Letter from the Producer X (5/20/2011)

[Corrderio]

Remember that future content could be designed around it, and this alone would give artist more creative freedom to design something interesting. Beside, I'm sure it would be useful to get around stupid obstacle everywhere if it was designed properly.

Yeah, but from how it looks, the new content (dungeons) area already in the game (there's a thread on neko about it) so maybe in an expansion it'd be useful. However I still think an interaction would be the best way to go since last thing I want to see is someone herp derp and miss a ledge form free jumping and f*cking up a dungeon.

As for the obstacle thing, for the most part you can run up a lot of slopes you couldn't, but I still do see some that could use better collision detection.

[Sephiroth]

I saw one item of concern:


I hope this doesn't mean that when I'm on Archer, the game automatically equips Close Shot, Arrow Helix, and Scavenge for me.

I'm hoping they make skills like that useful. Arrow Helix has one of the best animations in the game but it's just not useful. Buff it up a bit so that it's useful in certain situations. Even Scavenge would be useful if they buffed it to give you more arrows.

[Alderaan]

You have to take leveling dungeons as content options. Sure you can level quickly to 30 by linking leve's, but they're boring as all hell. Why not have a dungeon or 2 during those levels to run with a small group and learn group mechanics along with boss encounters? The lore possibilities is another excellent example of what's possible. Skirmishes from LoTRO is another fantastic example, as is Campaign from XI. Need to get out of the mindset that there's only one or 2 ways to level at max exp/hr. All of these should be solid options. It's not all about gear when it comes to instances when they're properly implemented.

[qpoiuwer]

So does "future changes" mean things that aren't being worked on but will be in by the end of Summer, or things that won't make it in by Summer? It seems like they're promising a lot if they're going to have all that done by Summer.

[Spider-Dan]

I'm hoping they make skills like that useful. Arrow Helix has one of the best animations in the game but it's just not useful. Buff it up a bit so that it's useful in certain situations. Even Scavenge would be useful if they buffed it to give you more arrows.

It would be nice if they were made useful, but this game is bad enough with forcing you to equip actions; I already dislike the juggling I have to do to "replace" Heavy Strike with Pummel, and it's going to be even worse if I have to juggle around 5-6 abilities per job to get the most useful actions on the top bar.

It's like SE is looking at the "classes are not unique" problem and the "it takes too long to equip abilities" problem and trying to solve them both at once. Automatically equipping impractical skills (just because other classes can't use them) doesn't fix either issue.

[Kaylia]

Yeah, but from how it looks, the new content (dungeons) area already in the game (there's a thread on neko about it) so maybe in an expansion it'd be useful. However I still think an interaction would be the best way to go since last thing I want to see is someone herp derp and miss a ledge form free jumping and f*cking up a dungeon.

As for the obstacle thing, for the most part you can run up a lot of slopes you couldn't, but I still do see some that could use better collision detection.

What do you mean by interaction? A choice that ask you if you want to go down once you reach a ledge like the one in phomunia aqueduct?

And what are you worried about? Jumping failure rarely happens, and they are usually hilarious. Not to mention that movement, just like any aspect of the gameplay, is something that can separate good players from bad players. Salvage would often punish players that failled to thread inbetween monsters, the concept is similar here.

I don't know, I palways find it thrilling to walk around place where a wrong step could get me killed (with aggro, huge drop, or anything like this).

[Hyan]

So does "future changes" mean things that aren't being worked on but will be in by the end of Summer, or things that won't make it in by Summer? It seems like they're promising a lot if they're going to have all that done by Summer.

It's not like they just started to work on them. Some of those simply haven't been tested/implemented.

Jumping can be implemented when there's a need for it. With an expansion with areas designed for it or something.

How about they also make leves more interesting? Oh wait, can't change design. Only way to fix the situation is to ignore leves and implement moar dungeons.

[Corrderio]

What do you mean by interaction? A choice that ask you if you want to go down once you reach a ledge like the one in phomunia aqueduct?

