Yoshi-P on changes in next expansion: “I don’t want to take a conservative approach”

[kiotsukete]

In a recent interview, Yoshi-P said:

"So moving forward with the next expansion, I want to incorporate more changes. I don’t want to take a conservative approach, but rather, I want to provide an experience that contemporary gamers can enjoy. To that end, I would like to incorporate various changes. I will also protect things that need to be protected. But we would very much like to try out new things, and we are discussing various possibilities right now in the team, so I’m really excited about that."

Source:
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/final-...in-the-future/

Since the dev team is supposedly “right now” discussing possible changes for the next expansion, let’s give our input on what changes they should make!

For me, it would be to change how predictable and scripted PVE battle content is by introducing more unpredictability/random variations. I miss the sense of exploration and discovery FFXIV used to have in the early days and FFXI had at its peak (yes, I’m that old).

Currently, every dungeon/trial/raid has the same basic structure with the same unvarying attack patterns and phases. (Speaking as someone who doesn’t do Savage level content, though, so maybe things are different at that level).

Once you learn and memorize the script, the content experience is the same every time so eventually you’re just going on autopilot. I guess this makes programming Trust AI easier, but I find it quickly makes content boring. Especially when the game is built on running the same content repeatedly for weeks on end.

I get that FFXIV is often likened to a theme park, but modern theme park ride design incorporates small variations so that the ride experience isn’t the exact same every time. Like Rise of the Resistance at Disney or Bowser’s Challenge at Universal.

So I’d like to see dungeons with even small variations. Such as type and number of trash mobs and when/where they spawn, chest placements etc. Give players variable bonus rewards for clearing optional objectives like downing a boss in a certain amount of time or finding x# of hidden treasures that aren’t always in the same place. Basically take what they learned from Variant Dungeons, and tone it down so it’s applicable to mainstream content rather than just making it side content.

Maybe have trial/raid bosses be more unpredictable by not doing the same attack pattern every time but mixing it up from a set of predefined attacks.

Idk, I just feel like something needs to change to make the game feel a little less like a static game world and more like a living fantasy world.

What changes do you want to see in 8.0?

[lolnotacat]

So I’d like to see dungeons with even small variations. Such as type and number of trash mobs and when/where they spawn, chest placements etc. Give players variable bonus rewards for clearing optional objectives like downing a boss in a certain amount of time or finding x# of hidden treasures that aren’t always in the same place. Basically take what they learned from Variant Dungeons, and tone it down so it’s applicable to mainstream content rather than just making it side content.

Variant dungeons were definitely an experiment in that, and I think they learned the wrong lessons. Dungeons could/should be branching (even somewhat random) with different mobs, bosses, and mechanics. The issue with Variants is they were side content with boring rewards. If dungeons had some variety (heaven forbid we actually have to CC occasionally), they could keep the current reward scheme for the most part.

Unfortunately, after DT, I'm convinced Yoshi's idea of innovative design is the same streamlined content with a slightly different veneer and slightly tuned difficulty which is completely blown out by the end of the patch its introduced.

[CVXIV]

8.0 is when I believe they mentioned wanting to tackle job identity so it would be interesting to see what they do.
There are two changes that come to mind atm but I think one is probably not a good fit into an MMO

Dark Knight is a job that has always used its HP for dealing big attacks
So it could be fun to manage HP by using these attacks and having the necessary self sustain to keep yourself alive along with being healed by the healer

It could be fun risk vs reward as you may expend a lot of health to deal damage during a part of the fight you are confident you can survive
I know the bloodgauge is most likely meant to represent this concept, but it isn't how I imagine it
However as a tank it might be somewhat difficult to pull off

One other thing had to do with Gunbreaker, and it's a minor change but I thought it'd be a nice touch if they made it where every cartridge you spent would result in a crit.
Because in final fantasy 8 if you press the trigger at the correct time with Squall your gunblade would go off and you would deal a critical hit

[Musashidon]

8.0 is when I believe they mentioned wanting to tackle job identity so it would be interesting to see what they do.
There are two changes that come to mind atm but I think one is probably not a good fit into an MMO

people have also blown his one comment on job identity as a whole rework. people should really just expect a new skills or something that is closer to inline with the jobs theme. there has no zero mention of a total rework or something big just that they saw players feedback on job identity.

on average SE has only been able to rework 2 jobs per expansion and players are expecting a rework for 21 jobs with 2 new ones coming plus they are currently working on beastmaster.

