/sigh, Hamlet Defense isn't like Campaign then

[Kraggy]

Was really looking forward to this, seemed like an enhanced Campaign system .. but it turns out yet more 8-man instanced crap that can't be accessed by small groups or solo.

Seems the era of non-group content in XIV's evolution is over.

[Orophin]

We can only hope they can expand on this in 2.0 when the server structure can better handle mass amounts of people.

[BlaiseLallaise]

I will cross my fingers in hopes that it will be modified in 2.0 to become a quasi-instanced event (like the current garlean invasion) accessible by any size party, even if there is a max participation. That's pretty much what I expected it to be this time.

[Roaran]

I remember hearing there was a companion system in the works... Either summon a NPC partner or chocobo or whatever, and control them with a Gambit-FF12 style system.

And by summoning their partners a group of 4 could engage in 8 man content.

I think that would make content much more accessible and flexible for small or large groups.

[RolandDebreton]

How about a system to let you know that its actually happening? I just wanted to try it and I have no idea whether its in combat phase or not until I cross examine an npc for 20 minutes.

We have a whole litany of timers available for various activities. Including behest, which I rarely ever see used. How about a timer for Hamlet Defense. I go to the location after 2 days, expecting activity, and what do I see. Three other players, two are crafting, everyone seems afk... awesome.

[buritoslicer]

This is Final Fantasy XIV no? It should be different, it should seem like it's a different game.

That said, the graphics technology can't handle more than 40 players being displayed at once. So they did what they could with what they had to work with. (why do I bother replying to topics like these?)

[Jinko]

I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, if you read the notes its actually a lot more interactve than campaign, crafters and gatherers have to support the front line players etc.

I do agree it would have been nice to have content with 20+ players similar to the imperal assualt, but it may have been hard for them to balance such a thing with that many people.

I think we should give this a try before brushing it off as instanced rubbish though, 11-12 hours until the first battle begins.

[ESAR]

I was pretty upset when I heard that as well. I've been looking forward to this for a long time and I doubt I'm even gonna bother with it. It's probably gonna be too hard to set up a party of 8 for it -.-;

I totally get why it's instanced and 8man though, it'll look really poor only having 40 characters show up at one time. I'm hoping they add something you can just jump into after 2.0. Campaings were awesome and a fun way to waste some time in FFXI.

Another thing that prevents this from working is the current claim system. You need to be in the party that first attacks the mob to get EXP or rewards. I think they'll need a new system if they want to do something like campaign (which they should, it was kickass. Who cares if it was already done. lol)

They could just use the model they had in FFXI. EXP is tallied and split at the end, based on how long you were in the fight and how active you were. Give you better items based on time and participation as well.
(or just rank it by participation, however campaign worked.)

I liked campaign, you could just pop on the game, kill some shit for a half hour or so (it was fun) and log out. No deep time requirements, searching for a party, ect.

A and that imperial thing pissed me off. I wanted to do it as WHM, but if I couldn't get into a party, I didn't get exp. Whack. WAR would just hog all the kills.
lol, my bad on the slight rant.

[Allistar]

I will cross my fingers in hopes that it will be modified in 2.0 to become a quasi-instanced event (like the current garlean invasion) accessible by any size party, even if there is a max participation. That's pretty much what I expected it to be this time.

^^...This...Yes please!!!

[Kraggy]

This is Final Fantasy XIV no? It should be different, it should seem like it's a different game.

Er, XIV WAS different till the players whined and demanded the tired-old job system, etc., and SE caved in and morphed it into XI-2 .. LOL Ifrit, Garuda and presumably the rest of the Avatar pantheon .. except they didn't carry over several aspects of XI that makes it enjoyable by more than just the hardcore full-group-only crowd.