Game too complex or easy?

[BloodPact]

For terms of complexity. The game is more or less the most basic and simple AAA mmo on the market.

Gear has no unique stats, Jobs have no unique builds, progression is pure linear (the game goes in a strait line more or less progression wise). No real supporting roles for jobs (Br/mch is not a support class). no resistance and weaknesses. Game is ultra simple from start to end.

As for easy. Well that explains everything except the most current endgame raid.

So by that default the game is extremely on the ultra easy spectrum. Although complex vs easy is not really a good argument. THe game could be piss easy and ultra complex, Example ffxi outside 2 bosses the game was easy mechanics wise but everything else pre-abysea was ultra complex with a jobs having multiple party roles, builds, and gear sets. Hard vs Easy would be a better comparison.

Great answer above. I'd also like to add that now with opening duties to undersized parties, you can personalize most instances to your own level of difficulty, which can be a great deal of fun if you pick a couple of friends and start your own achievement list.

[Ryaz]

The thing is you want to keep hardcore players happy, but also do not want to alienate your more casual fan base. That's bad business sense and the money they pay each month to play is as valid as every hardcore player (I actually think some of the more hardcore players would rather see a game fail than give anything for casual players). Personally, I'm a "hardcore casual". I know my job, I'm good at it and do whatever I can to improve myself. But I don't dedicate my life to this game. I've been invited to Savage statics, but can't do them because of my work schedule. I also enjoy playing other games.

I think FFXIV strikes a decent balance.

[SkizzleofRagnarok]

Melch: This fast way of levling is absurd I understand its meant to "lure" you and keep you interested in playing since it goes so fast. I don't know how to play half my jobs at 60. I fategrinded them just because its possble. Sometimes I wish it was like the good old days where even a silly bunnyrabbit could beat you when you are 75 haha! I know I know the glory days of FFXI but seriously levling fast to 60 and then learning your job is that really the right way to go?

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

I have to say that while better future gear, echo buffs, and even expansions might naturally ease the difficulty/complexity of any given content, it will not make up for a lack of knowledge or experience.

The game is - in the right areas - challenging. Certainly. But due to preparation, communication, personal effort and drive, this game is as easy or as hard as YOU make it.

[Priya]

It's certainly sparse. You've got Alex savage=Hard stuff, Ravana/Bismarck EX=middle stuff, Everything else=faceroll. I know that everyone loves to hate WoW, but they covered their middle ground a lot better. SE's goal seems to be to just let the middle people wait for power creep, which would be fine if there was something to do while waiting for that. Staring at the wall in Idyllshire between Expert Roulette and Alex Normal farms is oh so fun (these two things are part of the /faceroll category.)

I realize you can level other jobs or craft, but if you've got a specific main that you're looking to improve, you're gonna be stuck doing stupid easy content while waiting on the power creep.

[Higashikata]

I thought the middle ground that everyone here says doesn't exist were the extreme mode primals.

Anyone who raids knows they aren't particularly hard, but they're miles more difficult than this silly "story mode" stuff.

[Mclyde]

Story mode can only be judge on your first try doing it. And i'm sure the majority wipe even on Ifrit story mode Everyone has been throw away from the ring by Titan, and i don't even speak of Garuda story mode and his little dps check with the feathers.

Just try to beat Odin and Leviathan in complete pugs team.

I think the extrem primals are well designed.

Alexander story mode is not that easy in pugs team neither. Some players just do it with a premade. What do you expect ? (schweppes !) that the boss will suddenly surprise you with a new mechanic just because you are an already well-prepared team ?
If you want to test the difficulty, don't come with your friends. And certainly not with the max ilvl gear.

[StrejdaTom]

Too easy.
Coil and Savage Alex are good piece of content, always keep me busy for months while raiding 3 days a week but that's it.

I think January 2015 was the last time I did roulette, because the dungeons are so easy I can't stand doing them more than just once. But we cannot blame only SE, people were always asking for nerves when new dungeons like Pharos Sirius came out so SE stopped bothering providing us with harder than baby-difficulty content. I think dungeons should be on par with Alex Storymode - a bit challenging, but when you clear them once, easy.
I am not saying there is not hard content in this game, just that the "daily" content is easier than it has to be.

[Ayuhra]

The secret, really, is do as I do. Queue for everything in DF with a PuG. Alexander, Trials, Expert Roulette, all of it. Then every queue is an adventure.

[CGMidlander]

There's something for everyone.
Personally, I feel that crafts could be in a better place though. SE added some frustrating factors for HW (lower good rate, red scrips, high number of mats needed, reduced quantity outputs for things like pots that used to give out 3 per craft, class-specific gearsets to eat up inventory space again...etc.)