[POLL] What's in it for you?

[ninesunz]

http://www.gamerdna.com/quizzes/bart.../take?cobrand=

[Krausus]

I guess if I had to choose one of the 3 I would go with the green, but really I would like leveling to be fun and fast if I had the choice due to the nature of wanting to rank up all the classes. Because we all know after doing it a few times you eventually just want to get through it.

[Cynthis]

I guess I am partly red and partly green. This is the first MMO I've played and what finally convinced me to try was that it promised to allow solo players to do almost everything which really appealed to me. Almost every review I've read about other MMOs talked about how important guilds or some equivalent was and because I refuse to start planning my life around a game I found that off-putting. To me, an activity where you have to be at a certain place at a certain time to perform pre-defined activites with a set group of people is called a job, and I alradey have one of those. The freedom promised by FF XIV to be able to do almost anything when I wanted to/managed to find the time was very appealing. At some point I will actively join a LS to do some more of the end game content but that will have to wait unitl after the server merge.

The reason I wrote all that was to specify that to me the party aspect has been irrelevant so far and was in fact almost a negative in terms of joining a game in the first place. What made it a lot of fun levelling up first my main class was that there were new main and side quests available as I did and that was very motivating. For additional classes there are the quests at L20, 30 & 36 but I have found that once I pass L36 and there is no more content to be had for that class, my motivation to level drops rapidly. The only reason I am working on levelling more DoW/DoM classes now is the prospect of the jobs in 1.21 and that I need to work on more company seals for the GC quests and it seems silly to "waste" exp by doing that with a class that is close to 50. In fact, I find the idea of using a class at all after getting it to 50 strangely un-appealing as the exp gathered from whatever I do could have benefitted another class instead of just not being acrued at all.

I do agree with Krausus that, especially for the additional classes after the first one or two I do want it to be fast since it is repetitive and there is less and less insentive along the way for each class.

I must admit that I have got a little bit carried away with the thought of getting some of the achievements as well though so that has helped. Overall, I guess the answer is that the road is much more important to me since I am not focused on the end game content yet.

[Ryuko]

Well, put simply... SOMETHING has to get me hooked in the beginning, and SOMETHING has to keep me hooked at the end.

I appreciate that the low level content doesn't get boring (so I can have a new and refreshing experience each time I try to level a new job), but I also like that more endgame content is being released, too. I feel the game itself needs a good mix of both to survive... despite what I think (or others feel).

As of right now, I notice there's a lot of low to mid level content (quests for jobs, towns, grand companies, main quests, etc)... and the endgame content is MOSTLY instanced raids or dungeons. I'd like to see some more 'world' bosses (like there were before they were gimped and phased out). Those would be fun because the lower level players can plainly see it even if they are not high enough to participate. It's something the low level players can see and think, "Hey, I want to level up so I can fight that one day!"

[Seig345]

Trying not to make this too verbose, so I've re-written this stupid post 3-4 times now XD

But honestly, to me, an MMO isn't at all that different from a book, except new chapters get added on over time. If you read it continuously, you're inevitably going to get to the end and have to wait for the next new chapter. You can re-read that chapter all you want, and re-reading it with friends will make the experience a little different, since you'll have their different insights into it, but it's still the same chapter. (I read a lot, if you couldn't tell, and I value books just as much as I do video games)

So in the end, I always dread getting to the Endgame, 'cause it's like taking note that there aren't many pages left in the book. Sure, new chapters will get added, but anything of quality takes time to make, so there'll always be the long waits where you're pining for that next chapter.

[Zenaku]

I like the grind getting my class from 1-max learning my class and playing with others. Endgame is fun soon you find out you have noting else to do and Endgame become more of a job Come here at 8pm stay for 4-5hours come back other day just to see if you may or may not get something at least that how it feel when i play ffxi or even wow. As long as they make grind fun and make the game fun i can care less if it's more casual as long as they make stuff that would take a very long time to get i'll be happy it be something to look forward too and have a goal.

[MeowyWowie]

Hmm, the results are pretty much what I expected, even though it's still just a small sample size. I expected a bit more blues, but that doesn't really surprise me.

It seems the leveling curve really doesn't matter when you first start the game for most people. But as you level up more and more classes, it begins to really turn into a grind and we'd probably all appreciate a quicker leveling curve.

What should SE take from this?

First, the leveling curve shouldn't be too long. I'd say moderate to fast, a little slower than we have now if it were up to me but that's just my opinion.

Second, the game should be filled with numerous quests/raids/missions/other content that are either required or who's rewards are highly desired in order to advance in the game. Things like unlocking jobs, abilities, areas, expanding inventory space, level cap lifts, chocobo licenses, anything that would only have to be completed once on your first climb to the end level cap, but who's rewards are well worth the effort. These act as catalysts for players to create memories of their early days and to meet new people. This is the journey.

Third, multiple means of leveling up. Not just exp grind parties, even though some people do enjoy them. I did in XI but not so much here. While the variety would be appreciated by all players, I think those who are leveling their 2nd, 3rd, 4th class would get the most out of it, anything to take the "grind" away from the grind.

Fourth, a wide array of end game content. For those just starting, it's good long term goal to work towards. And for those already there, this becomes the game for them. This is obviously the heart and soul of all MMOs and eventually every player that enjoys a game enough will find themselves here.

Overall a player's journey to their first level cap should be filled with exciting things to do. It may slow down their leveling progress, but the more short term goals they have, the better. After their initial climb, leveling future classes should be much quicker than the first, but variety is still important. And endgame is endgame. I think we all already know what we want there.

I know I would have had more memories, more friends and just enjoyed the game much more overall in my early levels if there was actually stuff to enjoy lol.

[Chezen]

I voted red because for me it's about the journey, and it doesn't matter to me how long it takes to get to endgame.

My reasons are different though, because endgame usally means just that for me, endgame. I haven't been all that interested in the endgames of other mmos I have played. Typically, I have several alts going at once, and once I hit level cap, I work on another. Therefore, the entire measure of an mmo shelf-life, for me, lies in the leveling process.

I enjoy what people often refer to as "the grind." My very first mmo was a simple F2P that had no level cap and xp loss on death. First levels were pretty easy of course, but later on, every level was an achievement that could take a week or much longer. Our little group cheered and congradulated each other for each level, and that was a better feeling than pretty much anything a current mmo has to offer. I like that feeling of acomplishment after working steadily at something. It might actually be hard, or it might simply be a grind and commitment of time. I like both.

My favorite recent addition to this game has been (you guessed ) the achievements, which I am steadily working on. It probably took the devs less effort to make than any of the other content additions to this game, and yet it will keep me here and busy for some time.

That is not to say that I do not enjoy other content. The Grand Companies, cutscenes (actually I love cuscenes^^), and more. And I will do easy content, and probably more or less enjoy myself while doing it. But the easier it is, the less memorable it is.

[Bittereye]

I want a good story with cutscenes I can remember. So far there just a few great cutscenes but the story... I dont even know what the story is in this game. It just seems like we're playing to level up.. fight some istanced boss, run through an isntanced dungeon.. for what? There is no story. It's just kill this, run here, collect "X". I remember everything I did in XI and I quit that game 4 years ago. XIV's story serves no purpose. I really hope v2.0 changes all of this.

[SniperRifle]

If I was a new player.. Red. Right now, green.

I'd gladly spend 5 years going Lv1-50... Where every level meant something, so long as it's fun.