This game has WAY bigger issues than some server problems.

[Riposte]

These error #### memes will soon be forgotten, but the game we have now will remain the same. People's concerns about the game from a mechanics point of view is being drowned out by people lashing out at the same old "MMO launch" problems.

I'll just give you two example threads which highlight two problems:

Items are boring
There is no creativity to be found in constructing your gear set. Item level > main stat > all. Artifact Armor is the same as level 5 quest armor, with higher and more numbers. You think this isn't a problem? Ask Blizzard how people felt about Diablo III's loot. In a MMORPG like this, loot will matter. Check it out and read the replies to get a full grasp on this argument.

They made quest battles too easy
Plugging my own thread here. Essentially the first 20-25 levels of class and main scenario quests play themselves, and the quests which directly follow that (at least for Jobs) are certainly not much better. Despite the potential of the level sync system, backed by hints and even an easy mode for players who've lost, they've stripped these quests of interesting content and made them purely a "MMORPG" experience (and not a fresh take on it, but the regular lowered expectations of combat system not mattering and quests teaching nothing), not a "Final Fantasy" one. Full thoughts within the link.

Some other issues:

1) There is no sense of danger in the world, even in areas two dozen levels above your character. With a mount, a level 1 character can explore lv. 50 Beastmen strongholds if he is a little careful (this is only somewhat risky in a map design like the kobold area). If nothing else, a great way to get EXP lol.

2) The design of FATEs are crumbling under the weight of two+ dozen players spamming AoEs and getting gold medals for not thinking at all. Often time these players are level synced too high and are mechanically too powerful. They have to design a way to get players more involved, or the onslaught of FATE alliance parties will make these events nothing more than EXP grab-bags. That means no NMs, no hamlet defense, or etc. type content for players to enjoy. Even if FATEs are designed to be "casual", they should not be stupid.

3) This game is being molded in a way that ACTIVELY discourages servers from having a sense of community outside individual Free Companies (and perhaps, linkshells, but those are also falling to the wayside). First, dungeons, perhaps the main group content of the game, were suppose to promote player interaction, but players are overwhelmingly being pushed towards anonymous one-dungeon-stands with zero ability to continue that relationship (matchmaking in Call of Duty has more potential for making friends, think about that). They said use FATEs to meet people - HOWEVER, they've also said FATEs are not suppose to encourage parties or any sort of cooperation or direct interaction, because that would be too "stressful" for solo casual players. All signs point to PvP being purely cross-server (at least the part which pick your opponents). So then... what? Just your free company and people talking about Dr. Pepper and Korean MMOs in your shout channels? Recall that Yoshi-P talked about the importance of community elsewhere, but he hasn't really backed it up with anything in-game.

4) Class/Job designs and individual actions are also very uninteresting. Too many traits which take a boring ability and make it slightly less boring 10-20 levels later. For example, Gladiator and Paladin is just terrible... I'll let someone else explain:

Take a look at 1.23's mitigation skills

Aegis Boon - Fully blocks a hit and heals you.
Divine Veil - Raises block chance to 100% for the duration and spreads a regen effect to allies when Cure is cast on you.
Outmaneuver - Raises block chance and restores TP/MP on block.
Rampart - Raises defense. Is AOE. Generates enmity for every party member you hit with it.
Sentinel - Mitigates incoming damage and increases enmity generation during the effect.

Compared to now:

Sentinel - Mitigates damage.
Rampart - Mitigates damage.
Bulwark - Raises block chance, which mitigates physical damage. With most shields, worse than Rampart.
Awareness - Does nothing. Takes up a trait slot for extra badness.

Plus, all of the 1.23 abilities had pretty fast cooldowns compared to what we have now. Aegis was 45 seconds, Divine Veil 60, Sentinel and Outmaneuver 90, and Rampart 120. Now the shortest one available is the new, single effect only Rampart at 90 seconds, and Sentinel and Bulwark sit at 180.

What is going on with their MP use (and how is Riot Blade useful)? Where is a viable Cure? In fact, why is there so little compatibility between classes and their cross-class skills? Most other classes don't fair much better. Also important is that because of this and poor gear/attribute design, there is very difficult to differentiate players from each other (like I said, no room for creativity). Right now the greatest difference between players is how Arcanists will either gimp the main stat of SMN or SCH or both. I'm sure players will love that. You also have many instances where actions are literally the same "100 potency" crap you'd never want to use unless combo'd (or otherwise have lower efficiency that requires using other actions for free actions). I argue why is this taking up a slot in the action bar if it has no point other than being combo'd - why not just have that effect come out by repeating the same action? Is it to annoy gamepad/keyboard-only players?

