Thread: 5.1 Crafting Feedback Thread

Originally Posted by Maeka

Just because the forums have gotten a bit more quiet, doesn't mean crafting is "dead", in fact, it seems very much alive.

I agree that saying 'crafting is dead' is an exaggeration. However, I think the proof of these changes is going to come later on. If more people are crafting once they have their Ishgard rewards and all the hype has died down, then we can say it's been a success.
However, I loved crafting as it was and I'm worried that it's not going to have the same appeal for me going forward. Time to consider if I really need to stay subbed continually or if I should be looking for other games and pastimes. I'll wait and see for now but I'm not optimistic.

Originally Posted by Maeka

Crafting should not be for the 1% of the playerbase. Or not even the 10%. The way crafting was before, it was just too much of a chore for so little return unless you went all the way which took more time than raiding, which was a bit ridiculous.

I'm glad you're enjoying the changes and finding it fun. From Square's point of view, I can see that ditching people like me, who were a minority, would make sense if it brings more people into crafting than before, as long as they stay. However, if the majority get to endgame and find crafting dull, repetitive and too simple, it's going to backfire.

Personally, I don't see the problem with having niche activities in an MMO. Surely it's unrealistic to expect everyone to like everything on offer? Ultimate is niche, PVP is niche and I don't do either, but they each keep a dedicated core of players happy and paying their subs.

Crafting and gathering were definitely niche before, they are in most mmos, which makes me doubt they will ever gain mass-appeal. WoW attempted to give all players every craft and gathering class with the garrison, and while the playerbase was initially delighted with having easy access to everything, boredom soon set in.
I honestly expect the same will happen here, unless they do something to keep those of us who liked the old crafting happy (but then people who didn't like the grind and the complexity are going to object to being excluded from endgame, I think). It does make me sad to see FFXIVs award-winning crafting system gutted like this.