Simplicity over complexity, time to change.

[Wobi]

I just basing my words on the old letters from the producer, for me what we have now is not the the game Yoshi tried to sell us back then, the game is still far from the image he gave us. I know he didn't mentioned some of the things i posted, but he said he would listen to the player-base, and there are more threads asking for this kind of content.

I read these letters as well, however did you stop to consider what he deemed difficult and your concept of complexity and difficulty may not align? There is a very small percentage of the player base that has completed 2nd Coil or all the ExPrimals. From a business perspective locking the highest percentage out of your customer base out of even more content is not the wisest use of resources.

Those calling for more extreme content do not even come close to the "other half" of the players out there, while I do like interesting game mechanics I can simply point out that the pros when presented with basically equal rewards will always go for the path of least resistance the majority of the time. Evidenced by how many insta-quits I saw in Pharos, City of Ampador, etc.

[Renik]

I read these letters as well, however did you stop to consider what he deemed difficult and your concept of complexity and difficulty may not align? There is a very small percentage of the player base that has completed 2nd Coil or all the ExPrimals. From a business perspective locking the highest percentage out of your customer base out of even more content is not the wisest use of resources.

Those calling for more extreme content do not even come close to the "other half" of the players out there, while I do like interesting game mechanics I can simply point out that the pros when presented with basically equal rewards will always go for the path of least resistance the majority of the time. Evidenced by how many insta-quits I saw in Pharos, City of Ampador, etc.

when i say "easy content" i'm not exactly talking about difficulty, i'm talking "easy to understand content", the learning process all the new players have to experience to get familiarized with the game, in fact i think they should keep releasing "hard" and "easy" content, i just want to see more complexity on it.

About the easy route, you're right, when a player wants to keep progressing he will take the easy way over the hard one, but when it comes to fun you will do w/e is most interesting, when doing DR i always preferred the easy dungeons, but when i'm playing with a full group of friends i'll always take the old pharos or CoA over any other dungeon, just for fun, so even if a lot of ppl will just ignore this kind of content it is needed, just because it's fun.

Face it, the game won't change unless people quit in lager numbers - while stating on the forums their exact reasons for doing so...

But this is already happening, some ppl is leaving and more will leave, and once they are gone it will be very difficult to get them back. And i'm not only talking about 1.0 and XI veterans, even if someone is satisfied with the game now, it will get boring in the end because of it's repetitiveness and simplicity, every new player that takes the game seriously will become a veteran in the end, or will just grow up and see how this game is too small for them.

The good thing is i'm starting to see changes, but the change is happening too slowly and we are losing players every day.

[Ephany]

I'm assuming the expansion is well into development at this point and things are planned too much to make a huge change to it now.
So even if they agreed to give you what you ask for, you may not see it for months and months.

I love the idea of an open world area designed to be travelled through by 4 man parties.
Put a city at one end, the entrance at the other and DO NOT allow people to teleport back and forth.
If they need something from that city, they have to work for it.

This kinda difficulty could be fun in one or two places but that should be all. If the game filled with them, you'd have others complaining.

[Gormogon]

Personally I would love to see diversity in builds.

Would be nice if we could get that through ability enhance materia, since gear wouldn't be so reliable due to it always getting replaced, which would make abilities more unique especially through a slight change in the abilities animation and color.

It would also be nice to have single player type "limit breaks" and we could instead just call them an "overdrive" or "quickening" and have variety to choose from that would fit our playstyle such as having a big hitter, multiple hits, and so on.

[Velox]

FFXIV was never meant to replace XI in complexity. In fact, XIV was rehashed as a game for casuals. They left XI running for the people who want complex characters, trials, job system, content. I actually like this division of the games. It allows for a choice.

If you want complex, go play XI.
If you want simple, go play XIV.

By forcing both to be one or the other not only defeats the purpose of keeping both live, but isolates the portion of the player base that prefers the opposite.

[Gramul]

They left XI running for the people who want complex characters, trials, job system, content.

Perhaps they shouldn't have tried to make the game easier casual friendly then.

[AzakaTonnerre]

I know he didn't mentioned some of the things i posted, but he said he would listen to the player-base, and there are more threads asking for this kind of content.

