Stop Raising Item Level and build foundation with Horizontal Progression first

[Fendred]

We are not even at the first expansion yet and we've already seen the first three extreme primals as well as the first floor of crystal tower completely invalidated. People only care about the item level because the artificial inflation of it means we need to get higher item levels to play the new content. Since it is so time consuming to acquire, old content is utterly abandoned, thus pidgeonholing players into specific set of activities instead of building a diverse set of options.

The only problem with FFXI's rate of progression was that it was painfully slow, which doesn't need to be carried over nowadays because MMORPG developers have gotten a lot faster at being able to put out content. Please consider making the next few patches of content (past 2.4) the same item level, but perhaps use different kinds of mechanics for preventing players from bowling through them (like atunement quests).

[Saccharin]

Please explain this 'horizontal' progression as I'd love to see what you imagine it would be like. Too many asking for 'horizontal' progression but don't specify what it should consist of.

[Magis]

We are not even at the first expansion yet and we've already seen the first three extreme primals as well as the first floor of crystal tower completely invalidated. People only care about the item level because the artificial inflation of it means we need to get higher item levels to play the new content. Since it is so time consuming to acquire, old content is utterly abandoned, thus pidgeonholing players into specific set of activities instead of building a diverse set of options.

The only problem with FFXI's rate of progression was that it was painfully slow, which doesn't need to be carried over nowadays because MMORPG developers have gotten a lot faster at being able to put out content. Please consider making the next few patches of content (past 2.4) the same item level, but perhaps use different kinds of mechanics for preventing players from bowling through them (like atunement quests).

Mhmm, instead of just incrementing ilvl, make itemization more complex and interesting. The stats really don't mean anything right now, it's just the big ilvl number that is important. Give bonus stats and buff individual abilities, and spread items across different dungeons, mobs, etc. Right now it's: Go to coil for ilvl 110, Go to Syrcus for ilvl 100. Why not have players go to different dungeons to mix and match to create a set that are best for certain fights and ok for others. Instead of a generic BiS, have optimal items for different fights.

Also, start putting materia slot into dungeon items. You already have a way to expand itemization farther, yet only use it on DoL/DoH classes and crafted gear?

[Eekiki]

The stats really don't mean anything right now, it's just the big ilvl number that is important.

Mostly true.

But there is one stat that does matter: Accuracy. If you haven't made sure you have enough accuracy, that big ilvl won't mean much when you start whiffing.

[odintius]

I would sugguest an actual useful materia system be added to end game gear and not the lame str/dex etc bs but materia that affect current job skills/traits what we got know is a joke and that just sad. Shoot even add relic materia something this vertical progression is getting pretty stale imo fast.

[chrillix]

Couldn't agree more. I don' think I've seen content go obsolete as fast as I have in FFXIV in any other game I've played. The other problem is "new content" being useless at release. We seriously don't need any more level 50 dungeons with i70-i80 gear. ST should have been released before SCOB, or at least at the same time.

[Akiza]

I do not want horizontal progression because in the end that changes nothing because it is all about the quantity of progression. I would rather have Square do interesting progression like being able to evolve and change the effects, appearance and animation of our spells which represents the quality of progression. They can even add an ability tree for each of our abilities that we can augment.

[silentwindfr]

i begin to think that the horizontal progression can be a good idea actually. the vertical progression is nice and all, but it suffer a big trouble, the fact that older content are simply destroyed by this.

[Lyrinn]

Why not have players go to different dungeons to mix and match to create a set that are best for certain fights and ok for others. Instead of a generic BiS, have optimal items for different fights.

I want to start off by saying that I'm 100% in favour of having more choices/horizontal progression but I also want to point out there is a host of problems that come with it as well. No system is perfect. As you pointed out, itemization would need a massive overhaul. If I remember correctly, one of the Live Letters said that would not be explored until expansion.

Second, lockouts. If you have a separate "BiS" for different fights, you can potentially lock people out of those fights if they don't have said BiS. If they can clear it without BiS, then what is the point of farming up a separate set? That needs to be addressed.

Finally (since it's the most trivial), space. Those of us who play multiple classes and/or have all crafts/gathers maxed are already tight on armoury space. Carrying around multiple sets for just one class is simply unfeasible unless they give us more space to work with, and given their excuse of server stress, that likely won't happen - for free anyways.

[Saccharin]

i begin to think that the horizontal progression can be a good idea actually. the vertical progression is nice and all, but it suffer a big trouble, the fact that older content are simply destroyed by this.

Great now tell us what this horizontal progression is. It just seems to be a buzz word people like to spew these days.