And what are you worried about? Jumping failure rarely happens, and they are usually hilarious. Not to mention that movement, just like any aspect of the gameplay, is something that can separate good players from bad players. Salvage would often punish players that failled to thread inbetween monsters, the concept is similar here.

Yeah, by interacted jumping I mean at some point you could jump.

I dunno, maybe I just don't trust how the collision detection is to have free jumping at the moment.

[Kaylia]

I don't trust it either, FFXIV's engine is a laggy piece of shit and movement in this game are unbearable.

[Kaylia]

How about they also make leves more interesting? Oh wait, can't change design. Only way to fix the situation is to ignore leves and implement moar dungeons.

Why did they design something not fun is the question you should be asking in the first place.


And make leves more interesting? They have a long way to go to make them as fun as some Assault in FFXI were, especially with the boring environment they are usually located in.

[Corrderio]

I don't trust it either, FFXIV's engine is a laggy piece of shit and movement in this game are unbearable.

That's another reason I'm against it, until the server is optimized and actually responsive I say it's not worth the headache of hoping you don't lag out.

[kisada]

are all in game commands still being run server side?

[Kurokikaze]

If you mean server side confirmations? Yes.

Can I jump?
Yes
/jump!

So fun.

I'm for jump just because I know what can come of that mechanic from a content point of view. That said, its not exactly high on my priority list.

[Alkar]

Wow, Ifrit battle? I know he shows up in the missions and all that but I'm kinda hoping he has something to do with the new job system as well (Summoner job obviously).
The way he talks about it I don't think it's part of the missions, maybe something on the sidelines. As far as I'm aware Ifrit is the only one you actually meet in the missions while others are probably mentioned but that's it.

[Biggie]

Examination of mount system (including chocobos)

That makes me think we will have mounts other than just chocobos.

Wow, Ifrit battle? I know he shows up in the missions and all that but I'm kinda hoping he has something to do with the new job system as well (Summoner job obviously).
The way he talks about it I don't think it's part of the missions, maybe something on the sidelines. As far as I'm aware Ifrit is the only one you actually meet in the missions while others are probably mentioned but that's it.

i think the Ifrit fight will be a new mission at rank 50. In the past they said there will not be a SMN job because the primals are too strong for players to handle, not sure if that has changed since Yoshi is in charge, but I'm not getting my hopes up till they announce it. (I really don't think there will be one)

[Kaylia]

That's another reason I'm against it, until the server is optimized and actually responsive I say it's not worth the headache of hoping you don't lag out.

Gameplay wise, I don't understand why you would be against it. The downside are completely eclipsed by the advantage. The feasibility study however is up to the developper, and is a completely different topics imo. There is no point doing something that can't be done properly.

Hyan decided this week to go on a crusade to tell people that design can be changed, but jumping is one of the best example why he is wrong. Even if you change your mind, changing the design will prove itself to be very difficult, and will probably be abandonned before they start the implementation. It's a shame, but it's details like this that make the game not fun to play

Haha yeah. Sometimes I get a little reckless. How you like those Disengages over the void zones? I'm a fuckin champ. XD

It makes me wish i was an expandable dps! As the only tank in that fight, I try my best to stay away from it, because clipping through anything purple might end the fight in 5 sec. I've never been inside though, so it might not be that bad!

[Hyan]

Hyan decided this week to go on a crusade to tell people that design cant be changed

ahahaha

You really can be an endless source of entertainment.

[Biggie]

I've never been inside though, so it might not be that bad!

It's not too bad at all, if you know what you are doing. there a little crystals floating around everywhere, touch them and they one shot you. There is also one portal that you must run to, avoiding the crystals, click it and it takes you back out. I had the pleasure of going in to get the achiev down there, fun stuff.

I can really be an endless source of entertainment.

Yes, yes you can.

[Hyan]

Yes, yes you can.

This almost makes it sound like you're just as ignorant on the subject as Kaylia. But thats expectable.

[Alkar]

They weren't even considering a job system before Yoshida took control of the situation. Ifrit himself says that we have the power to summon them so why wouldn't Summoner show up?