Cosmic Exploration Feedback from Media Tour

[Galvuu]

My first time posting on here, but I feel very strongly about this and do not know if others feel the same way.

It was mentioned in Media Tour that they wanted to make Cosmic Exploration similar (not the same) to Ishgardian Restoration, where an area advances as you progress. But they did not want it to happen for everyone together, but instead individually (akin to Tribe areas) so there is no 'Fear of Missing Out' and can be done by new players at any time.

I very strongly support the style of Ishgardian Restoration where it advanced for everyone at the same time. I was not even there for it as I began in Shadowbringers, but the idea of working towards a goal with everyone and seeing the fruits of that labor together sounds incredibly rewarding. I still love Ishgardian Restoration even as a late comer.

They mentioned wanting to again focus on the MMO portion of the game and make more interactive/community/group activities. By making Cosmic Exploration individual progression, they are leaning the opposite way and more towards Tribes/Island Sanctuary/solo-content. It removes the group aspect of the MMO again and it takes away the reward knowing it is just me experiencing the change and not with others. I really want the feeling of working together and there basically being a huge progress bar the entire community is working on together and I wish they would lean into that. The content can still be loved after, like I do with Ishgardian Restoration and I know I'm not the only one. Additionally, I think there is a strong desire for the community to help the 'in-game NPC community' together. We want to help make the world a better place and do it together.

Please give us this community goal of helping the in-game world. It will help build the community and MMO aspect of the game. Let's strive together, not alone.

You didn't miss much, but I must concede your point- I ended up talking to a lot of the more "no-lifer" crafters as we grinded a spot in the top 10 together. I think last time I had that experience was in Bozja (I was grinding a lot there and people recognized each other and there was a lot of funny banter when we went together into CLL or Dalriada). Players really do come together in events like this. No exploratory zone in EW really hampered this feeling of community.
I also think if people remove the whole leaderboard aspect (and just give rewards for participating, kinda like the Moogle stickers but for a time period where it's realistic that everyone gets their rewards), then the experience becomes much more fun.

[Celi]

My first time posting on here, but I feel very strongly about this and do not know if others feel the same way.

It was mentioned in Media Tour that they wanted to make Cosmic Exploration similar (not the same) to Ishgardian Restoration, where an area advances as you progress. But they did not want it to happen for everyone together, but instead individually (akin to Tribe areas) so there is no 'Fear of Missing Out' and can be done by new players at any time...

My only request is that they do not bring back the ranking. It sounded like a good and fun idea on paper, but in practice it ended up going too far... The people who put in the most time were the people who would win and that encouraged a lot of unhealthy behaviors. The fear of missing out on an achievement or title made it even worse. I think overall it did more harm than good.

[KageTokage]

The rankings shouldn't come back as long as they continue to be as inept as they are at handling cheaters who just leave bots running all day/night to gather/spam crafts.