I guess it's time

[Synestra]

Simple, add gear sets with each complete set having it's pieces scattered though all raids so people would have to do them all.

Even if people would go for only one set, they would have to do all raids.

Doesnt even need a set to do this just scatter current items across 2 raids where both end bosses drops chest and other drops pants, with lil twist i would do small "attunement quest" after you clear both raids that unlocks "trial" like fight with "true" end boss and he is the one that drops weapons.

[loreleidiangelo]

Idk, I've been playing since CBT3 and still find a lot of interest and value in this game. Took a three-month break a little bit ago and came back fairly refreshed.

As long as the game remains fairly accessible to everyone, I wouldn't mind if they gave us new progression methods or gameplay formulae with future updates, but I'd like the current level of time commitment to stay the way it is.

One thing I dislike is the notion of "roulettes", though. Maybe it's the lack of variety with them at the expert level (but honestly, I found them dull even when we had three offerings instead of just two), or their lack of challenge, or SOMETHING, but they're probably the worst form of gear acquisition I've ever seen. I shouldn't have to do 2-3 times as much content just to equal ONE expert roulette. I'd like to see bonus tomes awarded from something like Savage Alrx or Mhach if you've already gotten your rewards for the week, for instance.

[Kaurie]

To make everything that I'm saying come together cohesively and so others who have taken it upon themselves to read this ungodly wall of text have a point to take away, I guess the point I want to make is, as an extremely dedicated and passionate player and follower of this game, am I really the only one who has that constant feeling that whenever you log in you just stand around doing nothing or run another mind numbing soulless daily you think to yourself, "why am I still playing? why am I logged in right now?".

You said a lot of things that I am thinking tbh. When it comes to this question, sadly the answer is definitely not anything to do with the game. When i ask why I log in, it's not because the story, or the dungeons, or the raids, or crafting, or FATEs, or housing, or any of that. I'm fairly disappointed with most of it, actually. If I left it there, I would log out. However, the answer to that question for me is "Friends". I have quite a few friends on here that I would be very sad to permanently say goodbye too. I've actually tried to encourage them to play other games with me, but they're pretty content here it seems. So, I log on to play with them.

[MagiusNecros]

My problem with the game thus far is everything seems to be a glorified DPS check. Tanks are not rewarded for wanting to beef up defenses as much as possible it's more get gear and skill to where you survive bear minimum and focus the rest on Tank DPS. Healers need to premptively heal or make HP shields so they can DPS more, and DPS need to just pump out as much damage as they can. It's rare content like Mhach City where boss HP is so bloated you have no choice but to follow mechanics other then that though it's the same song but a slightly different tune. And still has followed the same Mob Mob boss mob mob boss mob mob boss boss formula. Dungeon formula is pretty much the same minus one boss. I mean background can be as pretty as it wants to be but it's still the same crap to me.

As gear is upgraded older dungeons become a joke. Where before I struggled as a BLM to do big damage with a burst phase I now find I can easily take off 20%-30% if not more off a boss in older 60 dungeons. And if I tank them I require little more then tank stance and if not that no tank stance at all and just cycle through defensive abilities.

Plus the main reward for all this content? Worthless tomestones that is only ever used on one piece of gear a week or a token for a grindfest weapon. Sure you can get a lot of tokens if you "no life it" but after a while you will likely get burned out of farming the one piece of content that gives the most tomestone payout. And especially feel salty 2-3 months down the road when they nerf your Anima step to take half the time it took you to get it yourself. You can go oh but roulettes but as far as I'm concerned the Research Facility gives the most guaranteed per run.

And those advocating that you "take a break if you don't like the game as it is" won't make it better later. Because when you come back it will still be filled with DPS checks and grinding for tomestones which many have stressed since 2.0 that they quite frankly are tired of. So tired of that those who were there during 1.0 actually miss 1.0.

And don't get me started on Job class comparisons between XIV and any other FF game in the franchise. You got the novelty title sure but don't go expecting the class to play to FF tradition since XIV wants to turn them into their own thing. Summoner and Dark Knight being key offenders here. I mean we have some good idea's here with Warrior, Scholar and Monk here. But when you stop and look at Summoner, Dark Knight, Black Mage among others you can't help but feel that more of the base class is the key focus instead of the actual job itself to the point you feel like less of a BLM/SMN and more a beefed up Super Thamaturge/Arcanist.

