How do we develop Better Casual Content?

[Kaurhz]

They don't need to develop better casual content, they just need to release it sooner, then those that are casual can just progress at their own pace rather than backloading it all. As the problem they have with relics and casuals for instance is that it is backloaded so then there's a sudden grind without it being paced appropriately.

[Erzaa]

For me, I'd list stuff to do and explore in the open world. The zones are beautiful, but there's no reason to go out there. And I'd like exploratory content to actual have things to explore and discover. But yea, releasing it would be a good first start.

Edit: Oh! And more roleplaying options would be nice in general.

[jonimated]

For me, I'd list stuff to do and explore in the open world. The zones are beautiful, but there's no reason to go out there.

This is a problem I've had for a long time with this game. They spend so much time and effort developing these massive zones, and they never actually get used for anything. We blast through them on our way to the next MSQ, there are maybe a few side quests in the area, but the zones largely go unused. Just empty space filled with pointless mobs.

On the casual content issue I think we need something that is grindable, and can remain relevant through expansions by scaling with the current level cap. Difficult enough that you can't just mindlessly button mash through, but not extreme/savage level difficult.

I think Variant Dungeons have the potential to fill this void, but they have 2 major problems. They don't come out nearly often enough, and when they do they become irrelevant very quickly. Most of the rewards are also quite stale, but that may just be a personal preference thing. If we got a new Variant every major patch which had some cool rewards to grind for I think that wold go a long way in solving the casual/midcore content issue. Perhaps to prevent any individual dungeon from feeling stale implement a weekly "buff" to a specific dungeon on a rotation that increases the rewards for doing a given dungeon. Could also add an optional difficulty increase for subsequent completions. Each time you finish one you have the option to increase the difficulty for higher reward. This can continue to stack until you fail a dungeon and it resets back to 0.

[ZoReee]

I agree they should release it sooner, which is why I mentioned the metaphorical kick to the teeth. But they aren't so what can be done? If the only options we have are make something work or quit until its available, I'd really love to come up with sustainable interesting ideas that can better fill these dry periods.

[Kaurhz]

I agree they should release it sooner, which is why I mentioned the metaphorical kick to the teeth. But they aren't so what can be done? If the only options we have are make something work or quit until its available, I'd really love to come up with sustainable interesting ideas that can better fill these dry periods.

Honestly? Nothing, because this game doesn't really know what it wants to be from one patch to the next, or from one expansion to the next. They're so adamant that they want to develop everything whilst also simultaneously not thinking about the consequences, it shows in PvE and it shows in PvP.

This is why they need to really just go with releasing sooner and then padding it out a little more. Longer grind with a far longer cycle with which to grind it in. Developing more content is just 1 more unpolished feature that they won't bother maintaining or updating outside of the "Hey, this is a new expansion"

[ovIm]

They don't need to develop better casual content, they just need to release it sooner, then those that are casual can just progress at their own pace rather than backloading it all. As the problem they have with relics and casuals for instance is that it is backloaded so then there's a sudden grind without it being paced appropriately.

Very much this. Release the first step of the relic grind at X.06, a Deep Dungeon and a Field Operations instance with accompanying relic update at X.1 and X.15 respectively. That way, people have until X.55 to work on this.

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What can be done to push the needle that isn't repeating old content at nauseum?

Other content ideas I had that flutter around in the depths of this forum:

An actual new area map thats targeted at max level released a few weeks after the first savage launch - give it Bozja style fates, dailies that give tokens for gear and tomestones, and an accompanying theme. The more players do quests on that map, the more area becomes available for traversal, with new fates and enemies. Unlock every bit of the map, and a special vendor appears with bonus wares like mounts, and participating players get a few more tomes. Map resets daily or weekly.
Semi related, an update on quest variance. Give us quests you have to do mounted, or something where you control a mount like in chocobo racing, or clear out things like in the Air Force One minigame. Just a little variance in gameplay. And for the love of god, make mobs survive longer than half your opener.

Improve Deep Dungeon. Make it a proper roguelite mode where every few floors, you can get a Bozja Essence style buff, or a Bozja style Lost Action to accompany your playstyle. You get a few of those and can only carry 2, meaning you have to decide which skills to bring.
Add in an endless mode to Deep Dungeon too, where every week, players can compete on how deep they can delve, with leaderboards on the lodestone.
Every patch, new map layouts, buffs and modificators are added, to keep this mode fresh.

Also, make it so that this mode always works on max level, that way, it is always future proof for any new expansions. Suddenly you have made content once that becomes relevant for the entire time this game is alive.

These things should preferably be added alongside the already established content pipeline.

Square Enix, hire me. (jk, I am no game designer)