Adjustments and Additions to Fellows (02/26/2008)

[Spider-Dan]

While BST parties in known party exp camps are annoying and stupid, its more forgiving that said EXP is going towards a PC and not an NPC.

No, it isn't. People simply don't f*cking care what it is you are doing; you're killing their exp mobs, end of line. How many MPK attempts have been made over something as innocuous as one exp party camping too close to another?

Pretending that BST exping would be fine while NPC exping is reviled is disingenuous and/or delusional. There are exactly two reasons why bitching over BST exping has went down:

1) BST's ability to fight back (read: FedEx a scorpion sandwich to your camp) was carpetbombed
2) who the hell plays BST, anyway?

If anything, NPC exp is less intrusive than that of BST, for two reasons:

1) NPC exp time is necessarily limited
2) NPCs can be exped in places where BST doesn't work (e.g. Eldieme, Ro'Maeve)

Complaining about NPCs while clamoring for BST improvements is shortsighted at best.

[Valisk]

So, I log on today to put the finishing touches on my char before I say goodbye to it forever (decided this a couple weeks ago), and I see "ZOMG ADJUSTMENTS TO FELLOWS" on the bottom. So I'm all like "Fuck, SE just through a gigantic wrench into my master plans and is going to make me pay $15 next month".

Then I checked the details and saw nothing about the 2 things I gave two shits about: Level cap, and summonable in new areas. I realize it says those are only "some" of the details, but whether they just fail at updates or are just cockteases, they're still not getting my moneh.

GG SE. G fucking G.

You aren't serious about quitting if a fellowship update will make or break your decision. Hard to take you seriously.

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums...ley_violin.gif

This needs to be an offical forum smiley.

[Stromgarde]

I just wish the healing type would forget it could cast Silence.

[Tajin]

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums...ley_violin.gif

This needs to be an offical forum smiley.

lol wut...

[Kenji]

What part of ballista only gear rewards confused you? To break it down, I meant armor that would be only used for ballista. Since it wouldnt be usable outside of it they wouldnt have to worry about the balance of the stats, it would be just for something to spice up PVP.

First off, let me thank you for asking me for clarification, instead of assuming something else and popping a gasket, heh. I do understand your desire to spice up pvp, I'm just leery of the slippery slope going down it. But my main issues are two-fold:

1. The casual player would be less likely to occasionally join, if they got stomped by elite pvp-gear players over and over. You'll kill your own game, because after the initial surge to get the gear, there will be even less people playing. (And everyone will look the same.)

2. It's yet another gear set to store. With FFXI's ever-expanding side-grade list, I know many people won't even bother holding onto gear that is only useful in brenner/ballista. Let's say I have RDM, BLU, WAR, and SAM at 75. That's at least 4 more gear sets that are pvp-only. And what about 60 cap gear? 50 cap gear? Right now, you have a variety of gear to choose from. Going in, you don't necessarily know how your opponents will be geared.

Lastly, SE has mentioned before the PS2 limitations, and how they're careful about adding new armor models. Even something recolored, takes a lot of space because it has to be remade for each character race, gender, job, face, hairstyle, and size. And be made to fit with every other armor piece. All this takes up space. They seem to be playing cautiously and carefully with the limited amount of PS2 memory, wanting to leave enough space for the stuff they have coming up.

In short, it's a minor benefit with a lot of problems. What they should do, is introduce gil and consumable rewards for playing. Perhaps crafting mats as well. High scorer wins a rainbow cloth. Winning team gets 10,000 gil and a stack of sneak oils each. Mix up the rewards, so it's not the same for each game, sorta like Blitzball in FFX. At the end of the seasons, the highest performers get something like a khroma ore.

That's the way to get people to play.


As a bonus, if RMT step foot into it, well, you can finally take out your pent-up aggression on them!

[Valisk]

http://www.thescoreboards.com/forums...ley_violin.gif

This needs to be an offical forum smiley.

lol wut...

Nevermind, I have to click "View more smilies". Needs to be on the first list since so many people QQ

[Siatdiat]

Barely anyone does Ballista or Brenner now. You cant make any less people do it than do it now. The thing is atm if people want to play a PVP game they will just log and play some CS or something. Playing a whole season of a poorly balanced PVP game to get a khroma ore? lol. How long is a season? 1-3 months? Man, you should get a job for SE developing content.

[Aerin]

You may as well play WoW for PvP, sorry I know it hurts but it's the truth. They even have a season system with (relatively) balanced PvP and rewards for every type of player from it too.

[Siatdiat]

Your input to the discussion derail of improving some of the mini game content in ffxi so people will have incentive to do it is to play another game? cool. Some people don't want to buy another game and level to max level and grind out crap in it when they could buff it just a bit in ffxi.

[BRP]

Barely anyone does Ballista or Brenner now.

Brenner is dead, but the Japanese still dig 60 cap Ballista. It's a small community(probably under 100 regulars total), but that kind of makes it better. I love Ballista(and Brenner, when it happens) and I think many people who bash on it either never played it or had a bad experience. However, Ballista(with Fenrir server aside I guess) is largely unpopular among NA and SE has basically left it to die. I would really dig if they gave PvP more respect and attention. Ballista and Campaign have lift the bar a bit on what you can do outside a party or "event", I don't see why they couldn't adjust CONFLICT with point systems(with rewards relevant to PvP) and better exp rewards.

