Goodnight, Goodbye

[Steel Wolf]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so if this is in the wrong place, then I apologize.  I just wanted to let those interested know that I've uninstalled XIV and cancelled my service account.

 

I have found no joy in playing this game. I have to come to grips with the fact, as much as I might have been deluding myself.  I tried to get re-acquainted with a new role and a new everything and it just doesn't speak to me anymore.  Mechanically, I find this game to be absolutely excellent, but the further design decisions and continued sense of being not really useful to...well...anyone or any stage of the game has rendered my decision.

 

I still do plan to lurk around these forums and likely will be putting out posts once in a while...but not even my beloved Dark Knight class could get me to re-install and try my hand again.

 

I love you guys.  I always will.  And I'm not going to leave this spectacular community, no matter what.  Thanks to everyone who tried to pick me up and dust me off.  I'm sorry if you feel like I've let you down.

 

<3

Steel Wolf

[TheLastCandle]

If you're not having fun, you're not having fun. Sucks to see you go, though. Good luck finding the perfect game for you.

[xelliexell]

In the end, you just have to do what's right for you. The point of playing any video game is to have fun, and if it no longer is... eh, you see where I'm going with this. You can't feed a pancake to a bobcat. [/Dr. Phil]

 

I never got to meet you in game, but you seem like a really cool person on the forums here. Glad that you'll still be a part of the community at least! Hoping you find your happy place in whatever hobby-like venture you decide to turn to! :moogle:

[4wheel]

I'm sorry to see you're no longer enjoying the game, you were fun to RP with the few times we did.  You take care and be safe.  I'll try to give you a poke on here every now and then to see what's up! 

 

See ya when I see ya!

[Magellan]

Welcome to the lurkers club ^5!!!

 

I tried to sell myself on this game so hard, b/c the ppl here are so fantastic. Unfortunately my brain and sense of fun gave me a big fat grumpy cat No.

 

If you ever wanna try forum or skype rp while you look for your next game PM me!

[synaesthetic]

Good luck finding the perfect game for you.

 

The perfect MMO...

 

Take Final Fantasy XIV and give it:

 

TERA's active-avoidance full-collision combat

GW2's living story and gear-agnostic PvP

SWTOR's heavy story emphasis in questing (dialogue options plz)

WoW's exceptional raiding/end-game design

RIFT's... well, everything cool from RIFT, but especially its costuming.

 

plus...

 

- rebalance for a six-player party size.

- add a true support/hybrid role and rebalance bard for this purpose (more MP, cross-classes from CNJ and MSK, songs have greater effectiveness, lower overall damage).

- add musketeer/MSK and its associated jobs, corsair/COR (damage) and machinist/MCH (pet-based support).

- add fencer/FNC and its associated jobs, mystic knight/MYS (tank) and red mage/RDM (support).

- add nomad/NMD and its associated jobs, thief/THF (damage) and blue mage/BLU (support).

- add more alternate role jobs to other classes... 

marauder: berserker/BSK (damage)

gladiator: dark knight/DRK (damage)

pugilist: dancer/DNC (healing)

archer: ranger/RNG (damage)

lancer: defender/DEF (tank)

thaumaturge: necromancer/NEC (support)

conjurer: geomancer/GEO (damage)

- allow classes much more freedom in what they can use as cross-class actions in order to bring them more in line with jobs in terms of power. remove cross-classing from jobs entirely, and instead give them five job-specific actions to replace those missing actions; i.e. ensure that all tanks have a Provoke equivalent, all casters have a Swiftcast equivalent, for example, such as giving Scholar a spell that allowed their fairy to cast a spell for them while they cast other spells, or White Mage a spell that allowed them to cast a spell at half the cast time while moving.

- scalable raid/trial sizes, 6-24 players, encounters scale in difficulty/complexity with larger raid sizes and more loot drops with more people present.

- dynamic raid/trial difficulty. every wipe makes the fight just a little easier by slightly lowering enemy HP, damage, defense and attack/cast speed.

- "story" mode difficulty setting. much easier, very forgiving, mechanics akin to Hydaelyn's healing on Ultima SM, drops no loot but completes quests and yields gear vendor tokens, instead of using the Echo buff.

