Quote Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth View Post
Its always add end-game content, never what you want to see for end game content. Every time SE has tried adding something new, everyone complains its not what they wanted. We want to grind for gear with a low drop rate that gives us horizontal progression - diadem. thats not what we wanted, its too grindy and the gear is too good pr too bad.
I want to see FFXI-style content. I want gear that doesn't fit into the shallow iLevel meta, with skill enhancements, trade-offs, situational usefulness. I want to see a patch cycle that, if it's going to render gear obsolete, does so over long periods of time than a few months (say, once every year or so have a boost in item power; maybe tie it to expansion releases since the level cap increases anyway). I want to see content that's got a well-paced grind with variety and solid rewards (think Abyssea for FFXI, with minor tweaks to Empyrean weapons).

SE already put the formula in place in FFXIV's predecessor. Then they went and ignored it in a misguided effort to cater to more casual gamers. Well guess what? I am a casual gamer. That doesn't mean I want brainless content for 90% of the game, or a gear system that allows me to effortlessly catch up if I take a six-month break.

TL; DR - You can't defend SE's content decisions when they nailed the formula many people are asking for in their previous MMO. They know exactly how to design proper grinds - they just don't want to, and there's a substantial percentage of their player base who isn't happy with their decision.