Thread: 4.1 - The emptiest patch yet.

It's not 'nothing', but it does seem like less and less is being done. I'd be totally fine with them taking off yet another dungeon in development if I saw the resources going elsewhere.

So far I don't see anything that shows they've been using the freed up development time, except perhaps to release more cash shop exclusive items than ever before. 3.1, while generally being frowned upon for diadem and LoV (I did enjoy diadem for a time, as an aside) I could at least see where the development time went when they downgraded from 3 dungeons per large patch to 2.

Perhaps it really is that squadron AI that took the brunt of the effort. Which... probably isn't going to be all that useful, for now.

Originally Posted by Vahlnir

Yeah, I think a lot of their focus went into squadrons and a metric crap ton of QoL changes. And the dungeon/raid of course. Housing and the remodeling to certain areas of what we already have no doubt took some time as well, But with all the other things they're adding, it really does add up to be about on par with where we were an expansion ago. Just not things that EVERYONE cares about. 4.15 should add a couple more small things (like the PvP mode I believe), but its a shame Eureka's being pushed back. I'd prefer they do it right though than release it half baked like they did with Diadem.

Wasn't Diadem 2.0 also delayed and that did so well..

Originally Posted by JunseiKei

To be fair, the first iteration of Diadem was actually great. It wasn't until they changed it so it wasn't worth working together to get tons of kills that Diadem started to go out the window and into the dumpster. Even the new Diadem is pretty MEH outside of gathering. The new gathering Diadem is 10/10, too bad hardly anyone uses it still, if anyone.

I dont remember anyone calling 1.0 Diadem great, I mean people did it but everyone I know hated every minute of it after a week or two.

Originally Posted by JunseiKei

To be fair, the first iteration of Diadem was actually great. It wasn't until they changed it so it wasn't worth working together to get tons of kills that Diadem started to go out the window and into the dumpster. Even the new Diadem is pretty MEH outside of gathering. The new gathering Diadem is 10/10, too bad hardly anyone uses it still, if anyone.

My only problem with the Diadem is I am not really sure what its purpose is. Most of the gear was fairly low level compared to dungeons or raids and after getting the minions/mount I don't see a driving need to return. To me it doesn't seem to fit within the FF narrative and provides little that cannot be completed by other means withing the story line.

Originally Posted by hydralus

It's not 'nothing', but it does seem like less and less is being done. I'd be totally fine with them taking off yet another dungeon in development if I saw the resources going elsewhere.

Perhaps it really is that squadron AI that took the brunt of the effort. Which... probably isn't going to be all that useful, for now.

if the only thing that's missing is 1 expert dungeon

what 4.1 has that's new are
- Squadron AI
- Uznair expansion
- Ultimate Savage fight

those are 3 brand new things for players of varying difficulty level.

Originally Posted by SendohJin

if the only thing that's missing is 1 expert dungeon

what 4.1 has that's new are
- Squadron AI
- Uznair expansion
- Ultimate Savage fight

Okay, at the risk of being wrong when the patch comes out, that doesn't seem like 'new' stuff. Ultimate savage is, what, a single arena? Which uses assets already in the game, no less? Squadrons do 5 dungeons which people have already done by the time they even get a squadron and something most of us groan about if we get them again for a leveling daily. Uznair expansion, as I recall, is simply a chance of unlocking more rooms which is a fairly minimal boost.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad for it since I love my treasure hunting, but it doesn't strike me as something 'new'. Not that I require something to be new to be enjoyable, but if I'm looking at where development resources are being applied in comparison to previous patches, I just don't see what we're really getting for 1 less dungeon. Because it's not '1 expert dungeon = squad AI/Uznair expansion/Ultimate savage' it's '1 expert dungeon + entire diadem + Lord of Vermillion = squad ai/Uznair expansion/Ultimate savage' which makes it seem like a lot of the time was spent on the squad AI.

All I can really hope for is that the squads end up becoming something worthwhile.

Originally Posted by hydralus

Okay, at the risk of being wrong when the patch comes out, that doesn't seem like 'new' stuff.

new stuff is not just graphical assets. that's easy compared to the mechanics of Ultimate Savage, Squad AI and perhaps new mobs in Uznair (if all these mobs are 100% rehash, that would indeed be disappointing).

Originally Posted by hydralus

Because it's not '1 expert dungeon = squad AI/Uznair expansion/Ultimate savage' it's '1 expert dungeon + entire diadem + Lord of Vermillion = squad ai/Uznair expansion/Ultimate savage' which makes it seem like a lot of the time was spent on the squad AI.

it's a little disingenuous to lump Diadem + LoV in there and ignore Eureka and the new music playing thing. those aren't ready yet but work has been put into them. and don't forget while those 2 pieces are delayed 4.1 is a month earlier than 3.1.

Originally Posted by missybee

I wasn't trying to be hyperbolic. The person I responded to was insinuating that this patch has a lot to offer for raiders, and I simply disagree.

it's not a lot but it's more than any odd number patch since Savage Second Coil, when this entire topic is about less less less.