Please change the seasonal achievements in PvP (Achievement Community Perspective)

[Celi]

Currently:
The achievements for each PvP season are unique. Meaning that achievement hunters must repeat the exact same content endlessly each season to avoid missing out on a time sensitive achievement.

Example Achievement:
Ranked and Filed: Complete Crystalline Conflict Season One ranked #31-#100.
(20 achievement points.)

Why it should be changed:

• It feels like getting the same achievement over and over again and feels less satisfying because of it.
• It’s extremely repetitive without a perceivable end. These types of achievements are “out of place” with all other achievements in the game. All other achievements have a definite end where the category for that achievement can be considered “complete”. Having multiple definite ends (although they may even take years to reach) create an achievement hunting environment that thoroughly dips achievement hunters into all the content and communities in the game. However, this cycle of ranked PvP achievements will create a never ending loop for achievement hunters that pushes them more heavily into the PvP community than any other community in the game. (EXTREMELY HEAVILY) It's exceptionally out of place because this is the only achievement loop like this existing in the game. Participating in the top 100 ranking for just a single season is a large amount of work that persists through the entire season. Then, another season starts as soon as one ends and it feels like getting the same achievement over and over again with no variety in the content done.
• At the higher end of achievement hunting, the leaderboards tracking points will eventually become heavily determined by who has done most ranked PvP because of these achievement’s high point value, time exclusivity and short re-release cycle. The fun around achievement boards will be weakened when one narrow section of content will play a big factor on how many points players have. Branching out into all the content in the game is one of the most fun things about achievements, having points too closely linked to just one aspect of the game takes away from that. Differences in data centers could also play a major role if top 100 is more easily obtainable on some more than others.

Suggestions for change:

• Revert ranked achievements to how they were in Feast. Have one achievement for reaching X rank, regardless of which season it was obtained in. Such as: Complete a Feast season ranked #11-#100 (solo).”
• Remove achievement points from season exclusive achievements. This option removes the point imbalance from the achievement hunting community while still providing more variety in titles and rewards for the PvP community.

[Celi]

I also want to bring up how the Firmament ranking achievements played out.

The achievements for the firmament ranking worked exactly the same way, but ended in only 3 seasons. The top 12 on the leaderboard received a unique achievement, but each season rewarded the “Saint of the Firmament” title. This design clearly encouraged players to compete for top 12 multiple times, but unfortunately, it led to a barrage of hateful messages towards players who had already earned the title in a previous ranking. Many players thought it was rude or unfair for people already holding the title to compete for it again. “I hope you lose”, “Get out”, “You’re a piece of work” are nicer, toned down versions of the many nasty messages players received for trying to get more top 12 achievements. People were forced to make the choice between missing out on achievement they would never be able to get again or being harassed. The whole situation was 100% not ok, and could have been avoided with different game design.

It may play out differently in PvP, but I wanted to include this information in my post because of the similarity in how the achievements worked and how harsh and consistent the harassment was. (Many players received messages outside of the game through things like twitter or discord, outside of Square Enix's knowledge and ability to help)

[Nanne]

Feast season's all had just 1 achievement for all different placements so it was weird that they made all these unique I wouldn't mind CC being changed to work the same way and they could still just keep giving the numbered frames like normal

[Celi]

Feast season's all had just 1 achievement for all different placements so it was weird that they made all these unique I wouldn't mind CC being changed to work the same way and they could still just keep giving the numbered frames like normal

I think they could improve the rewards system for ranked PvP, just achievements isn't it.

I think ranked PvP should have it's own currency rewarded at the end of each season that could be used to buy stuff exclusive to playing ranked (Like what wolf collars used to be before CC) But instead of just having weapons on the vendor, have the type of rewards we used to see in top 100 Feast and add a new one each season. With the new ranking system, there are better ways to reward players an amount based on skill and competition.

Like if a mount costs 20 tokens you earn:
Crystal 1000 points: 25 tokens
Crystal 500 points: 20 tokens
Crystal 0 points: 15 tokens
Diamond: 13 tokens
Platinum: 10 tokens
Gold: 7 tokens
Silver: 5 tokens
Bronze: 1 token

I kind of quickly tossed in some values, but they key point would be having the base line for buying the newest mount/big reward in a single season involve having to rise through crystal a bit to make sure the queues for the top rank stay healthy. At the same time, it draws in players who might think they have no chance in making it that far up the ladder, and encourages them to try to improve.

This type of system wouldn't have any type of season specific exclusivity, but I think it would be really healthy for ranked. (And we still have the plates that are season exclusive)

[Towa-Musa]

I think they could improve the rewards system for ranked PvP, just achievements isn't it.

I think ranked PvP should have it's own currency rewarded at the end of each season that could be used to buy stuff exclusive to playing ranked (Like what wolf collars used to be before CC) But instead of just having weapons on the vendor, have the type of rewards we used to see in top 100 Feast and add a new one each season. With the new ranking system, there are better ways to reward players an amount based on skill and competition.

