the normal content is too easy

[Xuto-cxb]

My two cents, as someone who likes the higher tier content and has thought about this a lot:

The disparity in difficulty between most normal and top end content is just too great. I understand numbers count, especially with an MMO (especially an MMO under EAnix as they are now), but I do not believe normal content should be designed around people who don't even want to improve meaningfully at all. And yes, I know when it comes to roulettes, especially alliance, you have people who will avoid anything harder than labyrinth at all costs. The fact that they CAN is the problem. Too many people wanting to avoid even remotely engaging content is a consequence of a game that has made it too easy to avoid remotely engaging content at the cost of everyone else. And for the whole "There is ex/savage/ultimate" etc, let's be real for a second. Unless you have second job time to dedicate to an FC or a static you're not seeing that stuff. PF exists and it works sometimes but your only two options shouldn't be the extreme ends of "are you alive and pushing buttons" and "Second job".

Few of us, relatively speaking, want the challenge of top end content. But I would be willing to bet quite a few of us want something better than content designed around people who want to play the game as white noise. The bell curve is wildly inverted, and I think a big chunk of people in the middle are getting completely left out.

[Ath192]

My two cents, as someone who likes the higher tier content and has thought about this a lot:

The disparity in difficulty between most normal and top end content is just too great. I understand numbers count, especially with an MMO (especially an MMO under EAnix as they are now), but I do not believe normal content should be designed around people who don't even want to improve meaningfully at all. And yes, I know when it comes to roulettes, especially alliance, you have people who will avoid anything harder than labyrinth at all costs. The fact that they CAN is the problem. Too many people wanting to avoid even remotely engaging content is a consequence of a game that has made it too easy to avoid remotely engaging content at the cost of everyone else. And for the whole "There is ex/savage/ultimate" etc, let's be real for a second. Unless you have second job time to dedicate to an FC or a static you're not seeing that stuff. PF exists and it works sometimes but your only two options shouldn't be the extreme ends of "are you alive and pushing buttons" and "Second job".

Few of us, relatively speaking, want the challenge of top end content. But I would be willing to bet quite a few of us want something better than content designed around people who want to play the game as white noise. The bell curve is wildly inverted, and I think a big chunk of people in the middle are getting completely left out.

Wisdom disguised in Hrothgar clothes. Yeah this game shouldnt be white noise.

[tolgish95]

I honestly decided to quit the game because of this today. I just feel like a really old or disabled person while playing it. And if I want to play dress up with my character, I play Sims 4 lol.
It's a good story but I just can't anymore, I had to get this out. Bye.

[LaylaTsarra]

I honestly decided to quit the game because of this today. I just feel like a really old or disabled person while playing it. Bye.

Hope you have something you enjoy more, good luck.

[TizaneNZ]

Personally (and I can only speak for myself), I don't play games for 'mental stimulation'. I work at a hospital so get all the mental stimulation I need in RL. I play games to relax, to chill out and to not have to think too much about something. I will never do Extreme, Savage or any of that sort of instance, and only do raids when required to by the MSQ. As soon as it's done, I'm out of there, never to return. If I could skip them (including the 8-man duties) and still progress the MSQ, I absolutely would. For me, they are at the upper level of my difficulty range, and I find them exhausting. They are not fun, and I dread them.

As the base game, the MSQ should never be difficult to play through, as it should always be balanced for the absolutely average player. It should give some challenge, to make you pay attention to what you have to do, and even have consequences for mistakes, but it should not be so difficult that the average player gets frustrated enough to leave the game entirely. I have solo duties set to Very Easy so I can get through them quickly to get on with the story - that's what I play for. Having said that, my main is currently stuck (even at VE) at a solo duty that I just can't get through and I will need to wait for a weekend when I have time and energy enough to try it again, several times if necessary. Why am I stuck on VE mode? The duty calls for a lot of running around and simultaneous duty action clicking - I don't have good enough reflexes now and also have arthritis in my hands, which makes things interesting...

I also have no issue with the trust system, and am really enjoying it now that it's been extended to ARR as I can practice my upcoming characters' classes in a 'real' scenario without impinging on other players. Some days I really don't want to have to deal with people, so running a dungeon with NPCs is just relaxing fun.

'Difficult' is very subjective - what's difficult for me is likely to be incredibly easy for you.

