Direction of FFXIV?

[Sinzfeldt]

dreamer, all i can say is wow and agreed 100000000000000%

I'm amazed someone actually read that wall of text.

[Shai]

When Yoshida announced his "promotion" in December - or rather addressed us in January - I expected (at some point) to hear his sale's pitch. I expected him to lay out a master plan, a "stick around cause I'm gonna make things happen" diagram. Instead, he basically just said "stick around cause I'm gonna do something" and we've been strung along since then. The information we do receive is limited and vague. I don't have any clue the direction of the game.

Battle systems are going to be implemented without even telling the players what the devs see as problems in the battle system currently and how they hope to improve it in the future. We're simply told "new battle system" and that's that.

This is more information that I'm used to playing XI, but still I feel like I'm being strung along. I feel like I should be slightly more in-tune with what the devs are doing, especially when I'm being told (for 6 months) "Hang in there! We got some magic up our sleeves!"

Don't get me wrong, ok? I like XIV and I like Yoshida. I just wish I really did have an idea of where the game was going. I think many of us are nervous that these sweeping changes are going to alienate us from aspects of the game we currently like - and it would be nice to know (sooner rather than later) if the changes are going to be better for my play style or worse, before I get yet another skill to 50.

I hope we get an answer soon. XI is doing a much better job of projecting updates and explaining them earlier the last 2 years or so (competing for attention with your younger brother will do that to ya). Anyway, I'm not hopeful we'll be let into Yoshida's inner thoughts and inner circle anytime soon, but cheers if they actually listen to this thread.

[Jamel-Irief]

Very well written Dreamer, and I must say I agree. I have always said to myself "Sure, I'll pay the monthly sub for playing FFXIV, even with a few issues", because at october/november last year the game seemed to have a (for me) really good direction, giving it that Final Fantasy feel I have been craving. I.e. player run companies with player build ships sounded BADASS, but that idea, and a few others, seemed to vanish when the new dev team took over.

Now I don't have the same feeling. The direction is lost and got replaced by what seemed like a panic reaction and a loss of focus to make this game a proper Final Fantasy game.

That's just how I feel. I'm not out to bash anyone who feels otherwise and if the majority truly wants this to a generic MMO with better graphics, then I guess so be it. It's just sad, and I for one won't be playing.

[Reika]

Still tho, I don't think the game will ever really copy WoW. Like others have said, Dungeons, Quest Hubs, Instances: Blizzard didnt invent those. and there are already Instances in the game, the ones in the story and quest missions. They could very well mean they would do for dungeons as they have done for these, Parties enter an area separate from others in Eorzia. It doesnt have to be a completely different zone either. With their way of instances, they can easily turn any part of Eorzia into an instanced dungeon, as well as add new areas; caves, castles, whatnot.

[Reika]

When they release dungeon content, and it turns out to be "Kill trash, kill mini boss, kill more trash, kill another mini boss, kill more trash, then kill dungeon boss" I will agree that it is pretty much a copy of other MMO's. Not to say it is a 'WoW' copy, because lots of mmo's do this other than WoW, rift obviously, and Aion does it as well with its dungeons. Even some much older.

[Shai]

When they release dungeon content, and it turns out to be "Kill trash, kill mini boss, kill more trash, kill another mini boss, kill more trash, then kill dungeon boss" I will agree that it is pretty much a copy of other MMO's. Not to say it is a 'WoW' copy, because lots of mmo's do this other than WoW, rift obviously, and Aion does it as well with its dungeons. Even some much older.

How does this not describe Dynamis, though?

I mean, like you said, this concept isn't new. I think "implementation" will show how much this is or isn't like WoW. How much it feels like a Final Fantasy. Single player (J)RPG have been doing this for ages, too. That is (in essence) the definition of a RPG "dungeon."

You go in. Fight trash mobs every 3 steps, irritatingly, then get to a mini-boss, a save point, trash mobs, Boss, loot.

Not many other ways to run "a dungeon." Though many ways to make it not feel like WoW.

[Reika]

How does this not describe Dynamis, though?

I mean, like you said, this concept isn't new. I think "implementation" will show how much this is or isn't like WoW. How much it feels like a Final Fantasy. Single player (J)RPG have been doing this for ages, too. That is (in essence) the definition of a RPG "dungeon."

You go in. Fight trash mobs every 3 steps, irritatingly, then get to a mini-boss, a save point, trash mobs, Boss, loot.

Not many other ways to run "a dungeon." Though many ways to make it not feel like WoW.

Only thing we can do is wait and see if they are 'Final Fantasy Dungeons' or 'WoW' dungeons.

[Ostia]

Their direction right now is "Somewhere that is not where they are right now, but they have yet to define where that is At"

[Hikozaemon]

They could add sp rewards to the damn story line quests and some minor quests i have no need to complete a quest for 4k gil or a pair of shoes i already have 5 of. They have already ruined sp gain thru behest might as well make questing a bit more rewarding. At least the storyline quests are rather well done and enjoyable and small sp rewards at the end of them would be icing on the cake.


People need to stop it w/ the damn WOW comparisons. WOW was not the first MMO by any means and everything WOW has done was done before ;ff11 even did it before in some cases. Instance dungeons, killing X # of mobs for exp etc where all done long before wow existed get over yourselves.

[Scotchio]

I miss the "milestone" type quests from FFXI.

Things that you had to overcome to continue your own progression in the game. Like the sub-job quest and level cap quests. Also the Artifact Armour quests, map quests, kazham access, things like that.

I know they were annoying at times but they brought the community together. And made for a great sense of achievement when you finally completed them.

Also I would like the party seek system to be sorted. I liked the party seek system in FFXI. I have never joined a party to level in FFXIV as yet. The current system has its potential, but when ever I look theres never anything for me.

I used to enjoy putting my flag up and getting on with something else waiting for that invite tell. It was exciting when it came and then I made my way to the party.

And then there's the story missions. Again I would prefer some sort of party based battles as the missions progress. So far (I'm only rank 26) I just solo them with hardly a fight.

Since I started playing FFXIV I have just soloed and duoed with a friend. I would like to join a bigger Linkshell but its hard to really meet up with others to do so. The quests and missions I have mentioned above actually forced players to interact and usually helped us make friends and join up in groups.

I would like FFXIV to go this way.