Like if a mount costs 20 tokens you earn:
Crystal 1000 points: 25 tokens
Crystal 500 points: 20 tokens
Crystal 0 points: 15 tokens
Diamond: 13 tokens
Platinum: 10 tokens
Gold: 7 tokens
Silver: 5 tokens
Bronze: 1 token

I kind of quickly tossed in some values, but they key point would be having the base line for buying the newest mount/big reward in a single season involve having to rise through crystal a bit to make sure the queues for the top rank stay healthy. At the same time, it draws in players who might think they have no chance in making it that far up the ladder, and encourages them to try to improve.

This type of system wouldn't have any type of season specific exclusivity, but I think it would be really healthy for ranked. (And we still have the plates that are season exclusive)

eehhh it wont come to be even if they do what you are saying, pvp will go back into a non ranked focused state community wise and all the Wintraders will be sitting pretty in the top 100 because nobody can be bothered. id much rather they just bring all the previous feast armor sets/glams and stuff them into the wolf collar vendor so i have a reason to spend my crystals on SOMETHING.

[Celi]

eehhh it wont come to be even if they do what you are saying, pvp will go back into a non ranked focused state community wise and all the Wintraders will be sitting pretty in the top 100 because nobody can be bothered. id much rather they just bring all the previous feast armor sets/glams and stuff them into the wolf collar vendor so i have a reason to spend my crystals on SOMETHING.

I actually think so too, but I've noticed SE seems really insistent on trying to make ranked work even though nothing has been effective yet. If they can't find a way to moderate cheating or win trading, I think better rewards should be offered at a lower level so people can still get them without dealing with all that. OR they should just remove all rewards from ranked, but that would be the same as fully giving up on it, which I don't think they are willing to do.

[Toukichiful]

I agree with the thread post, some points to add.

The vendor should have a former reward and a new reward added every season so that if the reward is something someone does not like for that season, they will still feel incentivised to play for the top 100 because they want something from a previous season.

They could be a returning player or have not been able to do X season due to IRL(in real life) as well, so will feel incentivised to make an attempt if they can. which will be beneficial for the health of a ranked season every season to do.

Season 2 CC is a prime example of how rewards currently negatively affect ranked PVP. As there was no new series reward a lot of players got top 100 and just afked due to nothing to do, the queue died and was only active in crystal a few hours a day and other ranks were dead. The same thing will happen in Season 4 as people are actively playing at the moment due to series rewards. Also the top 100, top 30 and rank 1 portraits are a joke due to them being the same every season. While in 6.2 Ultimate fight which more people do is fair enough. Have added nicer portrait designs and even given plate designs. However, getting Rank 1, Top 30 or Top 100 only gives you a portrait they could at least add a plate design to not slap ranked PVP players in the face for the effort they put in to get top ranks.

[Rexxus]

I believe that removing any FOMO elements to an MMO is a welcome one.

The fact that there are so few in FFXIV is the reason I feel like achievement hunting/collecting in the first place. There's nothing that kills that enthusiasm faster than the knowledge that you will never be able to get everything because you didn't play the game when x thing happened.

[ThaCa]

I think they could improve the rewards system for ranked PvP, just achievements isn't it.

I think ranked PvP should have it's own currency rewarded at the end of each season that could be used to buy stuff exclusive to playing ranked (Like what wolf collars used to be before CC) But instead of just having weapons on the vendor, have the type of rewards we used to see in top 100 Feast and add a new one each season. With the new ranking system, there are better ways to reward players an amount based on skill and competition.

Like if a mount costs 20 tokens you earn:
Crystal 1000 points: 25 tokens
Crystal 500 points: 20 tokens
Crystal 0 points: 15 tokens
Diamond: 13 tokens
Platinum: 10 tokens
Gold: 7 tokens
Silver: 5 tokens
Bronze: 1 token

I kind of quickly tossed in some values, but they key point would be having the base line for buying the newest mount/big reward in a single season involve having to rise through crystal a bit to make sure the queues for the top rank stay healthy. At the same time, it draws in players who might think they have no chance in making it that far up the ladder, and encourages them to try to improve.

This type of system wouldn't have any type of season specific exclusivity, but I think it would be really healthy for ranked. (And we still have the plates that are season exclusive)

Something like this seems solid, reminds me a bit of BLC where they had automated tournaments with few tiers that rewarded currency to buy stuff to show off. If you couldn't compete on the higher tiers you could still slowly work towards most of the stuff.

Would also be nice to have some extra dumps for trophy crystals, like gather 100k worth of trade in items with them to turn in for glowing hellhound weapons or something.

On another note, they really should hire at least one active PvP GM for each datacenter. The amount of cheating and wintrading varies a lot by DC (there seems to be very little on Light at least but still occasional griefing) Just getting handed the suspensions and what not at fairly short notice would curb down heavily the incentive to do any of it. As it is, it can take weeks for any actions taken against some malicious actors and they are free to terrorize people until then.

[Mulch]

I believe that removing any FOMO elements to an MMO is a welcome one.

The fact that there are so few in FFXIV is the reason I feel like achievement hunting/collecting in the first place. There's nothing that kills that enthusiasm faster than the knowledge that you will never be able to get everything because you didn't play the game when x thing happened.

Same anything to remove FOMO is highly encouraged especially with a monthly sub MMO. You should have the ability to get things when you have the time to put into getting them not you must do X or Y now and lose out.