- "time-attack" mode difficulty setting for all dungeons, trials and raids. fixed raid size (6 for dungeons, 12 for Coil, trials etc, 24 for CT etc), timed runs, gear is level synced to the recommended level, no dynamic raid difficulty, yields achieves and cosmetic rewards for clearing and other challenges, all runs are scored at the end.

- completely rebalance crystal tower/labyrinth of the ancients as a reasonably-challenging mid-level endgame experience, rather than the utter faceroll it currently is. dynamic difficulty will ensure nobody gets stuck on it too long.

 

I could probably sit here all day and do this but I think I'll stop here. Suffice to say that the perfect MMO will never, ever exist because companies seem completely unable to learn from the successes and mistakes of their predecessors.

 

Why do they all think they have to reinvent the wheel from scratch?

[Kage]

*smashes face against wall for somehow never seeing this*

 

D:

 

I wish you had let me party with ya ;A; or RP'd but you know, if you aren't happy you gotta let go of what makes you unhappy.

[Steel Wolf]

I wish I had as well, honestly.  We seem to share the same neuroses. 

 

Honestly, I'm still floating around here...and things might work out to where I wanna come back, I dunno.  It's hard to walk away from such amazing players, which is why I'm still clinging to the RPC.  ;-;

[Magellan]

I wish I had as well, honestly.  We seem to share the same neuroses. 

 

Honestly, I'm still floating around here...and things might work out to where I wanna come back, I dunno.  It's hard to walk away from such amazing players, which is why I'm still clinging to the RPC.  ;-;

^ this. If only the combat were more interesting...

[Aysun]

I have found no joy in playing this game. I have to come to grips with the fact, as much as I might have been deluding myself.  I tried to get re-acquainted with a new role and a new everything and it just doesn't speak to me anymore.  Mechanically, I find this game to be absolutely excellent, but the further design decisions and continued sense of being not really useful to...well...anyone or any stage of the game has rendered my decision.

 

I'm not going to pick apart your reasons for leaving (as much as I can't understand it! - but I'm one of those crazies who stayed since 1.0 OB and did nothing but RP when the game was terrible because I loved the world), but I am curious what you mean by specifically: "but the further design decisions and continued sense of being not really useful to...well...anyone or any stage of the game has rendered my decision."

[Roen]

I never had the chance to RP with you..! ; ;

 

Alas. As everyone said, you need to do what is fun for YOU.  No one else.  And obviously this game was not doing that.  

 

But if you ever decide to come back, we will be here!

[Steel Wolf]

I'm not terribly good at raiding and doing the gearscore chase.  Like...I'm terrible.  I love tanking, and I even enjoyed the dungeons in XIV--which is weird, because I HATE dungeons in every other MMO ever.  That said, the patches to this point have been all about dungeons and raids--more Primal, more Hard Mode, more Coil.  All locked behind the gearscore wall, and the attitudes that sort of thing fosters.

 

Feeling behind the curve in so much game, whether implied or actual, is just NOT a nice feeling.  At all. 

 

I learn by doing.  Most advice I've recieved is a kind reminder to outright incrdeulity about "watch the vid/read the guide".  There have been a few times where folks were VERY patiently explaining the fights prior to entry--in fact, HM Haukke featured a calm Dragoon, miracle of miracles. 

 

Now I should mention, the behaviours I'm describing WERE NOT displayed by anyone I know associated with the RPC.  I entered this stuff via Roulette, so I dunno who or where those folks are from.  I just don't really find continual dungeon runs very fun when you're a stranger among a crowd.  I know I shouldn't let everyone else's iLVL affect my enjoyment...but it does.  There's this sense that I'm seeing only a third of the game, y'know?

 

Trust me, it sounds absolutely mad coming outta my mouth (fingers) too.  It's just hard to verbalize (type) I suppose....but I hope that clarifies my stance.

[Magellan]

I'm not terribly good at raiding and doing the gearscore chase.  Like...I'm terrible.  I love tanking, and I even enjoyed the dungeons in XIV--which is weird, because I HATE dungeons in every other MMO ever.  That said, the patches to this point have been all about dungeons and raids--more Primal, more Hard Mode, more Coil.  All locked behind the gearscore wall, and the attitudes that sort of thing fosters.

