Ranked Rewards

[Reinhardt_Azureheim]

There was also rampant cheating/hacking/smurfing/alt boosting etc going on that gave the top 100 a bad stigma. Generally it was seen or perceived to be if you got a top 100 reward, you had cheated to get there, and also meant less spots available at the top 100 for actual players to reach. As well, since rank decay isn't a thing here that also dis-incentivized people to populate queues.

There is definitely a lot of merit on that statement, sadly. The stigma is quite real. Partially though if we simply had a bigger playerbase to dilute the relative amount of cheaters to legit players it might've helped, but the old role system made Feast extremely inaccessible on multiple fronts. Rank decay for Top 100 days (maybe in conjunction with making it based on current rating rather than highest, or maybe decay highest rating first?) could've definitely helped.

[Aubrey_A]

I've read and heard that the top ranked players in the past would be rewarded with unique mounts, they could return to doing that or add a different 'reward shop' with something like 'bloodied trophy crystals' (red ones) that are awarded to the top players and allow purchase of items from the new shop, including mounts, minions, and glamour. The currency would ideally only be given in a small amount, or even just a singular one so that players would continue to participate in ranked the following season as I imagine items would only get added to the shop with major patches and those last two seasons.

I do like this recommendation. In a last thread months ago, I complained that I didn't like seeing the unique rewards fall into obscurity as players stopped playing XIV. This inherently addresses that issue if the "reward shop" doesn't turn over items, as they can be obtained by everyone so long as they put in the effort to try and obtain the rewards.

IMO, the currency should be distributed from gold and above, and the derank should be lowered to the Bronze > Silver threshold. At least gold would promote lower-level matches, and a lower derank threshold would encourage players to keep on playing up to at least gold, or further if the currency itself scales.

[SpritePR]

I do like this recommendation. In a last thread months ago, I complained that I didn't like seeing the unique rewards fall into obscurity as players stopped playing XIV. This inherently addresses that issue if the "reward shop" doesn't turn over items, as they can be obtained by everyone so long as they put in the effort to try and obtain the rewards.

IMO, the currency should be distributed from gold and above, and the derank should be lowered to the Bronze > Silver threshold. At least gold would promote lower-level matches, and a lower derank threshold would encourage players to keep on playing up to at least gold, or further if the currency itself scales.

I guess this already kinda exists with the augmented hell hound weapons. What I think would work is making it so top 100 get a new currency (i know we have a lot already but thats something else they have to work on) that can be used for said reward shop so like ultimates and other content in the game you can always attain it given that you make it to top 100 in a given season. (E.G. Its not gone because you didnt play season X)

[Aubrey_A]

I guess this already kinda exists with the augmented hell hound weapons. What I think would work is making it so top 100 get a new currency (i know we have a lot already but thats something else they have to work on) that can be used for said reward shop so like ultimates and other content in the game you can always attain it given that you make it to top 100 in a given season. (E.G. Its not gone because you didnt play season X)

I like the idea of the currency dropping down to the gold-ranked area in hopes of getting players queueing up toward the bottom of the leaderboards. Hoping it would add queues in the lower ranks.

To marry the ideas, I think the top 100 should get a currency to choose from a selection of gear, while whatever gets planned for regular trophy crystal release next goes into a lower-end shop. (I don't mean to rob the already limited trophy crystal pickings, but I do hope it gets more people into the ranked que). Even better, the old battlepass gear could go into the lower-end shop.

[Doozer]

Mate I ain't readin all that. You just want to be right and you've already decided that you are so what's the point. Ranked sucks, stay mad, cope, seeth, etc. it won't make people want to do it. And adding stuff will only make cheaters want to play it more. The end.

[Reinhardt_Azureheim]

Mate I ain't readin all that. You just want to be right and you've already decided that you are so what's the point. Ranked sucks, stay mad, cope, seeth, etc. it won't make people want to do it. And adding stuff will only make cheaters want to play it more. The end.

Bro this isn't about me being right or wrong, you simply provide nothing of value explaining why Ranked sucks, you only say that it does while I explain in detail, borderline spoonfeeding, why that statement makes no sense.

I am not afraid of being wrong, but I'm not taking half-baked arguments for an answer.

[Chocochic]

Mate I ain't readin all that. You just want to be right and you've already decided that you are so what's the point. Ranked sucks, stay mad, cope, seeth, etc. it won't make people want to do it. And adding stuff will only make cheaters want to play it more. The end.

Why come into a thread, act agonist and be against the issues, the other side explains their point to you, just for you to ignore it? If you want to make a point, please do so, but do not attempt to start a conservation just to turn around saying "I don't care" when the other side discuss their ideas? afterward. I guess you just find it enjoyable to waste other's energy and time, because it makes no sense to walk into a thread just to do this, unless you have nothing better to do with your time, which, would explain the way you're acting.

[Commander_Justitia]

Not my pic, but that is how they could separate top100 from series rewards. Similar concept to the tank achievement mounts.

Same mount reward, but different skin. The base version would come back at some point in the future, the ranked one wouldn't come back.

But I figure collectionists will still be mad at this solution.

[Araxes]

I don't understand why ranked doesn't have any meaningful/interesting rewards other than a portrait frame and some crystals that even people who don't play ranked have more than they know what to do with.

In another game I played, you earned glam with each higher tier of rank you hit, with a full set being awarded at one of the later brackets. I could see FFXIV ranked players enjoying a similar such system, but with full sets of glam (perhaps getting more elaborate with the higher tier stuff as you go) rewarded instead at each tier. Every tier would also reward everything from the tiers below it.

I've read and heard that the top ranked players in the past would be rewarded with unique mounts, they could return to doing that or add a different 'reward shop' with something like 'bloodied trophy crystals' (red ones) that are awarded to the top players and allow purchase of items from the new shop, including mounts, minions, and glamour. The currency would ideally only be given in a small amount, or even just a singular one so that players would continue to participate in ranked the following season as I imagine items would only get added to the shop with major patches and those last two seasons.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that ranked crystalline conflict, the players who engage in it, and the potential players who would do so with suitable encouragement; would stand to benefit from a new and better reward system. As it stands now, there is little more motivation to play ranked than to chase spots on the leaderboard, which is not anymore rewarding than the other lodestone leaderboards such as Grand Company, Frontline, or Free Company leaderboards.

Cause then someone will take the opportunity to act as if they are offended by something around timed exclusives and FOMO for the sake of complaining and appearing like writing it in the interest of everybody.