Oh, so much for being on-topic... My previous point still stands though.

[Siatdiat]

Most threads here would die if they stayed on topic, there isnt that much to say about most things, and if people are changing the subject, then its the thread evolving into what people would rather talk about.

[algrensan]

all i care about is locking the 4th piece of gear and i hope the new equip, including headgear, is awesome. raising the lv cap would be nice too.

[Kaslo]

Lastly, SE has mentioned before the PS2 limitations, and how they're careful about adding new armor models. Even something recolored, takes a lot of space because it has to be remade for each character race, gender, job, face, hairstyle, and size. And be made to fit with every other armor piece. All this takes up space. They seem to be playing cautiously and carefully with the limited amount of PS2 memory, wanting to leave enough space for the stuff they have coming up.

Lastly, SE has mentioned before the PS2 limitations, and how they're careful about adding new armor models.

PS2 limitations

[neochaos]

PS2 limitations

The inevitable roadblock we all eventually encounter when discussing about how to improve FFXI.




No one can back SE up in any argument when that statement is made.

[Siatdiat]

Someone should find specific things playerbase has been told in the past are impossible due to pS2 limitations and ask how suddenly they were possible. I cant think of any off the top of my head but Im sure someone can. PS2 limitations is their scape goat for laziness imo.

[Stromgarde]

100% new models take up same space in memory as reskins. Each item model is independent in and of itself, with the exception of a very select few pieces (i.e. wedding gear).

[Spira]

I dont know about everyone else.. but whenever I see the PS2 Limitations line being used, it seems to me that they're implying that they have to consider the limitation of the PS2 before they implement it, meaning it takes much longer and/or is harder to do.. instead of meaning the PS2 can't support it outright.

In any case, I'm fairly disappointed with SE because most of the side-project activities usually dont get any updates past their expansion. Ballista, Brenner, Chocobo Raising, Chocobo Racing, Pankration are all systems that seem somewhat obsolete in some way... Seeing them update Fellows is a good sign but that in itself does have something to do with the main game.

I feel the problem with the other activities is that they don't link up enough to the main game for most people to care. Racing rewards to include some decent/unique gear, or maybe being able to Call Pankration pets like NPCs would be things used to help integrate them into the game.
And the limitations on Fellow NPCs should just be lifted for most areas. I can understand if they don't appear in the past or in Aht Urhgan, but allowing them to take part in BCs would be an alternative way of breathing new life into older gameplay systems other than job changes / new ja / new jobs.

[ronin sparthos]

Xbox 360 Limitations, anyone?

The PS2 limitations are an issue, but hardly the major case that SE is trying to portray it as. If anything just give PC users some more options (graphical, nothing major) and try to convert people over to PC with different marketing ploys and incentives - they cant abandon the PS2 but they can surely make the PC more attractive to many.

Yeah, and i play on PS2/PC.

[Lordender]

In any case, I'm fairly disappointed with SE because most of the side-project activities usually dont get any updates past their expansion. Ballista, Brenner, Chocobo Raising, Chocobo Racing, Pankration are all systems that seem somewhat obsolete in some way... Seeing them update Fellows is a good sign but that in itself does have something to do with the main game.

Here is why people bitch about all these systems.

NPC were a great concept but SE had to put too many negative twists by placing way too many restrictions on them and they still have dumb AI, casting silence on mobs that don't cast is unacceptable. NPC's need major AI adjustments including the ability to tell your healer NPC to stay back if a mob has nasty AoE's while you melee the mob down.

Pankration wouldn't of been so retarded in the long run had their been a long-time purpose for leveling a mob up and having a real use other than saying "lol i have a level 50 pet" its a system that had no long term goal other than to give pokemon lovers an FFXI verison of it.

Chocobo Rasing was a really great idea from SE but they had to fuck it up by making you wait till day 19 to find out what color it was going to be, made them not useable in area's they should be (sup beau, xarc, lufaise, misareux coast) i can understand ule. range then to further slap people in the face they made whistles cost 25k to recharge and also they are slower than a rental.

Chocobo Racing could of been a great idea but SE is too scared of RMT abusing it so it became lol, automated chocobo's turned a lot of people off even when people spent a full month raising them. Again, no long term purpose of doing it.

Ballista, Brenner: Both are just old and outdated adding some unique worthwhile rewards for frequent players that could be used in all phases of the game would put life back into it.

These systems weren't set up to age well.

[Xno Kappa]

Spira:
I dont know about everyone else.. but whenever I see the PS2 Limitations line being used, it seems to me that they're implying that they have to consider the limitation of the PS2 before they implement it, meaning it takes much longer and/or is harder to do.. instead of meaning the PS2 can't support it outright.

BINGO!
People need to cut all this crap about, "SE iz ly1ng t0 uS!!!!" The PS2 does indeed HAVE limitations that the dev team has to take into consideration when introducing new armor models/reskins or any serious system change. I won't go as far as to say this is the reason the dev team takes their sweet ass time with simple shit but it obviously does play a role with more intricate things. Blame those in the community about new models/skins who refuse to upgrade an 8? year old system.