most maps give noting to SP while in party the only thing that give good sp is 10-21 is a type of mob in LL which give 500-700sp. Once you reach 21 finding anything that give over 250sp is hard even with exp chain it going to be dumb sp.

[Nipa]

Why doesn't he realize that having to go back to the leve counter is a massive deterrent for casual players?