Hello everyone, I had a thought this morning about Companies and am very excited to learn more but then I got to thinking about some of the enjoyable systems from XI and how they or their evolution could be brought into FFXIV.
* I'm all for FFXIV to be it's own game, so I'm not trying to start yet another XI vs XIV systems debate, this is just more of an observation. *
Before XIV came out, on my podcast I talked about how if XIV builds off of the campaign system that we saw implemented into Wings of the Goddess then we are going to be in for a treat. And in some ways they tried to do some things they learned from that type of system... Everyone can remember the early SP system, based off of skills used in battle, this reminded me of players earned XP for curing, dealing damage etc in a campaign battle and then were awarded for their actions at the end of battle.
Now, we know that didn't work out so well for us in XIV, but the other part of the system is where armies (of beastmen) would attack different maps and when they would a campaign battle would start. So let's start with that idea.
Now, the other part that I would take would be Conquest, the idea of controlling zones and because you controlled those zones there were gear, and other bonuses that game your way. You would get a sigil (spelling?) and your actions on the map added to your conquest points, which in turn added to your nation's rank in the world. The highest ranking nation would have benefits of extra shops, and cheaper prices on items, etc...
Now, I'm enjoying XIV more and more each time I play, and I'm very excited for the upcoming changes that are planned, and can't wait to see all the stuff they have planned for the game, but that being said, I have always felt like my presence in the world doesn't matter as much as I felt it did in XI. The side-quests have helped me connect me to the world, and from what I understand about companies they are going to do the same thing, connect us with the global struggle. Now, they could have something like this planned, or something completely different but I'm going to connect the two systems together here:
From Conquest:
Companies, beastmen, or the empire control zones within the regions. Controlling zones gives added benefits to being in the zone (those can vary, won't get into them here)
If beastmen or empire control the zone more enemies of that type would occupy the zone.
Companies work together but there is incentive to control the most zones. (Buffs, gear, you name it)
Controlling zones also opens up new guildleves to run and perhaps even opens up new camps. (Just a thought)
DOL classes are able to gather more effectively in controlled zones.
From Campaign:
(Assuming the empire is on the attack)
Players are updated via the company chat of the global struggle and where hot zones of fighting are breaking out.
DOW & DOM will be notified and can be dispatched in battles like campaign, and are awarded for their efforts and also their presence helps their company as well as their conquest points.
DOL & DOH would want to keep the outposts and areas supplied, so there would be supply quests and runs to keep the war effort supplied.
Then over a period of time the tally would be taken (once a week) and the groups would be ranked.
Now, there would need to be a lot of balance to this system, and who knows something like this might already be planned, but I figured I would share and see who else would like something like this with the companies.
Thanks for reading.