Stop Raising Item Level and build foundation with Horizontal Progression first

[Saccharin]

As taken from this article at http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02...l-progression/


Horizontal progression

Horizontal game mechanics make players think outside of the confines of linear progression as the games that employ them offer elements that actively cater to individualistic strategy building. Rather than equipping characters to face the latest content the MMO world can throw at them, horizontal mechanics point towards the development of a wide range of character attributes that will weather any challenges that lie ahead. Each ability isn't inherently better than another, but well-researched combinations might create a much more powerful effect. The key here is to expand the pool of items, abilities, and systems that are useful and interesting during the endgame.

Horizontal mechanics, normally equated with sandbox MMOs, faced a decline when WoW's phenomenal success caused an explosion of clones to wash across the genre. The vertical progression mechanics offered by Blizzard presented players with a popular lower barrier to entry and the company's competitors adopted a formulaic approach to themepark MMO creation. However, vertical progression can also create an all-too linear experience that makes progress feel compulsory and one-dimensional. The choices presented to players don't ultimately matter, and characters will be equipped with whichever items best boost their key stats.

How will this fit in with FF14?

Its a more skill/talent tree/dual spec system of character development that offers more freedom of choice on how a player wishes to build his or her character.

Edit: this just sounds like ability bloat. An abiltly for every circumstance. The job system does this to an effect but does need tweaking.

[odintius]

How will this fit in with FF14?

Having a creative mind might help for one and we have a system in place materia maybe people I don't know use a creative mind set and come up with some sugguestions instead of defending to the death of linear progression.

[Aylis]

How will this fit in with FF14?



Edit: this just sounds like ability bloat. An abiltly for every circumstance. The job system does this to an effect but does need tweaking.

1) Simply put, as the game is right now. it won't. The game was built around a linear progression model. It would need a third rebuild from the ground up at this point to properly implement it.

2) Its about giving the players choices on how they wish to advance and build. The job system does sorta /try/ this though severely limited and hindered. While yes the system does offer an ability for every circumstance, however I hope a player really enjoys spending endless amounts of money re-specing for each fight instead of how the system is intended for use. That being building for the character the player wishes to achieve. Another way of saying "there is no wrong way to play a character. Its in the build"

[Baneus]

How will this fit in with FF14?

How won't this fit in with FF14?

[Kuwagami]

How won't this fit in with FF14?

You may benefit from this reading, especially #8.


On topic, While I'd love to see horizontal progression, it would not fit with FFXIV ARR, not until extension (and with a huge work on the system by then).

Mainly because of the progression during levelling.

Horizontal progression requires more freedom in the character build than what we have. Either a skill tree or more characteristic points per level to create a build. The gear would need to become secondary too, not providing the major part of our stats. Instead it would provide some bonuses, skill increase, set bonuses... things like that.

Difficult to do in ARR