To the Devs: Communication is failing!

[Altareon]

Are you seriously blaming Square for why people can't have an adult conversation?

[Rutelor]

Are you seriously blaming Square for why people can't have an adult conversation?

I am blaming SE for their share of that problem, not for the lack of maturity of some in the community, mind you.

Knowing the demographic niche you're addressing is the number one priority for a communication effort. Making sure you provide comprehensive and enlightening information, not equivocal and obfuscating one would be a very close number 2.

R

[Altareon]

I am blaming SE for their share of that problem, not for the lack of maturity of some in the community, mind you.

Knowing the demography niche you're addressing is the number one priority for a communication effort. Making sure you provide comprehensive and enlightening information, not equivocal and obfuscating one would be a very close number 2.

R

No it's entirely the fault of the community. If they can't resist pointless speculation and whining then how is it anyone's fault but their own?
If this community had proven itself mature and capable I could understand blaming SE for being needlessly opaque but I've been here since day 1 and this community has done nothing but whine and moan even when they got their way.
This community is like a spoiled, petulant child upset that their new toy isn't three new toys.
I can't believe SE even bothers to post because it's not like anything constructive is coming out of this forum.

[PrettyPrincess]

No it's entirely the fault of the community. If they can't resist pointless speculation and whining then how is it anyone's fault but their own?
If this community had proven itself mature and capable I could understand blaming SE for being needlessly opaque but I've been here since day 1 and this community has done nothing but whine and moan even when they got their way.
This community is like a spoiled, petulant child upset that their new toy isn't three new toys.
I can't believe SE even bothers to post because it's not like anything constructive is coming out of this forum.

Pretty much this.

[Sephrick]

No it's entirely the fault of the community. If they can't resist pointless speculation and whining then how is it anyone's fault but their own?
If this community had proven itself mature and capable I could understand blaming SE for being needlessly opaque but I've been here since day 1 and this community has done nothing but whine and moan even when they got their way.
This community is like a spoiled, petulant child upset that their new toy isn't three new toys.
I can't believe SE even bothers to post because it's not like anything constructive is coming out of this forum.

It's not as if this is an established game and people are bickering minor details.

Case in point:

Back in August, Yoshida said they'd release the class change info when 1.19 went live so they could monitor player feedback to help determine their direction.

A month-and-a-half later, they release the information we're supposed to discuss in two parts and present the bulk of it stripped of some key information.

To the OP's point, if they want us to provide constructive feedback then they need to provide specific information. Not "LNC ABL X: Use TP to Absorb HP." that's not enough for us to go on. It's easy to make assumptions about how these abilities will work, but if we're assuming the wrong thing or our concerns ate answered by the abilities they didn't bother to show then our time spent departing in any capacity is wasted.

And that's how it's been, and will be as we get closer to 2.0 and the changes get more and more drastic. There's nothing wrong with asking SE to be more clear with the information they do provide. SE has come a long way , especially since the early days of XI. But XIV is a different matter altogether given that we don't know if the game we enjoy now will be the same game after any given patch until 2.0 sets certain aspects in stone.

[Altareon]

It's not as if this is an established game and people are bickering minor details.

Case in point:

Back in August, Yoshida said they'd release the class change info when 1.19 went live so they could monitor player feedback to help determine their direction.

A month-and-a-half later, they release the information we're supposed to discuss in two parts and present the bulk of it stripped of some key information.

To the OP's point, if they want us to provide constructive feedback then they need to provide specific information. Not "LNC ABL X: Use TP to Absorb HP." that's not enough for us to go on. It's easy to make assumptions about how these abilities will work, but if we're assuming the wrong thing or our concerns ate answered by the abilities they didn't bother to show then our time spent departing in any capacity is wasted.

And that's how it's been, and will be as we get closer to 2.0 and the changes get more and more drastic. There's nothing wrong with asking SE to be more clear with the information they do provide. SE has come a long way , especially since the early days of XI. But XIV is a different matter altogether given that we don't know if the game we enjoy now will be the same game after any given patch until 2.0 sets certain aspects in stone.

And yet the community has proven it can do little else than bicker about what color mounts should be. Why would any company intent on turning a profit ask this community what it should do with the game?
SE is an international multimillion dollar company and it got that way making video games. I think it understands a little better what goes into making a game that sells than people with My Little Pony in their signatures.
I'm not saying SE is perfect because this game is a mess currently but I don't think asking this board what they should do will help pick up the pieces in the slightest.
You yourself admit all this board can do is bicker about details so who cares what anyone has to say?
Do you really think SE posting their master plan for this game will prevent people from whining about chocobo breeding or catboys?

[normalforce]

To the OP's point, if they want us to provide constructive feedback then they need to provide specific information. Not "LNC ABL X: Use TP to Absorb HP." that's not enough for us to go on. It's easy to make assumptions about how these abilities will work, but if we're assuming the wrong thing or our concerns ate answered by the abilities they didn't bother to show then our time spent departing in any capacity is wasted.

I agree with this. We need HP/MP costs, recast timers, and even a rough idea of how often some of these additional effect will trigger if we are to have an informed discussion about these proposed changes. Otherwise we're just going at this blind until it drops and we can actually experience it for ourselves.

[Renshi]

Well... can't answer about anything, neither give any suggestion, feedback or criticism. Just saying that this thread and its likes are the reasons on why I spend less time on the forums =)

[Geesus]

No it's entirely the fault of the community. If they can't resist pointless speculation and whining then how is it anyone's fault but their own?
If this community had proven itself mature and capable I could understand blaming SE for being needlessly opaque but I've been here since day 1 and this community has done nothing but whine and moan even when they got their way.
This community is like a spoiled, petulant child upset that their new toy isn't three new toys.
I can't believe SE even bothers to post because it's not like anything constructive is coming out of this forum.

This ^ and ...

Pretty much this.

This ^

[AmyRae]

No it's entirely the fault of the community. If they can't resist pointless speculation and whining then how is it anyone's fault but their own?
If this community had proven itself mature and capable I could understand blaming SE for being needlessly opaque but I've been here since day 1 and this community has done nothing but whine and moan even when they got their way.
This community is like a spoiled, petulant child upset that their new toy isn't three new toys.
I can't believe SE even bothers to post because it's not like anything constructive is coming out of this forum.

And yet, SE created the very forum where they encourage this pointless speculation and subsequently moderate it and comb it for whatever useful tidbits they can find in there. To blame the community for engaging in this is like blaming the flies for being caught in that intentionally left out honey.

I believe the phrase, "working as intended," applies.

As for SE being "byzantine" with their communication, I'll leave that up to speculators to speculate. I would suggest that a perfectly satisfactory level of communication that would please everyone on upcoming patch changes is impossible.

Is it better for them to:
a) wait until they have all the information on the final changes?
- No, because people want a preview of what to expect

b) provide an outline of expected changes early without all the details filled in
- No, because people will just speculate on what they don't understand and a lot of misconceptions will float around until the patch.

c) provide a detailed list of expected changes early even though it will likely be implemented very differently in the final version due to balance issues
- No, because people will claim SE can't keep it's "promises" (even if they explicitly say they aren't making promises).

It doesn't matter what they do, there will always be people who think it isn't enough.