Quote Originally Posted by Vandril View Post
Snip.
You're exactly right, and that's the problem.

What I'm comparing is the PvP experience system in FFXIV to other games that use PvP Exp scaling. Almost always, the required exp scales with the rank; however, where FFXIV differs is that in other games players have other means of attaining better exp per match as they progress. In FFXIV you can't.

As it is, the exp system in FFXIV is, basically, linear (most players average out within a similar range to one another in Exp gains). Challenge logs and consecutive loss bonuses aside, you can only gain 200, 300, or 400, exp for participating in matches. No matter what rank you're at, this does not change. That's why people started complaining. The Exp required between ranks 40-50 is, roughly, equivalent to the exp required from ranks 1-40, the most brutal jumps being between ranks 45-50. Yet, despite this, there is no way to increase the amount of Exp you gain per match. So the final 10 ranks seem gratuitously brutal by comparison to the first 40. The only thing that makes them even remotely tolerable is that you know that after rank 46 you can start using the current top level PvP gear set; however that gear set is not nearly as useful in Seize as it should be.

Putting in a progressively scaling system is more for the benefit of Wolves Den, as that game mode takes greater advantage of PvP skills and Morale bonuses, and WD matches are scaled according to Rank, unlike Seize. However, it also allows for a greater sense of achievement. Progressive scaling is, in most games, one of the main reasons that Players keep coming back to a certain game mode. Working for that next level is a driving force. The problem with SE's version is that the rewards to not match the effort it takes to get them.

SE was right to put a progression system in the game, because it's what keeps most people playing, however their implementation was majorly flawed. To make this work for the greater PvP community (all of us, not just those who do Wolves Den), they need to give us incentives and adjust the ways in which we can gain exp. In game bonuses are a must (though implementing them would be tricky), and more rewards for attaining ranks should be considered. A lot of people would like to see an overhaul to the Wolf Marks system so that it includes more gear as well as housing items, mounts, minions, etc.

Personally, I also think that they should bring the Morale Bonus back to Seize as well. I know that it gives Rank 50 players an advantage, but that's kind of the point. They worked for those ranks. They earned their bonuses. You don't see players in FPS games reaching higher ranks to be rewarded with water pistols, do you? No. They get the guns. So should we.