Pictomancer is absurd

[Turtledeluxe]

My complaint and opinion is that it looks cartoonish and rather dumb. Some are going to like it prob, but I doubt it'll be widely played because it's a literal eyesore. And for every Moogle fan I'd wager there's 5 or more that would drown their entire species in a river given a chance, lol. I'd rather they would keep the game thematically in-line with a more traditional, darker and serious tone but at this late stage in ff14's development cycle the well of ideas is probably starting to run dry. So, it is what it is. We embrace the absurd, try to ignore it, or go play something else.

I base my thoughts on data and of the data that is accessible that I last reviewed, jobs are played at roughly the same levels across the board. There's no evidence to support that any Job so far is unlikable enough to be played by significantly less people outside of endgame meta preferences which are, for the purposes of this topic, completely irrelevant. If Picto is an eye sore played by almost no one, then it will officially be the first of its kind.

What is actually happening here, what almost always happens., is that someone is trolling and a minority of players perpetuate the topic and scare monger "x is going to flop" based on their own projected hatred.

[Dorito_Burrito]

My complaint and opinion is that it looks cartoonish and rather dumb. Some are going to like it prob, but I doubt it'll be widely played because it's a literal eyesore. And for every Moogle fan I'd wager there's 5 or more that would drown their entire species in a river given a chance, lol. I'd rather they would keep the game thematically in-line with a more traditional, darker and serious tone but at this late stage in ff14's development cycle the well of ideas is probably starting to run dry. So, it is what it is. We embrace the absurd, try to ignore it, or go play something else.

Hell yes. Inject the whimsy into my veins.

[Doozer]

My complaint and opinion is that it looks cartoonish and rather dumb. Some are going to like it prob, but I doubt it'll be widely played because it's a literal eyesore. And for every Moogle fan I'd wager there's 5 or more that would drown their entire species in a river given a chance, lol. I'd rather they would keep the game thematically in-line with a more traditional, darker and serious tone but at this late stage in ff14's development cycle the well of ideas is probably starting to run dry. So, it is what it is. We embrace the absurd, try to ignore it, or go play something else.

My soul is a black abyss, etc. etc.

[Burmecia]

Hell yes. Inject the whimsy into my veins.

now now, let the PAINters suffer with dignity

rest of us, prepare your rainbow filters (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

EDIT this, and way earlier discussions about PIC and how fun, whimsy, and colour = not good just makes me think of this ancient extra credits episode

Hard-Boiled - Why Are There So Many Gritty Video Games? - Extra Credits

its not happening to ffxiv, but... just the attitudes, my dudes.

[Bonoki]

I don't think anyone is saying you shouldn't voice your opinions. What people are saying is that if the job aesthetic isn't for you then don't play it. I don't think that's very hard to understand or do. You can say it's ugly, garbage or whatever, and people are allowed to say the opposite. However, what I am seeing is a lot of people that dislike the job are arguing that pictomancer is somehow a flaw in game design or a stain on the game's image. How is ONE job affecting YOUR experience? Saying "don't like it, don't play it" isn't dismissive, it's a valid solution to your problem. This goes for everyone and not just you. There are jobs in this game that I will not play because I just do not care for them. I really don't like the aesthetic choices for reaper, samurai, or dark knight for example, and I am free to express those opinions, but what I am not gonna do is claim that these jobs "don't fit" in FFXIV. Like, what makes the job or theme of pictomancer, "less" FFXIV than the other jobs?

Personally, I think it's mighty self-righteous for some players to dictate what is or not aesthetically acceptable in MMO that's heavy in the RPG.

It's easy to dismiss dissatisfaction with a simple 'don't like it, don't play it,' but that's hardly constructive advice. Everyone has their own preferences, even when it comes to the aesthetics of a job. We've all likely found ourselves playing jobs we didn't particularly enjoy for various reasons – perhaps for the sake of rewards, fashion, or even at the request of a static group. This game does offer the option to explore other jobs, with achievements and titles tied to leveling each one. Labeling someone's dissatisfaction as 'self-righteous' seems unfair, as it implies superiority in one's own stance. Opinions are valid on both sides, but it's essential to acknowledge that 'don't like it, don't play it' isn't a solution. This forum serves as a platform for players to voice their feedback, whether it pertains to gameplay mechanics or aesthetics. Criticism about aesthetics holds weight just as much as gameplay feedback does. If we were to adopt the 'don't like it, don't play it' mentality universally, it would lead to absurd conclusions – such as telling players unhappy with the character graphics updates not to play. After all, glamour is the real endgame on FFXIV is it not? The "don't like it, don't play it" stance often seems like the only recourse, but it's not a real solution. Let's encourage open dialogue and constructive criticism rather than shutting down valid concerns.

