Why refusing customization is a fallacy

[MageBlack]

That's not the same...because every WAR will still be the same.
It's not like you had to really "chose" if you want to specialize as a "Defiance" WAR or a "Deliverance" WAR. You're both, and every WAR is both.

I know its not the same as what you are asking for, I thought I said that. This is the best we will get is the expansion of what we have. They were clearly not happy with the ACN/SMN/SCH and how that branched so they wont be continuing that route. There was an interview with Yoshi-P a while back where he stated he saw problems with the armory system and wanted to make some major adjustments. so changes are in the works and being considered and I'm sure the input is welcome.

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand why they made FFXIV like this, and I love what the game has become (Mind you, I also think than 1.0 had several interesting ideas, but, eh, too bad)

For example, FFXI was atrocious with its quests. FFXIV offers you anything you need to know. So, they made just a little few quests where you really have to think and search (Like the broom quests).
First reaction ? "What are these bulls**t quests ?!"...sad

I think the two of us could have a great conversation about this. I was there the whole 1.0 as well and at the time of the players polls, I didnt feel it was worth saving or continuing the course so I voted for the overhaul option. BUT. After that, as it grew and changed and the lag got betterish, jobs were added, special skills could be purchased, etc. I was really starting to like it. I think a mixture of 1.0 2.0 and FFXI would be phenomenal.

And don't get me wrong, I like the complexity in games, the elemental wheel, branching choices for customization, more complex skills, better gear stats, etc. I was disappointed when some of that stuff was removed but I'm enjoying the game for what it is. In the end its a game, one of millions available at my fingertips. It's not like when i was younger and you didnt know a game existed until you saw it on the shelf at a store or if you were lucky, in a nintendo power magazine and you only had maybe a handful of new games to choose from in any given year. I think players are getting altogether too entitled about their opinions in todays world but thats a completely separate conversation.

Problem is, people put less and less time in game these days. Everybody wants everything NOW. And if you give them exatcly that, you pretty much can't go backwards, because the backlash would be even stronger.

This is a big sticking point with me. Ok, I will give you that there might be some people that are like that, but they are of the same percentage as the elitist that nothing is ever hard enough for them. In both cases those groups arent the ones catered to, nor should they be. The largest player pools that this game is targeted for and reaching are players that have never played an MMO before (which will be lots of console users cause look at how many MMO's consoles have) and casuals, like myself. The generation of gamers that helped make the medium popular are now older, have full time jobs, extracurricular commitments, and families. It's rather insulting when I hear "filthy Casual" thrown around like its people like me ruining the game because I am the casual that is targeted. I love games, play as often as I am able, but I dont have the time commitment to sit down for 6hours a day to feel like I made some kind of progression (I'm looking at you Yhoter Jungle!!!!) I want to be able to hop in, Run a daily or two and feel I actually did something.

I also do want to see the tough challenging complex content there too for the times I am able to play longer and want that challenge and stuff that satisfies the craving people like yourself have for challenge. Maybe I just have a different lens than you when I look at the game, maybe I'm just more willing to take a sacrifice in a few areas of the game for the sake of others less skilled than myself to get into a game like this that might not have otherwise. It's how the medium will grow. When I want the chew-my-controller- frustrating challenge, I'll pick up Dark Souls, when i want strategic calculated combat, I'll pick up FF Tactics. When I want to zone out to something while I take a crap, I'll play angry birds. Last I checked, I didnt need a single game to fullfill all my content cravings.

Yes, I was, and I still thinks it's the same fallacy as the lack of customization. Back in 2.0, the strat for Ifrit Hard was to use caster LB to destroy all the nails before Hellfire. So, even if Ifrit took reduced damage from Fire or Ifrit-egi, you'd still took at least a SMN or a BLM in your party. And that also wouldn't have been a problem for BLM, hadn't they decide that the only "damaging" spells would be the Fire line.

I think my only problem is the strong language you and many other posters like to use, as if to drive home the exaggerated importance and urgency of the changes you would like to see. That in itself is a fallacy. Could they have kept all that stuff and built on it? Probably. would the game then be more successful as a result? If people are having issues with some of the earlier content, like AV with the games current setup, they would not have stuck with it. but look at how the game has changed from 2.0 to now. even levelling from 1-50 had a steady growth and complexity in its own right. 3.0 built on that however small it might be. If they keep the trend of MSQ requirements for unlocking expansions, then that allows for complexity growth as a requirement to access future content. Steps of Faith was a great check to see if you can handle content in the expansion. You cant beat that, you wont last in 3.0. I also see potential with the new Alex Story mode, its an easier way to seperate casual content from hardcore content, that way they dont need to always cater to the lowest denominator.