[CVXIV]

people have also blown his one comment on job identity as a whole rework. people should really just expect a new skills or something that is closer to inline with the jobs theme. there has no zero mention of a total rework or something big just that they saw players feedback on job identity.

on average SE has only been able to rework 2 jobs per expansion and players are expecting a rework for 21 jobs with 2 new ones coming plus they are currently working on beastmaster.

I agree, and I'm not expecting a complete job overhaul for every job in the game. I just like sharing the thoughts I personally think would be cool to see implemented, even if it's never going to happen. Final Fantasy is a series I really enjoy, so when I found out they had an MMO I was really excited

You are right that we'll likely just get a few new skills and it'll be business as usual

[Rekh]

This would be not taking a conservative approach

[MisterNublet]

people have also blown his one comment on job identity as a whole rework. people should really just expect a new skills or something that is closer to inline with the jobs theme. there has no zero mention of a total rework or something big just that they saw players feedback on job identity.

on average SE has only been able to rework 2 jobs per expansion and players are expecting a rework for 21 jobs with 2 new ones coming plus they are currently working on beastmaster.

Current job design and combat design (2 minute meta) was already a hot topic before DawnTrail and before Yoshi-P announced their focus on fight design first before working on job identity.

They're already using up a lot of the player's goodwill by asking them to wait 2.5 years for 8.0 for changes to their jobs (and roles). If they pull another DawnTrail with more skills on large cooldowns and continue with ShB4.0 combat design without reworking or giving any significant changes to the jobs or battle system, they're going to lose a lot of players.

[Eraden]

Current job design and combat design (2 minute meta) was already a hot topic before DawnTrail and before Yoshi-P announced their focus on fight design first before working on job identity.

They're already using up a lot of the player's goodwill by asking them to wait 2.5 years for 8.0 for changes to their jobs (and roles). If they pull another DawnTrail with more skills on large cooldowns and continue with ShB4.0 combat design without reworking or giving any significant changes to the jobs or battle system, they're going to lose a lot of players.

Mao already thinkings about quittings game if next few patches nots helping BLMs. Mao is pretty old and Mao nots able to sit around waitings for years for fixes to be made. Mao has to makes best use of time Mao has left.

[Musashidon]

Current job design and combat design (2 minute meta) was already a hot topic before DawnTrail and before Yoshi-P announced their focus on fight design first before working on job identity.

They're already using up a lot of the player's goodwill by asking them to wait 2.5 years for 8.0 for changes to their jobs (and roles). If they pull another DawnTrail with more skills on large cooldowns and continue with ShB4.0 combat design without reworking or giving any significant changes to the jobs or battle system, they're going to lose a lot of players.

so when are they going to lose a lot of players? we have heard this over and over every expansion over everything that someone has said is a big deal to them yet the game has only been on an increase in popularity not a decrease. 11 years and counting and we have never had the lots of players are going to leave happen.

now this isn't to say it won't or can't happen, it definitly will happen one day simply because they will do something that will actually upset the playerbase to show them that they can't do anything they want but so far while it can be controversial, or upset a group of players, we haven't seen the players rise in unity over something yet.

[MisterNublet]

so when are they going to lose a lot of players?

I wasn't aware they had already released the job action trailer with all the details for 8.0

we have heard this over and over every expansion over everything that someone has said is a big deal to them yet the game has only been on an increase in popularity not a decrease. 11 years and counting and we have never had the lots of players are going to leave happen.

Usually takes multiple expansions of bad decisions for people to finally build up the courage to get over the sunken cost and quit. Happened with WoW, it can happen to FFXIV.

now this isn't to say it won't or can't happen, it definitly will happen one day simply because they will do something that will actually upset the playerbase to show them that they can't do anything they want but so far while it can be controversial, or upset a group of players, we haven't seen the players rise in unity over something yet.

Pretty sure lots of healers and ex-healers have been in unity for the last 2-ish expansions on how awful the role is, and having quit the role entirely.