Things to think about before you call someone "Bad"

[RokkuEkkusu]

The game does a terrible job of providing feedback to players, so this is ultimately Square's folly.

I'm not referring exclusively to an accurate measurement of dps, but also:
• the solo instances (meant as a gateway) in the game providing echo
• double experience bonus for new characters for all (not limited) classes, crafting or combat, for months
• double experience for first clears
• no gate (non-echo) on Savage/Extreme/Expert
• commendations given out at random for challenge log
• overnerfing of outdated content, yet not adjusting progression rewards
• damage requirements and damage dealt in dungeons so low a full team of healers or a full team of tanks can clear just about anything
• storymode trials being nothing more than a bump in the road until they suddenly aren't
• every NPC on green earth worshiping the player
• level skips
• no-effort "content" that gives free levels without teaching anything relevant to current level (potd/hoh/roulettes).

Any of these, individually, aren't enough to torpedo the entire reason why levels exist, but as long as these exist in combination there's little reason to have levels at all. As it currently stands, levels do not act as a gate for progression for new players -- let alone alts -- they are only a measurement of time. And not much time.

The original (wholistic) design of 2.0 was much better at gating players, and by extension putting a hold on their progress until they figured out the essentials of what they need to know for a given level. It went a bit overboard with Titan, but they overcorrected. These designs have eroded to the point where a tank insists he's doing great because he has 250 commendations at 70, yet only uses the halone combo and Requiescat without holy spirit. On the tank he leveled through HOH spam, story skipped, and topped off with MSQ roulette.

Basically, Square's failing is they've gotten to the point where they'll only tell players yes to anything, and are more than happy to give advancement in exchange for nothing. Players naturally act spoiled and think they're doing fine because Square has forgotten to say no, saving it for a brick wall after 70. Square does nothing to keep them away from that brick wall if they are unprepared. Players, wittingly or unwittingly, tolerate this without kicking a player that can't be distinguished from a badly-made bot because it's "mean". Nevermind it's twice as mean to carry someone to a clear that's just going to put them deeper underwater.

And then, after encountering that brick wall, those players complain about elitists (read as: "person I don't like") and how a solo fight quest in 4.4 requires the use of four buttons and moving around in some AOE, and how The Burn is too hard.

Well, trying to balance between a reasonable challenge for as much people as possible is going to be a double-edged sword.

Catering too much to the lower-skilled will result in faceroll duties. It could increase confidence of the lesser skilled and really casual, but will also drive away those who want the thrill of the fight.

Catering too much to the hardcore may also drive away potential players for this game.

At the end of the day, casuals tend to pay the bills, whether they are good or bad in attitude, gameplay, or tastes. I'll take what I've got and make use of what I have.