 

Feeling behind the curve in so much game, whether implied or actual, is just NOT a nice feeling.  At all. 

 

I learn by doing.  Most advice I've recieved is a kind reminder to outright incrdeulity about "watch the vid/read the guide".  There have been a few times where folks were VERY patiently explaining the fights prior to entry--in fact, HM Haukke featured a calm Dragoon, miracle of miracles. 

 

Now I should mention, the behaviours I'm describing WERE NOT displayed by anyone I know associated with the RPC.  I entered this stuff via Roulette, so I dunno who or where those folks are from.  I just don't really find continual dungeon runs very fun when you're a stranger among a crowd.  I know I shouldn't let everyone else's iLVL affect my enjoyment...but it does.  There's this sense that I'm seeing only a third of the game, y'know?

 

Trust me, it sounds absolutely mad coming outta my mouth (fingers) too.  It's just hard to verbalize (type) I suppose....but I hope that clarifies my stance.

 

Again, ^ this .

 

Steel, I agree with everything you just said, and feel exactly as you do. The whole, entire purpose of ffxiv is endgame, which is disappointing for those of us who like other aspects of gaming. I understand endgame content is what keeps a majority of people subbed, but that doesn't mean they should neglect content for other folks. 

 

As you alluded to, half the reason I avoid endgame is the culture it fosters; epeens and elitism galore. Impatience and downright rudeness towards us folk who don't gear or grind so good, and may need a helping hand to figure it out.

 

Maybe if SE ever brings the golden saucer into Eorzea, complete with mini-games, things will improve. But for the moment it feels like SE is catering solely to grinders, and that those of us with a more casual approach will never have the opportunity to enjoy new content.

[Aysun]

I see! Thanks for explaining. I'm sure you've had every bit of advice already thrown at you, but.. I guess I'll give my two cents on it. I don't expect it to convince you to come back or anything, just kind of a.. "well, you're not alone?" type thing?

 

Roulette is great, yay bonuses that help you hit myth cap every week. What it's not good for is learning, or finding your niche with a group of people, or making friends.

 

My advice would have been the obvious: run with friends first and foremost.

 

I was "behind the curve" for a long time. Still am, really. It took awhile to get our coil static going, because one: we had to find three more people that were relaxed, nice, and willing to learn with us; two: we had to get our own roles equipped, which involved my switching my myth purchases from WHM to BRD after I had already gotten several pieces for WHM.  Being split in myth between two jobs meant I was behind in gear.  Only with the myth cap being increased have I finally been able to complete bard and move back to gearing WHM and feel "caught up" on that.

 

When we found a few people to join and we had all worked out our roles, we started hitting it. But only once a week. There was no grinding on turns for hours or multiple nights. We had one shot once a week due to scheduling and our own rather casual raiding style. We've managed to be in farm mode for T1-4 with our little static for a few months now, and are now starting to learn T5. Once a week for one timer, and that's it. So yea, we're "behind" in the grand scheme of things and probably always will be. It sucks, but it's still fun for us because we're doing it with friends, and learning together.

 

That said, there are people at all stages of the game, all the time. The greatest thing I've seen introduced to this game so far has been Party Finder. This allows you to make learning groups with strangers, even if your friends are passed it (or not to it!) yet. I learned all the extreme primals through those because my static was not interested in them yet. Making a clearly labeled learning party for something means people have NO reason to be dicks about other people not knowing how to do something! And if they are? Unacceptable!

 

There are buttheads everywhere who will give you crap for not knowing what to do. Again, that's why roulette can be bad. x_x I didn't do it for awhile, until I had the dungeons down that it might pop, because I was afraid and knew that people would not help me learn there.

 

I think something important you were lacking was a group of people to do things with for the first time. Figuring dungeons out with friends is so much less stressful than with strangers, and iLVL doesn't matter. Of course, maybe you did have a group, but they were past what you were and were unwilling to step back and run with you? I would have found a new group before I quit the game, myself.

