This game has WAY bigger issues than some server problems.

[MalcolmReynolds]

I don't think anyone is asking for a reworked battle system. There are ways it can be made better while still keeping the same foundation in place.

Getting that stat boost in the next set of gear is nice, but there should be more to differentiate gear. I hate to use WoW as an example, but they knew what they were doing with gear. Set bonuses are nice, which 14 does use to a certain extent, but there can be more diversity. As it stands, that set isn't even worth using as you can often get much better stats from non-set gear.

They need gear with additional effects, like procs, such as weapons having a chance of inflicting a debuff on an enemy, or a shield that has a chance to activate a bubble that absorbs some damage, or armor that allows you to evade every 10th attack, or maybe something with low defensive stats but a high chance to dodge attacks...there's a lot you can do with gear instead of just +X to stat. Materia is a good idea, but it can be refined a bit more to include more effects so you don't see melee DPS classes with just +STR materia.

The battle system can work as it is, but it needs a bit more difficulty and the gear needs more versatility. Oh...and abilities need to activate as soon as hit. There seems to be a bit of a delay from when they're pressed to when the effect activates.

[Ariyn]

Now you smell like a troll that hasn't played GLA or PLD. Flash will eat up your MP quickly if spammed, and any tank worth his salt will learn to blend in Riot Blade combos into their rotation to maintain their MP pool as best as they can.

I've read most of the posts in here and agree with the vast majority, but you sir obviously either don't know how to play it or half ass it. You don't "need" to spam flash at all. Matter of fact in the 36 levels I've done so far in EA I haven't had a single aggro problem and have never had to use riot blade once. They could take it out the game and it wouldn't bother me at all. Learn how to really tank and not spam flash and riot blade then critique someone else please.

@OP - Very well thought out and great concerns. I agree and we can only hope the dev's take the time to look through it

[Abriael]

Before I go: We've seen lv. 50 gear and people have used means to see the stats on the best gear in the game. Furthermore, Yoshi-P has stated gear as I described it is working as intended, though there may be plans to have interesting gear in the future.

Interesting is subjective. Your idea of "Interesting" seems to be rather weird.

[Yoko_Kurama]

Original Poster, I agree wholeheartedly but on a forum like this, they will not receive your thoughts or feelings. Please find a way to start a petition or somehow get their attention, I will definitely sign for you. On the other side if they ignore something this vital they will eventually realize the mistake on their own when this game becomes a flop. This is 2013, it isn't the time for WOW clones anymore to begin with when next generation MMO's are about to be launching soon.

As far as customization, even when I consider that to become a summoner i need to level arcanist to 30 and thm the 15 this sounds like a customization of classes at a superficial level, but what about when others complete the same requirements? How will people tell one summoner from the other? There is no feeling of being individual in this game as of yet, it seems they calculated down to a single digit how to balance this game perfectly, everyone always wants to say Balance Balance Balance....I believe it is imbalance which makes a fun mmo. My philosophy in prior mmos was to take mage which is always known to be a squishy class and build it in such a way that it can tank and take hits from sword weilding dpsers while nuking. In other words I took the imbalance of that class and individualized it making me a different mage from every other mage. IMBALANCE is needed.

[BedroomRockstar01]

While I agree with some of your points and disagree with others, none of these are issues, let alone issues that are "way bigger" than server stability. It sounds as if this is just not the game you were expecting it to be, but you can't beg ARR to be whatever game you wanted anymore than you can beg Mario Kart to be Need for Speed. If you don't like the fundamental design concepts, the game may just be a let down for you. We've all bought plenty of games that didn't deliver what we expected. That's just how it goes sometimes.

Personally, I'm having a great time in game. It's certainly better than the 4 months I spent in 1.0 (2 months at launch, another 2 in 2012). I suspect that most of the people who are really enjoying the game are busy playing it rather than hanging out on the forums though. Unfortunately, I'm stuck at work or I'd be there with them.

[BedroomRockstar01]

This is 2013, it isn't the time for WOW clones anymore to begin with when next generation MMO's are about to be launching soon.

Every year we hear about this "next generation of mmos" and it never comes. The majority of new mmos tank whether they're WoW clones or not. Innovation does not equate with success or failure. I'm not sure what games you're referring to this time, but measure your expectations accordingly. That's not meant to be an insult, just a precaution.

[ChanceSkeleton]

Squeenix needs money. They need this game to appeal to the broadest crowd possible. If that means being a low fantasy wow clone, than so be it. Hopefully they will expand to interesting ways in the future, but right now, they need every sub and every sale, and I think this is their best way of getting it. Make it accessible so everyone can enjoy it, not just the hardcores.

[Zarzak]

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.

Hundreds of threads have been brought up discussing how the LFG tools prevalent in the newer MMOs (originally made popular by that MMO apocalypse that is WoW) killed any community a MMO has on the server scale.

While I wouldn't mind seeing "interesting" items and agree those abilities you posted from 1.23 are more interesting and have more thought required in their use... Neither of those issues are things I personally am concerned about.

LFG tool though I'd set on fire and watch it burn as it cried for help.

Every year we hear about this "next generation of mmos" and it never comes. The majority of new mmos tank whether they're WoW clones or not. Innovation does not equate with success or failure. I'm not sure what games you're referring to this time, but measure your expectations accordingly. That's not meant to be an insult, just a precaution.

They fail because they all have 1 underlying issue they all share that was in fact made popular by WoW.

They are all designed to draw the crowds aka the casuals. Who lose interest in a couple months then quit. They don't design to draw a relatively smaller but more committed crowd that will stick around. Look at FF11 and EQ. They are both the oldest mainstream MMOs that still release content but still generate income. Why? Because instead of trying to attract 1M people who all quit after 6 months. They attracted 200k people who stuck around for 12+ years.

in case math isn't your strong suit guess who made more money?

Squeenix needs money. They need this game to appeal to the broadest crowd possible. If that means being a low fantasy wow clone, than so be it. Hopefully they will expand to interesting ways in the future, but right now, they need every sub and every sale, and I think this is their best way of getting it. Make it accessible so everyone can enjoy it, not just the hardcores.

Read above. hardcores keep a game alive. Casuals cover development costs.

[Zezlar]

Another thing I would like to add is that i'm terribly disappointed with Square-Enix when it comes to the main scenario. Thus far it's a massive step down from the 7th Umbral Storyline from 1.0 which wasn't amazing either. Once again there is a hindrance which keeps the story from being interesting because there's so much unnecessary fluff to get players to level 50.

It's so easy, so disengaging, so uninteresting that it becomes annoying to even do. This is coming from a person who praises story quests, but thus far from what i've done; A Realm Reborn has the absolute worst story in any Final Fantasy title, including the first two.

[Abriael]

This is 2013, it isn't the time for WOW clones anymore to begin with when next generation MMO's are about to be launching soon.

I suggest you look for a dictionary pronto, because "clone" doesn't mean what you think it means.

You simply don't have a point, exactly as the OP.

It's so easy, so disengaging, so uninteresting that it becomes annoying to even do. This is coming from a person who praises story quests, but thus far from what i've done; A Realm Reborn has the absolute worst story in any Final Fantasy title, including the first two.

That good stuff you smoked, please share it. Thanks.