Neispace wrote:
I think what SE needs to do is look at the game, and eliminate the poor design decisions that lead to this, and the SFT could provide them with needed data.
Although I agree with the notion that gilsellers fill a need, I totaly disagree here. There is no poor design. People who need to cut corners to remain interested shouldn't be playing a game that has long roads. FFXI was designed to be slow. Too slow for you? Find a faster game. I have nothing against WoW, but if I wanted to play faster I would be playing WoW, and I am not. There are people who love the slow FFXI. Those are the people who don't cause trouble, who don't complain, and just play and enjoy. They are also the people likely to leave as the game speeds up due to SE 'listening to the fans'. SE can only listen to the people complaining, and among those are a lot of people who should just have been told to go play WoW.
Only the other night I was talking to a friend who is going a little faster than me. He is 75 on one job, and well on his way on another. According to him the latest expansion has made meritting a laugh. An hour for a merit......the game is going downhill...
And yes, I have also seen players leave over this. The main complaint from those who left was that the challenge was gone. Also, more and more people gain high level without knowing sh*t about the game. I remember having to explain how to sell stuff on the AH.....to a SMN50! Another complaint from those who left is that despite the game being easier than ever before, people are complaining loader than ever. It is really annoying to people who enjoyed the slow way to see the speeders zoom past them, and then complain the game is too slow. I would much rather have kept those slow-pokes than get in those speeders. The speeders should play WoW, which has highways. FFXI is good with its long, winding roads.
The joy in this game is not looking sharp. The joy in this game is not seeing big numbers flying across the screen. The joy in this game is not to storm the heavens, bring down the gods, and brag about it. The joy in this game is playing with friends, and making new ones. The joy of playing with friends can't last me long enough. Slow game.....very enjoyable with friends.....wouldn't want it any other way.
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The problem is that to get items like that requires a disproportionate amount of time, and effort. These are necessary items im talking about, like haubys, scorpion harnesses, acc rings, etc. FFxi''s mechanics simply arent forgiving enough to allow adequate performance on half-assed gear, and most of what is in the AH is useless.
Now this is a prime example of what I meant. The times are not disproportionate. The itmes you claim are necessary are only necessary to those who want to see the big numbers and speed past all the good FFXI has to offer along the way. Can't get any of these, then slow down a bit. You will be fine in 'good' gear.
Only problem is the elitists you want to hang with require all these elitist things. And the RMTers and cheaters have actualy made these things more readily available than they would have been without any cheating. So, these items that were supposed to be rare and something to be proud of are now commodities, and people take for granted that you do what it takes to get them so you can 'run with the big guys'. You think slowing down is bad? Try chaining up Ts and VTs in 'good' gear. It's less stress than ueber gear and ITs, and it's just as good for EXP in the long run. It certainly is less stressful to have to worry about gear!
SE has been responding to complaints about this, but I haven't seen the complaints subside. I think the STF could do good things in making people think about these things properly again. If they manage that, I think they have won half the battle.
@STF: Please don't make the developers turn FFXI into a WoW clone. I would feel homeless there. FFXI has it's quality and strength that works for many players. If these are lost, many players will be lost.
@SteelCyclone: So, because the STF can't do exactly what you want rightaway, they are bogus? If you read the post on the POL site, you can see (almost at the bottom) they will take things one step at a time, and ask for our patience. So, be at least a little more patient. I'm sure they'll get to it.
@Hajpoj: That was normal GM activity. STF won't bother fondeling your boobies.
Edited, Nov 14th 2006 at 1:10am PST by superguppie