LETTER TO DIRECTOR (Please Read)

[Khal_Drogo]

To Producer/Director Naoki Yoshida,

INTRO

First, I would like to complement you on the enormous contribution you have made to FFXIV in such a short time that you have taken on the project. My name is Ryan. I am writing this letter to address some issues with the upcoming developments for FFXIV. It is my opinion, as well as the opinion of many close friends who have played several MMORPGs (including extensive experience with FFXI), that the concerns below, if properly attended, could play a significant role in the success of FFXIV.

BATTLE SYSTEM: TOO FAST-PACED

You mentioned once that change can be good, but that doesn’t mean it always *is good. That statement is the most fundamental principle of all my concerns. FFXI has a flawless battle system. There is very little room for improvement, so why fix what isn’t broken. Auto-attack is one of the most useful tools for players of all types, and was a great addition. It gives hardcore players the time to strategize attacks without compromising productivity, and also allows time to chat with friends and party members. It also enables players to freely move about, or attend responsibilities they may have in real life while playing. In FFXI, players could take a break to eat, work on homework, attend to various small chores, and even go to the bathroom without too much disruption. However, because of the need to spam cures, attacks, abilities, party buffs, and even TP, the auto-attack feature did very little to resolve the enormous issues concerning the battle system -it is too fast-paced. There is very little time to chat, do homework, or even eat -let alone go to the bathroom, while partying. More steps must be taken in order to dramatically reduce the battle pace.

POOR WEAPON SYSTEM

In FFXI, battles would sometimes last up to 5 minutes, and weapon skills might not even be used each battle. Each job was unique. Some jobs, more adept with smaller, faster weapons might have the opportunity to use their weapons skills several times per battle, while other jobs more adept in heavy weapons may only use their weapon skills once per battle. This presented players with more options. Players who enjoyed "low-damage" spam for their weapon skills were able to find jobs that suited them; and those who preferred "heavy-damage" weapon skills were equally satisfied with jobs and weapons that suited their wants and needs. In FFXIV, every job spams everything –basic attacks, weapon skills, cures, abilities, and even BUFFS. Virtually every job is indistinguishable from the other; and by restricting each class to a certain weapon type, the chance to stand out is practically lost. Every lancer uses a polearm; every archer a longbow; every marauder a great axe; every gladiator a short sword or dagger, etc.

WEAPON SKILL BOREDOM

A major issue that needs to be addressed is the use of TP. Weapon skills are no longer exciting “rewards” for a hard-earned level; TP usage is no longer a “tide-turning” event in various battles. They are simply one more addition to a very long list of meaningless, slightly animated, boring, average attacks lost in a sea of even more meaningless attacks. After a well-executed series of attacks due to exceptional gear, weapons, and/or food, sometimes over the extent of an entire battle, then and only then, should most jobs be able to use weapon skills. The damage of the weapon skills should be adjusted accordingly to help intensify the tremendous event, when such a hard-earned attack is executed –just as it was in FFXI. This will slow down the battle pace, and make TP-gain much more exciting.

LACK OF JOB UNIQUENESS

Lastly, my concerns fall to the issue of implementing a new job system, and I feel that it is absolutely necessary to reiterate these issues, as they are the most significant of all. Many people quit FFXI thinking FFXIV would bring something new to the table, other than mind-numbing animation spam, button-smashing, and the abomination that is the job system. Your decision to re-examine job names was a first step in the right direction towards a newer and better FFXIV, and would have helped bring the game that much closer to what it should have been from the beginning. However, while feelings of nostalgia may have been a wonderful gift to the many Final Fantasy fans out there, it will never compensate for the horrific system that is in place now. FFXI only allowed players to combine 2 jobs’ abilities, traits, and attributes; and only about half of the secondary job’s benefits were awarded by the combination. This meant players had to thoroughly evaluate each potential sub job for their main job, and decide what aspects of those potential choices were beneficial to them. This helped promote character and job uniqueness. For example, a DRG/DNC or DRG/WHM was an excellent choice for soloing, but less suitable for damage dealing. While on the other hand, a DRG/WAR or DRG/THF would be a prime combination for party play where healers are readily available, and damage is the only focus. In FFXIV, whether you’re a Conjurer, a Thaumertauge, an Archer, or a Pugilist, you almost always have cure spells assigned, abilities from other classes, and perhaps even some “TP-moves” like second wind and "Comrade in Arms" equipped. This means everyone is spamming the same basic attacks, weapon skills, cures, and abilities as any other job, leaving only the "weapon in hand," and "job title" to distinguish what "class" someone is actually using. Please do something about this problem. This same reasoning must be taken into consideration for armor.

