Ask Naoki Yoshida Your Questions for the PAX East 2023 Panel

[Helionus]

Is there any plans for Ishgard Grand Company, with Temple Knight themed rewards? You could make it accessible after 3.0 MSQ, since it joins the Alliance at this point. It also would be a reason for a second source of Allied seals, since we only have one as opposed to two sources for Centurio and Nuts.

[Lyth]

Is there any chance of us getting the equivalent of an in-game bestiary that records various mobs that we encounter? The collection tab has a few collectible databases that could be used as the basis of this sort of thing, but there's no overarching collectible system that functions as a sort of 'Encyclopedia Eorzea' of everything we have encountered to date. The closest system is the Unending Codex, but that's more of a glossary of terms than something that specifically rewards the player for lore hunting.

[Renathras]

Can we all stop worrying so much about job balance and just make jobs unique and fun to play? I didn't like Dragoon or Dark Knight in Heavensward and THAT IS PERFECTLY OKAY. There should be a job for everyone, and that should be determined by how the job plays, not what sparkly light show one prefers.

Similar question from me:

Mr. Yoshida, I've loved all the years I've had playing FFXIV, and I hope for a bright future and more to come! And again, thank you for making this game and world and sharing it with us all. I'm truly grateful.

I don't think simple or complex Jobs are bad, but I think we could really use more diversity within some roles; it's only bad if EVERY Job within a role/subrole is the same.

Tanks and especially Healers all have similar rotations but then you look at Casters and see three creative and fantastic variations across SMN, RDM, and BLM (and if we still had the Old SMN in some form, like Green Mage or something, that would be even a fourth style). SMN, RDM, and BLM all feel so different to play and have very different skill floors and ceilings, and no one plays at all like the others. Each one feels like a different experience and different mindset in playing them, and I think that's fantastic. How is it that one role with only three Jobs in it already more diverse than the four Job roles of Tanks and Healers?

It's fine - and probably good - that there are some Jobs some people don't like (I don't care much for BLM, but I like that it's there for people that DO like that playstyle, and hope it remains so those people have that Job which they love), as long as there's at least one Job in each role that each type of person can enjoy. GNB is great for people who may like DPS more than Tanking so they can tank while enjoying it more, and it's good that it exists alongside WAR, which is a simple and straightforward Tank for people that don't want a lot of complex overhead to manage while doing a role they feel busy enough in already. SMN is great for people who may typically not like DPSing but want to to fill out a party for friends and can enjoy it, and exists alongside BLM, a more traditional and more complex option for people that desire that level of gameplay. Healers probably need a GNB equivalent Job in the Healer role (maybe SGE if it had a rotation a bit more complex like SMN's or RDM's?)

I know "different" is debatable, but I think most players agree all four Healers have the same DoT + filler spell rotation, and that WAR/DRK and arguably PLD rotations are starting to feel a little too similar.

My Question:

Is there a chance we could see Jobs within roles more different in the future, so that there is a good chance can everyone find at least one Job in each role that they like?

[Lyth]

If you were releasing FFXIV for the first time into the MMO market now, in 2023, what would that game be like? Would you still have opted for a trinity MMO design, or would it be a completely different format?

[Connor]

Are there any unexpected surprises for ffxiv’s future? Any hints about the 10th anniversary, for example?

[Connor]

Are there any plans to address Bard’s job design in future? It’s currently a patchwork of mechanics taken from previous expansions and squished into the one job, and doesn’t feel very helpful as a support anymore

[Connor]

Lastly can Scholars get the additional effects of Galvanise and Biolysis up from PvP added to PvE? I want to support the party please Yoshi-P

[Payadopa]

Are there any plans to make the open world more interesting, like implementing Critical Engagements from Bozja?

[Contiguouskittycat]

I've always felt bad for Cocobusi from the Thaumaturge questline, and for other people in the world like him. Is there any training or therapy that would let him try thaumaturgy? We see Arya from the Red Mage questline learn magic again even though she lost her arcane aptitude, so maybe he could follow her example?

[RaideDuku]

Have you thought about making a tabletop version of FFXIV? I have many friends that don't play video games, but do play tabletop, and I'd like to have them experience the story one way or another.