Great Job Devteams!

[derekx]

They are doing a good job overall adding to the game and listening to players (with a critical ear). This patch wasn't the big one I was looking forward to, but I have been pleasantly surprised with it so far. Playability seems to have improved a fair bit.

[Toornio]

Just jumping in to add my support for the devteam. You guys are doing a great job on so many fronts, including but not limited to your personal responses to feedback threads, involvement in the community, addressing specific concerns, and listening to us. 1.17 was no overhaul, but it's the start in the right direction for battle content. Yes, I like many others are waiting very patiently for auto attack, re-vamped armory system and the job system that Yoshi-P teased us about. But that doesn't take away from the strides 1.17 took.

The new party size is fantastic, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The new behest timeline is something we've been begging for, for ages. Things like the map legend were unexpected and appreciated, whereas the new identification icons for enemies as well as over-the-head HP bars make everything a lot more efficient. You did a great job on the NMs, and yes the 3~5 minute timers are just fine. You've made it clear you understand something that FFXI struggled with for so long: attrition does not equate to a challenge or even to difficulty. You did a great job on the lore for the NMs and for the companies, to which we're all eagerly awaiting more information on. Furthermore, the new gear shows you're getting creative with gear design without doing things spectacularly flashy, which at this point in the game is perfect.

Lastly, as I'm sure you know, there's an imbalance in those who voice support in the forums and those who voice concerns/angst (it favors the latter). As I'm sure you also know, with any service of any kind, those who are content have less of an incentive to vocalize opinions than those who aren't.

Keep up the good work. We're rooting for you, and a lot of my friends are actually eagerly awaiting paying for this game because that'll mean it's only better than it is now.