[LandStander]

You're quitting because of endgame >.o? Get your ass back in here. You still paid for the rest of the month. I'll teach you how to do coils, HM primals, and we can learn the EX versions together <3. Every class is useful in its own way. The only thing you may run into some problems with is summoner. Not because they are bad or anything, but when you have DPS check areas like Turn 4, their DoT damage takes a bit too long to do its maximum damage. Even then, with a summoner in the party its fine, its just as long as you dont end up with 2 or more.

 

As far as being "behind the curve". I have been playing since 1.0 and I just got ilvl90 on my first job a few days ago. Not to mention that I also just finished patch 2.1 story line literally yesterday, so you are fine ^^.

 

I'm sure I can find us some good patient people to help teach you the ropes and look, its Monday. Coils are reset so its the perfect time to grab a learning party ^^. Honestly, my FC has two groups who run coils, one on Monday and the other Tuesday. The Monday one always needs some extra players, so come join us! We still need to teach people turn 4 in our Monday group anyway and no one would mind helping to teach you turns 1 and 2. 3 is just running and there isn't anything to learn. We are also setting up some EX primal runs and talks about trying to learn and beat turn 5 before they nerf it if you are interested in the more difficult stuff.

[Magellan]

Completely speaking for myself here, but... it all just seems a bit pointless. Why is gear so important? I know plenty of people who don't even seem to enjoy coil, and yet they max their runs every week because.... its what they are supposed to do.

 

I've seen numerous friends almost quit because of how stressful gearing was, and I just had to think to myself.... this is a game, right? You know, something we do for FUN. This mindset of 'must have the best gear even if I hate every minute of it, because otherwise I can't do the game content' sucks the fun right out of gaming, yet SE has done nothing but push things in this one, singular direction.

 

How about some xtra content for those of us who enjoy the journey, not the destination? o:

 

Aysun's pretty lucky to find such a casual group c:

[Dakki]

Join the club, Steel.  (Unfortunately, I have had to take a prolonged break mostly for financial reasons. As well as wanting to focus more on real life and not spending my life on a game, but that's neither here nor there.)

 

Either way, sad to see you go! You can join me in the Forum Lurkers Society.  It's a great society. We have purritos.

[Aysun]

Completely speaking for myself here, but... it all just seems a bit pointless. Why is gear so important? I know plenty of people who don't even seem to enjoy coil, and yet they max their runs every week because.... its what they are supposed to do.

 

I've seen numerous friends almost quit because of how stressful gearing was, and I just had to think to myself.... this is a game, right? You know, something we do for FUN. This mindset of 'must have the best gear even if I hate every minute of it, because otherwise I can't do the game content' sucks the fun right out of gaming, yet SE has done nothing but push things in this one, singular direction.

 

How about some xtra content for those of us who enjoy the journey, not the destination? o:

 

Aysun's pretty lucky to find such a casual group c:

 

And that is why I raid with RPers. (Well, 6/8.. the other two are just cool and I'm married to one of them)

 

I get gear I want to get because it's fun. I don't grind shit unless I enjoy it. I RP when I want to. It is a game I play for FUN and I want to have fun doing it! So if I'm behind to other people because of that, well, screw 'em.

[Clover]

Completely speaking for myself here, but... it all just seems a bit pointless. Why is gear so important? I know plenty of people who don't even seem to enjoy coil, and yet they max their runs every week because.... its what they are supposed to do.

 

I've seen numerous friends almost quit because of how stressful gearing was, and I just had to think to myself.... this is a game, right? You know, something we do for FUN. This mindset of 'must have the best gear even if I hate every minute of it, because otherwise I can't do the game content' sucks the fun right out of gaming, yet SE has done nothing but push things in this one, singular direction.

 

How about some xtra content for those of us who enjoy the journey, not the destination? o:

 

Aysun's pretty lucky to find such a casual group c:

 

Haha, to me, gearing up in FFXIV has been the less stressful thing ever. I come from games that are a real pain, where gearing up depends on luck and not effort. Now that's stressful ^^;

I guess it's because I'm used to that kind of nightmares that I find FFXIV system so nice. I mean, I've just been doing a daily roulette everyday for the past months. That's nothing, it gives me so much free time to do other things, and I still have the reassurance that I'm progressing. I haven't done a single Coil run myself, and having the myth tomes system, I fail to see how doing Coil is mandatory. Doesn't it just give the same stats as the myth tomes equip?