[Supersnow845]

It's easy to dismiss dissatisfaction with a simple 'don't like it, don't play it,' but that's hardly constructive advice. Everyone has their own preferences, even when it comes to the aesthetics of a job. We've all likely found ourselves playing jobs we didn't particularly enjoy for various reasons – perhaps for the sake of rewards, fashion, or even at the request of a static group. This game does offer the option to explore other jobs, with achievements and titles tied to leveling each one. Labeling someone's dissatisfaction as 'self-righteous' seems unfair, as it implies superiority in one's own stance. Opinions are valid on both sides, but it's essential to acknowledge that 'don't like it, don't play it' isn't a solution. This forum serves as a platform for players to voice their feedback, whether it pertains to gameplay mechanics or aesthetics. Criticism about aesthetics holds weight just as much as gameplay feedback does. If we were to adopt the 'don't like it, don't play it' mentality universally, it would lead to absurd conclusions – such as telling players unhappy with the character graphics updates not to play. After all, glamour is the real endgame on FFXIV is it not? The "don't like it, don't play it" stance often seems like the only recourse, but it's not a real solution. Let's encourage open dialogue and constructive criticism rather than shutting down valid concerns.

Nothing in 14’s reward structure is worth playing outside of a limited collection of jobs you do enjoy

For example I’ve been playing since legacy and I’ve always been a (ignoring legacy classes themselves) SCH main who is happy to flex to another healer based on the expansion (so right now my preferred flex is SGE), PLD, BLM/SMN (before EW) and BRD.

In 13 years and many savage statics I have never felt the need to actively play jobs I don’t like (namely the melees) and this has never been a problem

There is enough jobs that “if you don’t like it don’t play it” is a perfectly acceptable response. The amuro is not worth changing an entire job because a person who is never going to main it isn’t going to play it anyway

[Bonoki]

Nothing in 14’s reward structure is worth playing outside of a limited collection of jobs you do enjoy

For example I’ve been playing since legacy and I’ve always been a (ignoring legacy classes themselves) SCH main who is happy to flex to another healer based on the expansion (so right now my preferred flex is SGE), PLD, BLM/SMN (before EW) and BRD.

In 13 years and many savage statics I have never felt the need to actively play jobs I don’t like (namely the melees) and this has never been a problem

There is enough jobs that “if you don’t like it don’t play it” is a perfectly acceptable response. The amuro is not worth changing an entire job because a person who is never going to main it isn’t going to play it anyway

Dismissing dissatisfaction with a "don't like it, don't play it" attitude isn't genuine advice. It's a stance I firmly stand against.

[Supersnow845]

Dismissing dissatisfaction with a "don't like it, don't play it" attitude isn't genuine advice. It's a stance I firmly stand against.

That would be valid if it was actually advice about problematic gameplay design (like current WAR) but right now people are complaining entirely on aesthetic basis

Not liking a classes aesthetics 100% falls into the “if you don’t like the aesthetics don’t play the class”

Arguing that you want different aesthetics is pointless because you can get different aesthetics by playing a different class

[Bonoki]

That would be valid if it was actually advice about problematic gameplay design (like current WAR) but right now people are complaining entirely on aesthetic basis

Not liking a classes aesthetics 100% falls into the “if you don’t like the aesthetics don’t play the class”

Arguing that you want different aesthetics is pointless because you can get different aesthetics by playing a different class

I'm afraid we won't see eye to eye on this. To me, "Don't like it, Don't play it" also applies to job design. It could also be used on the graphic update too. Don't like your dead eyes? Pick a different race. That's aesthetics too. I don't understand how aesthetics is unacceptable as valid criticism.

[Tint]

It's easy to dismiss dissatisfaction with a simple 'don't like it, don't play it,' but that's hardly constructive advice. Everyone has their own preferences, even when it comes to the aesthetics of a job.

Okay you say it yourself: Everyone has their own preferances.

And when "don't like it don't play it" is not a valid argument:

How on earth do you solve this problem? By this logic everyone has to like everything despite everyone has different preferences. You simply can't please everyone. And arguing about it will lead to nothing. That's why we have different races, jobs and - since this is a theme park MMO - different types of content.

I don't like Viera, Reaper, Blue Mage, Savage Raids and dozens of other things in this game.

Do I complain that I get paired with a Viera in a dungeon? No of course I don't.

I just mind my own business and play the race I like, the jobs I like and the content I like.


Of course you have a valid point if there were no options. Like the graphics update you mentioned. Or like every healer is boring or there is no proper endgame content beside savage raids. Don't using the only option you have does not create a new option.

But there are many jobs to choose from which may be more to your liking.

After all, glamour is the real endgame on FFXIV is it not? The "don't like it, don't play it" stance often seems like the only recourse, but it's not a real solution.

Yes it is a solution. The whole purpose of glamour is "don't like it, don't wear it".