Why was FFXI so great?

[Eagleheart]

Besides, hasn't Yoshi P already said that the method we use for PL at the moment is going away at or before 2.0? o______O

[Jokerz]

Raid endlessly til the dark times come?


.

But this is the issue. This is what people will do until they get tired of the game. One thing you didn't really point out when pointing out all those endgame scenarios was how many of them had a process to them where you had to accomplish something first. Whether it be farming for a pop item or putting a set together to obtain one unique item. True FFXI did impose some artificial limits(but they did try to disguise them using lore) and FFXI did have it's fair share of casual events that still offered up decent options.

FFXI's endgame was different from other mmo's because of a horizontal endgame where there was no "1337" set. Top of the line gear was awesome to have, but there was content that was more casual friendly with gear that would allow even a casual player to hold their own.

However I seriously doubt we are anywhere near endgame scenarios with the current content, so really this whole discussion is kinda moot...

[Eagleheart]

But this is the issue. This is what people will do until they get tired of the game. One thing you didn't really point out when pointing out all those endgame scenarios was how many of them had a process to them where you had to accomplish something first. Whether it be farming for a pop item or putting a set together to obtain one unique item. True FFXI did impose some artificial limits(but they did try to disguise them using lore) and FFXI did have it's fair share of casual events that still offered up decent options.

FFXI's endgame was different from other mmo's because of a horizontal endgame where there was no "1337" set. Top of the line gear was awesome to have, but there was content that was more casual friendly with gear that would allow even a casual player to hold their own.

However I seriously doubt we are anywhere near endgame scenarios with the current content, so really this whole discussion is kinda moot...

It really isn't moot, though, sir, because the developers are watching, and I am deathly afraid that they will take XIV in the direction of XI.

[Jokerz]

It really isn't moot, though, sir, because the developers are watching, and I am deathly afraid that they will take XIV in the direction of XI.

I'm actually with you I don't want this game to turn out like FFXI either. There was a lot of things FFXI could have done better but some things FFXI did do was right and should be considered.

[Eagleheart]

I'm actually with you I don't want this game to turn out like FFXI either. There was a lot of things FFXI could have done better but some things FFXI did do was right and should be considered.

I concur with that for sure. I'm just worried that so many of these threads idolize FFXI in a way that both confuses and worries me.

[Eagleheart]

However a lot of people like myself hated the sidegrade nature of FFXI doing sky for 5 years ring a bell. So when abyssea did come out it was like a breath of fresh air, probably the greatest thing to happen to FFXI, most people who currently still play FFXI agree on this. Finally we got some upgrades and a new level cap to level up our jobs to keep us busy.

Its the people who quit because their gear wasn't the best anymore are the ones that kept bashing abyssea. Most people who still play FFXI really enjoyed it.

Indeed. If the Dev Team of Old had not returned to XI, my LS and I would still be attempting to balance time on XIV with time on XI. Abyssea was a thrill for our little linkshell, something we could work together on and achieve great successes and awesome rewards, if we just stuck with it. We could complete awesome gear sets for all of our members on multiple jobs, and not obtain only one Adaberk every couple of months with an Einherjar alliance.

This is what irritates me most when people complain about Abyssea. Abyssea enabled the average player without a massive linkshell to obtain awesome rewards, if they just worked hard and stuck with it. We did. We benefited. Anyone could do the same, and that is the entire point. Anyone could.

Hard work, persistence, and due rewards for both, in a system where anyone could join, as Abyssea enabled a variety of strategies with virtually any job combination. We had PLDs. We had BSTs. We had SMNs. Sometimes, we'd BLM burn just to cackle at the sheer nuking power. Sometimes, we'd go with three or four DRKs, just to see the chaos. We'd obtain "tokens" AKA totems/kupo charms for upgrading our individual armors, and be able to see steady progress as we worked towards our goals, and eventually completed them.

The posters who claim to long for a system that rewards hard work and perseverance, with tangible rewards for their time, and then proceed to decry Abyssea, are astonishing to me on a fundamental level. What they claim to want, they instead denigrate and demonize, and have not the capacity to see it, even as it is typed out in front of them! ; ;

[Jocko]

It really isn't moot, though, sir, because the developers are watching, and I am deathly afraid that they will take XIV in the direction of XI.

And what's wrong with the direction? Yes, XI had a lot of issues, but its style of progression and unique "side grade" gear kept the game a lot more interesting than most current (Including XIV) MMO's. XIV is, and should be, a spiritual sequel of sorts to XI. As such, it should take the core concepts and ideas from XI, improve upon them, and create a similar, enhanced product.

The reason XI players are so defensive on these boards is because most MMO's have begun to take a different path from the old EQ, UO, and XI days of past in favor of a more 'casual' (This is not a derogatory term) and perhaps 'solo friendly' approach, and XIV, being a spiritual sequel of sorts, is the closest thing they have to game in that older style. It's understandable as to why they get upset easily when others want this game to go in a direction far away from it's predecessor.

But I got side tracked. What was it about XI's style that you didn't like? Because, note that as a sequel, it's expected that they fix the bad and keep the good of the previous game. It's more than possible to make an XI style game more accessible with less time sinks.

[Dacen]

Personally, FFXI seemed like a way of life for me.

No matter what other MMO I played, FFXI was the MMO I always returned to, because:

-It felt more like home, you always wanted to come back to it, after a hard day of adventuring you could just chill in your mog house and chat away with your LS, the soothing music never got old.
-Everyone you connected with, LS or otherwise, seemed like it had purpose. Those who shared hardships and joy with you, would always remember you and vice versa.
-Everything was challenging, and frustratingly so. But the rewards were also enormous, and you felt a great sense of satisifaction.
-The Music; Yes FFXIV has great music too, but take the above points, add the music from FFXI... and you are instantly brought back to the memories of hardship, relaxation, joy, excitement, frustration and the great people you partied with. It brought out the best in all of us.
-Playing FFXI, you didn't feel detached from the character you were playing. No no, somehow you always felt "in the game" as opposed to "playing the game". Everything you did felt like a true reflection of yourself.

And those are my two cents =) Thanks for giving me the opportunity to have these awesome memories re-surface ZanarkandAbes.
-

[Zumi]

About Abyssesa

However a lot of people like myself hated the sidegrade nature of FFXI doing sky for 5 years ring a bell. So when abyssea did come out it was like a breath of fresh air, probably the greatest thing to happen to FFXI, most people who currently still play FFXI agree on this. Finally we got some upgrades and a new level cap to level up our jobs to keep us busy.

Its the people who quit because their gear wasn't the best anymore are the ones that kept bashing abyssea. Most people who still play FFXI really enjoyed it.

[Eagleheart]

One thing you didn't really point out when pointing out all those endgame scenarios was how many of them had a process to them where you had to accomplish something first.

Just noticed this part.

Pray tell, what process was that? The process of getting to, and killing Dynamis Lord? Yes, that was a challenge, but it also required idiotic mechanics which became staple for most fights, known as CS.Stun. Stunlock is not great game design.

Horizontal development is also another way of saying "no improvement". Yoshi P said much the same in his reasoning behind implementing Jobs.