A few thoughts on FFXIV

[Akumu]

Combat
The changes being made have a good concept behind them, but a terrible execution.

The combo system is nothing new to some MMOs and has the ability to be very fun, however it can be done without directional requirements, that is a useless addition, also the reason most MMOs don't use resources like TP is because they know building it is a boring headache and there are far superior systems out there.

The gameplay of FFXIV is not meant to be a spam fest action game. It's more of a slower more tactical MMO where positioning actually matters. Most MMOs these days are action spammers which is why they don't use TP or positioning in their combat system. There is a playerbase for both sides and SE doesn't have to join the flood of action MMOs.

The thing that make skillchains fun to do is that they usually involved other players taking action with them so you had a common goal to reach with that for the skillchains and magic bursts for much higher damage. This combo system just lacks that.

These are not "solo skillchains" but combos. "Skillchains" are Battle regiments that have been removed and are currently being redone like most systems that are finally piecing together in this game.

The only person that should be in front of the mob is the tank, and if ever released, jobs like thief since that just makes sense to be behind the enemy. Anyone else should only have to move to avoid deadly attacks.

All melee range gets hit with damage and being behind the entire fight isn't the best decision. The behind combo is useful for the most part but can put you in danger if that's all you do is stand behind non trash mobs. Again, the game is more tactical than Face ---> Keyboard!

The other issue with the combat system is, if you're not in a raid and just soloing for whatever reason, its far too slow. Hit hit hit hit WS, combo WS, maybe a third combo WS, repeat. The combat system before kept you busy in combat by hitting more keys not just sitting there all the time.

This is a Party > Solo kind of game. Party will always be more engaging and fun as it is the design for it. There are more than enough solo orientated games out there. Spamming 1 is also not something that kept many people entertained which is why the community killed many kittens over it.

A non Auto Attack system does not fit this style of game.

Job System/Balance:
Tanks for example... should gain a baseline enmity+ generation that way they can keep hate easier. They should also ALWAYS take less damage per hit then everyone else(providing the tank isn't completely ourgeared) or raise the amount of attacks they can avoid taking direct damage from, otherwise whats the point of them even being called a tank? Without those they are basically just a weak Damage dealer with a shield and some mild tanking abilities.

Tanking requires some skill to do and also not something you Face --> Keyboard through just because it is your role. The issue with PLD vs WAR is not a baseline enmity issue. WAR HP would be ok if PLD would get an increase in damage reduction. WAR also generates more controlled enmity than PLD because of its STR. PLD also can't over cure from increase in hate which would help the issue some.

On the job system concept, I think its terrible and could have been designed so much better when it comes to advanced jobs. The advanced jobs being related to base jobs as far as unlocking go: fine that was decent in Final Fantasy Tactics however having those classes directly linked is a mistake.

It's a "mistake" that the community pretty much asked for. It might not be EXACTLY as some ideas proposed but it is still around the general area of them. The game has had a huge positive factor once they added jobs. I wouldn't say how they went by it was wrong.

Also a side note: Classes made to deal damage should NEVER be able to tank at all. That throws the balance you go on about go out the window.

Classes are not meant to BE anything. A job is the one with the identity. The class basically just tells you where you stand during a battle as they all are grey in the end.
However, A WAR can deal damage but is mainly a tank as seen by it's Job abilities. All the pure DD jobs can out damage them though.

Content
How AF was obtained was a lot better in FFXI then here. Putting some AF pieces in raids is just a flat out terrible idea. I'd rather fight over coffer keys/chests again.

Well the game was polled to be more instanced to get rid of the "fighting". In my opinion the way XI did AF was horrible when compared so I also disagree with this.

I for one am a casual gamer, and the way most people that play these games, design events is that "show up to more events get gear priority" I can understand its fair, however its very discouraging to casual players to even bother doing those events. If that is all your game has, good luck getting more subscribers, they'll more then likely leave before they get into it or not join at all.

Are you talking about how a linkshell is ran? If casual gamers don't like stone set rules don't join a Hardcore linkshell. SE can't force people to run their shells how YOU or anyone else that's not the leader(s) of the shell.

If SE wants to attract the casual players they need to make content they can just get up and go do, easier then raids but gear would not be as good as those dropped in raids. Something for us to do with only 3-4 people. SE needs content for low member parties to do.

It's called content finder. That will be your casual friendly tool. It will be cross server so that ensures there will be a good chunk of people willing to do what you want to accomplish.

This sort of thing will be a HUGE issue if PvP is launched as well, because that won't even be touched by anyone except by those with the best gear out there, so that too will be useless unless you copy what WoW already did.(which has been seeming to be the pattern as I see more and more patch info) Which is release gear available for some sort of PvP points to help them be able to fight against others on a competitive basis. (Job balance is also a MAJOR issue in pvp)

PvP will NOT be a main focus like SWTOR/WoW or any of the others. PvE is the main focus and I see Classes being used more for such an event. There isn't much balancing needed as I see it, ALL classes are grey in the end.

A large amount of the MMO population is related to PvP content and that is far to large a margin to ignore however unless you make it easier to obtain gear to make people able to compete against the heavy raiders it'll never work.

Those looking for a WoW/SWTOR like system will be leaving if that's the only reason they joined. It has already been stated this will be PvE focused.

Conclusion

I do still like FFXIV, I don't have as much time on it as I'd like but I still hope it can improve and become more successful then ever, however unless SE makes some dramatic changes to a lot of mistakes they have made in the past(such as actually balancing jobs) and make the combat system a bit more fun it may not be as successful as it could be.

How much more of a dramatic revamp could a MMO do? They are finally finishing up on a lot of core revamps after a year plus and you think they need to be do something even more drastic?

Remember just because some of us like these models doesn't mean it'll be liked by everyone... and remember SE is a company and their prime goal is to make a profit, which means making a large population happy

.

No matter what SE does there will always ONLY be SOME people that enjoy it. No MMO
is enjoyed by all especially these days. WoW is so massive because an entire family from 3 years old+ could play and win. They can keep their kiddie playerbase and massive immaturity among them.

SE doesn't need a "large" playerbase to turn a profit. They only need a solid one. One of SWTOR issues currently is opening so many servers among their "large" base and now that only the solid remains it is spread thin among the servers. FFXI lived this long, was successful to SE, AND made(and continues to make) a profit because it's playerbase was solid, yet it never reached 1 million subs(even though abyssea since has shaken the once stabilized playerbase).


If you currently have such major issues with the game, and the OP seems pretty major to me, this game probably won't be for you once 2.0 releases.