Current State of End-Game Contents - A Blog Post from A Japanese Player

[Iriadysa]

I think lower drop rates (chance for nothing to drop) with dungeon cool-down is a much better option than the weekly single clear lockout. Players get to learn, experience and enjoy the content and aren't able to gear out so quickly. Addresses two issues there and then. Only people who might not like that are the easy clear hardcore farmers.

If cooldowns were to be implemented, you'd have to add them upon completion of the encounter, otherwise a number of undesirable problems arise which are heavily documented on any other MMO that uses them.

While lower drop rates would help with participation rates as well as keeping the content "current" for a certain amount of time, my experience tells me that it leads to frustration and it's not really going to create a happier player base than what we have now.

I wish I could propose a solution, but I don' t have one. I feel CT's model is less frustrating, but I don't really have any evidence that it would break with the "static only" requirements of SCoB.

[Gormogon]

Lets add this and we will see all those so called Hardcores whine about "Content is too hard"

They could already start doing it. Every time they die they have to delete their character and start fresh. Guess it is too hardcore that they wont do it.

[Rosy]

I think the intention is cutting edge content isn't supposed to be faceroll easy. Which sadly means people who aren't exceptional players, will never win it.

....and so players who aren't as "exceptional" as yourself will up and leave and all the exceptionals will find that there will be no more game Unlike years ago when there was little choice in the way of mmorpgs and devs could afford to not pump out so much content, and people stuck with a game for years...these days there are many more games out there, with 3 or 4 major titles arriving each year. More choice = people spread out over games, therefore developers have to listen to their bread and butter players...the not "exceptional" ones to keep enough subs coming in.

[Atreides]

What makes people think that everyone should be able to clear the whole content in order for a game to be good?
Once new raids are out they will nerf the older ones for the lesser skilled to clear, you don't need top tier raid gear if you're not interested in hard content anyway.
There was a suggestion to make a SCoB easy mode imo that would be fine if it's just for the story and doesn't really provide any gear but even then some people won't be happy because they also want to be rewarded with the best available gear with the least efford put into it.

[Yukiko]

There was a suggestion to make a SCoB easy mode imo that would be fine if it's just for the story and doesn't really provide any gear but even then some people won't be happy because they also want to be rewarded with the best available gear with the least efford put into it.

And why do you care if they get best gear?
Do you make challenging content because the challenge or because you can show something to others with the intention "I am better than you"?

I am not saying its a good idea, i just point to that arrogance!
Gear should help to progress if you are not so skilled and not used as a reward for clearing something hard to clear...

[Exstal]

....and so players who aren't as "exceptional" as yourself will up and leave and all the exceptionals will find that there will be no more game Unlike years ago when there was little choice in the way of mmorpgs and devs could afford to not pump out so much content, and people stuck with a game for years...these days there are many more games out there, with 3 or 4 major titles arriving each year. More choice = people spread out over games, therefore developers have to listen to their bread and butter players...the not "exceptional" ones to keep enough subs coming in.

I said "cutting edge". There is no reason that one needs to beat everything in the same patch it comes out. See how Binding Coil turns 1 and 2 were accessible by a decent amount of people in 2.1 with turns 4 and 5 mostly being reserved to statics? See how now it's farming those turns when a new Coil is out? That's how it should be. The ones who strive to be the best will complete the content as intended, and those who either don't want to or can't put in the time, won't. They'll just wait until it becomes more accessible.

And why do you care if they get best gear?
Do you make challenging content because the challenge or because you can show something to others with the intention "I am better than you"?

I am not saying its a good idea, i just point to that arrogance!
Gear should help to progress if you are not so skilled and not used as a reward for clearing something hard to clear...

It's an MMO. The point of challenging content is to be challenging. It's not for story, that's what single player games are for. I know I wouldn't do normal Coil if a theorectical easy Coil gave the same gear. Extra effort for same reward is a waste of time.

[Atreides]

And why do you care if they get best gear?
Do you make challenging content because the challenge or because you can show something to others with the intention "I am better than you"?

In no way I'm interested in bragging, it's just human nature to take the route with the least resistence.
So if the rewards would be equal, then most people even those that already have coil on farm would just take that route to be done with.
In my eyes it's bad game design to reward players with lesser skill content with the highest tier of gear, they don't need it unless they actually wanna brag with awesome gears?
The new coils will get nerfed anyway after the next tier is released. So they can clear it then, I see no reason for making it easier & rewarding when the content is actually still fresh.

[Dashuto]

I'm at the point where I do everything in Garuda EX flawless. Both as a DPS or Tank, and I go as both. I literally cannot find 7 other people capable of doing it, not in PF or DF. I have to just keep trying until I manage to get into a team of others who can handle it.

This kind of crap is getting old.

[Yukiko]

it's just human nature to take the route with the least resistence

Then I am not human, nor are my friends...
You and Exstal both are a good example of what i ment with "I have something you dont have..."
Everyone is working for a goal... So yes indeed if your goal is just equip then indeed you will go the less difficuld route to gain it... so what?
Again: Why do YOU care if others do so? Is gear the only reason you play? Sad...

[Atreides]

Then I am not human, nor are my friends...
You and Exstal both are a good example of what i ment with "I have something you dont have..."
Everyone is working for a goal... So yes indeed if your goal is just equip then indeed you will go the less difficuld route to gain it... so what?
Again: Why do YOU care if others do so? Is gear the only reason you play? Sad...

I give that right back at you, you happen to be a prime example of someone that actually wants to be rewarded with the least efford but saying otherwise to make you look like a better person.
See what I did there? I just generalized you without even knowing you, thats the same you just did.
Careful with pointing your fingers at others, we just have different opinions and possibly never agree with eachother.
Gear IS a big factor to take on challenging content, yes I'm also interested in the Brutal coils even though the drops are the same but I see no reason to do that more than once.
Most people raid because it's fun but it would be pointless without the reward because everyone is looking forward for better gear after progressing so much.
Also gear is not the only reason that keeps me interested, I have a great FC and made many friends in this game I do enjoy the lesser content aswell and wouldn't want to miss any of that.