Maybe we need a Cataclysm

[Schan]

I honestly think calling for a calamity just to change the system in which we get gear from is a bit... extreme.

With that said as bland as it is... it works. I think people forget that before any success there are tons of failures (i'm looking at you diadem) and messing with a core component of the game (getting gear) can be catastrophic especially when it is very likely that it will not be recieved well.

This is why despite being somewhat salty about it, I understand why they keep the main bits the same (rate of getting story, dungeons' formula, tomestones) and try new stuff on the side to see what sticks (PoTD, diadem, eureka)

I get it, people get bored of the same thing but you don't know if by scrapping it and starting anew you get something you would enjoy less. Those things need to be tested first and there's way too many people playing to effectively gauge the community's reaction to new content without basically going live in my opinion.

[Morningstar1337]

I honestly think calling for a calamity just to change the system in which we get gear from is a bit... extreme.

With that said as bland as it is... it works. I think people forget that before any success there are tons of failures (i'm looking at you diadem) and messing with a core component of the game (getting gear) can be catastrophic especially when it is very likely that it will not be recieved well.

This is why despite being somewhat salty about it, I understand why they keep the main bits the same (rate of getting story, dungeons' formula, tomestones) and try new stuff on the side to see what sticks (PoTD, diadem, eureka)

I get it, people get bored of the same thing but you don't know if by scrapping it and starting anew you get something you would enjoy less. Those things need to be tested first and there's way too many people playing to effectively gauge the community's reaction to new content without basically going live in my opinion.

I think WOW could be seen as a case study in this,esp regarding Gearing. AFAIK they changed it up recently to the chagrin of its players

[Schan]

I think WOW could be seen as a case study in this,esp regarding Gearing. AFAIK they changed it up recently to the chagrin of its players

i thinkBlizzard should know better in regards gamers usually don't like RNG. We tend to like our chances stacked in our favor, not against. Moving back into FFXIV we have old MCH and AST (and to certain degree old BRD) to look at if we want to find out how averse to RNG players usually are.

By Thall's Balls even today I hate the fact they sort of reverted redraw. Nowdays getting Balance -> Bole -> Balance -> Bole when trying to fish for seals is NOT FUN.

[Shurrikhan]

They've just redone all the ARR zones.

Not sure how a purely technical change to make zones flight-capable counts an increase to size, features, and cohesion as per Cataclysm's reworks...

On topic, though:

We don't need a cataclysm. We just need system and content design to look further than the next spin about the treadmill.

[Kiurai]

This thread shouldn't exist tbh, if you want to express your gripes with the content style I think alot of people agree with you whether you realize it or not. But I guarantee you suggesting another cataclysmic event isn't the way forward. You don't want to step back story wise in a game so story heavy. If you want to complain make a list of things that bother you. Personally I would love to see a shake up in their current rigid design philsophy (especially with tank and healer gameplay) aswell but that's a discussion for another day. Overall a good message (the devs should be more willing to change) but bad execution of your idea imo

[Vortuna]

When someone says Cataclysm, I think of a certain weird looking cat.

[Jojoya]

What a game needs is an ending. A point where the player can say "I've won the game, it's time for new adventures elsewhere". It's fine for there to be a few expansions to create an epic story arc but there needs to be an end to the story at some point.

Otherwise you end up with what's become a problem in the movie industry - an endless string of sequels (or expansions in the case of games) that just get weaker and weaker because they're trying to keep the attention of the loyal fans of the original without understanding what made those fans loyal.

WoW's Cataclysm didn't do it any favors. It's a risky business to remake a game just to find you eliminated things that made players loyal in the first place, then to continue to remake trying to find ways to bring them back while intentionally ignoring what those players were telling you as they left.

SE got away with the FFXIV 1.0 remake because it was a fresh game and the franchise-loyal players were already being driven away. They're not going to get lucky a second time when change is more likely to drive away the currently loyal players.

If there is need for innovation, let it be for a new game while the current game works its way to an ending that respects what the game accomplished.

[Morningstar1337]

When someone says Cataclysm, I think of a certain weird looking cat.

Does he fight alongside a weird looking ladybug? :P

Otherwise you end up with what's become a problem in the movie industry - an endless string of sequels (or expansions in the case of games) that just get weaker and weaker because they're trying to keep the attention of the loyal fans of the original without understanding what made those fans loyal.

I think that started in comics first, especially considering both the long continuity necessitating reboots and that the movies I assume you're referring to are adaptations of them

[Seraphor]

Not sure how a purely technical change to make zones flight-capable counts an increase to size, features, and cohesion as per Cataclysm's reworks...

On topic, though:

We don't need a cataclysm. We just need system and content design to look further than the next spin about the treadmill.

It wasn't purely technical. They redid loads of assets to improve the fidelity of distant models and areas which would be viewed from above.
That's not work they're going to be willing to just throw away any time soon.

[Eriane_Elis]

No because there's a lot available right now to play. To get rid of all of it for the sake of making it feel more new to old players would be a punishment for new players or players not yet at end-game which is most. The game has maybe 2 more expansions before we're completely done (6.0 is the end of Ascians, 7.0 will likely be about the bigger fish in the sea that set the scales in motion). If there's an 8.0 it might be a continuation of said big bad guy. We'll likely see a shift towards the next FF MMORPG in the coming years, they made a lot of money with 14, they know they can make something better with the lessons they've learned. With that said, there's no need to create another calamity just for people who think they completed all the content which is <0.1% of the player-base. They already removed a lot of ARR content for the second time.