The Direction of FFXIV

[Kilta_Firelotus]

Lyn this is the second time you posted this. I read it before. You are an elitist player, looking for an experience only for you. Just like most ppl who are complaining about the game. FFXIV was targeted to the casual player base since pre launch. FFXI was not casual friendly. As much as I like ffxi, one thing I hated was how after Launch of WoW the player base started to die off slowly. Only the elitists remained. I had to change my whole style of play JUST BECAUSE of end game and that ppl rat raced there. I'm not am end game player. End game don't WoW me.

I personally just want a fun game where new blood comes in daily. You gotta make sacrifises in order to do that. As long as ffxiv isn't a solofest i'll be happy.
Stuff I don't want to cross over from ffxi:
1 the 6hr-mth waits for groups because of lacking xyz jobs/ players that lvl or your npot a popular class.
2 cookie cutting jobs.
3 end game drama.

All a game needs is to be fun, and entertaining. We add the challenge, we make it easy or hard.

[Zenaku]

Yes. My time here is limited. April 19th is the deadline for some sort of fantastic news about FFXIV's future. Either yoshi-p says something incredible and Bel-Rof takes an extended break, or yoshi-p says nothing and Bel-Rof dies along with FFXIV's future.

I'll miss you "Not" You may have made some great points and topics but that does not make up for the amount of pointless idea and things you have said. Maybe we have less issue on here when you leave. Or maybe you go and buy other copy and with a new name and start this all over again in a few weeks?

[Akumu]

Akumu: I purposely used words like innovative and thinking outside the box so posters who replied to this would get the idea that I don't want an FFXI clone. Just a game that continues its spirit. Bring something immersive and beautiful. A work of art.

The problem SE is having with thinking outside the box is mistakenly recreating the wheel(they can't afford to mess up again). I believe they should be innovative by building on what already works but my judgement on that is reserved for the future.

[Aramil]

(This post is a direct answer to the op, i haven't read the rest of the topic yet)

First of all, i think it's a well written post so I'll take the time to answer it completely. I don't really agree with you but i understand the problems you have with the system. Anyway here are my comments.

Personally, I don't think aggro icon and difficulty are related at all for many reasons.

First, all that information is available on different website so it's just a matter of seeing it in game instead of opening a web browser.

Second, The difficulty of traversing an area with aggro monsters won't change because of the icon. Seeing the icon tell you it's aggressive but you still have to avoid it. It also won't prevent monsters from poping near you or from sneaking in the dead angle of your camera.

Third, once you're kill by an aggro monster, normally you'll remember it, so the aggro icon become nothing more than a visual reminder for something you already know. It's the same as the skill description on screen, the stamina indicator on the stamina bar when you select a skill and many other visual indicator.

Difficulty don't come from knowing if the monster can attack you or not but from actually fighting it. At least that's my opinion.

Now, I agree with you about it killing the immersion. That was my personal problem with the current icon. I'm waiting to see how the new one will look in-game and if it's too intrusive I'll just turn it off. However, I don't fully agree about the part were you want to know the other will see the same thing. I understand and to a certain point will feel the same thing but honestly, that's just selfishness. I don't believe we should force our game style on the other players. After all, the opposite could also be true. As much as you want other not to use it for "immersion" and "fairness", they could also want you to use it for "convenience" and to make sure you won't be kill by a monster you didn't knew aggro and slow down people in party. It's a tool and it's up to the player to use it or not. IMO, SE took the right choice by deciding to make it toggle-able and we can't ask for more.

Next about your solution.

I doubt color code or level indicator would make a difference. Colors are based on the level difference so with one you have people fighting if there's less than x ranks between them and the monster and with the other you have people fighting if it's yellow or less. Same thing, different way to show the information.

The libra skill, I'd like to see it be implement. I think it's a good idea but for a different purpose. The return of enemies able to change their weakness. I know it's off topic but I'd like to see some monster against whom you'd need to change you strategy during the battle. Also just like the aggro icon, a libra skill would reduce the need of using a web brower for those who want to check that information. And like for the aggro icon, it'd be up to the player to use it or not.

The rest of your post being about your opinions about games and not game mechanics, I won't comment it.

[Rokien]

Where did you hear this? In anycase we'll have a big celebration when you leave!

Stay on topic. Also don't include everyone, just include yourself, because I for one think hes a cool dude. Please, everyone now stay in your seats. We are seeing some corrosion on the rails. We wouldn't want this train to go tumbling down the hill now, do we. Thank you and enjoy your ride!

[Sonic_the_Hedgehog]

This game is run by casual even the old FFXI players become casual players. Here the problem the casual players don't want to meet a meddle ground with the hardcore players this is the biggest issue. When i read about Tanaka saying this game was going to be casual it broke my heart. He said it was going to be Casual friendly but all i see is a casual game level up slow does not make a hardcore. There really is noting challenging about FFXIV "Yoshi-p" Say he a hardcore player but that can mean anything really. SE is trying to get the Casual players to try and play FFXIV question is did they forget there own fan-base that are not really that casual? sense when is 'Final Fantasy" Casual?

I just hope this game does not become a 100% Casual zone for that i'll play WoW even ffxiv is faster at level up then Wow O.o i got 1-19 in 1 leve reset that 1hour of game play. in WoW even with Boa and link account i don't think you can get 1-19 in about 1hour.

Say wha? I think it more of the hardcore players not wanting to meet the middle ground with the casual players. Most hardcore players want an EXP penalty upon death and most casual don't. A EXP penalty would hurt casual players more because they don't have tons of time to get that EXP back and knowledge about the game to avoid certain dangers like the hardcore players. The hardcore players wouldn't be affected much by the penalty because they would know with mobs to stay away from and which ones are beneficial, also they would know certain strategies.

[Lyndis]

Kilta_Firelotus: Again you're not addressing my post at all just my character. The reason I'd be selfish in this is because you and the people you represent have a lot of alternatives. There are a lot of games aimed at the casual audiences. I've seen what Square Enix is capable of. I know they are one of the few companies out there that can make a game that I will enjoy. If Square Enix doesn't, I'm stuck with a very low number of MMORPGs to play and all of them outdated.

[Lyndis]

The problem SE is having with thinking outside the box is mistakenly recreating the wheel(they can't afford to mess up again). I believe they should be innovative by building on what already works but my judgement on that is reserved for the future.

I'm afraid of that. :/

[solracht]

One demographic is going to be alienated no matter what.

To add to this, since it's something people seem to be missing: no matter what they do, someone is going to open a thread like this. Guess what? the key is whether you alienate the big demographic or the small demographic.

If you belong to the small one, then tough luck. The way the MMORPG market has evolved definitely hints at the casuals being the bigger demographic.

[Kilta_Firelotus]

I believe MMORPGs were designed to be a kind of fantasy home for people to escape to, so I'd like it to get the necessary treatment.

ummmm not to be mean, but >.> maybe you need thyrpy. MMO are just games meant to be fun. Nothing to be taken ultra seriously over.

Which is the biggest flaw atm. ppl are taking ffxiv launch to personally.
They are taking the direction to personally.

I think the game will be fun. It currently looks fun to me. And I wish my pc didn't crap out. I look at the ffxiv CE box and pout cuz I gotta wait to play.

I agree with some stuff though, the game should feel like a home that you enjoy coming back to it. Where you family (LS) is who greet you everyday.

But also where you meet new friends. that why I like ffxi old community when first played it. I felt like home on the game.

this community don;t do that for me too much hate and its rubbing off on me. I'm not a mean person really.