Why this Live Letter Matters

[UkcsAlias]

But at the moment it very much looks like there won't be anything interesting/spectacular until everything's done with their other ff project, which is kinda sad. :/

The problem is that island sanctuaries, which could have been quite some extensive content, simply wasnt that, its extremely dull and repetetive, and features barely anything to do. Even for those who like gathering, the rewards arent even nearly worth it (effort to value conversion rate is absolutely horrible). If they involved content that required for example combat, and other special events, it could have worked. But it simply wasnt that.

The only way IS can be revived would be if it contains content for the DoW/DoM. Even if its just special boss fights like BLU has, where later levels unlock more of these fights, it can do quite a bit. As those fights could give special rewards which then in turn can interact elsewhere (relic weapon requirement, special ingredients for certain housing items, special glams, rewards that benefit IS again to unlock more, daily/weekly challenges). But that obviously requires a massive change (which they dont seem to want to do because of ffxvi). And in the end, its probably very similar to variant dungeons anyway.

And even then, the issue of IS is that its massively timegated instead of being actualy properly grindable content that is fun to do (instead of contant grinding for resources, things like fates are more dynamic). This timegating wouldnt be an issue if at least it didnt feel that artificial (fates can be a limitation as well, but have a more common spawn rate which allows people to do duties between them in case all of them were done).

I think IS is the reason we are currently facing a lack of more dynamic content. And because its too DoL oriented, its not something easily changed either.

And by now, even if they had an idea for such extensive content, im certain they will just wait for 7.1, as when 7.0 is released, all 6.x content is instantly becoming mostly obsolete as the new expansion is then where it is all at.

[DrWho2010]

Whatever aveyond thinks he's going to get, isn't going to happen. There will be no deep bowing or apologies of any kind.

[Saraide]

I doubt this live letter really matters. Games as big as this just die off.

[Khryseis_Astra]

This Live Letter is going to be about 6.4. I doubt we’ll hear any major details of plans for the next expansion until after the Fan Fests.

[CStrife912]

The thing is if they dont respond to anything then their metrics indicate that the problem isn't as big as people make it out to be. They have the tools to track player engagement/retention and if they are seeing decline in aspects they would of looked to the forums or discord or reddit with their teams that are purely there to gather feedback or research the market for what others are doing in the genre. I just can't imagine this Live Letter really doing much to what Aveyond wants and I don't think at the same time they should. Peoples likes or dislikes have shown to be wildly on either side of the fence. It is pretty much the same 3-4 negative posts fighting the same 3-4 positive posters and just butting heads with the odd user here and there.

7.0 matters....6.4/6.5 do not...their content and roadmap was done well over a year ago...whatever is here is set in stone. No wild last minute changes would be happening here is my best bet.

[Absimiliard]

The only way IS can be revived would be if it contains content for the DoW/DoM. Even if its just special boss fights like BLU has, where later levels unlock more of these fights, it can do quite a bit. As those fights could give special rewards which then in turn can interact elsewhere (relic weapon requirement, special ingredients for certain housing items, special glams, rewards that benefit IS again to unlock more, daily/weekly challenges). But that obviously requires a massive change (which they dont seem to want to do because of ffxvi). And in the end, its probably very similar to variant dungeons anyway.

Something like the monster arena in FFX might fit the island well on the DoW/M interaction front. New monsters being added to the arena roster based on catching X number of different animal types would certainly be a good way to tie it in. It would also be a good opportunity for them to test the proverbial waters on extreme/savage-level solo challenges, hopefully with appropriate rewards.

Given they've said before they want to make FFXIV the kind of game you can go through solo or in a group, I figure overtuned solo challenges are a bit of an inevitability. So, that in mind, why not use a monster arena on the island to start figuring out scaling and experimenting with mechanics combinations that will work against solo targets without automatically killing them?

[Stormpeaks]

ngl there is going to be nothing "amazing" at the live letter, it'll be the same thing as usual, nothing else, if you put your expectations high you are in for a massive disappointment

[Minarisweet]

They've all mattered its just more people are noticing how lackluster the game can feel. Me and my friends would look foward to each shb live letter for glimmers of hope for the game and now you are doing the same too. The devs have reached a point where they can put bare minimum effort in the game and it will still be popular so people dont really care if the content we get is good or not, I have no hopes anymore just gonna enjoy whatever they get to put out every 2 or 3 years if there is anything.

[Ath192]

8-man raid fights will hopefully better than this expansion's alliance raid fights...they are nowhere near as involved as previous ones from NierR or Ivalice. One thing is content made for casuals, but another thing is alliance raids becoming little more than 24man dungeons.

You know what, you are right. These things are identical to 4 man dungeons now. If only the gameplay design of them were as good as the attention to the environment and bosses. At least Aglaia had a bit more fun mechanics, and one team based one. Even if controversial.

[Jeeqbit]

what some players are looking for now is direct assurance that things won't continue the way they have this expansion.

They will. They plan an expansion's patches before the expansion even releases. They showed us concept art for Island Sanctuary before Endwalker even released. They told us the whole (obviously vague) plan at the very beginning of the expansion. That is why it won't change. To change an expansion's patches, you need to be asking before the .4 or .3 patch of the previous expansion. After the .3 patch is when they begin working on the next expansion, after all.

Soon we will begin getting details of the next expansion, so now we are reaching the point where the plan for the next expansion is decided and feedback is realistically going to need to pertain to that or it's a wasted effort.

The time has come to admit that somewhere down the line, some wrong turns were taken. But as before, this isn't to say that things are beyond any hope of salvation. The promise of the return to exploratory zones for next expansion for instance, restoration content, or similar systems if spoken now would at least give those who lost trust the impression that someone out there is listening and seriously considering peoples' concerns.

Perhaps, but I think this is more likely to occur at a fan fest live letter, where they actually discuss the next expansion.

short term solutions could include revamping the reward structure for Variant/Criterion dungeon in a massive way, the immediate shift for 6.45 and 6.55 relics to specific content such as those dungeons or other battle content, and adding more appealing rewards to Eureka Orthos such as alternate weapons, gearsets, or even gil rewards.

Those things we could see in the next live letter, I suppose, because they are minor changes.