Quote Originally Posted by BlackHawkGS View Post
Isn't grinding NM's the same deal? ... just without cutscenes and such? I guess they change locations on occasion. Locations that you've probably seen as often as the raid dungeons.

Am I not understanding this argument?
no,
Normal NMs that are time-oriented or random pop from mobs give players something to do that -takes time-
It also gives a sense of achievement when you kill and claim it.
This gives players a lot more to do in game.

HNMs are group-based so you usually get shout convos, ls convos, and often drama as well. But they help foritfy the endgame community unlike raids which separate them.
In a raid you go with a team from your ls, you enter the raid quickly, you focus on the raid. If things are timed everything is about the raid and there is little socialization. etc
With HNMs or open world gods you go to a zone with other linkshells, you compete with them but often talk in shouts or socialize with your ls in game or on voice-chat while you do it.

With raids you get people who stay in the city, warp to a raid, do the raid, warp back to main city
With open world content you have people running around zones, waiting at zone entrances (which often double and a good exp spot) etc.

Raids close the game and take out the feeling of a vast world.
Open world content spreads the population out, makes the world feel alive, and makes the world seem dynamic and active.

So no, grinding NMs is nothing like raids, because it involves competition and often social communication.
Whereas raids involve doing the same repetitive tactics over and over and over again
NOW: if they came out with randomized dungeon raids -that- might be interesting and less boring but would still mess up the open world feel