I'm a mid-core player. I choose to not play end game. (What's the incentive?)

[Auteur]

Imo it depends on the community and the server. For example, to me Gilgamesh is just not enjoyable despite relative success (I hit 60 last week and now already cleared soph ex multiple times and got the wep). The problem is that gilga is apparently the designated "hardcore" server, which puts people into a pit of elitists and undesirables that just tense up and stress everyone out in groups.

As some have said in this thread, clearing for the sake of clearing in a tense environment can be draining (the game becomes like working a high paying job, you have material success but you absolutely hate the surrounding environment).

I guess if you are a hardcore player yourself you don't mind dealing with your kin but as a fresh player here this just is not a fun environment. I gladly will trade maybe not being to pug content ASAP for a better server environment, and maybe a server transfer will make endgame more fun.

[Minas-tepes]

At least you manage to clear it...

[Hierro]

Time sinks exist in this game, for sure. The fact this guy plays so much when they do decide to play and accomplish so little is puzzling. Never entered alexander? Not even the normal versions? Gee, what's the incentive? How about fun? Don't you have fun playing the content that was made to be played? I personally thrive on the sense of working as a team to take down this huge monster boss, especially more so putting on a notable performance. Forget concepts like casual or midcore, at least those guys play the game. I have no idea what this guy's doing.

I have friends who at least like having something to chase after with weekly quotas. Even if I didn't have something to chase after, their chase would extend to mine for they would ask me to come along and I would gladly oblige. Friends make things more meaningful even if it was pointless. Life's a grind, brah.

From the looks of what I read, the few things I can assume is that this guy is not at i210 overall, and only has a single 230 piece. 30 mil gil saved up from 1.0. a single 60 class. 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, for a month. And that's what he has to show for it. What're you even doing here?

[Auteur]

At least you manage to clear it...

I suppose it depends on your perspective: if you only play for the sake of clears then you don't care at all about how you get (ex: you don't care if someone is yelling at you or threatening to kick multiple people from the start as long as you clear in 30 minutes in a progression party).

To me, that kind of environment makes the game feel more like a job. I've seen hardcore player complaints about "suboptimal" clears; what the hell is an "optimal" clear? I just don't understand the mindset of these hardcore players and they aren't fun to be around.

Also, this highlights why SE doesn't get nearly enough money from hardcore players and why they are bad for the health of a game as a whole: people don't stay in the long run to grind clears in a hostile environment; they just "finish the job" then unsub. People stay for the community, and community takes looking beyond only "how many clears did I get today?"

Hence it takes something else other than hardcore players to build that sustainable community.

[Ninster]

I'm a softcore player; I do everything with my clothes on.

[CrystalRainbow]

Everyone has to find there own reason to play a game.

It's not SE or the community job to find you reasons to play the game.

The reasons I play game is a very different reason then you.

Also I would say I am mid core... And I have A12N. Coils 13.. .. As for Savage. I have no interest in it.

You are a causal player not mid-core.

[Kuzonoha]

Reading this thread, I personally feel I'm one of those middle ground players, having dabbled in Ex content, cleared Alexander Normal Raids and Coil, but I feel as if the type of player classification should be dependent on more than Raids and Ex Content. What about Triple Triad? Crafting? Achievements?

The truth of the matter is that we all play this game differently according what we allot our time into, what we may consider to be fun. It's not like anyone here is wrong, but categories are very opinion and culturally driven. If all I do is log in and play Lord of Vermilion for four hours a day, would that make me a casual player? If all I did was log in and craft, does that make me a hardcore player?

./five cents

[Ibi]

Anyways a horizontal progression system favors hardcore players much more and leaves more casual players in the dust.

This is absolutely true. Since equipment in horizontal progression is designed to have much greater longevity, the rate of acquisition is frequently significantly lower, meaning that players with less time to play (or who take longer breaks) fall behind much easier.

I always thought the definition of "mid-core" were people who dabble in endgame and will eventually clear, but aren't pushing it hard. I guess my no-clear scrub butt is hardcore after all?

There is no one definition of "mid-core". It varies (sometimes significantly) depending on the agenda the person using it trying to push.

Same for casual, for that matter, and you'll find many opinions on where the lower boundary of hardcore lies also.

let's not try to abuse "mid core" as the new buzzword.

I think that train left the station some time during Gordias.

[CrystalRainbow]

This is absolutely true. Since equipment in horizontal progression is designed to have much greater longevity, the rate of acquisition is frequently significantly lower, meaning that players with less time to play (or who take longer breaks) fall behind much easier.

I disagree.

You can leave the game for a year. spend 1 month pre patch getting up to speed and be fully ready for the next patch. That's what the leader of my FC just did. came back after being away for almost a year. Got back with a 58 PLD. Had enough time to do yokia get to 60 and get his mch to 56.. Pre patch and was doing a9 @ 231

[FoxyAreku]

The point of raiding is to do something challenging and fun with people you enjoy playing with. It's fun, and winning is very satisfying.

If you need some amazing incentive to do it, raiding just may not be for you. It's a social experience first and foremost.

I disagree.

You can leave the game for a year. spend 1 month pre patch getting up to speed and be fully ready for the next patch. That's what the leader of my FC just did. came back after being away for almost a year. Got back with a 58 PLD. Had enough time to do yokia get to 60 and get his mch to 56.. Pre patch and was doing a9 @ 231

tbh you can not play this game for a year and then catch up in a day now that crafted gear is relevant, as long as you are at level cap or near it.