ARMOR ISSUES

There should not be ANY exception that allows one job to wear another job’s armor. Major penalties are not enough to deter someone from equipping the highest level, most exclusive, and the most impressive gear onto a job it wasn’t designed for, at a level they have yet to earn. Seeing other characters wearing gear you wanted for yourself was part of the “fantasy” of Final Fantasy. Something as simple as a combination of different colors and materials, on a piece of equipment with an interesting design style, on the body of some random character’s high level job, inspired people to abandon their main jobs, “retire” their favorite to the Mog House, and start back from the beginning –just for a chance to see that same equipment on their own character, on a job they might never have even considered leveling before that day. FFXIV destroyed all chances of any such scenario ever coming into fruition. Players can now see a piece of armor, buy it, equip it, and decide not to ever level the job; thus, eliminating even more gameplay excitement. I remember staying up all night sometimes just to make sure I hit the level that allowed me to equip my "new gear." Now, we can simply equip it at will, and blow off the leveling experience entirely.

CONCLUSION

FFXI, in my opinion, is/was the greatest gaming experience my close friends and I have ever had. Every aspect of the game was built around personal growth and achievement, down to even the most trivial things like buying low level armor. Discovering gear combinations, farming items, leveling your jobs (and personalizing them with your own choice in *weapons –even if those weapons did not properly complement those jobs), coordinating BCNM fights, quests, missions, camping NMs, and grinding for hours on hundreds of monsters for experience and levels. It was incredible. When FFXIV was announced, my friends and I were very disappointed. We knew the game would likely mean an end to FFXI, but we were also somewhat relieved because it meant a new beginning for us. It meant another opportunity to enjoy years and years of indescribable fun with all our friends. Thus far, FFXIV has failed to reproduce the same sensations that FFXI had evoked in us for many years. However, the game is far from dead.

It is quite apparent that FFXIV could have been a truly masterful contribution to the online gaming industry, and possibly could be still. Years and years of hard work were put into this game, and it does show. FFXIV has the potential to revolutionize online gaming, but it still isn't there yet. I understand that it has only been a year since you’ve taken on such a difficult project. Not to mention, the game was released pre-maturely, and now you are burdened with the daunting task of “fixing it.” Fortunately, every single update you've made since you took on this project, no matter how small, has brought the game closer and closer to complete success. FFXIV has unfathomable potential, and I am confident in your ability to ensure that it reaches that potential. Please take these concerns into consideration.

Respectfully,

Ryan

SUMMARY

P.S. My primary concerns are as follows: the battle pace is far too fast, and the spam needs to stop. Decrease TP generation, and increase weapon skill damage -make weapon skills mean something. Eliminate the "favored and suited" aspect of equipping armor -do not allow Disciples of Magic to wear battle-like heavy armor; do not allow Disciples of War to wear cloaks and robes; and do not allow level 10 jobs to wear anything over level 10 gear; or level 20 jobs to wear over level 20; or any job that isn't that level to wear that gear -make us earn our gear, and strive to reach the levels that grant us these types of rewards. Thank you for all that you have done, and continue to do. You are the best thing that ever happened to FFXIV, and I look forward to discovering all that you have planned for this game.