5 Things SWTOR can teach FFXIV (and 5 things FFXIV can teach SWTOR)

[deekapowski]

I know the flames will come, but at least read first then decide how "Anti-FFXIV" I am.
And I realize that FFXIV is already working on some of these things but when a game starts with 3-4 million pre-orders and a dozen rewards it's prudent to note the things people are talking about.

1. Give us choices that matter.
While Skyrim is the epitome of this, ToR at least takes the Infamous route and changes your character and the relationship with your companions according to decisions and statements you make. Not only does this allow for more customization, it gives the game at least twice the amount of story.

2. Make companions (pets, whatever you call them) more useful.
We get a partner, but they are only with us for roughly a half dozen quests. You don't feel a connection with them. They don't affect the story. It would almost be better not to have them at all. Not only do ToR companions help you in combat, they also assist with crafting and can be personalized to a reasonable degree.

3. More job/class centric quests.
This make you stand out more among the masses when you are doing your job/class quests. Lancer has 3 quests. Even if Dragoon has 5 it will still be less than a quarter of quests for one class in ToR.

4. The more voice acting the better.
Nuff' said.

5. Jump and swim/Use of environment
While ToR doesn't quite utilize underwater as well as WoW. These simple movements can be used smartly to add dimensions to the world. The best example i can think of in ToR is items you need to jump on top of boxes to reach. As far as use of terrain, the action not only takes place in caves and forest, but inside bustling cities and lavish estates (adding several layers of changing scenery and a good degree of immersion) ToR also has a solid cover system for it's more rogue like classes that I could certainly see archers using.

I like FFXIV and as much as I miss a good chunk of my straight line aoe, I can't deny ToR is going to give FFXIV (even V2) a serious run for it's money. Next is 5 general things that could help the game.

1. Allow multiple characters.
FFs class system lets you play every class, but you will still miss out on parts of the game as certain choices (your grand company in particular) mean you can not go back and try the other road. While this is realistic, it is not the most enjoyable and it cuts out a significant portion of the story.

2. Skill Trees.
Anything that allows for further customization/personalization is a good thing in my book. I'd imagine with the job system it would be possible. For example a dragoon could focus on a dragon familiar, more powerful jump techniques, or (seeing as they took it away) more skewer-type techniques.

3. Unlimited Travel
I think the simplest solution for FFXIV is to allow a way to acquire/buy anima.

4. Guilds/Linkshells
The no muss, no fuss works better than forcing people to meet in person to do any ls interactions.

5. Lore and Codex
An especially good way to keep track of persons of interest.


I look forward to the changes and improvements in FFXIV. (Joy of gaming. I play many games.)

Now 5 things FFXIV is getting right..

1. Cross-Class Skills

Once again, customization and in SW Universe, it would make sense.

2. Combo System

Although I'm hoping FFXIV will eventually have a cross class combo system to allow things like the fire arrow we saw in the intro video. I do like this new combat setup.

3. Graphics and Music

Nuff Said

4. Spiritbind/Materia System

While the "crafting" is more accessible in TOR, in FFXIV you can do more with it. It's a much deeper system.

5. Seasonal Events

Once we moved past the visit a pole events, the events have been really well done. Although I wonder will future players be able to get a santa suit or will it just be for the diehards who've been with the game from the beginning.

Well I think I put in enough to talk about. Have fun.

[Betelgeuzah]

Sw tor has been toning down their "choices that matter" approach ever since beta. And logically so, as the coin always has two sides.

[syntaxlies]

most of the things you mentioned are already in the works

[Harly]

Just started playing SWTOR and the individual story lines are what make me come back day after day and play for hours. It makes the leveling grind enjoyable. I played FFXI for 5 years and enjoyed every minute, but grinding did get a little tedious. FFXIV devs would certainly benefit from adding deminsions that SWTOR has done. TL;DR: Content, Content, Content

[Daemion]

I was in full beta for TOR and def one of the things that helped WAS the fact that you didn't feel like you were grinding.. I didn't do ANY grinding just followed the individual story development and the quests found around the area's I've visited.. and next thing you know.. I was up a few levels. FFXIV DEF needs to take a que from this as right now.. We cannot solo a damn thing in FFXIV and its really annoying for some lowbie's I have left to rank..

