The effect of the 1-year grindfest a threat to re-release?

[Azurymber]

Very few MMO's pull off successful re-launches, so a re-launch will be difficult enough as it is.

However, the past year has been one long content-less grindfest. It's considered normal to have multiple rank 50 jobs, especially after the time of failing-leves.

As such, content seems to be developed in order to match the general end-game population. If you want to be a good tank, having multiple jobs leveled up is necessary. Want to finish a raid fast? Completely normal for players to switch jobs inside the run.

The main point here is that FFXIV endgame so-far relies on multiple jobs being level 50.

Also, neuroscience experiments in the past few years tell us human brains generate greater satisfaction from relative gains than they do from absolute gains. In other words, people are happier when they have more than those around them. If you don't completely believe this go ask some FFXI vetrans about all the linkshells breaking up over dynamis-lord drops and all the byakko-haidate related drama. I'm sure every server experienced it.

The point I'm getting at here is that when the game is re-launched, it will be very difficult for new players to catch up, especially if there is a lot more content when they join. This will make it difficult for them to function well in end game (due to not having a years worth of grinding multiple jobs), and make it difficult for them to surpass many of the current players.

The fact that a huge population has botted their way to their high ranks, and that when the game is re-launched that probably won't be an option any more due to better enforcement, only compounds on the problem

So what do you think SE can do to fix this? Make the game like WoW where its really easy to get classes ranked up fast? Up the level cap and make 1-50 really easy? Post your thoughts

[Commat]

I'm under the impression that Jobs will take care of the problem for SE, where hopefully a PLD will be infinity better then a full 50 capped tank in endgame group content for example.

Also, if the game does get a relaunch, it will be after xp chains and better solo play options are available or whats the point?

[Krychek]

Well as someone who started XI on PS2, I was already well behind any players that started at NA PC launch let alone JP launch. You already made the point in content-less game. Meaning once they add a lot more content endgame and the like and yes more then likely will up the level cap at some point it will balance itself out more theres always gonna be people behind, people just starting out.

To me it doesn't matter much its about the journey and not the destination of max rank ASAP, but thats not everyone of course either way with more content always coming down the pipe it shouldn't really matter too much.

Some things like physical levels being abolished are good things say grinding XP parties become the norm in mid-levels and you have two lvl 30 LNC's lfp and you gotta choose one your an elistist and look them up and see one is lvl 50 phy level and other lvl 33 phy you easily go with the lvl 50 phy cause he'll most likely have better equipped stats. So to me its one good thing they are doing that helps with such issues.

While I have yet to do the dungeons and I know quite a few people would disagree but from what your describing about changing jobs on the fly in dungeons I would suggest they prevent you from doing so in these possibly . It makes people have to play their roles better and that one person that has all the time in the world to have all max ranked lvls not quite more valuable as the next person. Even though they can still have a ton more useful skills anyways.

Adding in some expansion story quests like CoP had where you were level capped would be nice , I know not everyone liked the caps when they had em but I myself enjoyed it gave you something to do at those levels if you had multiple jobs at that lower lvl gave you more options and what not. Forced you to use low level tactics not having all your mighty high level abilties. Always having to have lower lvl armor/weapon was a pain but in XIV its not a problem ( although I would like that changed personally but thats another story and if they did you could just have gear sync for such quests ).

I always thought the CoP quests/missions were really fun although certainly terribly hard at the beginning so it doesn't have to be to that extent but a good challenge none the less makes it fun.

[Azurymber]

Well as someone who started XI on PS2, I was already well behind any players that started at NA PC launch let alone JP launch. You already made the point in content-less game. Meaning once they add a lot more content endgame and the like and yes more then likely will up the level cap at some point it will balance itself out more theres always gonna be people behind, people just starting out.

To me it doesn't matter much its about the journey and not the destination of max rank ASAP, but thats not everyone of course either way with more content always coming down the pipe it shouldn't really matter too much.

Some things like physical levels being abolished are good things say grinding XP parties become the norm in mid-levels and you have two lvl 30 LNC's lfp and you gotta choose one your an elistist and look them up and see one is lvl 50 phy level and other lvl 33 phy you easily go with the lvl 50 phy cause he'll most likely have better equipped stats. So to me its one good thing they are doing that helps with such issues.

While I have yet to do the dungeons and I know quite a few people would disagree but from what your describing about changing jobs on the fly in dungeons I would suggest they prevent you from doing so in these possibly . It makes people have to play their roles better and that one person that has all the time in the world to have all max ranked lvls not quite more valuable as the next person. Even though they can still have a ton more useful skills anyways.

Adding in some expansion story quests like CoP had where you were level capped would be nice , I know not everyone liked the caps when they had em but I myself enjoyed it gave you something to do at those levels if you had multiple jobs at that lower lvl gave you more options and what not. Forced you to use low level tactics not having all your mighty high level abilties. Always having to have lower lvl armor/weapon was a pain but in XIV its not a problem ( although I would like that changed personally but thats another story and if they did you could just have gear sync for such quests ).

I always thought the CoP quests/missions were really fun although certainly terribly hard at the beginning so it doesn't have to be to that extent but a good challenge none the less makes it fun.

I think some of those points are great. I would love to see capped story quests.

My main concern isn't that people -can't- catch up, but that the sheer number of people with 5+ rank 50 jobs will intimidate them. Many people will join, -feel- like they can't catch up, and quit before the game can balance out.
For example there won't be any way to profit while leveling up crafting. And it will be very difficult to compete with players who botted all their crafts to 50 (which is a lot)

Edit: as opposed to ffxi where even at xbox release most people only had 2 to 3 jobs at max level. Its the perception of seeing most ppl with 2 jobs at max compared to most ppl with 6+ jobs at max.

[Rinsui]

I guess they'll offer some new servers for new characters only; newcomers will have the option to join either their friends on an old server, or start in a fresh world on a new server.

Even I am tempted to start over, I have to admit; I'm sitting on millions upon millions of gil, but so is everyone around me. My server just feels "saturated"; long before the "real game" has even started. Little of the "adventurous new world" feeling is left.

[Azurymber]

I guess they'll offer some new servers for new characters only; newcomers will have the option to join either their friends on an old server, or start in a fresh world on a new server.

From what i've heard from Dev's of other games, devs want to avoid this because it creates serious disparities in gaming experience + therefore makes it harder to please people when updating. For example a new server where botting is quickly banned would have a competitive market, which would be different than current servers which have essentially dead markets (ex. no competition on fishes since they are just botted and the market is flooded). When they try to decide how to update the game, how do they choose which population to cater to?

[Pulseczar]

Another complaint thread from Azury. Shocker!

[Eekiki]

Doomed, doomed, doomed, doomed, go home now.

[Azurymber]

Another complaint thread from Azury. Shocker!

where am I complaining at all? I brought up an issue and asked people to discuss it. I backed up that issue with multiple logical points. If you don't like my argument why don't you just counter it instead of trolling?

[Eekiki]

where am I complaining at all? I brought up an issue and asked people to discuss it. I backed up that issue with multiple logical points. If you don't like my argument why don't you just counter it instead of trolling?

You listed a bunch of stuff you claim to be fact without any source material to back up the claim.

How do you figure a "huge population" has botted to 50? What's all that about neuroscience, and what's that got to do with anything?

Your claim is that the PS3 launch will fail due to the large number of players with multiple R50 classes, but looking at the history of previous multi-platform games that had a very staggered release, such as Phantasy Star Online and Final Fantasy XI, that hasn't been the case at all. Final Fantasy XI, in particular, had several staggered releases, as well as a similar rocky start on its initial launch, and it's still alive and kickin'.