Simplicity over complexity, time to change.

[Kazama]

So there are many support systems and development rules that must be adopted in order to foster a more horizontal system. It's lots of work to design and balance, but it needs to happen if ARR is ever going to cultivate a sustainable player base.

I think you snipped my original post that I was editing into a manifesto before I decided to move it for now lol. Regardless I agree completely. Also, yeah I was one of the players from 04 to 10 that bailed when the cap blew a hole in my boat.

[Azurak]

I am moving to Destiny. It is not a real MMO but neither is XIV with all the instances. And I will actually get to explore the world!

[Chasely]

Vertical progression is a big problem in this game. Does anyone else find it sad that our equipment's iLevels are over twice our current level, and the game is only a year old..? No wonder there are four digits. We'll hit that in no time.

[electricblues42]

I don't mind a certain gear level ratcheting up, I've seen other MMOs (gw2) where people thought they didn't want that but in the end did a LOT.

Personally I just really want something that is as challenging as coil but doesn't involve a weekly lock out. Hell, make it just give vanity stuff, I don't care. I want something hard that I can do with friends and not only the 7 others in my static, once a week. Or even better, solo content that is actually challenging. MMOs are allowed to have fun solo content as well as group content.

And for the love of god, RNG does NOT equal challenge!!!

RNG is lazy as hell, it's not for nor challenging (unless doing your best to not unsub is a challenge). I don't want to quit this game but if I ever were to it would be over getting screwed by RNG one too many times. Hell, after a particularly bad atma session today I got into another MMO beta and started downloading an old one I used to play.

[Clicked]

I think lateral progression will be almost impossible to implement in a game like this without scaring off most of the player base.

However, more roles than Tank/Healer/DPS would be great. Problem is that they did away with those because they can't solo/PVP well and no one wanted to play someone who mainly buffs or debuffs and roles like "puller" are basically dead since groups no longer find a parking spot and sit there for hours pulling mobs as they respawn.

That's what I miss the most. Now, tanks, healers, and dps are roughly interchangeable. Classes are distinct in play style but not in purpose. And the group mechanics are no longer as rich because of it.

[Dannythm]

Of course, in a perfect world... SE's next MMO would be:

• Directed by Hiroyuki Ito (worked on nearly every classic FF game, Director/Producer of FFXII/Int. Zodiak)
• Assistant Director Nobuaki Komoto (FFXI, FFXIV 1.0)
• Main Scenario/Writer: Yazumi Matsuno (Tactics Ogre, FFXII, FF:Tactics WoL, Vagrant Story)
• Planner Chief/Promotion: Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi P)
• Art direction by Akihiko Yoshida (FF Tactics, Tactics Ogre, FFXII, Vagrant Story, Bravely Default, FFIII remake,FFXIV/ARR etc.. the best artist SE has ever employed),
• Cover/Logo art by Yoshitaka Amano (must-have for any FF game)
• Soundtrack by Naoshi Mizuta (nearly every awesome track in FFXI written by him)
• Title track by Nobuo Uematsu (must-have for a FF game)
• Bonus tracks by Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Xenogears)
• UI design by Hiroshi Minagawa (FFXII, ARR)
• Lead Programmer: Hideyuki Kasuga (ARR, although he just quit 3 days ago.. not sure why ;_; )

Tanaka is another option for Director or Assistant director, but I think Ito has a firmer grasp on the essence of Final Fantasy.

You forgot an important role, that only one man could properly do, but it's a pity he's no longer in SE... Hironobu Sakaguchi as Producer. Also I think Tanaka should be be director and Ito be the combat and content director.

In a perfect world...

[Exstal]

Fun is subjective, don't forget that.

[Renik]

I started this thread with an idea on my mind "this game can't be a final product, it seems so unfinished", and i started it with a firmly conviction, although the people defending the game treat us like a minority, "the vocal minority", i think the real minority are those who consider this game perfect and don't want to see it change.
Lets face the truth, no game is perfect, after reading all the posts in this thread, talking to ppl and just reading shouts in game, i can say a vast majority want to see some changes, of course, they don't agree on which ones they would like to see, and Some wouldn't mind about seeing some changes.
I have seen players who login to run instances and leave once they are done, i have seen players who only craft and/or gather, players who only play in the open world... there are a lot of players out there with their own opinions and expectations that will never ever touch the forums.

The game is destined to grow and change, we can't know in which direction, but it will not stay as it is.

Believe or not one of the big selling points of this game is the hype, hype caused by promo videos and the intriguing expectation Yoshi causes with only 5 words, and this hype can't be just a lie, because it would cause bigger complains than the ones we currently have.

[Kazama]

Believe or not one of the big selling points of this game is the hype, hype caused by promo videos and the intriguing expectation Yoshi causes with only 5 words, and this hype can't be just a lie, because it would cause bigger complains than the ones we currently have.

Oh it most certainly is a huge selling point. Unfortunately to go along with that almost nobody has done a revised review almost a year later now so most people go off of those outdated and nearsighted reviews or Reddit feedback. Since we know almost everyone in the Reddit community is more concerned about their screenshot satire, glamours, cosplay and RP that leaves very little insight for new players. Additionally, since the game is targeted at RPG and Console players it is no wonder so many people love the game. Compared to Final Fantasy XIII, XIV is amazingly good.

I understand for newcomers to the genre or even just to the IP it seems spectacular, a non linear RPG with an open world and good story with a real challenge near the end. But id say it takes at least a few years playing MMOs to understand what makes them truly great. Anyone new to the MMO genre I think looks at the game as it currently is and judges it whereas veteran MMO players look at where it is going and that's the big difference. Most of us, casual and hardcore alike love what they have done for the most part. What scares us is where it is heading and if they can redirect the currently grim future we see. That is my opinion at least.

[Dannythm]

Oh it most certainly is a huge selling point. Unfortunately to go along with that almost nobody has done a revised review almost a year later now so most people go off of those outdated and nearsighted reviews or Reddit feedback. Since we know almost everyone in the Reddit community is more concerned about their screenshot satire, glamours, cosplay and RP that leaves very little insight for new players. Additionally, since the game is targeted at RPG and Console players it is no wonder so many people love the game. Compared to Final Fantasy XIII, XIV is amazingly good.

I understand for newcomers to the genre or even just to the IP it seems spectacular, a non linear RPG with an open world and good story with a real challenge near the end. But id say it takes at least a few years playing MMOs to understand what makes them truly great. Anyone new to the MMO genre I think looks at the game as it currently is and judges it whereas veteran MMO players look at where it is going and that's the big difference. Most of us, casual and hardcore alike love what they have done for the most part. What scares us is where it is heading and if they can redirect the currently grim future we see. That is my opinion at least.

I think you are right, but I wonder, when the new people has completed the storyline, and realize that all that's left is the gear threadmill... I wonder how a new player to MMO's will react, because as far as I know, the retention rate is really low, for any MMO, and I think ARR has a really short live (about 4 months from personal experience of people that came new to the game and left), but thee's new people coming all the time. So I wonder, when all the "new" players have come and go, what population will ARR retain, and of that population, how many of us will still be asking for more depth and complexity, and how many will still be asking to keep things like is this was a 2004 MMO still.