 

What I mean is, out of all the MMORPGs I've played, FFXIV has the most relaxing and most player friendly endgame content I've ever seen. I'm actually surprised to see people quit due to it.

[Aysun]

Completely speaking for myself here, but... it all just seems a bit pointless. Why is gear so important? I know plenty of people who don't even seem to enjoy coil, and yet they max their runs every week because.... its what they are supposed to do.

 

I've seen numerous friends almost quit because of how stressful gearing was, and I just had to think to myself.... this is a game, right? You know, something we do for FUN. This mindset of 'must have the best gear even if I hate every minute of it, because otherwise I can't do the game content' sucks the fun right out of gaming, yet SE has done nothing but push things in this one, singular direction.

 

How about some xtra content for those of us who enjoy the journey, not the destination? o:

 

Aysun's pretty lucky to find such a casual group c:

 

Haha, to me, gearing up in FFXIV has been the less stressful thing ever. I come from games that are a real pain, where gearing up depends on luck and not effort. Now that's stressful ^^;

I guess it's because I'm used to that kind of nightmares that I find FFXIV system so nice. I mean, I've just been doing a daily roulette everyday for the past months. That's nothing, it gives me so much free time to do other things, and I still have the reassurance that I'm progressing. I haven't done a single Coil run myself, and having the myth tomes system, I fail to see how doing Coil is mandatory. Doesn't it just give the same stats as the myth tomes equip?

 

What I mean is, out of all the MMORPGs I've played, FFXIV has the most relaxing and most player friendly endgame content I've ever seen. I'm actually surprised to see people quit due to it.

 

Myth gear is in some cases better, some cases worse than coil gear. It's a mixture of myth gear and coil gear that the best-in-slot min/maxers seek. Coil's not required by any stretch of the imagination imo.

[Melodia]

I play on another character on another server and have run into very similar issues. However I agree with everyone here about getting friends and going in. You will likely find a greater threshold for learning with them and you will still have fun even if you are struggling, because at least you know it's a buddy on the other side of the room/area getting killed the same way you are. Endgame is fun, but it isn't the whole game and I know you would gladly be accepted into any groups running RP, treasure hunts, FATEs or whatever, which is a separate ball game than endgame. I personally take a break every day from endgame stuff to do something I enjoy. I think making sure you are having fun is the most important thing. Don't let the pack at endgame ruin your enjoyment of the game.  And take Denn's offer and go with him and our FC. Going in with a group who has experience and is willing to teach? That's gold!

[Yuria]

Completely speaking for myself here, but... it all just seems a bit pointless. Why is gear so important? I know plenty of people who don't even seem to enjoy coil, and yet they max their runs every week because.... its what they are supposed to do.

 

I've seen numerous friends almost quit because of how stressful gearing was, and I just had to think to myself.... this is a game, right? You know, something we do for FUN. This mindset of 'must have the best gear even if I hate every minute of it, because otherwise I can't do the game content' sucks the fun right out of gaming, yet SE has done nothing but push things in this one, singular direction.

 

How about some xtra content for those of us who enjoy the journey, not the destination? o:

 

Aysun's pretty lucky to find such a casual group c:

ah I actually understand this.... this is why I quit doing coil since it' been making think that I must do this and that and it become a little stressful and I haven't even capping my tomes anymore since I don't care anymore I just want to have fun >_> and I still haven't beaten garuda EXM >_> I'm still stuck with that birdy   but if steel really wants to quit then I guess she should do what she wants... although I encourage you Steel to return one day ooor return asap >_>

[Kage]

You're quitting because of endgame >.o? Get your ass back in here. You still paid for the rest of the month. I'll teach you how to do coils, HM primals, and we can learn the EX versions together <3. Every class is useful in its own way. The only thing you may run into some problems with is summoner. Not because they are bad or anything, but when you have DPS check areas like Turn 4, their DoT damage takes a bit too long to do its maximum damage. Even then, with a summoner in the party its fine, its just as long as you dont end up with 2 or more.

 

As far as being "behind the curve". I have been playing since 1.0 and I just got ilvl90 on my first job a few days ago. Not to mention that I also just finished patch 2.1 story line literally yesterday, so you are fine ^^.

