Quote Originally Posted by Focant View Post
I know I'm treading the same ground quite a bit in my posts. I keep harping on the design philosophy of XIV and the way it handles. I'm going to probably do so again a bit so, forgive me.

The thing you have to consider though is what path would expand XIV the most? What features would improve it the most? If you compared jumping side by side with something like... improved party mechanics and expanding battle regimens, streamlining them at the same time, I'd say that improving party mechanics would go a lot farther in giving the game more depth. There are many ways of expanding the game, jumping included, but the question is, given what XIV is, not what it could have been or what it's not, what new features would help the most? Do we demolish what's there and rebuild it to cater to a single mechanic that may end up adding a limited level of depth, or do we take what's there and build on it?

In this case I'd say we should build on what's there instead of starting anew. Focus on expanding the game in other ways, giving it a unique experience unto itself, something it's already positioned to do.
I have to agree that jumping is by no means a priority. And if they implemented it now, it could be seen as kind of superfluous; just a practical means of getting over some rocks and whatnot. But even now, the zones can accommodate it. The zones which we have presently, while not giving much meaning to it, don't discourage it.

For future reference, they could develop zones with the jump feature in mind. But again, I don't think it's a priority. However, just because it is not a priority compared to the game's other failings, does not mean it should be dismissed as totally incompatible with the design philosophy, and that's mainly because the design philosophy has not taken jumping into account. The game has no opinion on jumping at the moment. The zones are indifferent to it. It could be added, or it couldn't and it wouldnt make much difference to the mechanics in place.

I will say this, I think it should be implemented if only so that it could inform more interesting content in the future.

So in conclusion, development time is the only factor influencing my opinion on jumping. I do think it's an integral part of any MMO, but I don't think it's a priority. My main qualm is with those who dismiss its implementation for reasons which are something along the lines of: "I don't want bunny hopping, platforming elements, or any thing I deem to be at odds with Final Fantasy tradition."