Observations from a New Player

[Moonleg]

"I don't know what this is so get rid of it".

I hope you're never put in charge of maintaining anything important.

[Cyrus-Wallace]

- Linkshells: I do not know what these are for. I have my friends list and my FC. Why do I need a linkshell?

This makes no sense. Do you even know how LS work?

[Odstarva]

Potions have a different cool-down, meaning you don't need to wait to use another skill. If you can't see the use in this, you're part of the issue people are getting stuck in certain instances.

Same as above, if you can't see the use of food then you just aren't there. If a full party eats food that improves dps, it will make a difference. If both tanks eat food that gives them more HP it makes a difference (no matter how small it might be).


Those 5% CAN be the difference between clearing something or wiping.



Also, no, you don't have access to abilities that cure you of status-effects. If a healer is intensively healing the group (and it can happen) you ought to do your very best to alleviate their job - not make it harder.

[QiLymePye]

Potions: If you are soloing and bite off more than you can chew, or if you are in duty and you know a healer will fail to get you back up / run out of mp / got poisoned and not getting cleaned.
Food: In short, it's buffs. Increases your stats.
Treasure Chests: Where do I even begin here... You don't like being rewarded

Wait...What? I haven't had to use a potion since maybe 20.And the food? 3% exp boost? And for the stats? Stats mean very little. Its not like 4 or 5 point difference in str between my character and yours makes us play different. Playing this game is like playing a rail shooter. Its the most linear mmo I have ever played. And I do think it needs trimming. Would you give up potions for more armory space. I would in a heart beat. No one in dungeons go after treasure chest anymore, speed run straight to boss. Its kinda sad that a new person quickly sees some flaws in design with this game.

[SecretCrowds]

Wait...What? I haven't had to use a potion since maybe 20.And the food? 3% exp boost? And for the stats? Stats mean very little. Its not like 4 or 5 point difference in str between my character and yours makes us play different. Playing this game is like playing a rail shooter. Its the most linear mmo I have ever played. And I do think it needs trimming. Would you give up potions for more armory space. I would in a heart beat. No one in dungeons go after treasure chest anymore, speed run straight to boss. Its kinda sad that a new person quickly sees some flaws in design with this game.

I can't relate to anything you said here.

[QiLymePye]

This makes no sense. Do you even know how LS work?

I actually have an issue with this as well. In FFXI, link shells were more useful. You now have FC chat. I never had a linkshell in this game. But Im gonna tell you how syupid this game is with linkshells...I'm supposed to use them to communicate long distance for just hunts, but I can.t use them for a stupid filler quest to talk to minfilia or whomever, having to run around doing errands to talk in person and confirm stuff. Then after turning in said quest, she hits up her LS in a cutscene to talk to other NPC'S???!!! really????!!

[Odstarva]

Wait...What? I haven't had to use a potion since maybe 20.And the food? 3% exp boost? And for the stats? Stats mean very little. Its not like 4 or 5 point difference in str between my character and yours makes us play different.

Wait, 4 or 5 points of difference? You're eating low-level culinary food if that's the improvements you're getting! I think you need to investigate before you say something is worthless, seriously.


As an example, for my Paladin: High-quality Bacon-Bread - Parry +33, Vitality+28, CRIT+16.
Now go ahead, and imagine everyone is using the optimized food for their own class in a party. It makes a difference, if you don't see that the issue lies with your eyes.

[odie]

Potions are incredibly useful. Those should most definitely stay. I use them all the time.

[Unglitteringold]

But in order to clarify the point I've quoted, can you please provide me an example in an existing MMO that has this system or the way you want it to be?

Thus far I have only encountered a handful of fights in FFXIV that don't boil down to "Avoid AOE and Kill Adds." I'm not saying FFXIV needs these mechanics, but some variety wouldn't hurt. And I am aware that things at end game will be different, but there's a lot of duties between the start of the game and end game.

But, here are some examples: Trash that is a challenge, bosses with random abilities, or abilities that are cast at random, fights where positioning matters (beyond just facing the boss away from the party and pulling him to the edge of the fighting space), mechanics that work differently based on your party make up, fights that require crowd control, and timed challenges.

[SpiritMuse]

Chocobo fighting can be useful if you're soloing. Some people prefer doing stuff like this solo instead of having to constantly bother other people to join them for one quest/fight.

The airships (and chocobo taxis) are useful when you're low level and don't yet have the Gil to teleport with impunity.

Treasure chests: just because you happen to outgear the loot found in them doesn't mean everyone does. I've plenty of times found stuff in chests that was an upgrade to me, especially in dungeons. Where are you getting your stuff from if not from chests?

Linkshells: they're a way for a group of people to communicate that aren't in the same FC. It's useful for hunts, for example. My FC has recently set up one for the FC and friends of the FC.

Irrelevant quest lines: it's not up to you to decide what is irrelevant. Some people might want the relic weapon for glamour or the achievements, for example.