FFXIV: The State Of Raiding

[Toguro]

(Long Read incoming)

As many may know.. the raiding scene isn't as healthy as it should be. Not enough people are raiding, people are not interested in Savage, raids are deemed "too hard" and nerfs are requested even buffs from some. Midcore crowds do not want to kill themselves trying to beat Savage because Savage is too hard. They want more midcore content like Sephirot EX and King Thordan EX. Hard content that isn't too hard like Gordias and Midas.. but, is Gordias(Savage) too hard? is Midas(Savage) too hard? The answer truly is no. The content is Savage level and is meant to be brutally hard. The problem is how this content was introduced to this game. Savage right now needs to be nerfed so the midcore crowd can actually complete the content. Currently, waaay to few people in comparison to the population have completed Midas and Gordias. And that's due to the difficulty.

The content is Savage level and is meant to be brutally hard. The problem is how this content was introduced to this game. Savage right now needs to be nerfed so the midcore crowd can actually complete the content. Currently, waaay to few people in comparison to the population have completed Midas and Gordias. And that's due to the difficulty.

I see no fix for this issue that does not involve nerfing Savage. But how do we keep the hardcore savage-lovers happy if savage is nerfed and beat in a week? The goal should be to have all be happy. Even that minor 1~2% of the hardcore community. In FFXIV's current state it isn't fair to the 98% to have a raid that is brain-dead hard(brain dies from mental stress ) be a requirement to get a little stronger. And then soon enough all the gear isn't relevant anymore because the next patch comes. So the incentive is already lacking there, that's a fail. Then the gear is just a dyeable version of easy mode gear. Many many reasons why Savage right now should be nerfed because it's the difficulty:reward scale is just off.

Super hard raid -> +10 ilvl gear, +15 ilvl weapon, able to dye tome gear, minion(lol)
-patch comes..
Super hard raid -> +0 ilvl gear, +5 ilvl weapon, dyeing gear no longer exclusive now

Casual-only play -> full i230 before patch
-patch comes..
Casual-only play -> full i240(except ring) w/ relic, can dye gear

This is where the scale gets bad. I don't raid myself(EDIT: Only did Coils) but who would want to kill themselves over a +5 ilvl weapon and a minion while casual play can get you i240?

It's just not enough reward when you involve content so hard.

I think there is only one way to fix this... and I say adding the midcore difficulty. Its the only way to keep everyone, EVERYONE happy. I know Yoshida has previously said it would be hard to do but he at least didn't say "its impossible", right? Was just a staff issue. If a 3rd difficulty would be added it needs to be done a certain way. Here's the idea:

Raid(Story):
No changes. There is nothing wrong with these raids and they should not be touched.

Raid(Normal):
THIS should be the raid that has the Coil difficulty. The kind of difficulty that allows it to be completed by the best of the best raiders in a week. But remember best of the best. This raid will drop the raid-level gear(Ex: i210, i240, i245). This gives the midcore and hardcore the incentive to do hard(not murderously hard) content to get rewards and get stronger. Do NOT lock it behind Raid(Story). I've always thought this was a huge mistake on SE's part. They make people do the easy-mode and then they get Savage. But by then, they've already seen the content so now it is deemed "same fight just harder". So less interest. If Raid(Normal) is unlocked with Raid(Story) people wouldn't have to do story they can just do normal for gear. Make it a difficulty where Easy isn't required because of the gear. Or make other methods or something.

Raid(Savage):
Allow this raid to be THE challenge that hardcores want. Keep that A3S funeral difficulty. Savage is Savage and the best can beat it. Lock behind Raid(Normal). Raiders would by now, have the gear necessary to fight and take on this challenge. But what good would it be if the rewards weren't good? A raid of this difficulty should noooot have expendable rewards... I think a good idea of a reward would be non-gear rewards. How about exclusive cool-looking glamour rewards. Make them lv1 so you can wear at anytime. Can drop glamour(including weapons), minions, mounts, music, furniture, haircuts...? etc, titles from achievements. Anything that can last forever. It better be good too. And please, pleeease make them a guaranteed drop. Example: Beat A8S, chest piece drops. But not one, no, 2 drop. As well as other things. No one in their right mind would want to blow the brains up trying to beat Savage for rewards with a 3% drop rate that's stupid. Make it 100%. Either make 2 of each drop or allow a few things to drop every time. No weekly lockout. That's dumb.

TL;DR- Easy-mode the same. Make Raid(Normal) and give it midcore difficulty and give it current savage rewards for actual Savage progression. Make Savage hard like it should be. Remove any stat-boosting gear from Savage and add long-lasting rewards like mounts, lv1 glamour, furniture, etc.

In the end everyone should hopefully be happy..