4Gamer Interview with Yoshi-P!

[Nektulos-Tuor]

I don't think a skill tree or something similar would work in this game. Players would in fact find the most efficient build in no time. Don't get me wrong, I would love this to be possible and I know that this can be done in other games and that there is games that have done it and done it well (Ragnarok Online for example).

Sadly FFXIV is not one these games. Why? Because basically 99.9% of all skills in this game can be throw in a calculator and then is just a matter of time to find the "best" build. Since the only concern in this game is "How much DPS I can do in X amount of time?"

I want to be wrong, and I want them to try, but sadly its pretty clear that this won't work in FFXIV.

Well, mostly because the combat system and engine are so boring. They kind of cornered themselves. They have really no need for Crowd Control at all, or cool classes.

Its pretty much just: "Get mobs hp to 0, win."

There is really no strategy involved in the combat, all the strategy is placed on the encounter. So, yeah your right. A system won't work for games like WoW, FFXIV because since its a numbers race there is always only ONE way to win.



In Everquest and older games you had to use Mana Drains, Healing and self healing spells, encounters would change the fight and make you use mezmorizes and crowd control effects and run around the room, or knock back certain mobs or restore the groups mana or use songs. Some fights even had you manage your own health and mana, or throttle DOWN dps to win.

There is a fight in EQ2 if you do TOO MUCH damage, your group wipes. You have to keep your damage under a certain point, and this was before parses. Just so many UNIQUE encounters.


Since this game is so simplified though, a trait system would do nothing for it really. Look how well they treated bard/machinist. They are pretty much DPS with very LITTLE support, (pretty worthless support in my opinion..)