Question On HNM's

[Preypacer]

I think it'd be fine to add them as a supplement to the existing ones on shorter timers.

The claims of some to the contrary notwithstanding.. there are/were people in FFXI who did enjoy the idea of camping and getting claim on rare spawns with the chance to get a truly rare drop. Since those people are sharing the same world with the people who prefer the system in place now, then I think it's absolutely fair to provide some more rare ones as well.

There are going to be some who will say "Well, those people like to sit in one spot and camp the same creature all day". And? So what? Does that affect you? What business is it of yours ("yours" meaning anyone who'd say such a thing) how others choose to spend their time in-game? Just as it's no one's business to tell people who like to PL that they can't... It's no one's business to tell people who enjoy camping rare mobs for extended amounts of time that they can't. The door swings both ways.

I don't personally enjoy camping rare NMs, 'cause I get fidgity if I'm sitting in one spot for too long (even in real life). However, I do feel that the idea of these really rare, powerful and elusive creatures existing in the world adds a layer of depth and intrigue to the world.

I also believe that my personal like or dislike of a given element isn't a mandate for SE to include it or not. It's something I see an awful lot from people in MMOs, and really only demonstrates an ego-centric attitude... The whole "I don't like it, therefor it shouldn't exist". Well what about those who do or would? Do they not deserve content they'd find enjoyable simply because "you" ('you' being any given person making such an argument) don't like it? Who is any one person to dictate what others should or shouldn't be allowed to enjoy based entirely on their own preferences?

I really don't get that whole binary "yes or no" attitude. If the content exists and it doesn't interest someone... then don't do it! Simple! Is the idea of someone else enjoying content some don't like that intolerable? To ask a question so often brought up by those defending power-leveling and the like... "Why do you care how others choose to play the game?"

Now... I know what some will say "because if they're uber items then we'd have no way to get them unless we went and camped the NM".

Not necessarily.

Remember how SE modified the rare drops in XI and created two versions? There was a rare/ex version that dropped from a world mob (Valkurm Emperor, Leaping Lizzy, etc), and then there was a non rare/ex version as a possible reward from certain BCNMs.

A very similar dichotomy could be provided in XIV, although perhaps with some variations.

Let's say two different items are created, each with similar stats (neither any better than the other, maybe a point here or there transposed, etc), but with different appearances, or something else attached to them that makes each unique to the other. I've found that a lot of what I've called "rare game hunters" in XI are particularly proud of showing off the fruits of their time and effort... be it a weapon, an armor piece, etc. I've seen it even in XIV. I saw a guy in Ul'dah, naked except for an Ifrit weapon sheathed on his back. Clearly he was showing that off.

So... the idea of having those rare versions drop unique items of a design, color, etc. that's unique to a given HNM/NM could certainly be a motivation to go after them. The idea of standing out in a crowd. Similarly, that item's "twin" could be a possible reward obtained by defeating a given encounter on its hardest difficulty setting. Neither item would have a 100% success rate of dropping.. hence, making them truly rare items.

There could also be titles associated with felling certain rare NMs... or perhaps for having felled a certain series of them. Perhaps killing all NMs belonging to a certain species throughout the world. Something like "Big Game Hunter" (just an arbitrary example) over someone's name (as mocked up in the 2.0 screenshot) could be pretty awesome for someone to have over their head, because people would see that title and know exactly what the player did to get it.

Kinda like getting Maat's Cap in XI (before it became widespread anyway). You saw that pale blue cap and you knew immediately what the player had accomplished to get it. For some people, there is definite value in that. And I think it's just as valid for those players to be able to enjoy that aspect of the game, even if others wouldn't enjoy it or find it interesting.

And if someone who wouldn't normally want to camp rare NMs decided they really wanted that specific gear piece.. then they could make the choice of trying to get it. It's always an option.

At the end of the day.. I see an awful lot of argument as 100% for or 100% against, and I simply don't think it has to be that black or white. There are ways to appeal to both camps.. Then it just comes down to each camp accepting that the other is going to have items that they don't... unless they choose to go for them also.

As long as there's an alternative that caters to each camp, or to those in the grey area in-between... I don't see why anyone would have an issue with it. Unless they're simply such self-centered people that they can't stand to see others enjoying content they don't enjoy.