Letter from the Producer, I (1/21/2010)

[Hyan]

Also, official forums >__________>

Could be worse tho.

"We are happy to announce a new item shop with cheap prizes! We are also sure to keep expanding the list of buyable items every month!"

[Elrina]

This. Also you get TP for special abilities far more quickly in XIV than in XI, so any fears that implementing auto-attack will cause combat to feel stale are unfounded.

Maybe not an auto-attack, but a way to auto-queue the basic attack? Then it isn't something that will automatically go off unless you set it to, and you would have to re-initiate it after using other abilities, but at least then it would automatically re-list the basic attack each time on it's own. If they're keeping the stamina bar, maybe even a way to set how long you want the intervals between attacks to be, something like "Use basic attack immediately whenever I have enough stamina" or "Use basic attack automatically whenever stamina is over 50%", something like that.

[Lucavi]

I wouldn't spend any time on the "official forums" anyway, aside from if they said that they were only taking suggestions from there, and even then, I'd be dropping a post here and there, then coming back.

Official forums are the farthest thing from my mind, and not a good idea right now. All they'd hear is a combination of "this game is shitty, and here is why!" and "We're with you SE! Nevar change~!!!" posts anyway.

[Katlan]

Nah, I meant literally speccing lol. Thats a bad idea because it doesn't stop the pigeonholing thats going on with caster classes. Right now, if you play a caster you are healing. There is absolutely no way around that one.

I could only see them as having to redesign the class system to some extent. It was my concern from day 1 of them posting pictures about class roles. Each class is way to diverse. While its awesome on paper for min/maxing and creating unique roles when you combine different job abilities, it also prevents any class from having any sort of structure. They could of easily broken down each current class into 2-3 sub classes.. expanded on the available abilities, and still allow the current system that they have now. But at least that way ppl will know your a healer or a dps caster.. or an enfeebler, tank, ect...

[Kurokikaze]

^ what he said. I didn't vote for the forums for that very reason.

And I agree Katlan.

[Lucavi]

I'll be enjoying seeing the game's progress from my perch in the planes of Rift. Mostly just to see how many of these lofty goals SE can achieve, and how many they'll have to half-ass just to get out the door, like, say, the UI. All this talk of roaming Beast tribes could sound as cool as something from Rift, what with large-scale movements on public roads, busting up hapless adventurers along the way to sack a city or village (oops! No real villages or outposts in XIV aside from waypoints, but they -are- quest hubs of sorts, so perhaps) but at the same time, the "roaming" could simply mean "oh, here's a campfire; lets put some Quadav around it and have them march in a circle again!"

Interestingly enough, there are empty campfires in XIV right now. Foreshadowing?

[Hyan]

There are villages, lol. Aetheryte camps could easily be outposts as well.

I hope they'll make great use of that mechanic either way. This game was made for beast tribes. They'll probably be the ones attacking the hamlets- it's too soon for Garlean empire imo.

Also Companies sound more interesting than I initially thought. Just... what the hell is it that they do? And those public company quests? Company leaders in each city-state?

[Corrderio]

Pretty good info, but a few things on my mind about it.

*If they add an AH why are they going to keep retainers around? Since the retainer system seems very flawed even without the crashes.

*How will NMs be implied in this game? Will they feel like a full time job like in XI? (Please for the love of god say no to this please)

*Wasn't the point of the change class names so they had more freedom with them instead of the same limitations they had in XI?

*Also if they change class names will this mean an overhaul for DoMs? Since right now nothing really plays like a WHM or BLM. Conj is more like a Sage than anything.

[blindSharingan]

This. Also you get TP for special abilities far more quickly in XIV than in XI, so any fears that implementing auto-attack will cause combat to feel stale are unfounded.

They are going to have to drastically drop the amount of hate weaponskills give you to rely on that being your form of attack outside of an auto-attack. I guess it's just my opinion but I think people should typically be paying attention to what they are doing while fighting. I use vent anyway so I rarely have a need to type.

[Hyan]

*If they add an AH why are they going to keep retainers around? Since the retainer system seems very flawed even without the crashes.

Where you gonna store your items at? The AH?

The place can still have many uses, and even more importantly, why not keep the retainers around? Did the Expeditionary Force hurt your game experience somehow in XI even if it was useless and flawed? lol

Although I'd rather see them make marketplace into an AH. No need to physically develop any AH-like area which seems like a waste.

[The Q]

>mon visage qand TODAY WAS THE DAY
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5...4680669697.png

Wow I have to say I really like what I saw. My only negative feelings are with the decision to open official forums as I can only see it being like ZAM but even worse as far as troll-hunting loud-mouthed fanboys go.

Don't know why people are getting upset over the prospect of jumping. Could someone define "WoW jumping" for me? I guess they're the first MMO to implement jumping right? (Because they aren't, at all.)

As far as name changes go it's a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand the current names are generic and uninspiring as hell, and in cases like Thaumaturge and Conjurer misleading and confusing. Just as the names their abilities are fairly boring and generic as well. Nothing REALLY sets any class apart truly other than the weapon. Good idea on paper but bad in practice.

Changing the names to more traditional and well known ones, while I would like, would require new and reworked and reassigned skills, something I'm not opposed to either. However such a move could pigeonhole them into having to make all classes in the traditional FF sense rather than going in new directions.