[Kallera]

don't explain it then, its kinda a bad explanation anyways. both raiders and non raiders suffer from the drought of content, but only one group can remove content that no longer interests them?

[Luciddreamer]

Well I have been playing this game for 3 years.and it will always be my favourite.I have tried many mmorpgs before I discovered ffxiv.and they all just sucked.I play them for one day, get bored than uninstall.Not with ffxiv though.For a game to hold my attention for that long is considered special to me.Not every game is perfect.Even ffxiv has some flaws which will hopefully be fixed in the future.They just need to put a bit more effort into the game.It kind of seems like they lost some determination or creativity to do so.I am still sticking around to see what happens next.Still have not beaten nidhogg extreme,thordan extreme,seph extreme not even alexander and alexander midas savage yet lol

[Genaxx]

I agree with you OP,

I took a 3 month break and came back just after 3.3, oh look no changes. Did the 1 new dungeon and the rehash (because lets face it one of them isn't even new.), the trial and the raid, now i'm back to where I was 3 months ago. Doubt i'll renew my sub after this month.

Taking a break solves nothing when the content is the same.

Its a great game aesthetically but fails on content.

If they don't want to mix things up and play it safe so they don't loose people then whatever, its their choice, but at this rate it looks like they're loosing more people by playing it safe.

No one ever achieved greatness by playing it safe.
- Harry Gray

[Darkside302]

I just wish there was some diversity in gear/skill set. Having every character geared the same with the same skills and glamour being the only difference is really lame. Give me some tangible choices in skills/gear that make me unique compared to the next guy.

[Claymore65]

Let's put a more positive spin on this.

What kind of Content do you want to see developed?

I mean that seriously. People say there "isn't content", but there is, just not content they particularly enjoy. What kind of content do you want to see?

1. Expansive, Labyrinthine Dungeons?

2. Extremely Difficult Mechanic Heavy Encounters?

3. Randomized, procedural generated content (which Deep Dungeons seem to be)?

What do you think the game is missing, if it's "missing" something? What kind of content would scratch that itch you're having. People say "take risks", but what does that mean?

Some of these seem to be encouraged by the fanbase, while others not. For example, it seems like the player base isn't interested in large, labyrithine dungeons since dungeon delvers go out of their way to skip the few optional rooms we have. Same with exploration, considering how people reduced the (certainly flawed) Diadem into one island. A large portion of the fanbase holds no interest in Savage raids, while others focus on it exclusively. Side content like Lords of Vermillion gets completely ignored quickly enough in favor of more quick dungeon grinds. Players try to DPS or heal past as many mechanics as they can.

What do you as a player want to see developed? Right now for me it's the Deep Dungeons, but what would satisfy you?

I'm certainly excited for the new expansion though. Heavansward was, in many ways, an excellent refinement of what made ARR great. The story was fantastic (leagues above ARR), the dungeons and fights satisfying (especially Ravana and Thordan), and the music phenomenal. I'm guessing that the new expansion will take the game in new directions. It's a common in a lot of games. The first couple of major expansions refine on the core experience, while the others build up new experiences.

To be fair though, the search for the "game with no longevity issues" is the Holy Grail of game design. It's very...very...very difficult.

[Mwynn]

It's not about Gear or Items themselves. It's the cycle the Game has.

Square Enix (The Developement Team) spoke about, that A Realm Reborn is the foundation of upcoming Expansions. These Expansions build on the Foundation, "Adding more Systems and Content".
The Truth is simple, nothing has changed as the Thread Creator said it, Heavensward is just a little modification of A Realm Reborn, going the same routine.

Do you want this to happen for the next Expansion aswell? "IF" we're in 4.0, do we seriously gotta do the same things as we did in 3.0?
Sure this might work for quite some Years since this is a safe routine for Square Enix not loosing "alot" of Players.

Yet, it's pretty sure that FFXIV will be called "The monotonous MMORPG" in the Future, if this goes on and on...