1st year Review - Open World Map / Dungeons

[Aoxaviar]

To Yoshi-P and the Dev Team:

I have read, and probably also added to, the headaches you have received from the community at large about the Open World content/Maps and the Dungeons.

With the first year now behind us, and 3.0 already being discussed, can you give us more information on IF or WHAT is being discussed about the expansion of the existing open world maps and also the plans on the existing dungeons prior to patch 2.1?

I understand time is involved on what you create and add to the game, so I am not personally expecting anything to show up before 3.0 to 3.2. However, more information to the community would help us to know the long term plans of the Dev Team.

Per a past LIVE letter, you guys are working and thinking about 3 to 4 years ahead us. I appologize for all of us for not keeping that in mind. However, it would be helpful to all of us to know, generally, what the ideas are moving forward with the game.

[monochromicorn]

i second this, i mean, its not like i pay every month or something.

considering that it really is something that i pay for, i feel like we deserve to know something about the general plans. with what we have been told lately, i am happy with. ive heard from other players about possibly making airships, which means flying, maybe to new lands, or just faster travel. we know about the ninja class/job, and we know that we will be fighting shiva. granted, for all the time that ive played, i never really paid attention to this kind of stuff, finding out so early, because i was not gointg to be able to do all the stuff that was added for a long time. now that im at the point where i can do all the new things as they come out, i am learning about this kind of stuff, so if the way info is being slowly leaked out the way it is, i am perfectly happy with it. would it be nice if we could learn a little more without ruining the story.

[Lithera]

What they plan and what actually happens isn't always the same thing as things change. The FFXI team would post roadmaps but all it did was create disappointment as time frames changed throughout the year and content changed and moved. The way the MMO community in general is...anything said about future content/release content would be taken as gospel and the rants would never end when the Devs don't deliver for whatever reason. Therefore best practice is not to announce anything not set in stone.

[RhazeCain]

However, it would be helpful to all of us to know, generally, what the ideas are moving forward with the game.

While I don't mind hearing about FF14 development plans, it really doesn't effect anything for me. I don't need to hear about "maybe", and until it's in released patch notes it's always a "maybe". So please don't claim to speak for all players. (PS. unlikely this post will be read by any SE employee that could possibly grant what you're asking anyway.)

What good does it do me to know what's coming in a future update -- Am I going to change my current play? Actually yes: I might not do something that will soon be made irrelevant. Or I might go do a prerequisite for something that is about to be released. But if I don't know it's coming, then I'm still having fun doing whatever it is I'm doing currently and thus nothing lost by not knowing.

Dev plans are a mere curiosity. It's fun to anticipate stuff sometimes, but minor interest as far as I'm concerned.

[Aoxaviar]

@ RhazeCain - I get where your coming from. Personally, it would not affect my gameplay in any way either.

@Lithera - I totally agree with you about the Dev Team being quite till Patch Note time about what is really coming, and hinting as they do. I also agree that the community is one who takes all LIVE letter's as gospel (sad) and then the community gets all pissed off about delays.

The basis of the post is more along the lines of asking the Dev team to give us, the community, and understanding, of:

1. Lvl unlock
2. character development
3. Map expansions/new lands
4. Overall world unlock.

I personally am not even looking for a patch breakdown on this one either, a simple:

"next two years we are looking to add 1 to 3 new classes/jobs, and 1 new race"

"in one to two years, cavern open world maps may be added to the game"

"We are looking into possibly expanding the white mage role to include summoning a pet elemental in about 3 to 4 years"

[Aoxaviar]

I know things take time to be developed and put into the game. However, reading the LIVE letters, and the Q&A after, it seems like the same subjects always seem be brought back up.

Due to that, I think it would help, not only the Dev Team with regards to what they are rolling out, but also the community at large, to know what is coming coming and in the works in very general terms to allow for the LIVE letters to be more than a constant conversation on the same subjects.

Even Yoshi-P made the comment like 4 letters ago "Player housing every time, really!"

[Empressia]

I only interested if our toons can join the Garleans and have their cool magitek suits!