iLevels: Why I'm hoping they aren't raised in 2.4

[LillithCale]

Or rather why I hope they aren't raised too much. (I didn't know about Coil 3 coming in patch 2.4 until now. I live under a rock, oopsies)

I've been hearing a lot of rumors lately about ilevels in patch 2.4. Some people say they will be raised, some people say they won't, others say they'll be raising the level cap, and as far as I am aware, I can find no information to support any of these claims.

So, as I sat there running Sycrus Tower for the third time last night, I started thinking back on my FFXIV career thus far. It hasn't been a particularly long one, I started playing in February and I wasn't done with normal content until 2.2 and didn't even touch the 2.2 content until about a week before 2.3, because I was just taking my time and enjoying myself.

But then, I started getting into raiding, and learning about stat weights, and all this fun stuff and the Pokémon Breeder in me kicked in(I can explain this comparison if anyone needs me too) and I decided I wanted to progress, I wanted to start getting BiS gear, and I wanted to kick the ever living hell out of the EX Primals. To me, the idea is pretty fun, it's like a challenge but one that I can do at my leisure.

So, I got all my CT2 gear, pretty easy, considering the weekly cap was removed. I was so proud of myself.

Then, I was got all my Myth Gear! Go me! Whooo!

I ended up not doing Coil, and I still haven't( but I am working on it), because at that point, Sol Tomes and SCoB were out and I didn't see the point in going for the Coil gear when I could gear myself with Sol EQ and work on grinding in SCoB. Then CT2 came out, giving us even more gear to choose from, which was great, because I built I really awesome gear set that maximizes determination while keeping the accuracy I need for T9 (whenever I get there). So, I started grinding in Sycrus Tower.

So all that is buzzing around in my head, when it hits me. I'm doing the same thing over and over again. I work towards getting to a current ilevel, new gear comes out, and then I work towards that. Now, I know that this is fairly common in MMOs, and that's just part of the grind. But SE, Yoshi-sama, the Development time as a whole you guys are so awesome that you are giving us these amazing patch updates with so much new content. And while this is really amazing, I think in a way, it's making the game go a little to...quickly.

Yes, there are tons of other things to do. There are the gathering classes, crafting classes, working on your chocobo. Just so much, and I love it, but at the same time, I only focus on one class combat-wise. And that's on me! I totally get that, and I'm not complaining at all, it's just that...I'd like the challenge to last a little longer. I didn't really get the thrill of going through Coil, because I just wasn't caught up at that point, which is no big deal, it's an MMO, there isn't going to be equal progression between players. But now, I have SCoB to look forward too! And boy am I excited about it! I just don't want 2.4 to come out, and me not have finished SCoB, and lose out of that excitement because better gear can be obtained else wear. Though, granted, I would still need to get SCoB to run new content, it just adds to the cycle again, you know?

And again, this is all just personal preference and opinion, I know there are people who can move through new content as quickly as possible, which is awesome and I do wish I could. And I have no issue with people who do that, I just feel like we're going up in levels a little too quickly.

Perhaps, instead of raising the ilevel in 2.4, if they even are, we could see new ilevels added? Like, we could get ilevel 105. Or perhaps, we could get some more i100 and i110 gear to give us more choices. Or, if we do raise the ilevel, just raise it a little bit, like to i115 and leave it there until expansion perhaps?

Seriously, I love this game. I have fun playing it, and I definitely don't have a complaint with how we're getting all this super fantastic content, I just wanted to add my two cents in regarding the ilevel situation and why my personal thoughts led me wishing to see further ilevel raises delayed.

TL;DR: I ramble to much. Dev team is awesome and amazing with the new content, but would you consider slowing the progression of the ilevel down just a little so the flavor of the gum lasts longer? <3

[Xatsh]

Unless Yoshida changes the core concept of gear and progression in XIV, which I doubt they would have time outside an expansion, there will be another Ilvl increase for the coil patch. The second coil and ramuh will get Echo. ST will become vanity only.

All the current content will be negated next patch. the 2.even patches are negation patches.

The devs are creating a problem. They are releasing content really quick, which is good. but the design of the content is based around negation and the gear treadmill. So it is extremely short lived.

[Alphras]

Since the next Coil is planned with 2.4, the ilvl will be raised. No question there.

Edit: The ilvl is raised every 6 months. I don't really think that is too fast.

[Exstal]

If they don't raise item level, then Third Coil will be clear once and players will un-sub until 2.6　（no gear to grind for).

[LillithCale]

Since the next Coil is planned with 2.4, the ilvl will be raised. No question there.

Edit: The ilvl is raised every 6 months. I don't really think that is too fast.

Hmm, maybe it just seems fast to me then, due to the fact that I'm a bit behind from where I started. Maybe once I catch up (I should hopefully be around 2.4) it won't seem so quick anymore?

[LillithCale]

Unless Yoshida changes the core concept of gear and progression in XIV, which I doubt they would have time outside an expansion, there will be another Ilvl increase for the coil patch. The second coil and ramuh will get Echo. ST will become vanity only.

All the current content will be negated next patch. the 2.even patches are negation patches.

The devs are creating a problem. They are releasing content really quick, which is good. but the design of the content is based around negation and the gear treadmill. So it is extremely short lived.

I've never played an MMO with ilevels before, so all of this is pretty new to me. Is this a common problem with a ilevel based systems?

[Wobble]

Unless Yoshida changes the core concept of gear and progression in XIV, which I doubt they would have time outside an expansion, there will be another Ilvl increase for the coil patch. The second coil and ramuh will get Echo. ST will become vanity only.

All the current content will be negated next patch. the 2.even patches are negation patches.

The devs are creating a problem. They are releasing content really quick, which is good. but the design of the content is based around negation and the gear treadmill. So it is extremely short lived.

I agree with this, they need to stop the ilevel for a while and let the gear have some time to live and the players some time to get it. I'm to the point now that I figure why bother since by next patch or two it will be worthless anyway?

[LillithCale]

If they don't raise item level, then Third Coil will be clear once and players will un-sub until 2.6　（no gear to grind for).

Honestly, I didn't think of it that way. I know it's about finding a happy medium, so I wonder I f just a small bump in ilevel would be satisfying? I'm glad I don't have the job the development team does, it seems like it quite a balancing act to keep people happy T_T

[Exstal]

I agree with this, they need to stop the ilevel for a while and let the gear have some time to live and the players some time to get it. I'm to the point now that I figure why bother since by next patch or two it will be worthless anyway?

6 months is a pretty long time to get the max gear.

Honestly, I didn't think of it that way. I know it's about finding a happy medium, so I wonder I f just a small bump in ilevel would be satisfying? I'm glad I don't have the job the development team does, it seems like it quite a balancing act to keep people happy T_T

The problem lies in the fact that small bump would be okay, people have something to grind for. A small bump below current item level gives people who are done their current gear, nothing to do. It has yet to be seen if savage coil was a success and they'll have more of it, but since it doesn't give any decent reward I personally don't do it or have any intentions of doing it. Carrot-stick method is really good for keeping people playing. Remove the carrot and you've lost the interest of the people.

[Kydi]

I agree that they need to slow it down. I only started a month ago and have only just hit 50 on a character. However. I'm about i50, and getting to i100 looks like a huge challenge. The concern with the constant raise on gear is just that - people who have just started are miles off the curve. There should be some focus on horizontal gearing, and balancing the secondary stats a little better so that current players can catch up but experienced players still have something to aim for.