Ideas to expand as well create more ways to rank up/enjoy.

[Shadowskill]

Good morning.

Regarding the Tags, will add any and all as the thread moves along.

If at all you found or had a good experience with a method of grind from another game. please add it, this thread is a means to let SE take ideas from, all ideas are welcomed

I personally like the guildleves as they stand for a means to gain reward via Gil/items/SP for the more casual player base.

This idea I got from another game as well believe FF12 did same fashion.

This method would make use of the billboard beside the Leve NPC in Uld (the one I know of) as well all cities. To put it simple this billboard would contain all sorts of quests ranging from simple go collect X item, all the way to maybe help kill a NM that is wrecking havoc on a village.

The quest/missions from the billboard would encourage the player base with multiple forms of rewards, via repeatable quests/non-repeatable as well grouped play (very tough creators in need of being dealt with) as well simple quests which can be easily taken on by one individual.

The reward part for these quests would be anything from SP, gil. The amount would be directly effected by the risk involved.

Much like the NM leves the quests will not have the ability to set difficulty also be restricted to rank limitations (if no classes of that rank, the reward will be effected by the rank you complete the quest), some quests will actually force the player base to go find members to help take on the objective.

To help make this clear (so we don't have people getting mad for failing a grouped required quest) the quest log (much like the leves are) will have a rating as well required group (Group of X +, RXX optimal), this can be done in many forms. One idea would be to make a star rating, as well a simple explanation in the wording of the quest itself.

I understand this is just copying the Guildleves and moving them to a different location (to some degree), it will also open up other avenues for grinding/story/lore for other player base groups.

Unlike the Guildleves some of these quests will be only available once or (with low reward) repeatable, can even add circumstances like even time of day to the mix.
Example would be, in the evening hours 20:00 - 8:00 some quests would be available requesting the player to go kill X monster/collect X item.

Some of the quests can be chained together. Helping person X with collecting/killing, they open up more quests or even increase ones fame (like FF11 did). This in turn will open up more quests that can still be linked to story/lore.

For the act or claiming the reward, this can be done in a few methods as well. Directly traveling to the person requesting the quest from the billboard (would be found using the journal "map" option), gaining the reward upon completion of the quest, or by going back to the billboard to receive the reward.

This is just an idea for opening up methods to keep the player base busy while introducing group/solo play.

Looking forward to hearing ideas others might have with opening up ways from which SE can take from, as well ways to increase the enjoyment of playing the game.

Thank you for reading (sorry it is little long )

[Evenstar]

Nice post.

The biggest problem regarding leveling is that there is only one way that really works well, which is doing leves.

Square Enix stated that the leves idea was to make sure that casual players with not too much time could enjoy the game. I think they succeeded on that, no doubt. You can log in, play for 30 minutes an log off again after you actually achieved something in-game.

FFXI was a real MMORPG, you coulnd't reach level cap or do big missions without some friends, while in FFXIV (and WoW) you can reach final cap and do almost all the quests/missions on your own. If I wanted that I would just play FFXIII or Warcraft III. The whole MMO of MMORPG is missing in FFXIV. It feels like a singleplayer game to me ...

While focusing so much on the casual player they totally forgot about FFXI players and hardcore players. Hardcore players are in my eyes pllayers with more time and/or players that just want a bigger challenge while playing the game.

The problem is that no matter how easy Square Enix makes FFXIV you will still have players saying it is too hard and too hardcore and not fair. It is simply how the MMORPG playerbase is since the release of WoW. They expect everything to be handed to them on a silver plate, while they are sitting at the inn drinking a bear.

So, they shouldn't change the whole leves idea too much, but add more ways to level like you say.

The best thing they can add right now is some kind of party based leveling like in FFXI. It will attract the hardcore and FFXI players, while still having the leves option for the more casual players. This shouldn't be too hard to implement after the classes are balanced and the battle system is reworked. All they need to do is make a few spots on a map where there are enough mobs and a high spawn rate to keep the party going.

[Shadowskill]

I agree completely, SE can almost focus on grouped play like they did in FF11. They have the means to keep both sides happy with the guildleves in place, just need more ideas to help SE expand on.

[Betelgeuzah]

Sidequests are already a bit too much like what you proposed, but maybe I misunderstood.

I think leves (when expanded) will make for a good source of primary progression, along with improved Behests. However, they leave something to be desired for solo players, even though you can still mob grind.

To deal with this, dynamic content should do. It doesn't have to be as complex as in Rift, but it should be a good means to gain skill alone (while fighting with others). It is a way to complement the existing systems, in other words. [If they haven't scrapped Hamlet defense battles, that's a good way to accomplish this.]

Since DoL doesn't get as much out of leves as the combat classes, they can be included in this activity.

[Shadowskill]

You are correct Betelgeuzah the side quests do cater to my idea, or vice verse.

Was a different approach as well "hopefully" opening up ideas from the rest of the player base. I understand there is only so many ways to go about the same formula for quests.

Could you explain more on this Hamlet defense battle. would like to hear how it would play out as well might add more insight for others to jump on with ideas of their own.

[Evenstar]

Well better Behest or new battles are not my first concern at the moment. First they need to make leveling up a bit more of a joy. Leveling in FFXI was way harder than it is in FFXIV, but it was also way more fun than it is in FFXIV. Yes, sitting for 4 hours in Jeuno waiting for a group only to see it disband 30 minutes after you got to camp was annoying, but we have leves to do meanwhile now.

Adding group based leveling and balancing of classes and tuning/revamping the battle system are the three most important things for me at the moment. As soon as they fix that they can start adding more and more content. Content is the easy part, really. The basics of FFXIV are fine, but still not finished, but they really should aim to finish it in about 3 more months.

[Betelgeuzah]

Could you explain more on this Hamlet defense battle. would like to hear how it would play out as well might add more insight for others to jump on with ideas of their own.

If it works anything like XI's "dynamic" content the beastmen would attack the Hamlets every once in a while, and the players need to drive them out. Make it work by the clock and often enough, and it should be a viable means of soloing while grouping would still be more efficient.

[Macfuzion]

Adding party based objectives is the win for me. I loved exping in ffXI, even tho trying to find a party a melee DD was tough. A ffXIV has to do is get the party system up to snuff rebalance the classes making them all unique, and after all that is done content will come and it will be fun!!!

[Evenstar]

Adding party based objectives is the win for me. I loved exping in ffXI, even tho trying to find a party a melee DD was tough. A ffXIV has to do is get the party system up to snuff rebalance the classes making them all unique, and after all that is done content will come and it will be fun!!!

That .... really its just that ....

Add group based leveling, see how the classes do, balance the classes, add new content ... W I N.

[Betelgeuzah]

Mob grinding really is a concept that needs to go away.

XI with FoV is better than no FoV. Small goals to work towards is never a bad thing.

Guildleve system can already accomplish what XI accomplished, but yes.. it needs work to be accepted by the community. In the end it can be better than XI's leveling, and I hope the devs don't give up on it.