The skill progression is atrocious

[tdb]

Hypercharge gives +20 potency to single target attacks though, so it's not useless by itself.

[Absurdity]

Hypercharge gives +20 potency to single target attacks though, so it's not useless by itself.

It's not useless, it does however feel terrible if you ever played MCH at higher levels.

[tdb]

Yeah, it's certainly not as satisfying without Heat Blast. Fortunately there's not many dungeons in that level range.

[testname]

Exactly, the game is such boring chore, it literally holds players back to not have fun till last levels

Not to mention most of the jobs do not functions properly without core skills

It's very archaic idea of progression with skills on levels up ( but what happens if you spreed the same amount of skills from first expansion till last one in upcoming years )

[ForteNightshade]

I would wager balance is also a worthy counterclaim. Example being on my alt going through HW instanced was embarrassing as I barley needed to heal and the tank busters were minor sneezes.

In the past, I may have agreed. However, the devs have routinely shown they don't give a flying hoot about balance at lower levels. Look no further than Dancer, which is hilariously OP at >50. Red Mage is comparably far stronger than Summoner and Black Mage until the 60ish mark. Meanwhile, Samurai is so comically weak at 70, it's actually out-dps'd by all three Range even in Ultimate. Once you factor in how significantly they've nerfed older content, it's more than apparent they don't pay the slightest bit of attention to balance below max level.

[Jojoya]

Exactly, the game is such boring chore, it literally holds players back to not have fun till last levels

Not to mention most of the jobs do not functions properly without core skills

It's very archaic idea of progression with skills on levels up ( but what happens if you spreed the same amount of skills from first expansion till last one in upcoming years )

If it's a boring chore, why are you still playing several years later when nothing about the game's skill progression design has changed in that time.

It's not an archaic idea of progression. It's a different one that core to RPGs, which tend to emphasis character development over time. You start knowing nothing. You gradually get stronger. There are plenty of other game genres to choose to play if you want to be all powerful from the start.

Quite honestly, this game would get boring fast if you started off all powerful then had nothing to look forward to in the way of character development.

[Lumberfoot]

If it's a boring chore, why are you still playing several years later when nothing about the game's skill progression design has changed in that time.

It's not an archaic idea of progression. It's a different one that core to RPGs, which tend to emphasis character development over time. You start knowing nothing. You gradually get stronger. There are plenty of other game genres to choose to play if you want to be all powerful from the start.

Quite honestly, this game would get boring fast if you started off all powerful then had nothing to look forward to in the way of character development.

No one has said that you should be all powerful from the start and not receive any new abilities during your characters development. No other RPG that I have ever played have waited until the later half of the game to start giving your character abilities. This game does not have a gradual character progression, its sporadic.

Edit: not to mention that the gameplay of most RPGs are not solely based or using skills, which this type of MMORPG is.

[linayar]

No other RPG that I have ever played have waited until the later half of the game to start giving your character abilities.

You have your first ability right from the start and one of the first quests you do gives you another ability: Return.

This game does not have a gradual character progression, its sporadic.

Nope, it's gradual progression through gears and abilities. Time between patches and expansions does not make it sporadic.

Edit: not to mention that the gameplay of most RPGs are not solely based or using skills, which this type of MMORPG is.

Well, it's a good thing this game does give you the skills to do the relevant content.

Although, there are other contents outside of combat and crafting/gathering. So it's wrong to say that the gameplay is "solely based on using skills."

[Lumberfoot]

You have your first ability right from the start and one of the first quests you do gives you another ability: Return."

That's some seriously poor bait.

Nope, it's gradual progression through gears and abilities. Time between patches and expansions does not make it sporadic.

I have not said anything about the time between patches and expansions.

Although, there are other contents outside of combat and crafting/gathering. So it's wrong to say that the gameplay is "solely based on using skills."

I guess the game is not based on using skills because the gold saucer exists? Of course you can spend hours walking around cities, chatting and so on without using any skills, but that does not mean that the main part of the game is not based on using them.

[AnonymousBard]

I've subbed to this game for years now, and is my primary MMO. Absolutely adore the story. And for someone like me Gameplay tends to be tied with story for me as the major selling points.

But the thing is this...

OP is right. The pre-50 levels are horrendously boring for the vast majority of classes. The only reason i find a way to grind past it is because i want to see what the classes are like 70+. Most classes dont even resemble their end-game versions. pre 60 BLM doesnt even play remotely similar to post 60. Same with BRD and many others.

You can level up quickly yes, and for someone like me its not a huge deal. But i can not even respect someone of the opinion that its good enough and does not warrant change.

its 2020. The tech is there to have our cake and eat it too. We shouldn't have to sacrifice gameplay for story, or vice versa. And the people who believe that to be true are whats wrong with the gaming community.