One dungeon per patch!?

[MOZZYSTAR]

I'm not sure how to feel about the one dungeon per patch thing. On one hand, it means more content elsewhere. On the other hand, I don't think SE should have to sacrifice something in order to make something else. This is a giant company that makes bank even when it has major losses now and then. But after reading around, it seems like they mostly hire contractors with very few full-timers, so... That's my gues as to why we're even seeing sacrifices like this.

On a selfish note, I don't think this Ultimate content will be content I'll personally invest my time in like I do with roulettes. Expert roulettes are already a struggle because there are so few dungeons in them to diversify them. So, adding only one per patch instead of two will exacerbate that "problem," I think. I'm hoping they'll keep all level 80 dungeons as expert during this phase, that way we have... like... some dungeons to actually roulette on.

I'm a big fan of 24-man alliances especially, but I also like 4-man content. I like the "dungeon" feel as opposed to an "arena" feel for PvE if that makes sense? So, I doubt Ultimates will be up my alley. Meanwhile, my amigo is way into arena/trialesque content, so he'll probably be all over this. Speaks to some, not to others. Though, even so, he's concerned about expert roulette, too.

[ForteNightshade]

I'm not sure how to feel about the one dungeon per patch thing. On one hand, it means more content elsewhere. On the other hand, I don't think SE should have to sacrifice something in order to make something else. This is a giant company that makes bank even when it has major losses now and then. But after reading around, it seems like they mostly hire contractors with very few full-timers, so... That's my gues as to why we're even seeing sacrifices like this.

To be fair, hiring battle designers is not an easy task. MMOs aren't a popular market nor is console/PC gaming nearly as prominent in Japan as it is the west. Most developers with the skill set Yoshida wants go into the mobile game industry because it practically prints money. And it isn't as though they can hire outside Japan since they'd require someone who is fluent in Japanese. FFXIV's team is actually among the largest for any MMO on the market; surpassing even WoW. They just have decidedly few battle designers. In fact, the person who designed Chocobo racing was trained to eventually become a battle designer.

Now SE could probably throw huge amounts of money to attract the right people. But what incentive do they have when FFXIV has not only ran smoothly for years but has gained new players consistency ever since it's re-launch?

[TheMightyMollusk]

I'm willing to wait and see just what other content is being worked on with those resources before passing judgement, but honestly, dungeons are only really fun the first time or two anyway. Amaurot was incredible the first time, a wonderful capstone on the expansion and a great climactic build-up to the final showdown, but now it's just another pile of tomes to collect and gear to desynth.

[SieyaM]

I have said it in another thread but since my last posting it seems clear here too, there is no good future for dungeons in this game. The most vocal community despises them and the developers seem to take to them, further reducing the number of them instead of redesigning them to be more engaging. Eventually we might end up with no dungeons at all in an expansion and just small solo instancted runs for MSQ and all Trials and Raiding for the rest. Even though people are trying to sell the idea that we got Ultimates pretty much for free, I don't think that is the case, even reusing assets there was time and energy involved in creating them.

[Nestama]

I have said it in another thread but since my last posting it seems clear here too, there is no good future for dungeons in this game. The most vocal community despises them and the developers seem to take to them, further reducing the number of them instead of redesigning them to be more engaging. Eventually we might end up with no dungeons at all in an expansion and just small solo instancted runs for MSQ and all Trials and Raiding for the rest. Even though people are trying to sell the idea that we got Ultimates pretty much for free, I don't think that is the case, even reusing assets there was time and energy involved in creating them.

That won't happen. I don't mind dungeons, but if sacrificing them means we may get something better, or something new, then I'll be fine with it. I've kinda been burned out on dungeons since 2.3 (as interesting Tam-Tara HM was with its story, the fights are really boring).

[Schan]

That won't happen. I don't mind dungeons, but if sacrificing them means we may get something better, or something new, then I'll be fine with it.

Well the thing is some people like dungeons and if they remove one dungeon and give you something new that they absolutely hate... will those people still be okay with it or will they throw a tantrum? This will be interesting to watch.

[Nestama]

Well the thing is some people like dungeons and if they remove one dungeon and give you something new that they absolutely hate... will those people still be okay with it or will they throw a tantrum? This will be interesting to watch.

Depends on their personality.

[Shurrikhan]

Well the thing is some people like dungeons and if they remove one dungeon and give you something new that they absolutely hate... will those people still be okay with it or will they throw a tantrum? This will be interesting to watch.

Let's say I take your beloved sausage and give you cauliflower, your nemesis. Does complaining that your food has been significantly downgraded -- be it for the betterment of everyone else's food or not -- automatically amount to "a tantrum"?

I've no love for dungeons as they are now, but that seems rather loaded.

[Schan]

Let's say I take your beloved sausage and give you cauliflower, your nemesis. Does complaining that your food has been significantly downgraded -- be it for the betterment of everyone else's food or not -- automatically amount to "a tantrum"?

I've no love for dungeons as they are now, but that seems rather loaded.

My point is: someone will always be unhappy. Actually the example I had in mind revolved around bacon and cauliflower. Nice one.

I fall in the group that actually likes dungeons and I doubt the side content they will come up with will appeal to me but time will tell.

And yes, some people will throw tantrums. Are you new in here?

[Jojoya]

Well the thing is some people like dungeons and if they remove one dungeon and give you something new that they absolutely hate... will those people still be okay with it or will they throw a tantrum? This will be interesting to watch.

But nothing is being removed here. Every single dungeon already added to the game is still going to be there for people to play, just as they are currently doing. We will continue to get more dungeons in the future, but the number added at one time will be smaller.

There's no point in allocating a large portion of development resources on content that is underutilized. If enough players were actively making use of level cap dungeons outside of roulette, SE would likely continue to follow the old patterns because they were getting used enough. Since they've announced they're going to focus on developing other content instead, their internal reports are probably showing that few players are using them except for roulette so the content isn't being used enough to warrant more of it being made.