Why don't they change the way we earn Atma? (An honest question, not a rant.)

[Xystic]

To compare Ragnorok Online to FF14, WoW or any hardline MMO as these is a poor argument as read about the game online. RO is F2P....and I promise that these mechanics that plagued those players lead to its downfall as well.

The Korean RPG Ragnarok Online, which is 10+ years old, was not originally a F2P. It was for a very long time, a P2P MMORPG. The low RNGs did not kill the game. At this time in MMO history, MMOs were having issues with dealing with inflation, especially MMOs that became popular and survived for many years. A newer player was having problems joining Ragnarok Online 2 years later on because items would cost in the near millions as Gil sinks at this time were not well developed and understood extremely well because most MMORPGs at this time did not last many years. Ragnarok Online was able to destroy items efficiently using its +5 to +10 upgrading process but it couldn't destroy zenny effectively to keep inflation down, making it too hard for newer players. Even with the deterring of newer players, Ragnarok Online still exists today and its still very enjoyable with some very fantastic BGM.

The low drop rates at 0.01% and 0.02% rarely deterred us and nor was it the downfall of the game. During this time, it was commonplace for MMOs to have extremely low drop rates and countless people still played MMORPGs during this time.

[Gerolan]

I do believe the system needs changed somewhat,
Even a token change would be to once you finish atma once, you have a permanent 5% boost to future drop rates on other atma weps. That Increases 5 percent each time another is completed.
Done it on BLM but the idea of doing it again on smn and sch with such low drop rate has put me off totally.

[MasamuneBranford]

Would everyone agree that if going forward SE switched back to future upgrades being "challenges" (similar to defeat Hydra, primals, etc.) that there would be no need to ever nerf atma, animus, novus? This way - those three stages could be viewed as the grind necessary to make these "zodiac" weapons less common?

[Gerolan]

Would everyone agree that if going forward SE switched back to future upgrades being "challenges" (similar to defeat Hydra, primals, etc.) that there would be no need to ever nerf atma, animus, novus? This way - those three stages could be viewed as the grind necessary to make these "zodiac" weapons less common?

I would rather a "defeat titan ex 20 times" than a low low chance of an atma, so I'd agree

[Sarynth]

Sorry i didnt get back to you sooner coldreactive. (On my phone at break). I'd be ok if the fate showed up only if you were close to it, but my idea was more or less no fate; 10-15min respawn nm's that could spawn in and roamed a specific area. Maybe each nm would represent a zodiac creature?

[Fendred]

They probably already have a pretty good idea for how to change the atma grind to something more reasonable. The rationale for the atma grind remaining all this time was that there is some subset of gamers who actually enjoyed the grind and that their sense of accomplishment would be diminished if the grind were struck down too quickly. On the other hand, that same complaint can be made to some degree by any of these particular gamers on the odd number patches. For a very short time, I was one of the people requesting that Twintania not get nerfed during the 2.1 to 2.2 transition. Why? Because I had a preconception that they would do their best to make the challenges of the game withstand the test of time, or at least until the first expansion. I had played World of Warcraft and experienced first hand the raising of item levels and level caps for ten years, and I was understandably tired of that form of progression.

So I think the reason they didn't nerf the Atma grind is because of a misconception on the part of Yoshida as to what kind of gamer wanted the challenge to stick and their reasons. That some subsection of players may have grown tired of equipment treadmills after experiencing over ten years of MMORPGs almost exclusively using that model did not occur to him.

[Darthana]

Well seems bit to much asking people grind 24/7 because i think grinding in mmo's end of time.
Even world of warcraft WOD Beta checked out Garrison (housing) crafting won't be really necessary any more
People like just want to have fun reach Level cap get some gear throw dungeons farming or earn points to buy vendors.

I have seen this while been leveling for few days form 30 in 45+ zones met people kept farming for hours and hours and days.
I felt there pain it is unnecessary thing to do i would suggest people to play Wildstar.
If are no lifer with no job or nothing to take care of

[Ilitsa]

I enjoyed the atma grind, and intend to do it again too, it really wasn't as bad as people make it out to sound (and for the record, no I didn't get all mine fast, it took me weeks to get them)

[Scootaloo]

Shouldn't keeping players happy be the second most important thing behind keeping players subscribing?

Of course I might be wrong, but I can't imagine anyone enjoying farming Atma with the way it currently works, and if they aren't having fun, why would they keep subscribing?

OP says they aren't ranting but all I hear is:

[Noshpan]

Assuming that the drop rate were to be improved, the fact that this game uses a true RNG algorithm could make it possible for some people to take longer than others to gain the Atma they need for their Relic. Which is why you read/hear stories of crafters with high percentages of success still failing melds/synths/desynths multiple times in a row.

I recall that, prior to the introduction to the Atma grind, that some of the playerbase complained about how easy it was to acquire one's Relic weapon. So they demanded that some sort of a grind be added in to lower the number of "max" Relics out there.

While I don't mind a bit of a grind, I, like many others, do prefer to feel a sense of accomplishment rather than a sense of "it's about fracking time". When it seems that the RNG gods are not with you, you begin to feel despair and frustration. I'm not having all that great of luck in getting my Atma for just one Relic, that it is making me debate if I want to do this again for my future relics.