[Lustre]

Considering I was with a tank who did nothing but turn stance on and off repeatedly, spam Prominence over and over and did nothing else the entire run (would use mitigation before a pull, wait for it to expire then pill) and we still cleared, I dont think theres any debate that normal content, especially non-current normal content is waaaay too easy. Either bring the skill floor up, or put something inbetween normal and extreme.

[ADarklore]

I think there is a reason why FFXIV is so successful, and it's because it appeals to a wide audience, especially casual players who just want to be able to do most everything solo. There is also a reason, which is clear to the devs and apparently not so clear to some players, why they toned down past dungeons and added the Duty Support system... it's because they have seen that the vast majority of players want simple MSQ dungeons and soloable content. If you look over on ESO (from which I've just returned from), the forum players have been complaining for years that overland content is too easy, but the devs have done nothing but continue to make the game even easier. Currently, and the reason I left, is they've made massive changes to the combat system in order to make it even easier- which isn't the problem I had- the problem I had was them nerf-hammering everything (especially Templar) in order to make it even more 'casual friendly'.

Now, according to the recent interview, YoshiP has stated the next MSQ trial will be 'harder' even on normal... so we'll see how long that lasts before they nerf it again because casual players cannot complete it. Normal MSQ-related content should be easy because the majority of players just want to follow the story, but a 'middle ground' difficulty should be available for those who want added difficulty. Although, having played MMOs for years, it wouldn't take long before you'd have players screaming that even the middle difficulty was too easy.

[TaleraRistain]

Although, having played MMOs for years, it wouldn't take long before you'd have players screaming that even the middle difficulty was too easy.

I think this is a key part that many people ignore or overlook. Right now people above the current bar are calling for the bar to be raised. Okay, say SE does that. Now people who were okay at the previous bar will not be able to clear and will quit the game. And players will be happy for a bit. But eventually, that will become the current bar and those above that bar will call for the bar to be raised. So SE raises it again, more people get frustrated and quit the game and those who can clear the current bar are happy. Then the next set above that bar...etc. It would never end. SE is doing the right thing by sticking to their guns that the main story that everyone is required to progress through is easy and appeals to a wide player base.

Some of the conflict comes because those above the bar players who do the harder optional content are in conflict with SE on this idea because they think the MSQ needs to prepare others for that harder optional content. But there are many players like Tizane up there (if you don't mind me using you as an example) who are interested in only the story. That's all the MSQ really needs to do, just tell a story. There can be arguments for more in-between content as that preparatory step to optional content and those are fair. But SE doesn't intend for the MSQ to prepare anyone for harder content. The MSQ is its own experience. I think they've been cementing this point more by making the MSQ soloable. Before with required group instances the lines blurred a bit. Now it's much solidly "This is the base JRPG story that everyone can play. And these are the optional MMO trimmings players can choose to do that may require more from the player."

Now, they have been making some optional content more accessible. I think the jury's still out on that one. I get that they want people to do that content, but I think they're trying to entice players who just don't aren't interested and it's been at the expense of those who do. But it's possible they have some data that says its a worthwhile endeavor. I think we'll have to wait and see and give feedback where we can. Both from those who enjoy that optional content and want it to be a challenge, but also from those who don't telling SE it's just not their type of content so don't try to design it to their standards.

[Payadopa]

I think the game has it backwards if the vast majority of content (read: everything but current expansion) doesn't even require you to hold a controller. There is accessibility and then there is being patronising.

Why is there only normal, easy and very easy for solo instances for example? Why not trusts but you can min ilvl? It's either pathetically easy or find a 8 people. As someone who works shifts and loves an actual challenge XIV doesn't really appeal atm.

[TaleraRistain]

Why is there only normal, easy and very easy for solo instances for example? Why not trusts but you can min ilvl? It's either pathetically easy or find a 8 people. As someone who works shifts and loves an actual challenge XIV doesn't really appeal atm.

I could definitely see an argument for this and I wonder if they're test-driving more variable difficulty options with the Variant and Criterion dungeons. It felt a lot to me like they were test driving Duty Support with the Squadron. So they may be trying it in optional content first before seeing if they can integrate it into MSQ. And to gauge reception. Optional difficulty sliders for solo in the MSQ is a great idea. They would need to consider if it could work with random matching, if the slider was automatically set or such. Since having it go on each person's personal difficulty slider might make it difficult to fill the queue.