It's almost impossible to level a new character now. What gives, SE?

[Pyrix]

Agreed. I'm really tired of challenge being about time spent. You can have challenge without having activities that are long and tedious, and you can also have long tedious activities that have no real challenge other than time. SE has a way of implementing the latter most often. However, I'm optimistic SE will do something about it, because if they don't the game will flop on PS3 release, and I'm pretty sure this game cannot sustain another poor release. If PS3 release fails, this game fails.

This
/10char

[FestAkos]

Agreed. I'm really tired of challenge being about time spent. You can have challenge without having activities that are long and tedious, and you can also have long tedious activities that have no real challenge other than time. SE has a way of implementing the latter most often. However, I'm optimistic SE will do something about it, because if they don't the game will flop on PS3 release, and I'm pretty sure this game cannot sustain another poor release. If PS3 release fails, this game fails.

Agree with pretty much all of this. The current leveling system equals simulated content, whereas stuff like the new Ifrit instance is actual content. I don't know why so many people think leveling should be 90% of a game. It's asinine is what it is.

[Wolfie]

I agree, but people on the forums want things to be "hardcore" and any admissions of wanting the game to be "easier"(particularly leveling and questing for some reason) will get the usual bullshit response: "It's good that the game is getting hard!"

Well, the game isn't getting hard. It's becoming tedious just like FFXI was. These are also probably the same people who solo leveled ever job to 50 on Coblyns, but now that others want to be able to solo efficiently it's a problem. The same people also equate time spent with challenging and rewarding content. Is it really hardcore if I level every craft to 50? No, it just takes forever. Is it hardcore if the leveling curve at low levels is completely out of whack? No, it's just annoying for new players.

This game will eventually need new players because all of you bittervets can't sustain it. Right now, being a new guy isn't much fun. I'm sure you'll say something stupid like, "It weeds out the noobs!"
It does, but not in a good way. EVE Online weeds out the noobs, FFXIV will just frustrate them to the point of quitting.

Yep, sounds about right.

I love difficulty. What I don't love is tedium.

I can go out and grind mobs that are 1-5 levels below me and I will only have to rest every 10-20 mobs, and I won't have to reflexively stun any of their attacks, or chain my skills in any way, or put any effort into killing them. Or I can go fight monsters 0-3 levels above me and use a cure spell every time I get hit like clockwork, and sit down to rest half the time. I'm not challenged in any way beyond not wanting to toss my controller at the screen. This is the very definition of tedium.

The tedium would be alleviated somewhat if I had fun things to do while I was low level, but I don't. I have few boring quests that start at level 10 and 15, and three equally boring mission quests. No dungeons, no cutscenes, the same ~5 leves, and no parties because nobody wants any. FFXIV has, once again, taken MMOs a step back by putting it at early FFXI quality where you didn't have any fun until you were in late Valkurm or Qufim.

What's more insulting is that the game becomes EASIER and MORE FUN in the later levels. SE is one again catering exclusively to current high level players, than aiming to make the game fun for everyone. It's ridiculous.

[Akashi]

I agree, but people on the forums want things to be "hardcore" and any admissions of wanting the game to be "easier"(particularly leveling and questing for some reason) will get the usual bullshit response: "It's good that the game is getting hard!"

Well, the game isn't getting hard. It's becoming tedious just like FFXI was. These are also probably the same people who solo leveled ever job to 50 on Coblyns, but now that others want to be able to solo efficiently it's a problem. The same people also equate time spent with challenging and rewarding content. Is it really hardcore if I level every craft to 50? No, it just takes forever. Is it hardcore if character power at low levels is completely out of whack? No, it's just annoying for new players.

This game will eventually need new players because all of you bittervets can't sustain it. Right now, being a new guy isn't much fun. I'm sure you'll say something stupid like, "It weeds out the noobs!"
It does, but not in a good way. EVE Online weeds out the noobs, FFXIV will just frustrate them to the point of quitting.

Spot on. If I wanted to play FFXI, I would. Leave the tedium in the past.

[Shadowedge]

You don't get any decent gear while leveling until ~20. Using high level gear penalizes you too much.

Your stats are terrible until ~20, so you have to rest every 1-3 mobs. It's also nearly impossible to fight any monster more than 2 levels above you.

You cannot complete any leve that isn't below your level. The linking mobs will destroy you. Leves now occasionally fail if you die.

The money rewards from leves, chesta, and quests at low levels makes it impossible to purchase any items via MW, unless you take up a gathering/crafting class and try your hand at marketing.

Sounds like a game now!

[PeaceWalker]

I'd take this thread more seriously if you weren't a brony.
In any case, the issue with this goes all the way back to Parties and how hard it is to start one.
Just get a friend to power level you, or something, isn't friendship magic?

[Wolfie]

I'd take this thread more seriously if you weren't a brony.
In any case, the issue with this goes all the way back to Parties and how hard it is to start one.
Just get a friend to power level you, or something, isn't friendship magic?

I could, but then that's a bull-s*** solution for a bull-s*** problem. Why would anyone have to rely on high level players to get through the low levels? What about people that DON'T have high level friends? Why is it so difficult to start parties at the lower levels (hint: lack of fun and/or party content)?

[Gramul]

Why would anyone have to rely on high level players to get through the low levels? What about people that DON'T have high level friends?

Make friends?
I hear it's magic.

[Blarp]

Make friends?
I hear it's magic.

It would be magical if the people on Rabanaster actually spoke to one another outside of their LS's. NOBODY talks. I've tried forming PT's, I've tried asking about active LS's, I've tried just making conversation with people. I try asking if people would like to PT after a behest. People act like NPC's. I've never played an MMO where people were so reluctant to socialize. EVE Online, a game full of paranoid cruelty, where speaking in local can get you killed, is livelier and more social. This MMO feels devoid of life.

[Gramul]

It would be magical if the people on Rabanaster actually spoke to one another outside of their LS's. NOBODY talks. I've tried forming PT's, I've tried asking about active LS's, I've tried just making conversation with people. I try asking if people would like to PT after a behest. People act like NPC's. I've never played an MMO where people were so reluctant to socialize. EVE Online, a game full of paranoid cruelty, where speaking in local can get you killed, is livelier and more social. This MMO feels devoid of life.

I don't really seem to have that problem on Lindblum.

I suppose you could always make your own LS and hand it out to strangers.