Petition against possible reduction of Linkshells.

[Kazimir]

First off, the source. An interview from Eorzeapedia in early March:

Q. You previously stated that: “significant changes to the battle system are necessary to create a style of combat that lends itself to the enjoyment of quests and miniquests.” What did you mean by that? What changes to the battle system are we in store for?

A. The current system, which contemplates fifteen-person parties, is very difficult to balance, especially with the current class system. The first fundamental change for Yoshida-san is to reduce this target party size to 8, although he also wants to allow parties as small as 4 to be fully functional.

Yoshida-san admits that currently the role of each class is very vague, and that one of the major initiatives is to make each class unique. According to Yoshida-san, each class should have an identity of its own – including a specific and defined role in the party. The changes related to this initiative will lead to tactics in a battle setting – which Yoshida-san made clear was one of his ultimate goals.

Related, but as an aside, Sundi added that the current trend in the MMO genre is for smaller parties, but also smaller linkshells/guilds. In other words, a move away from the 200+ person linkshells/guilds, and a move towards smaller, 10 person linkshells/guilds. FFXIV intends to follow, and support, this trend.

This thread could easily just need a clarification, because it wouldn't surprise me if eorzeapedia exaggerated this. Just in case though I'd like to bring it up and discuss it.


Now I'm not really sure what this trend is they are talking about. I have yet to be in a linkshell/guild in any game, especially a endgame LS/guild that had less than 30 members. In fact the smallest endgame LS/guild I've ever seen was 17 people, all were very active, and that size LS is rather uncommon.

I personally am 100% against such a drastic decrease. A LS around 10 people wouldn't even be enough for me and all of my friends, let alone my friends friends. I prefer LS's with at least 25-30 active members, with at least 15 very active members, and I would like content to support such members.

I think reduction of party size is one thing, but a reduction in LS size would not be well liked by many. This is a MASSIVE multi-player game. Let us be social with as many people as we want.


Also lol@200+ person LS's. Who does that?

[BlaiseLallaise]

When companies come into the picture, it is reasonable to conclude that they will take the form of the large linkshell/guild system, and linkshells themselves would become small cliques. Having the ability to have 8 linkshells currently would mean you could still have contact with up to 72 other people, all of whom could be in the same company. I am reserving judgment until I see what they have in store. I would suggest everyone do the same. Then we can raise hell if we need to.

Personally, I have not witnessed this trend they speak of, so I can't say how accurate it is. But I'll give them a chance. If they screw it up, then I'll be in line to sign your petition.

[Jinko]

Sounds like they want to make LS's more like static groups/parties and have the companies be the proper guilds.

Best to take a wait and see approach, although some more clarification wouldn't go amiss.

[Mishakai]

I already tried, all you will get in your thread are the worthless brain dead trolling fanbois. Good luck though, have fun with the forum ninjas.

[Abriael]

I simply think that they're moving the *focus* away from large linkshells, meaning that even smaller linkshells should be able to tackle the content, instead of needing big numbers to be able to organize anything sizable.

I seriously doubt they're going to reduce the maximum number of players in a LS, as it would come with very big logistical problems.

[Naqaj]

Uhm, where is the petition?

[Arcell]

Well I'm going to assume it's some kind of a translation error or it was blown out of proportion for the sake of example. I doubt they would reduce the size of a linkshell to 10 members but the focus would likely be shifted to something under 100. It may also be talking about moving content designed for linkshells away from the 200+ (hell even 60+) numbers and moving it down towards the smaller numbers simply so then more linkshells can participate or even set up multiple groups to do so.

[SnowTiger]

I wouldn't mind if they tossed a bone to the people with smaller linkshells, but I'd hate to see them do anything to interfere with larger groups.

As it stands now, there's a pretty good working formula to the FF mmo linkshell systems. One that I think far surpasses the other mmo systems in place.

Players usually all agree that you can only have one endgame shell, unless the endgame is broken up into totally separate areas... Like, one general endgame and one dynamis shell back in FFXI and that sort of thing. That works out pretty well.

Then in addition to that, people have their smaller 10 people-ish friends shells, and some slightly bigger general social shells, and etc, and that is all part of makes an mmo fun and enjoyable.

In other mmo's I've played, you are allowed only one 'guild'. Period. Doesn't matter what it's for or whatever else... So if you have a shell with a lot of friends, that doesn't really do any endgame, you have to choose between friends or doing content. That's a garbage system imo, so I really hope they don't do that. It kind of isn't quite as garbage in context of those other games, because usually each character is short lived, then you make another, and can join another shell.

I like how the FF games gives a focus to having one character, and being able to level any class on that same character without arbitrary limits. But, you need the multiple shells for people to be free to socialize with whoever they want. A one company limit, then pushing the endgame stuff to them would be okay, as long as they still let linkshells be what they are now. Expanding on it would be fine too, as long as they don't start hacking things away.

The whole reason I like FFXIV is because it's unique, and not a clone of the other mmo's around right now... If they start following all the trends that make other mmo's boring to me, I'll be very disappointed in SE. ;/

[Dreamer]

Our linkshell has around 100 active members, so this would suck.

[origamikitsune]

Our linkshell has around 100 active members, so this would suck.

Ditto. Its one of the questions I asked in my GENERAL QUESTIONS FOR THE FF14 STAFF & YOSHI-P. I really hope it doesn't mean what it sounds like. I do suspect it is a case of integration with the companies though.