Don't change a thing!!!

[Linnear]

explain whats so nontraditional? You mean that we dont have WHM BLM, etc..? Do you actually think that when we do it is going to make a bit of difference? This game needs to build on what it has and add content making it a clone of XI isn't going to do anything but ensure SE has the same member base as XI. I'm pretty sure they are aiming to increase that player base. Don't get me wrong XI was great but there were plenty of things wrong with it as well. People want to play XIV because it isnt XI but has all the potential to become just as epic.

I would have to disagree with you there, XI is a great example of how a project with a shaky foundation can have trouble striving to greatness because of a shotty infrastructure. Every x-pac that XI had was an improvement to the game (can't speak for apyssia stoped before it came out), but on a whole each new rendition brought new game elements and such. The problem was though that the core UI the flow of the game and other things were such fundamental problems that no matter what was added afterwards was limited by that. That being said I am not convinced that FFXI has a poor foundation per se but before moving forwarde,I think they should make damn sure that the direction they chose to take it has a strong backing because changes down the line will get harder and harder, and be less effective.

Blindly charging forward is not the way to make a great game, (or to play one for that matter), I think this is SEs greatest challege for this project, how do you analyze if your foundation if correct and what systems are integral, and what decission now will limit our potions in the future. I do this kind of work for projects and policies so I know the metrics for success in that theatre, but I don't know how to make that decission for SE as I do not know what their metrics for success are and how they measure them, but I hope one of them does.