Expanding Non-Raid Content Discussion

[BubblyBoar]

With the recent and likely momentary resurgence in PvP, I've been thinking a lot about unpopular content in FFXIV that could use a few sparks to revitalize them as all. Currently the only endgames on FFXIV that get any real attention is raiding and glamor. People like challenging fights and people like to look good. But there is other content in FFXIV that could reach an endgame popularity like this with some fine tuning, attention, and work.

Sure, I know the FFXIV team doesn't have the resources they need to go all out. Hopefully when they do, they'll look to this discussion or put attention to things brought up in this topic. But for know, I think it would be fun to muse. Maybe they'll see it, maybe they won't but it's worth talking about right.


Some of my own thoughts are the content I enjoy more often (I'm not a raider). Namely, PvP and the Gold Saucer. I know there are players out there that don't care of it at all. Some want more for it, and some are indifferent about it. Especially with Gold Saucer, but I would really like to see these things expanded upon.

PvP could use some relatively easy updates. Not to see they are as easy as flicking a switch, but compared to adding all new stuff, it seems easier. For example, an option for lvl 60 (and soon to be lvl 70) modes for all FL modes. Secure was a fun mode, but it's stuck back in the lvl 50 era with poetics. Some people like Slaughter (I don't, but to each their own) and would like to see that updated as well. And I would love it if Seize and Shatter came with up to lvl 70 with Stormblood. Could we use more maps for each mode? Sure, but one thing at a time.

Likewise, let's take one of FFXIV's biggest failures, Lord of Verminion. It's not BAD, it pretty fun, for me at least. What I liked most about the minigame were the challenges. What most people do with the mini game are the challenges, rather than fighting each other. So why not add more? With HW coming to a close, maybe give us some HW challenges like how we have ARR challenges. It would be a lot to ask but 2-3 challenges a patch would be AMAZING once the team has the capacity to do so. And like with everything else, hiding a prize at the end as a minion or mount of glamor or w/e would maybe breathe some popularity into it.


That just two things that have been on my mind. There's plenty in the game aside from raiding and hunting glamors that could use some freshening up, so I'd love to see and hear what others think as well.

[JunseiKei]

The mini-games are kind of meh. Makes me wonder if there has just been overall discontent with the players that made SE say they are not adding anymore Gold Saucer attractions in (forgot if this was in the context of ever or any time soon). The GATES are pretty fun and triple triad was all over the place for a while. Like most mini-games, though, it eventually became non-existent.

That being said, I'd like to just see all of the Frontlines be the same level across the board with just differing modes. I'm sure they don't do that so people that haven't bought expansions can have something to do. The largely greedy part of me says, "To the seven hells with that! Do Slaughter and Secure even queue anymore?!"

[KarstenS]

Still waiting they make the chocobo race "playable".

Currently its still like controlling a bag of potatos (not lalafel).

There is no tournament.

Just one race mode.

No spectator mode.

Events to special times, similar to the jumbo lottery, would be nice thing.

[Derio]

I would like them to revamp chocobo races, add blitzball, and some new mini games in the GS.

Diadem I hope gets a great overhaul and becomes fun.

I hope they add underwater cave explorations in 4.0 to be a new type of content.

[Belhi]

I think one issue with the Gold saucer activities is they are overly complex (LoV) and/or somewhat unrewarding. With so much MGP earnable by just doing the daily cactpot every day there isn't really much reason to look to other sources of MGP, particularly when they feel clunky or overly confusing.

As a general rule I think alternate content to raiding or even dungeons would be nice to see. Exactly what though is hard to consider since its hard to know what the game can actually manage. Perhaps more developed FATE system could hold potential. A lot of people enjoyed the Darkscale chain for a while.

Of course, like Gold Saucer, it's reward to effort ran out pretty quick but it was definitely fun. I would like the Gold Saucer to feel more like a themepark than something I need to spend time reading a manual to enjoy. I don't fundamentally have an issue with chocobo breeding but if our just wanting to do some races, most players are going to be more interested in skill in a race over breeding I suspect. The reward doesn't seem to match the investment needed. Likewise LoV. The main turnoff for me is there was just too much variety in the minions to the point that I wasn't really sure what to use for what. Gold Saucer doesn't feel rewarding enough to justify theory crafting. Plus both forms of content are hard to do in sizable groups and once you have enough MGP to buy what your after there is very little reason to go back and do it again.

PvP I think they are making good improvements on, though it still has a way to go, particularly with the ranking system. I tend to be a casual PvPer. My main reason for stoping doing Frontlines was when I capped on Wolf Marks and didn't have anything new to spend them on. Adding some form of consumable or alternate currency sink would be useful. Hell, even adding sets more regularly.

I'll be curious what they have planned in 4.0. Deep Dungeon was a winner for me and I am looking forward to future ones. Diadem 2.0 we will see about in a few weeks. Beyond that, a spin on instanced content could be interesting that break the Mold. Maybe a version of Hamlet defence. After all we are in a warzone. Defending a Eorzean Alliance outpost from waves of Garlean attackers could be interesting, particularly if you mix it up by adding things like Cannons to the defence.

[KarstenS]

FATE ... A lot of people enjoyed the Darkscale chain for a while.

Don't forget Odin. Its there since release, but still alot of people go for it.

[Jetstream_Fox]

The problem with revitalizing old content is it can't be anything PvE based, so really the only things can be revitalized are noncombat based side content. PvP isn't really revitalized, they just added new mounts and gear to it and they're more or less face roll to get. If they want to expand on old content they need to not make it so closed off, right now the only thing I can see them doing is reworking some dungeons to allow solo or 2 player runs, and tether that to a new game type, but this isn't really revitalizing the 4 player version and would likely require level 50 minimum. Which is a problem because trying to get people to do older content synced back to 50, will likely result in a lack of runs, and placing things at 60 might make things too easy.

[BHGlobbd]

Hamlet Defence would be a great addition. Roaming Primals will be nice whenever they feel like getting around to it, I mean it was promised. Also, more world bosses like Odin, I don't know how it is on other servers, but I never see people show up for Odin. I remember the 2.0 trailer showing a gigantic Adamantoise in Central Shroud, only for it to never be implemented.

More world activities like those, perhaps add tome rewards to these, a small amount, nothing that degrades the need for roulettes and dungeons. It just seems like there should be more ways to earn tomes outside of dungeons/raids, something to alleviate the grind.

[Nominous]

This is the unpopular opinion, but the FATE system. I want them to go back to the drawing board with this content. It's a great idea, but similar to GC content, it's an easily forgotten system in the game.

Here's the thing. In theory, the FATE system could be the number one driving force behind getting players out into the open world. They just aren't giving enough incentive to get involved, and the whole system just feels poorly executed, considering how well thought out it seems. Give a chance to get some music scrolls from it. Give treasure maps from it. Make them more involved, and less copy/paste. If you're going to have content in your game, either make it worth doing or don't have it at all, yeah?

They should take the Diadem approach with any content that isn't hitting the mark, but that takes time I suppose.

As an aside, that seems to be the common thread with content that needs revitalized in the game. Usually, there's good ideas there, but there's no good reason to spend your time doing it, and definitely no replay value if you do. Primals have come a long way, and still could use work, but they're a good example of how all content should be in the game. There's always another reason to run the content. Housing, mounts, weapons, music, bardings, money (from those things). All content should offer a similar level of incentive, in their own way.

[Derio]

I would like more event fates. That give out a pool of rewards to increase their replayability.