I agree with you in one point, i don't want complexity just for the sake of it, i want it to improve the game, the fully scripted battles and stat-driven gear progression leaves no place for strategy and get boring soon, this what i want to address by introducing more complexity into the game.

I agree with the complexity in many of the things you say. I miss having to make choices on what gear to wear because stats vary (and not just BIS), I miss dangerous areas, I miss battles that aren't just a learn the script challenge, I miss stats actually meaning something a little more complex than just vitality = HP, piety = MP, etc. That said there are many things I do enjoy about the game in its current state.

Either way, to assume that the small percentage of people making the threads you speak of, out of the small percentage of the players who play the game that actually post here = the views of the player base, you might want to rethink that view. Most of the people who play this game are happily running around doing what they want within the game as it is (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your stance). Those people are the majority of the player base you state Yoshi said he will listen to and honestly no one can assume that have any idea what they want (other than to presume they are happy with what they have since they aren't here flaming away demanding change).

[Tupsi]

By forcing both to be one or the other not only defeats the purpose of keeping both live, but isolates the portion of the player base that prefers the opposite.

I think the main issue comes from what happened after 1.23. XIV 1.23 was going in a great direction, it was a nice blend, had nice systems and simply only needed refinement - Then we get ARR, which backpedaled massively. So it's fine for what it is, but even Maplestory has more complexity than ARR does, and that's saying something.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with adding in complexity, besides the players who would complain about it. Then again, Yoshida did say adding mechanics outside of instances can lead to player death and that would be a bad thing.....

[Hurlstone]

Now, you're totally free to hold these opinions, and truthfully there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, but wouldn't you like to have something with a little more complexity? Something to give the game more depth and engagement so the game becomes even more involving so you don't get bored of it?

It depends on what you mean by 'complexity' I think. Some peoples definition of complex and hard content, such as FFXI, just sounds like utter boredom to me. Don't get me wrong, I like to think of myself as an experienced MMO player (My first was actually FFXI back when it was first released here in the UK, but I stopped playing around five years ago) and there are elements of the OP that I would love, such as more character personalization and hybrid jobs (If only so my beloved Red Mage can be added...) but such complex content would need to be fun most of all, and perhaps not something shoved down every players throat. My personal greatest fear for a game is not things like DF or casual players, but an 'elitist' attitude or community.

My personal opinion is that there should be features and progression which caters to all styles of play, from casual to hardcore. I do not think it is fair for one to be singled out for the other. There needs to be content which gives players of old a challenge and a reason to continue playing, but you still want to have a game which dose not punish you for simply being new or wanting to enjoy other aspects of the game (Such a story) over gear progression. From what I have seen of the updates, this seems to be the way SE flows. The problem is that whatever Yoshi dose, there will be people on both sides who will demand more and feel that they are left-out. It is the same with every MMO.

[Renik]

FFXIV was never meant to replace XI in complexity. In fact, XIV was rehashed as a game for casuals. They left XI running for the people who want complex characters, trials, job system, content. I actually like this division of the games. It allows for a choice.

I don't think that's what SE is doing, FFXI and it's player-base has nothing to do with FFXIV, i just think Yoshi released the game like it is because 2 to reasons:

1. Time, 2 years is not enough to make a MMO, what they have done in this short time is really awesome, and it's all they could do.
2. Introducing ppl to MMOs, but these players won't be new forever. Yoshi said this game is destined to evolve, you just have to check all his live letters, letters from the producer and interviews to see his goal

Either way, to assume that the small percentage of people making the threads you speak of, out of the small percentage of the players who play the game that actually post here = the views of the player base, you might want to rethink that view. Most of the people who play this game are happily running around doing what they want within the game as it is (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your stance). Those people are the majority of the player base you state Yoshi said he will listen to and honestly no one can assume that have any idea what they want (other than to presume they are happy with what they have since they aren't here flaming away demanding change).

I understand it, you may think we are a minority because the players who enjoy the game are playing instead of complaining here, but you can see happy players here as well, the truth is some players keep playing the game even if they are not happy with it, some have left and others will leave w/o saying a word, and i know players in this situation.

The players on the forums are not just the unhappy player-base, we are the just the ones who care about feedback, positive and negative, news, theorycrafting and other things.