Weekly Lockout this late into the tier is disheartening

[ElysiumDragon]

I understand why Savage and Normal Raids has the lockout for even-numbered patches, to encourage repeat subs whilst people prog or farm their BiS whilst the content is 'current'.

However, Anabaseios released in late-May, and we're currently 7-ish months into the tier. At this point, there's no new hardcore raid content until 7.0, and there's no reason to continue to timegate raiders or casual players who want to gear more than one job.

Not to mention of course, that having timegated gear drops after an Ultimate releases can result in unpleasant situations where a group that's otherwise ready to go into that Ultimate, cannot do so because they lack the required gear for their group through no fault of their own.

I sincerely believe that all lockouts on gear drops should be removed soon after the launch of an odd-numbered patch, to reduce the inconvenience of gearing for PF groups and statics.

[sindriiisgaming]

there has been a wierd change in endwalker that wasnt here in shb.. where the raid tier doesnt open up anymore within 4 month.. instead its drawn out just as long as the patch cycles.. making the content feel well.. drawn out.. the echo which used to come in to help ppl is now introduced after the next tier.. which is stupid.. and the raid hangs on for just waay to long. i mean i have my speculations as to why they do this.. i think everybody knows the real reason

[Jeeqbit]

there has been a wierd change in endwalker that wasnt here in shb.. where the raid tier doesnt open up anymore within 4 month..

It was more like 6 months, which is quite a lot of time after the odd-numbered patch.

What is different now is they extended the patch cycles from 3 and a half months to 4 months, combined with the fact they want to really draw out the final minor patches to reduce the impact of the content drought that is going to last all the way until the middle of 2024.

[sindriiisgaming]

It was more like 6 months, which is quite a lot of time after the odd-numbered patch.

What is different now is they extended the patch cycles from 3 and a half months to 4 months, combined with the fact they want to really draw out the final minor patches to reduce the impact of the content drought that is going to last all the way until the middle of 2024.

i mean i think the echo came in in shb after 4 months no? and then gradually increased from 5>10>15 and then 25 in endwalker. also god. god i hope they change there mind about summer release of DT. its just not good for the game. nobody even knows anymore what he means by "summer" it could be june.. it could be september.. its frightening to think about and we have to jump to the worst conclusion of 9 months wait. and because japanese are so complacent.. they wouldnt dare boo

[Jeeqbit]

i mean i think the echo came in in shb after 4 months no? and then gradually increased from 5>10>15 and then 25 in endwalker.

5.05 (savage release): 30th Jul 2019
5.18 (restrictions lifted): 24th Dec 2019 (21 weeks aka 5 months)
5.2 (savage release): 18th Feb 2020
5.31 (restrictions lifted): 8th Sep 2020 (29 weeks, aka 7 months due to covid delay)
5.4 (savage release): 7th Dec 2020
5.57 (restrictions lifted+echo): 22nd Jun 2021 (28 weeks aka 7 months)

nobody even knows anymore what he means by "summer" it could be june..

They usually favor trying to release it in June or July if they can.

[Ardeth]

TPM. Time played metric. The longer you play, the more money they make. Though I would agree this far into a content drought, you might as well, but they're smarter than I am. Maybe they know that everyone would spam, do the content, and run out of things to do. As a casual player, I really have nothing left. So when I got into catching up to the new AR raid and the new normal raids, the lockouts felt stupid. But what do I know? I'm more than likely going to unsubscribe, so their attempt to keep me with the time gating failed miserably.

[Wolwosh]

I like helping in pf here and there for fun to get people their kill or good prog and I always ask if they're okay with me helping out.
What I get is that I rolled my loot for the week, so I couldn't just keep going(or be picky), but why does me wanting to help out effects other players and reduce loot?
I think more people would help if they knew they wouldn't take away loot from others and it would help fill groups that do it now faster

[Rolder50]

TPM. Time played metric. The longer you play, the more money they make. Though I would agree this far into a content drought, you might as well, but they're smarternthan I am. Maybe they know that everyone would spam, do the content, and run out of things to do. As a casual player, I really have nothing left. So when I got into catching up to the new AR raid and the new normal raids, the lockouts felt stupid. But what do I know? I'm more than likely going to unsubscribe, so their attempt to keep me with the time gating failed miserably.

But I thought FF14 respected your time?

On topic, they should remove the lockout and allow Echo on the odd patch, simple as that.

[Hyperia]

It was more like 6 months, which is quite a lot of time after the odd-numbered patch.

What is different now is they extended the patch cycles from 3 and a half months to 4 months, combined with the fact they want to really draw out the final minor patches to reduce the impact of the content drought that is going to last all the way until the middle of 2024.

Patches went from 3 months to 4 to 4.5 months. With them extending the patches so often, the existing content ends up going stale and people just stop logging in, then quitting. This new patch cycle is a disaster for the FC I am in, nobody is left except for a few raid loggers and they are done next month.

There gets to be a point where you just don’t even want to come back for expansions.

We went from a steady supply of content to a trickle to a drip and now…

Really feels like the game is in maintenance mode now that they finished it. Yea yea I know expansion is coming but it feels as if the original team has moved on and given it to a maintenance team.

Dragging out the echo and lockouts feels like an attempt to make anemic content last longer.

[Jeeqbit]

Patches went from 3 months to 4 to 4.5 months.

They told us it was increasing from 3 and a half months to 4 months (aka an extra 2 weeks). If it is longer than that, then it is not consistent with what they said it would be. However, they mentioned they would take breaks for holidays now as well, so that could explain added delays too.

With them extending the patches so often, the existing content ends up going stale and people just stop logging in, then quitting.

That happens anyway. That is how most people play games. They load up the newest game or a game that just released DLC, burn through it in a few days, then move onto the next game. This happens even if SE tries to keep them playing for months, so SE chooses not to fight it because it's beyond their control.

Instead, they design content to be done within a few days because that's just how people play video games. Most gamers aren't like those of us who stick to playing the same game all year round.

This new patch cycle is a disaster for the FC I am in, nobody is left except for a few raid loggers and they are done next month.

I feel like that has always happened though unless it's an RP FC or a hunt FC where people create their own content.

We went from a steady supply of content to a trickle to a drip and now…

I'm curious how you think the content has changed, since they have kept mostly the same format. The only major difference, really, is not having a set of Eureka/Bozja areas and their associated grind, which is good for keeping you occupied with a long-term grind that involves social interaction, but that doesn't make it a "steady supply of content". It's more like it's a steady grind to keep you there for months despite no new content.

Really feels like the game is in maintenance mode now that they finished it.

I mean, patches are basically maintenance mode, yes. But expansions are definitely treated like a "whole new game" from SE's perspective, so the expansions are what get some of the resources that would be given to a new game.