Thread: Patch 3.1 and the Problems with a Two Tier Model of Content

Originally Posted by Magis

Other than vanity, there really isn't a reason to go back. ILVL > all.

But everyone knows that glamour is the real endgame!

#1 reason I got all my classes to 50 before 3.0 dropped was so that I could have more wardrobe options. Totally serious. I may have a small problem.

Originally Posted by Colorful

Overworld -> Diadem -> Dungeons -> Story Mode Trials -> Void Ark -> Normal Alexander -> Bismarck EX -> Ravana EX -> Thordan EX -> Nothing -> Savage Alexander

That "nothing" is what we're missing, Bismarck and Ravana aren't difficult fights, and can teach you the basics of more complex mechanics, and as you go down further it gets more difficult. But then all of a sudden you're hit with Savage and nothing in between that, that's what we're in need of.

I would argue wholeheartedly that Thordan EX fills that "nothing" spot. I really believe SE listened to the player base and created this trial just for that neglected niche. Once could also even argue that it fills in quite nicely between A1/2S and A3/4S.

Originally Posted by SerCypher

Ugh I made a giant post and it got deleted.

I don't want more savage content, I want more 'Hard' content. The problem Square is running into now is the problem other games have. There is a group of people who say 'WE WANT MORE RAIDS' and another group that goes "I like casual stuff". Then the game becomes segregated.

There needs to be middle content that is challenging for people, provides a sense of progression, and teaches people their class before they get into a raid and piss everyone off. Let's go back to 2.0, for example. Here is what the progression looked like.

-Hit 60

-Do Dungeons, learn class, get basic mechanics down

- Get the relic quest, do Hard Trials, learn new mechanics.

- Finish Relic, get pointed to Coil

- Do Coil and Ex Primals


The whole idea of -hard- content seems to have gone out the wayside in this expansion. There is only casual and extreme, and there is nothing to bridge the gap and provide a sense of progression for the average player. That's why you have anger about new players trying Savage, or Ex primals. These people really aren't skilled enough for those fights, but they want something more challenging then facerolling dungeons, and there is nowhere to learn now.

There seems to be the assumption that the average player doesn't get a sense of progression from the way current content is now organized. Well, I don't know if I'm the average player but I get a sense of progression all the time, it's just not always related to gear. I'm excited whenever I get a new triple triad card or minion or complete a new achievement. I'm not against more "mid-core" content by any means. I just think that if the average player is anything like me, they feel that they progress more towards their goals by NOT doing raids than by doing them. I could spend a lot of time on Savage Alexander, not get too far, and miss out on grinding for other achievements, or I could work on those other achievements and catch up on raid content later on when it is more accessible. The latter is a more efficient use of time for me. Maybe others feel the same?

Originally Posted by Catwho

As I've aged, my gaming habits have changed. I now have usually 3-4 hours max to spend each evening during the week, less if I want to visit friends. Some weekends I have all day to play, others I'm out of town and I can't play at all.

Despite what the community on the forums here says, a lot more people fall into the same pattern that I do - a few hours to play each day. I can't cap esoterics on Tuesday because if I did that, I would literally only be able to do that for the day. I want to craft a little, work on another job to 60, and do other activities with my FC. So I try to run an expert dungeon once a day, and I'll be lucky if I cap esoterics before the next reset.


Not saying that we don't need more mid-core content to fill the gaps, but SE is creating content that caters to the majority of its playerbase, who are content to do casual raids and roulettes once a day and call it good.

Not to question your definition of casual but I think I don't know what it means anymore. I thought being a casual player mean you play the game for fun regardless of schedules (Some more open or others) and don't take part in daily raid grinds and savage modes unless they suddenly feel like it. I consider myself a casual. I play for at least 6 - 9 hours a day (unemployed) and sometimes maybe 5 - 6 (when employed), usually giving me enough time to catch up to my friends who play the story and end game content. Extreme modes were only reached at a point where story content was finished and the only fun thing to do (That was not grinding orientated like crafting, or other relics) was to try to take them down. Learning was tough but fun, and the rewards were actually useful for upcoming content.

Basically my point is I still consider myself a casual player and I have more time on my hands. I'm not sure how much of the majority only have 4 hours to play because I'm sure they came from alot of other mmos like xi, wow, or even ffxiv 1.0 which were very grindy games that take alot of time and effort, and I'm sure they have something to say about all these changes in 3.1. Saying its the majority of the playerbase is a stretch imo

I view casual content as any content that a group of strangers with no experience can be Duty findered into and complete with a good chance of success.

It's content that is forgettable, and that doesn't require any serious effort or growth to complete. This is now the only type of content in the game besides the very overtuned savage content.

Originally Posted by SerCypher

...

You can avoid the post limit by using the edit feature when you make a post. So you can take your 2 previous posts, copy them, go to your first one and click edit post (not advanced) and just add the text. Good points btw.