The Current Status of FFXIV Patch 3.1 and How to Address it Moving Forward

**Rowyne** · 01-15-2016 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Velhart

"We saw a lot of people did Easy Mode Alexander." Of course they did, it was easy content at a borderline insulting level with what had the best gear until Esoteric/Savage. You were basically handing candy to people on a silver platter, of course lots of people are going to go in and grab it.

SE should be focusing on trying to get less experienced people into challenging content, and then try to get people into really hard content after that. Not release an easy mode so you don't have to put the effort end game.

Exactly. It makes me nervous to think they're looking at the loot pinata that is Alex Normal and think because it's easy to complete that it's a successful raid model. Where is the story? Where is the sense of accomplishment? Entry level raiding should be left to the 24-mans. I want raiding to feel like Coil again.

**UBERHAXED** · 01-15-2016 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Rowyne

Exactly. It makes me nervous to think they're looking at the loot pinata that is Alex Normal and think because it's easy to complete that it's a successful raid model. Where is the story? Where is the sense of accomplishment? Entry level raiding should be left to the 24-mans. I want raiding to feel like Coil again.

The purpose of the easy mode is for people who were unable to complete Coil because of the difficulty and missed the story. It wasn't for people who could complete coil. Those people are intended to follow the progression and not even bother with the story mode (the whole reason they are releasing the next set at the same time).

**Ibi** · 01-15-2016 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by UBERHAXED

The purpose of the easy mode is for people who were unable to complete Coil because of the difficulty and missed the story. It wasn't for people who could complete coil. Those people are intended to follow the progression and not even bother with the story mode (the whole reason they are releasing the next set at the same time).

Except that savage required you to clear the story mode (and likely will again).

And unless they make the Midas gear dead on arrival by making it i210, most groups attempting savage are still going to end up farming normal, because it will provide upgrades.

**Velhart** · 01-15-2016 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by UBERHAXED

The purpose of the easy mode is for people who were unable to complete Coil because of the difficulty and missed the story. It wasn't for people who could complete coil. Those people are intended to follow the progression and not even bother with the story mode (the whole reason they are releasing the next set at the same time).

Easy mode only accomplishes limiting hardcore raiders to midcore raiding with how they have the development team set up. Easy mode is only relevant for a few weeks till it gets forgotten. It would of been so much better if they made Normal Mode on Final Coil level and then echo buff/tune it down over time when it is outdated for people who wanted the story and fight at an easier level. This would make the content stretch out two patches easily and eventually give less experienced players access. Seriously, raiding is the only potential hardcore content in the game, the only content in this game. Why must we bring it down to people who only want the story? If we had Easy/Normal/Hard I wouldn't care as much because it doesn't affect the intended audience, but SE seems intent on catering to those who feel entitled to a no effort story mode. It doesn't make sense when you are balancing the three different types of audience. The hardcore just got pushed to the side, and that audience definitely sees it, and a lot have left due to it.

SE's mindset should be how to work someone into more challenging content, not how they can make it easier for them. Its backwards thinking.

**Moomba33** · 01-15-2016 11:31 AM

I'm quite happy with Alexander Normal myself. I never got past t9 during ARR and I still need to find a group to do final coil with now.
I'm glad that this time I'll be able to see the story play out when it's new instead of waiting for nerfs.

I don't mind if SE decides to lock the best equipment behind challenging content in the future but I hope they continue to keep all story elements accessible.

**Alahra** · 01-15-2016 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Velhart

SE's mindset should be how to work someone into more challenging content, not how they can make it easier for them. Its backwards thinking.

How would you suggest for them to do that? They did various things in ARR as I talked about a bit earlier, but my impression is that there are still a lot of players for whom that approach didn't necessarily work, who didn't raid regardless of the various stepping stone paths, "catch up patches" and so on. What other methods do you think they should try to work players into challenging content who have not historically been interested in it?

**Sardonia** · 01-15-2016 02:17 AM

I am not exactly sure what gamers want these days. It seems people want so many different things and they all conflict which each other in some way or form.

1. People as for interesting stats on gear: This is a two edge sword. Even though it would be interesting and neat, it can also play horribly. People would find out what equipment is the best and if you do not have it good luck with getting into some what challenging or challenging content.

2. People asking for equipment to last longer and be more relevant. I kind of agree and disagree. Players would rush to get the equipment and say no there is nothing left to do and say they are bored for a much longer time then what we have now.

3. Players believe Heavensward is a rehash of 2.0. Yes it is technically but with new areas, new classes, etc, etc. Not sure what players were thinking this was going to change. An expansion is what it is, an addition to the core game and not an entirely new game.

I believe the developers do listen and take in account feedback given, however, again that feed back is all across the board and they have to piece together what they think the majority of players actually want which is no easy task.

I for one am happy with the game currently. I enjoy it and I have a relaxing time playing it after a long day at work. I set my own goals and do not need them to create a carrot for me. Currently I am gathering a lot to increase my gil stash. I managed to snag a house a couple days after Christmas where a small house in the mists opened up magically and I managed to grab it. Now I am working on gathering enough gil to perhaps upgrade to a medium or even large when new housing comes out.

Last comment is I believe PS3 is holding this game back some do to limitations it has. Once that support is dropped I think additional things can and will be done.

**Mindy_Macready** · 01-15-2016 12:08 PM

The problem with the current raid is that the story is kind of lame, and not very interesting at all.

**Fluffya** · 01-15-2016 01:26 PM

I think the main problem is SE overdoing it. They dont need to add mecanisms or rewrite the whole fight to fit the various players. They dont need to set name to different difficulties of it.(story,normal,savage)

They just need to scale the boss and mobs level and lets the players set their own difficulty. That would also give them more time since they wont need to recreate whole fight.

That system already exist in the game, its in "battleleves"

**MilesSaintboroguh** · 01-15-2016 01:31 PM

I don't think scaling difficulty by adjusting numbers is the sole way of doing it. Wouldn't it just be a gear check for every difficulty step in that way then?

Thread: The Current Status of FFXIV Patch 3.1 and How to Address it Moving Forward

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