That was a big meaty barrage of negativity, and maybe that bothers you, but do realize I want this game to be as good as possible. This is me spending my effort so it can be improved. Covering your eyes to criticism will not help the game in the long run. Nor is it acceptable for the first 30-50 hours of the game to be poor, because "the end-game I haven't played yet is totally going to be worth it".

Now this thread isn't about making the game more like FFXI or whatever. It is about design choices developers made that are hurting the game when looking at it from within the context of FFXIV: ARR. With that in mind, please share your concerns or link to threads. You are also welcome to disagree, but please don't be cliche in your defense. Don't try to fight negativity for positivity's sake, don't tell me to wait until end-game. Thank you.

[Danuvue]

I agree with pretty much every point you've made, and even have a few more on my mind that bothered me when I played, but I have to warn you that you will not get much in the way of constructive conversation from this forum.
I think its too late for some mechanics to change, specifically ones that are deep within 14's new game engine. I've put the game down due to an overwhelming amount of apathy and boredom while I played it, and I doubt I'll be subbing.

Just my two cents. I'm sure I'll get flak for it anyway. Good luck OP and I hope you can find a way to enjoy your time in game.

[AjoraOak]

Personally I kept expecting AF wasn't getting any extra abilities because they were still figuring it out but yeah, 1.0 at least made AF that had bonuses on them. Maybe they're saving that for AF+1 I have no clue, other than that... leveling turned from mildly interesting in 1.0 to jump on a choco and run around aoeing fate mobs, and while the overall quality of a lot of things are up I think they've basically taken the soul out of most jobs (oh hah, they ARE called souls aren't they) and a lot of what made the game feel like FF in the latter half of 1.0.

My experience isn't negative but I can't find anything positive other than I have nothing else to play at the moment.

[Mcslammer]

I made a post about this but i'll link the video here as well. http://youtu.be/nvK8fua6O64
It is definitely worth a watch if you're upset about 2.0. The reasons for everything being super boring and simplified, not specifically about FFXIV, but MMO's in general.

[Bita]

While there are good points to make about the game, i agree with the OP. Why did they throw away all of the good things they brought into the game at 1.23?

[Avengedangel]

Those Gladiator/Paladin abilities really do sound a lot more appealing. I love GLA, but the only ability I've found 'cool' or just nice to use apart from the norm so far was Rage of Halone. Maybe they'll give us some umph in the future?

[Mcslammer]

While there are good points to make about the game, i agree with the OP. Why did they throw away all of the good things they brought into the game at 1.23?

I feel that the content released prior to 2.0 was specifically designed for those whom stayed with the game throughout its first life. 2.0 was tailored to a broader audience. Bita if u have time check out the vid I posted, it really may put things into perspective about why SE took FFXIV into its current direction.

[Riposte]

I made a post about this but i'll link the video here as well. http://youtu.be/nvK8fua6O64
It is definitely worth a watch if you're upset about 2.0. The reasons for everything being super boring and simplified, not specifically about FFXIV, but MMO's in general.

As interesting as that video is and how it does apply to changes of 2.0, I'm not looking at this from a "development trends" point of view, but rather individual issues that can be resolved within the game without changing what it is (themepark MMO). So essentially, it can be the WoW-clone they want it to be, but I'm proposing it be better-designed, more mentally stimulating even at lower levels, and more community friendly - which I'm sure when written out like that Yoshi-P himself would have a hard time disagreeing that is a good thing. Thought I would make that clear.

[Neptune]

Excellent points. Should be addressed.

[Gramul]

I'm not sure if it matters what you say.
I've been here for a while. It seems Square has made its decisions. The direction is set in stone.

My concerns where largely ignored or ridiculed by the comunity. The appeal of NMs replaced with lootless FATES, open world dungeons replaced with instanced things you have no opportunity to explore on your own, battle system toned down, elements don't matter, art direction's largely ignoring the appeal of beautiful practical looking gear, animations had to be removed instead of reworked.
I still don't know how it will all turn out so I can't make any rash judgments, but I'm just not to keen on some of these changes.