Cross-World content? Take it all the way or don't do it at all.

[Betelgeuzah]

So, it seems Yoshida is attempting to bring dungeon finder to FFXIV. Instead of leaving it at that, this concept should be taken much further in the future or not be attempted at all. By itself the feature has aspects that many don't like or prefer, so it would be in the developer's best interests to turn those aspects into a strength to be used to promote what I consider a more global community in-game. Let me explain my thoughts through specific examples that simply represent the point I am trying to make:

In the future the developers could promote more cross-server activities, kinda like in the ballista royale. It may be even possible to promote the identity of the residents of a single server and strengthen the bonds of its community that way (kinda like being part of a sports team competing against each other). While this [instant dungeon] feature may not be one to do that, it opens up possibilities for other sort of content that is.

If it is possible to create a community that is larger than anything we've experienced so far in-game (from a small tight-knit linkshells to larger companies, to servers as a whole and lastly all the servers together), that would be interesting to see. All groups would have their own content (content for loners and individual linkshells as well as friends to do, things to accomplish as a larger private company (which could be a sum of every linkshell doing their thing), more server-wide activities like what Campaign in FFXI was (which ties to Grand Companies), and lastly cross-server activities with their own consequences, individually (instant dungeons etc.) or in a small group (server vs. server team PvP etc.)).

When doing an instant dungeon (or any cross-server content), perhaps there could be a title and a world-related "flag" to show your origins in-game. Like "Betelgeuzah of Selbina" for example. Or an option to party primarily with people from a world of your choosing. If there was any way to create a situation where server-wide "alliances" or "rivalries" could be made that would be pretty awesome. If they can tie to the lore somehow, even better. I guess it's pretty hard to make it sound believable though.

All that said, I feel that when approached correctly this sort of content has many interesting prospects to it that can be used to strengthen the communities instead of crippling them. But if the developers decide to leave it at the instant dungeon system, these concepts will never be realized and the communities can not prosper. Thus I feel that if the developers want to implement this sort of feature, they need to be able to expand on the concept in the future. I think the outcomes could be interesting and, dare I say, fun. It is like putting the Massive back in Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game. It's not just about you and a twenty thousand or so other players in a single server, or you and your linkshell of 30 people anymore, you "exist" with potentially hundreds of thousands of other people that each have their place and are not simply irrelevant "mass" to you.

This thread is made with the mindset "if it is coming, might as well make most out of it", and as such it is not a "it should be implemented" or "should not be implemented". Toss around ideas or what you think about this sort of global community, but remember that the threads for disagreeing or agreeing about the [instant dungeon] feature already exist and you can take those kind of opinions there.

To me this sounds like potentially fun times to be had.

[Sonic_the_Hedgehog]

I'm really liking this idea. I posted an idea like this in the Yes for cross-server groups topic, but your post is far more in depth. This is the kind of post I've been looking for, something to improve the cross-server interaction/community, not completely turn it away. Good job Betelgeuzah.

[Munba]

Interesting idea.

[darkstarpoet1]

if the cross server stuff is only for dungeons or whatever else i am not interested in it at all. if it is for everything in game from getting gear made, to running nm's, to selling to other people, to tossing materials, and everything else in game i am all for it, but if it is in like dungeon only parties i do not want it.

i do not want to meet people in parties and become friends with them and then not get to see them again unless it is there. that would be like telling my ls mates that they can only talk with you while you are in broken water. if you leave broken water you could no longer speak to them.

[Betelgeuzah]

Thanks guys.

To summarize, as long as the developers don't leave the concept at cross-server dungeons and rather keep building off the concept it offers I can get down with it. Since if you can implement a cross-world LFG tool, there should be nothing you can't do as far as promoting cross-world activities goes.

[PikachuLink]

Cross server ah or wards or anything to do with crafting or items i think would ruin economy. but i will say with battling gameplay CHOCOBO RACES AND CHOCOBO TRADING AND BREEDING! sports of all kinds would be fun oh and pvp tournaments ^^

[darkstarpoet1]

Cross server ah or wards or anything to do with crafting or items i think would ruin economy. but i will say with battling gameplay CHOCOBO RACES sports of all kinds would be fun oh and pvp tournaments ^^

actually imo it would help boost the economy. remember some servers are more highly populated that others. some servers have more goldsmiths and some have more weavers. the more crafters you have in the overall community selling items the more healthy the economy will become. a sign of an unhealthy economy is going to grid on my server....you may find 10-15 retainers total there. multiply that by every server in xiv and you have a few hundred retainers to choose from which leads to a better chance at the wards having what you want. you also increase the chance of people wanting what you are selling if you have an odd item you are selling if more people are able to view it.

[Betelgeuzah]

I wasn't really thinking about economy at all, that stuff is better left server-based since it is so delicate and hard to control even when it is restricted to a single server (although currently the game would definitely benefit from such feature as the servers are not really flourishing). There are features that are better suited for different communities (soloers, small group of friends and linkshells, companies, servers, global servers) and IMO they should build on those strengths in the future to build a rich experience as a whole.

Keep those suggestions and comments coming though!

[PikachuLink]

actually imo it would help boost the economy. remember some servers are more highly populated that others. some servers have more goldsmiths and some have more weavers. the more crafters you have in the overall community selling items the more healthy the economy will become. a sign of an unhealthy economy is going to grid on my server....you may find 10-15 retainers total there. multiply that by every server in xiv and you have a few hundred retainers to choose from which leads to a better chance at the wards having what you want. you also increase the chance of people wanting what you are selling if you have an odd item you are selling if more people are able to view it.

i see your point at the current population state. but i will say items gear crafting selling will be the last thing im looking for.

I Still Vote Cross Server Choco racing/trading/breeding pvp and tournaments of all kinds and pretty much most forms of pve as well.

[Betelgeuzah]

Chocobo tournaments sound fun, although this time I want to control the bird myself..