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.

[Doozer]

You can't talk about the change of human behaviour in regards how they interact with games without reaching a tangent with game design and competition of entertainment to cite as a reason. Also I never said you are wrong, I simply provided answers to why the behaviour changed.

That said, look - I am glad you specifically and people thinking like you are able to things purely because they have meaning to you or bring you enjoyment. Frankly, a vast amount of players ISN'T like you and would like at least some form of tangible progress being made somewhere. It won't exactly go back to the old ways either because we simply have too many things that we enjoy or are potentially enjoyable. It is a fool's errand expecting or hoping it will.

Then maybe instead of just trying to appease the iPad babies that can't do anything without colourful fruit praising them for their actions, maybe question why we should allow it to be that way in the first place. It's not about tangible "progress", it's about wanting a trophy because knowing you did it isn't enough which, quite frankly, is a bit childish. It reminds me of people who cheat in competitions because they want the reward and not the sense of accomplishment that goes along with it. And no, before you knee-jerk react to that, I'm not equating people wanting a treat for shaking a paw to cheating.

[Eastwall]

For starters, all ranks need ranked-only rewards that aren't what we have right now.
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Lol, again, they can copy The system from Guild wars 2. I only play ranked 5v5 now in that game despite the fact that l think l am going down to bronze this season... They got a special series that can only be filled by playing ranked. And the reward from that special series is not behind ranking, but if you can win a game at diamond+ ranks, you can progress it 4 times faster than losing a game. What does that series give? Tickets to get Legendary armor crafting materials(basically relic weapon in ffxiv, but that game uses horizontal progression so they stay relevant forever). That successfully lured me to play ranked. ffxiv can do the same. Put augmented hell hound as "legendary" reward that needs a load of tickets to buy. Or giving out tome gear upgrade materials. Or even make relic weapon ties to it.(like timeworn artifact can be obtained from potd Or delebrum. Give it a 3rd option where you can earn tickets to buy timeworn artifact).
But I do admit This implementation is going to be a problem similar to frontline... People will be like "l am just here for the roulette bonus"

[Aubrey_A]

why we should allow it to be that way in the first place. It's not about tangible "progress", it's about wanting a trophy because knowing you did it isn't enough which, quite frankly, is a bit childish.

I mean, ranked won't get my time or effort unless that carrot does exist. Even back during feast times, some rewards were not a good enough carrot to incentivize me to play. In my case, there is already enough good going on in both XIV and other parts of my life that the thrill of ranked competition doesn't do it for me anymore. I might not be the most wanted type of player in the ranked queue for that reason. That being said, with the queues as small as they are, I don't view my standpoint of requiring a carrot as childish.

If the carrots are what keep the ques rolling across unranked - crystal, then I would say add more carrots. I don't think the ranked system has enough going for it to keep players retained.

[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)

[Doozer]

I mean, ranked won't get my time or effort unless that carrot does exist. Even back during feast times, some rewards were not a good enough carrot to incentivize me to play. In my case, there is already enough good going on in both XIV and other parts of my life that the thrill of ranked competition doesn't do it for me anymore. I might not be the most wanted type of player in the ranked queue for that reason. That being said, with the queues as small as they are, I don't view my standpoint of requiring a carrot as childish.

If the carrots are what keep the ques rolling across unranked - crystal, then I would say add more carrots. I don't think the ranked system has enough going for it to keep players retained.

If you need bait to do something, then clearly you don't want to do that thing in the first place. Maybe instead of putting something behind doing it, the content should actually just be fun to do. Not something you endure to get the thing you want.

[Aubrey_A]

If you need bait to do something, then clearly you don't want to do that thing in the first place. Maybe instead of putting something behind doing it, the content should actually just be fun to do. Not something you endure to get the thing you want.

I think that helps narrow down the issue then. I'm almost to 3000 CC/feast/fold matches via casual queues, working towards Alpha Wolf slowly. To me, the difference between Ranked and Casual is the ranking system itself, and the stakes of the players playing each mode. Those two don't make the mode fun for me, so I don't choose to do it. The carrot gets me to jump into ranked though.

This pertains to my experiences only, but I think the game mode is a ton of fun. Can the rank mode be made to be more fun? I hope it can, but I won't hold my breath for it.

[SpritePR]

I think that helps narrow down the issue then. I'm almost to 3000 CC/feast/fold matches via casual queues, working towards Alpha Wolf slowly. To me, the difference between Ranked and Casual is the ranking system itself, and the stakes of the players playing each mode. Those two don't make the mode fun for me, so I don't choose to do it. The carrot gets me to jump into ranked though.

This pertains to my experiences only, but I think the game mode is a ton of fun. Can the rank mode be made to be more fun? I hope it can, but I won't hold my breath for it.

This is basically my sentiment as well. I play CC because i enjoy it. I don't play ranked only because its not popping right now. I would push top 100 if there was something worth pushing for. (not a fan of the titles personally. I'll get em eventually) Otherwise crystal is good enough for me for the HH weapons.

Alpha Wolf I'm slowly working towards. At like 1700 wins atm.

[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.