Open World / Hamlets / Campaign

[Calevr]

Dear SE,

Can we have something close to open world Hamlet Defence Battles or Campaign (FFXI) in the future?

This encourage all classes and jobs to work together. Players are able to participate with any of the disciples whether it be to supply the hamlet or fight off powerful monsters that invade. What I would like for this is that it would take place on public servers (preferably) and would allow players to keep playing as their heart's content. There would be no lock outs but rewards could be distributed on how much you contribute in battles. To offer a challenge another option would be for everyone to collect writs from NPC's and complete them under a set time limit. I realise that these are not my own ideas, but I feel that it would fit well and it be a lot of fun to play. Personally, I would really like to see more options for open world content.

FFXIV - Hamlet Defence
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Hamlet_Defense

FFXI - Campaign
http://ffxiclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Campaign

[Roda]

Yes please.
I was recently watching the "fall and rise" series and I was shocked that 1.x had such an interesting and fun sounding system that didn't get carried over.

[Iromi]

Been asking for this for forever....

When watching the most recent keynote there was a part where it showed some open world and he basically hinted at that being a thing..could be totally wrong, but its possible ^^

[Shurrikhan]

Tbh, as a 1.x player, I'm not hopeful of how fun the Hamlet defense in basically its previous iteration would seem compared against other open-world-ish content. It was fun for the time, sure, but little of it was fleshed out; it was slow, and the synergy was minimal. Aldeport was definitely one of the better ones, with multiple points of attack and a boss who you could (though I'm not normally fond of gimmicks), separate from his army until you were ready to burn him, but even it didn't really feel put together tightly enough to feel all that superior to a generic defense FATE.

Personally, I'm looking for more ways to integrate crafters and gatherers into the world in general, perhaps using modified FATEs just as the start of that, but with an aim at reducing reliance on FATEs in general later on.

[Enkidoh]

I've long augured even back from the early Beta that FATEs should be tweaked a little to be more like Campaign battles in that to participate you don't just show up, you have to speak to a NPC to get 'FATE status' or something similar that allows you to participate in the content (thus removing annoying FATE participation from interfering with other content like leves, quest battles and Hunts). Sadly though, nothing has ever been stated on the subject, so it seems SE are committed to keeping the FATE system as it is.

[Shurrikhan]

I've long augured even back from the early Beta that FATEs should be tweaked a little to be more like Campaign battles in that to participate you don't just show up, you have to speak to a NPC to get 'FATE status' or something similar that allows you to participate in the content (thus removing annoying FATE participation from interfering with other content like leves, quest battles and Hunts). Sadly though, nothing has ever been stated on the subject, so it seems SE are committed to keeping the FATE system as it is.

Though the FATE system is certainly among the gaudiest possible implementations of the content(s) it provides, most of its issues seem solvable with simple pseudo-instancing, hiding or revealing players, mobs, interactables, and objectives unless in the same "state". Sadly, while that can be done smoothly instead, knowing SE, that would probably require an NPC, a dialogue menu option, and a loading screen, which would create as much annoyance for FATErs unless long lasting and nonetheless lucrative than it would spare non-FATErs the annoyance of having FATEs trample through their areas.

Alternatively, you could just have a button that prevents interaction with the FATE, as if too high level for it.

[Istaru]

I too want the return of Hamlet Defense. It could work since we are taking spaces back from the Garleans and would need outposts in that process. They could attack those outposts and we have to defend them.

Yes, there were some gimmicks to them, but they could help make it feel like we really are fighting the Garleans for control of those areas. They could go full on that route by taking a cue from besieged and campaign from XI. Lose the battles and lose access to certain goods or NPCs for a period of time as a consequence. I doubt that would ever happen since we pretty much never have any consequences for any failures.

[Shurrikhan]

I too want the return of Hamlet Defense. It could work since we are taking spaces back from the Garleans and would need outposts in that process. They could attack those outposts and we have to defend them.

Yes, there were some gimmicks to them, but they could help make it feel like we really are fighting the Garleans for control of those areas. They could go full on that route by taking a cue from besieged and campaign from XI. Lose the battles and lose access to certain goods or NPCs for a period of time as a consequence. I doubt that would ever happen since we pretty much never have any consequences for any failures.

Consider though, would such likely plot-specific bits as that be best taken up by repeatable content (essentially a variation on a FATE), or by a scenario, possibly even a variation on a dungeon (where the trash and periodic bosses come to you, and you get to insert walls and defenses)? If we were to have actual advantages and disadvantages from the taking of Garlean outposts (and their been retaken), the repeatable content may be enough so long as it scales well as to give intensity. Otherwise, it would probably work better as specific content.

[Recaldy]

I was hoping for actual WAR content in 3.0 you know...because of the opening cinematic and the whole Dragonsong WAR. Nope. Just more autonomous FATEs and random loitering mobs in a world space that seems completely separate from all the events in the MQ cutscenes. I loved the VALOR system in XI even with the somewhat loose connection between areas that would ultimately give the server the opportunity to undertake special boss missions that gave unique rewards. All the epic stuff happens around the character unless its the highly scripted mechanic hallway called duty finder.

[Calevr]

There is not much sense of community in the open world right now. I don't see any activity where players are looking to form a party and do stuff together, besides hunts now and then, but nothing else. Please tell me if you think different. Back when Hunts were introduced I understood the playerbase was split on how they perceived this new idea. However, I did have a lot of fun in the beginning because players were coming together and working towards finding the Marks which I really enjoyed. It filled me with a sense of immersion that I was playing in a breathing world. This was short lived but I would love for more of that. Back in 2.0 beta Players joined up to do hunting logs, and I had asked for more similar stuff because I enjoy when players want to come together. Anyway, I think a Campaign style event with new innovations could be one way of adding some key community factors.