[syntaxlies]

I think quest lvling is more of a wow style were you arent dependent on partys so much. I prefer to play in a party as much as possable. Maybe some better quest that are party oriented that yield high xp is what id be in favor for.

For example the moogle quest(exluding the boss fight) could have been a nice party quest for 80,000 xp no repeats. that's a few hours of play with a party and youd gain an entire lvl (depending on current lvl.

[deekapowski]

Personally, I virtually guildleve'd my lancer all the way to 50 (I can count on one hand the number of lvl parties I've been in). FFXIV just added the PC search so things may change, but the hassle of putting a party together to grind leves... let's just say I'd rather simply play the game. It seems a lot easier to get people together for the raids than to get from level 20-30...

[Rowyne]

I prefer quest-based leveling, and SW:TOR takes it to the next level. I've been duoing with my husband, and it's even more amazing with two people as you not only get to experience your character's storyline, but your partner's as well.

SW:TOR has been absolutely drawing me in. I'm completely immersed in a world I wasn't even sure I'd have an interest in. There is no feeling of grinding. You follow the story, you do your quests, you are an epic hero in an amazing adventure. You find yourself seamlessly entering intances, heroics (sort of like mini-dungeons), and finding more quests along the way. It just flows perfectly. The action never stops. And the combat is fun as hell as a Jedi Consular. Force Wave is the single most fun ability I've ever had in an MMO. I jump into combat, light sabre at the ready, and the battle immediately begins with an arsenal of active abilities to choose from.

In stark contrast, FFXIV feels like an empty grind devoid of story or content. I left that format behind in FFXI, and have no desire to return. Plus melee combat was pretty much ruined with 1.20 as it's slower than ever. Jumping into combat is not something that's possible in this game as you stand there and wait on auto-attack to build TP before you can even use a single ability. If 2.0 can't address these issues, I've definitely found a game that can deliver.

BTW, I'm not saying these things because I hate FFXIV, I'm saying these things because I desperately want to love FFXIV. But in the state it's in now, I just can't.

[deekapowski]

Why not have both? The guildleves are good for casual players who just want to pop in make a little progress (and gil) and go, or for grinding company seals. But as a mainstay, it keeps you from exploring the game world as you can literally level from 1-50 and never leave your home country. SWTOR fixed the party issue by adding raids and "heroic quests (and areas)" starting at roughly 7th level that you can't defeat solo, but has better gear. They also have the social points reward system to reward partying and the bonus of being able to view more storyline. The combination has random people walking up to me and asking if I want to party just to clear a area/quest. So believe me you can get your fill of partying.

Now the Free Company system sounds like it will be cooler than the social points if they add some form of reward system for doing things within your Free Company (The Summons will be nice, but gear, titles and such would be better).

Now I know Yoshi-P is right in that you can't really work on party dynamics until you sort out the roles. That said I also believe that it's important to the combo system that whatever version of skill link they decide to use, that it has greater effect than any solo combo skill or even better allows for completely different effects. This is something that 14 can do better than TOR if they try. Hopefully this will also speed up combat. As the slowed pace of 14 combat is putting off some players. (Like I said I'm okay with the current pace, but I realize it is roughly double of what you would get in TOR because you have to first build up the tp to do any major attack as opposed to most MMOs where you can start with them.)

[Ceons]

BTW, I'm not saying these things because I hate FFXIV, I'm saying these things because I desperately want to love FFXIV. But in the state it's in now, I just can't.

This is exactly how I feel! I just want to love this game so badly...