 

I'm sure I can find us some good patient people to help teach you the ropes and look, its Monday. Coils are reset so its the perfect time to grab a learning party ^^. Honestly, my FC has two groups who run coils, one on Monday and the other Tuesday. The Monday one always needs some extra players, so come join us! We still need to teach people turn 4 in our Monday group anyway and no one would mind helping to teach you turns 1 and 2. 3 is just running and there isn't anything to learn. We are also setting up some EX primal runs and talks about trying to learn and beat turn 5 before they nerf it if you are interested in the more difficult stuff.

 

Aw sheeeet yis. Come join me us! You never mentioned wanting to do the things when I was on but I WILL DO THEM WITH YOU. I've said before wanting to do these end-game things but there's no hurry, unless you want to. I'll run everything with you. I'll teach and learn with you <3

 

iLvl only matters when you're pugging or running with real pricks... and actually accessing the content. We'll run with you and we're not -real- pricks. Do the things! With friends! Have fun! With friends!

 

edit: AND RPs. <3

[Ignacius]

I'm not terribly good at raiding and doing the gearscore chase.  Like...I'm terrible.  I love tanking, and I even enjoyed the dungeons in XIV--which is weird, because I HATE dungeons in every other MMO ever.  That said, the patches to this point have been all about dungeons and raids--more Primal, more Hard Mode, more Coil.  All locked behind the gearscore wall, and the attitudes that sort of thing fosters.

 

Feeling behind the curve in so much game, whether implied or actual, is just NOT a nice feeling.  At all. 

 

I learn by doing.  Most advice I've recieved is a kind reminder to outright incrdeulity about "watch the vid/read the guide".  There have been a few times where folks were VERY patiently explaining the fights prior to entry--in fact, HM Haukke featured a calm Dragoon, miracle of miracles. 

 

Now I should mention, the behaviours I'm describing WERE NOT displayed by anyone I know associated with the RPC.  I entered this stuff via Roulette, so I dunno who or where those folks are from.  I just don't really find continual dungeon runs very fun when you're a stranger among a crowd.  I know I shouldn't let everyone else's iLVL affect my enjoyment...but it does.  There's this sense that I'm seeing only a third of the game, y'know?

 

Trust me, it sounds absolutely mad coming outta my mouth (fingers) too.  It's just hard to verbalize (type) I suppose....but I hope that clarifies my stance.

 

I dunno, I guess I love doing FATEs.  I'm not much of an endgame guy myself, at least I don't like scheduling my life around a game, but I do want to learn every single job to the max, then lord above you all with my superior knowledge.  It's half the reason that the stories I've been in describe Orleans as using both a polearm AND a bow; I'm leveling both weapons simultaneously even though they don't cross in any endgame jobs.  I've also got both leatherworking and armouring just about caught up to my dragoon.

 

I think it's enough entertainment to keep me in FFXIV for a good long while.

[ArmachiA]

Yup, as Landstander said, the Night Blades runs in learning groups all the time.

 

I have never pugged endgame content. Ever. And I've done everything (Except Ifrit Ex... what up Titan?) because my FC is just amazing at going in and teaching people. Currently, Natalie and Ellion are both setting up learning groups for the Extremes for anyone who's level 50 to go in and learn. Anyone. Our Coil groups are first come, first serve, anyone in the FC can sign up and will be taught. Each group goes once a week and it's a nice casual atmosphere.

 

Endgame is all about who you run with. If you don't have good friends, it can be extremely stressful. If you run with a good group, it's really really fun. I enjoy getting together with my raid group every week and talking while we're plugging away at Turns.

 

I know why SE focuses on Endgame, because it's so easy to level up it doesn't make much sense to put something in the beginning or in the middle. I know they are getting better - with dailies and Gardening. I have two level 50 - who are well geared - and a bunch of characters in the 20's. It's super easy to level, they gotta put something at the end to keep players there.

 

The only criticism I have for endgame is to put more casual endgame things up for the non-hardcore raidy types to do. Moggle Mog is a pretty good example, but he's getting a raidy Extreme mode. I think if they did that - added some casual endgame content - it would solve a lot of problems.