Anywa, I'm terribly sorry for the rant. Been seeing this post come up a lot in the forums nd arguments get more and more heated about some silly technicalities and, like the nosy bugger i am, felt I should put in my 2 gil.

Sorry for the rant and thank you for listening.

[Reynhart]

They were clearly not happy with the ACN/SMN/SCH and how that branched so they wont be continuing that route.

Like I said, I don't understand why they weren't. SCH and SMN can both be adjusted without touching the other job, either through their pet of their unique skills. And we all foresee that the number of job skills would become a bigger part of your kit than your class skills eventually. As for the bonus points, it's not that big of a problem, or if they think it is, I don't think it'd be that difficult to tie them to jobs and not classes. Problem solved.

There was an interview with Yoshi-P a while back where he stated he saw problems with the armory system and wanted to make some major adjustments. so changes are in the works and being considered and I'm sure the input is welcome.

I hope so. But if they put it in 4.0, people will have a really hard time adapting since they'd be used to the gameplay for several years.

I think the two of us could have a great conversation about this.

I started around 1.18, so I know a lot of flaws were already fixed. Before that, it was probably too big of a mess to be worth saving.

Ok, I will give you that there might be some people that are like that, but they are of the same percentage as the elitist that nothing is ever hard enough for them.

I don't know if the percentage is that close, but it doesn't really matter...the elitists are given what they want for.
Alex Savage is a big WTF for people who think that this game can be cleared in a breeze
Without the unsync, I'm sure Final Coil would still be a really tough gate, even with the Echo.

And, I suppose those elitist would love to have more theoerycrafting and freedom, because they are the one creating the meta.
"DRK sucks !
- You know, that famous Free Company cleared that with a DRK ?
- Really ? Ok, then DRK is awesome !"

And, having multiple specs doesn't prevent people from choosing the most basic spec and still be able to perform decently. Since the few last FF all had mechanics where the game plays for you, maybe they could implement something that chose traits for you

It's rather insulting when I hear "filthy Casual" thrown around like its people like me ruining the game because I am the casual that is targeted.

The problem with "casuals" is that most people think "casual" equals "bad player" and "hardcore" equals "good", which is a...ok, I'll stop using that word...which is just plain wrong. Even Alex Savage is catered for "casual" as in you don't need to play... for 6hours a day to feel like I made some kind of progression...

Maybe I just have a different lens than you when I look at the game, maybe I'm just more willing to take a sacrifice in a few areas of the game for the sake of others less skilled than myself to get into a game like this that might not have otherwise.

I am willing to make sacrifices if that means more people can enjoy the game. But if there's a solution to please more people, why overlooking it ?

I think my only problem is the strong language you and many other posters like to use, as if to drive home the exaggerated importance and urgency of the changes you would like to see.

I tend to avoid using strong language as long as people don't start replying like "I don't know how your idea would work so you're stupid to even think it can work". Especially when a game is as young as XIV.

Steps of Faith was a great check to see if you can handle content in the expansion.

Steps of Faith is an utter disappointment...don't get me wrong, I loved the concept, the strategy you needed to clear it. But, yes, people couldn't beat that. And instead of staying true to "You can't beat that, you wont last in 3.0", they nerfed it so bad that you can basically ignore every mechanic and still win. What they should have done with Steps is removing it from the Trial roulette and put it in the Main Scenario roulette. This way, people could still do the Trial for a quick and easy tomestone reward and wouldn't leave en masse whenever Steps of Faith popped. (Which is still a reality, even after the nerf...)

With the system built the way it is, "customization" can only come through the addition of unique items with unique powers and stat bonuses.

I made a reference to that :

I've seen more and more posts, in every section, debatting over skill trees, multiple specs, uniques stats on certains items, etc..

And Yoshi-P answered the same way "We fear these items would become mandatory". Again, out of the really hard engame content, anything can be clear efficiently with whatever setup you have and whatever gear (Apart from obviously bad choice of gear, of course).