"Revamped" Rewards System

[Shougun]

It’s is basically what I was afraid of. This system is a carbon copy of WoW’s horse-and-carrot rewards system to keep people constantly replacing their gear sets. I assume since they’re following WoW so closely in this aspect, and several others for that matter, they will also follow in their footsteps of releasing new content every several weeks that replaces the old “best gear” entirely forcing you into a never ending cycle of collecting completely new gear sets.

I can’t help but suspect this system is going to further undermine crafters as well. If everyone is gearing up by doing low end dungeons to gain the user accepted “gear rating” to raid, people are going to lose a need for crafted gear. I would also venture to guess that the current gear you have already worked so hard to obtain will probably be made obsolete at the launch date.

In any case; WoW fans will rejoice, and FFXI fans (aka the majority of people interested in FFXIV) will be much less pleased. Of course I'm speculating about a few things here so I'll retain some optimism, but for the record, as Rukkirii just confirmed, my speculations turn our to be true more than not.

Everything in the game is designed to keep you playing. . . And just because WoW does it doesnt mean everything that happens in WoW will happen here.

Oh noez i see an exp bar and a mini map on my screen, must be like WoW. WoW didn't really create as much as it made renovation to preexisting systems. And while it may not be everyone's favorite game they obviously did enough right that even with a subscription they reached millions of players.

SE wouldnt be wise to try and make another WoW as WoW is WoW - and is still alive. However, there are tips they can take (That WoW has taken from other mmo's :P, also can look at other big mmo's for what they do well/not. Like GW2 has a better sense of working together, no bitching who gets the first or last hit).

I hope they make ideas their own as well though, like when they do token systems perhaps they can blend it into the game in a less obvious way - like crafting material drops and such that are a more natural sense of getting items.