The Tactics Advance line of games had some similar ones to what we have or are planned to have, such as Gladiator, Lancer, Fencer and such but unlike 14 those classes each had unique style.

Anyways I'm extremely pleased with not only the content of the letter but the personality displayed throughout. As others have said it feels as though a real human being is communicating with us for once, especially with the stuff at the end about him and the team's new year. I really appreciate that kind of stuff and is just another reason getting rid of the old director was a good idea.

I have renewed hope that The Duck will lead us to a new land of prosperity. Seeing is believing though, so it all remains to be seen.

[Hyan]

Could someone define "WoW jumping" for me? I guess they're the first MMO to implement jumping right? (Because they aren't, at all.)

Doesn't matter. Most people have played WoW. Most people haven't played DAoC or who the fuck ever implemented jumping first. That's what matters and that's why it's called what it's called.

And the only problem I have with it is that currently implementing it would be useless and there are better ways to handle any problems there might be. If it's a combat mechanic then whatever though.

[The Q]

Doesn't matter. Most people have played WoW. Most people haven't played DAoC or who the fuck ever implemented jumping first. That's what matters and that's why it's called what it's called.

And the only problem I have with it is that currently implementing it would be useless and there are better ways to handle any problems there might be. If it's a combat mechanic then whatever though.

Just stop. Seriously. Stop the attitude that if WORLD OF WARCRAFT has some feature in any way shape or form that it is automatically bad. Just stop.

Also, history time. EverQuest and Asheron's Call both had jumping and both released around the same time. So unless Meridian59 had jumping, which I doubt, whichever of those two games came first had it. Since, unfortunately, EverQuest was more popular of the two it would be more along the lines of "EQ-jumping." Shit, jumping period. I don't know what the big problem is. Some people will find a reason to bitch about anything.

Stop being so afraid of WORLD OF WARCRAFT.

Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlq0lYB3iSM

[Fawkes]

Could someone define "WoW jumping" for me?

In WoW, when a night elf character jumps there's like a 1 in 3 chance they'll do somersault in the air. Typically, that's the one players want to see, so if they happen to jump for no particular reason it's likely they will continue jumping until they see that one, which leads to more people constantly jumping for the sake of jumping, which some would say "looks fucking stupid".

[Kaelan?]

Just stop. Seriously. Stop the attitude that if WORLD OF WARCRAFT has some feature in any way shape or form that it is automatically bad. Just stop.

You're missing the point. Nobody is complaining about it because it's in WoW, they're complaining because it's a shitty feature. The reference to WoW is just there because most people are familiar with that, so there's no need for a description of the type of jumping they're talking about. If I said "Don't do Asheron's Call jumping", 95% of people wouldn't have a clue wtf I was talking about.

Same idea behind talking about WoW talent trees instead of Diablo skill trees (or whoever came up with that idea).

[The Q]

In WoW, when a night elf character jumps there's like a 1 in 3 chance they'll do somersault in the air. Typically, that's the one players want to see, so if they happen to jump for no particular reason it's likely they will continue jumping until they see that one, which leads to more people constantly jumping for the sake of jumping, which some would say "looks fucking stupid".

I used to poke fun at my roommate when he played WoW saying if you're not raiding there's nothing to do but jump around in town.

That said I SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY FUCKING SERIOUSLY doubt anyone is going to do flips and shit from jumping in this game, IF it is even implemented. Jumping or no jumping I really fail to see why it is such a major point of complaint out of EVERYTHING in the entire letter. Not just here, but all major forums. Goddamn complain about something of significance at least. This is some straight-up conservative level bullshit right here.

[The Q]

it's a shitty feature.

Go ahead and back that claim up.

Don't worry, I packed a lunch

[Hyan]

Just stop. Seriously.

Who are you talking to, lol?

I explained you why it's called WoW jumping and why it makes sense to do so. I don't care about Asheron's Call or Meridian 59.

Then I explained why I am against the implementation of the feature, with reasons that had nothing to do with WoW nor Asheron's Call.

lol.

they're complaining because it's a shitty feature.

It's not, but the game is done with no jumping in mind and as it is does not need a such a function. And I seriously doubt it is an easy task to implement.

[The Q]

And if you don't play it nor plan to play it you shouldn't care about World of Warcraft either. No one should. Yet here we are on here and other sites with people up in arms with the EXAMINATION of intention to add a feature that World of Warcraft just happens to have.

Just like Lucavi said, people would shit backwards if they came out and said they were going to implement a feature SIMILAR to class speccing just because WoW has it. Even though they've technically done it before in other single player games like 10, 12, and 13.

[Elrina]

I don't think it's really about whether there are other ways to solve the current problem or not, jumping is one solid and available way to solve the terrain issues. And, after being implemented, could result in future potential utility inside and outside of combat, neither of which could be done without it. It's not just about solving the problem now, but doing it in a way that allows for additional possibilities in the future.

I don't see why anyone considers it a "shitty feature". The only real "drawback" that I ever hear of is people complaining that watching people jump repeatedly looks stupid. Who cares? There's a lot of shit that looks stupid, ignore them and move on, the feature has potential to expand the depth of the world in a way that not having it prevents, and sacrificing potential gameplay function because there are people who think jumping "looks stupid" is retarded.