Quote Originally Posted by Vhailor View Post
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.
See, I find your proposal boring. I have only a few bits of gear to farm and than no direct improvements for a year? Situational gear is needlessly cumbersome and only serves to clog up inventory space. I do not derive any enjoyment being forced to keep certain equipment in my inventory for one specific encounter and nothing else. I prefer the efficiency which comes with equipping direct upgrades and ignoring them until new patch installments come. Among the primary reasons I never got into FFXI is the agonizingly slow progression. Why does it matter if someone can catch up quickly? I'll never understand this obsession some people have with needing to feel superior long term. Having completed Savage, I couldn't give an ounce of a damn if someone resubs tomorrow for 3.5 and reaches my ilvl within three weeks. It doesn't magically absolve my accomplishments or my own goals of getting better each week. On the other hand, forcing people who haven't played for months or are entirely new to wait months because "it's not fair if they catch up fast" is a primary reason very few Korean MMOs survive more than a couple years. If I were to hop into Black Desert or Blade & Soul now with the intent to be competitive, it'll take several months of virtually non-stop play to have any chance. Most people won't bother, thus the games inevitably die off.

That all being said, I do agree XIV caters far too greatly to lowest common denominator. Too much content requires little more than pressing 1-2-3. But to advocate XIV needs to become XI-2 is equally shortsighted. XI worked off a fifteen year old model that simply wouldn't appeal to gamers of this generation. Either accept that and move on or go play FFXI because FFXIV will never become it.