Tomes vs random drops

[dragonseth07]

Hello! I have a question for you active forum-goers. Do you prefer Tomestones for gear, or random drops? Why?

My take: Everyone seems to complain about Tomestones, but have you actually played an MMO without a grind-for-gear option? It can be the most frustrating thing you've ever experienced. Some people will be unlucky enough to just never get the drops they want or need. Grind-for-gear means that everyone can get it at the same rate, no luck involved.

[Kaurie]

I prefer random drops. In games where there are random drops, I enjoy running dungeons over and over for the hope that my item will drop. In games where there are tokens, I don't enjoy running dungeons over and over, as there is no hope - it's simply a chore to check off my to-do list.

[Lan_Mantear]

I prefer random drops. In games where there are random drops, I enjoy running dungeons over and over for the hope that my item will drop. In games where there are tokens, I don't enjoy running dungeons over and over, as there is no hope - it's simply a chore to check off my to-do list.

You must love primal mount farms before the rng adjustments and 99 token trade-ins then.

[Kaurie]

You must love primal mount farms before the rng adjustments and 99 token trade-ins then.

I've never used the 99 token trade-in system. The drop system is OK for it.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

I prefer random drops. In games where there are random drops, I enjoy running dungeons over and over for the hope that my item will drop. In games where there are tokens, I don't enjoy running dungeons over and over, as there is no hope - it's simply a chore to check off my to-do list.

Unless those drops are capped the same way 24-man Raids do it, people will simply farm dungeons until they're geared and have no reason to go back. Regardless, I prefer having tomes because it's guaranteed progression in lieu of luck. I had to run A9N 20+ times one week to get the bolt I wanted. By the 15th, I just stopped caring.

[Kaurie]

Unless those drops are capped the same way 24-man Raids do it, people will simply farm dungeons until they're geared and have no reason to go back. Regardless, I prefer having tomes because it's guaranteed progression in lieu of luck. I had to run A9N 20+ times one week to get the bolt I wanted. By the 15th, I just stopped caring.

I understand your concern for sure. My concern is that I stopped caring about all instanced content in this game completely a long time ago. I no longer play for the content, I play for my friends.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

I understand your concern for sure. My concern is that I stopped caring about all instanced content in this game completely a long time ago. I no longer play for the content, I play for my friends.

See, I think RNG drops would have that same effect, just on more people. Right now, I only have to run Xelphatol/GGH a few times a week if I don't cap Scriptures another way. With RNG, I could be running one or both several times a week, which would only make them that much less appealing. I suppose queue times would improve though, depending on the drop rates. Frankly, I don't see how this makes dungeons feel less of a chore. If anything, they'd now become more of one.

[Kaurie]

See, I think RNG drops would have that same effect, just on more people. Right now, I only have to run Xelphatol/GGH a few times a week if I don't cap Scriptures another way. With RNG, I could be running one or both several times a week, which would only make them that much less appealing. I suppose queue times would improve though, depending on the drop rates. Frankly, I don't see how this makes dungeons feel less of a chore. If anything, they'd now become more of one.

It could, but I would say that WOW is evidence that more players prefer a game with random drops than FFXIV. It's hard to draw an exact conclusion as there are a great many factors that weigh on people's opinions, though.

[ErdrickLoto]

I prefer tomestones as a "lesser of two evils" option. They can be a bit of a pain...but definitely less of a pain than random drops, where it's not even confirmed that what you want will drop. Learned this the hard way while leveling up DRK...

[WeekendSoja]

I come from the MMO generation that thrived on the random drop mechanic when it came to gear. But I can easily say that the gaming world was more social about the content of the game. Now-a-days, things like shouting for groups is ostracized where back in the day it was almost like a conversation opener...

Socializing in this MMO is really about the stupidest things like sim-style role play or the incredibly worrying ERP...