First ImpressionsFollow

It's a lot better than 1.0. Global cooldown could stand to be removed/lowered. Graphics look nicer than I remember. Even though I know what stats do, there should be a tooltip explanation when you mouse over them. Aetherytes should allow you to access the aethernet... maybe you can and I just didn't notice it. I know it's a small thing, but the style of the text boxes for quests and stuff is really nice. It's also the only other mmo besides TERA, that I know of, that gives east coasters a ping below 50. Subscription requirement is going to make the game have a low playerbase after a while, though.

I like the need/greed system. Most of the times back in Wow everyone would follow the simple rule..need if you need greed if you don't.

The system is not broken not even bad if it goes bad it will be the players fault only. But let me tell you this...if someone is being an a.s.s. in the group 2 can play that game.

That is why there is the greed...if it is trade able and no one needs it for their main class then you simple choose greed (hence why its called greed) and if you win it you can sell it or trade it.

There were many times in wow when someone would come as a healer but asked us to need in dps gear. This kind of arrangements would go before the instance start. If someone didn't agree then he would leave simple as that. At least in my servers there as i said before you would need if you needed it for your current class (unless there was an agreement before you would start) or if you didn't need it you would greed for gold.

It would be really annoying to need in a healer gear if you were dps and you would hear a lot of crap from the healer if he wanted it. If you needed it for your second class and it was trade able sometimes if the rest of the group cared they would tell you to wear it once so it would soulbound and you wouldn't be able to sell it to others but that would go for raids more not simple instances.

Edited, Jun 22nd 2013 9:59am by Teravibe

So i guess from my downvotes you guys do not agree with my logic? Can you please state your opinion of why someone is wrong not just downvote? How are we supposed to work as a forum if you just namelessly down vote and do not respond with a counter argument?


edit : I like this game keep it coming!

Edited, Jun 22nd 2013 11:41am by Teravibe

I'm extremely impressed. I've been moving through the Limsa Main story all night and today. The battles along the way have been challenging (some taking me 5 tries or more), the cutscenes are actually fun to watch, and the storyline has been interesting. Strangely, this feels more like classic Final Fantasy than many of the last few offline Final Fantasies.

What class are you playing, Killua? Because I can tell you level 50 Dragoon is far, far from simplistic.

I mean, I can do a breakdown for you, but there is a lot to keep track of. Buffs, Debuffs, Rotations, positioning. And there's little to no major clutch mechanics like Proc Chance abilities or Stance Switching/Rotations to be done.

I really, really need to know what you're looking at.

How about being good?

There does not need to be any grand innovation to draw in and keep an audience, and it's a misnomer to think so. That's simply a gimick.

Final Fantasy already has its own Gimick - that's being a Final Fantasy game. It has its own draw, own reputation. Not to mention the fact that they're turning this game around after being such a monumental failure before.

The redemption story alone will gather it attention. Beyond that it does not need to be ground-breaking - merely appealing in its execution.

OK I think people are not giving the combat enough credit. Let me put it this way: Anything that charges, you can dodge.

Sanguine Bite: Move out of melee range
Wing Cutter: Move to either side
Bubble Shower: Move behind FOR MAXIMUM DAMAGE

Positioning is king in this game. Need your MRD to tank more than one mob? Overpower when facing the group and cone-damage them.

I think people aren't really noticing how flexible this makes the system in future updates. All they need to do is alter where the damage goes and you effectively alter combat strategies. 1.23's final battle had a great example where you had to stay INSIDE AoE to be safe.

You cannot just AFK tank ****. You can if you have the ideal, maybe, but now you have to stay aware. Both storyline fights I've done require the party to pay attention, either due to adds or other gimmicks that require an immediate reaction.

What about the combat system do you NOT like? Reusing abilities? I mean, what did you expect, entering the Konami code every single fight? I can tell you, if I lay off using that 1-2-1-2-1-4 style of button pressing, the mob isn't going to be standing there if I am in a party, it's off to eat a mage or two. I mean, really, I think people are just burnt out on MMOs if you think refining and perfecting a combat system that, honestly, is not nearly as common as people think, is evidence of a failure...

Innovation for innovation's sake brought us 1.0. There are only so many ways to build an MMO. Don't like it? Try to think of a better design that isn't heavily dependent on a perfect internet connection, can be played without a controller featuring more buttons than mission control launch boards, and can be scaled and altered to accommodate new jobs and features.

Hyrist I understand your opinion as well as Filthy or Ostia. For a Final Fantasy fan it doesn't need to be hugely different. We have had ATB in some form for many years. If SE goals is to only target FF fans then what you say has good merit. However, if they wish to reel in someone who in their eyes, isn't content just being FF is enough. Filthy and Ostia raise a big question mark. Reviewers are not going to give any extra points when things are done standard.

Due to the struggle they have had trying to make a unique battle scheme. Perhaps the best option would be just to move in the direction of using old FF systems. Now CTB or something turn based would not work here because of the nature of the battle system.

They could implement personal Limit Breaks. That wouldn't make it completely original, but it wouldn't be copying from others games except their own franchise, thereby making it original in a sense. Just make a bar that builds up by auto attack and being hit to fill it. Make three tiers of limit breaks. You can either use the first tier as soon as available or hold on to level 3. These personal limit breaks wouldn't be only group serving as they are currently. This would just be an area that highlights your personal jobs strength, further differentiating jobs.

Another option to do something that isn't just inherently FF. Is to implement a skill modifier feature. A holding down of a hotkey to manipulate effects of skills used. Not the traditional charge button you see in mmos. In this case holding down a hotkey longer wouldn't just mean. The longer I hold it, the stronger it is. They feature can allow manipulation of things like AoE, Conal range, mp conservation, accuracy, added effects, etc. And altering the skill would buff a direction chosen but weaken the other aspects of that particular skill.

Outside of the core PvE combat. They can do minigames, side PvE, and PvP stuff using the FF universe in it's entirety. I'd implement the old Active Time Event to highlight the lives of npcs everyday actions. This would make me care more about them. And not hold them to being non existant except when the content I am doing includes them. Maybe even a multiplayer synched video 10 second snapshot that tracks of what members of your guild are doing during the day?

Edited, Jun 22nd 2013 3:11pm by sandpark

100% Better than the V 1.0 so far. Here is hoping that SE continues working with the community as they have been. I was actually opposed to this game based on principle from the way SE dealt with the testers last time (mostly by ignoring them), but having played and seen the progress made based on testers input I am excited.

Still don't know if I will buy it, but for the content that is readily available, it feels both casual and hardcore friendly which is something I desperately need. If they are able to maintain the feeling of progress and adventure for people with less play time I might give it a whirl. Since it is all new though its hard to say whether its just exciting for now or will be able to maintain going forward.

In any regard this game is truly a realm reborn and despite my purchase or not I think SE has done a great job working with the community in designing a game that will be enjoyable to old vets of MMOs and newbies alike.

Here is a posting with Yoshi explaining his point of view on the mmo industry and their design philosophy.
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/446/view/forums/thread/388196/page/1

Just because a group of people are capable of doing something doesn't mean everyone is. People on this site have been playing their various MMO's for years, and many of them likely graduates of FFXI. Considering the stark mechanical similarities shared between XI and XIV I am not surprised a group from Alla Zam are capable of pulling off interesting feats.

I mean in XI you had jobs capable of soloing mobs that some groups found hard to take down, doesn't mean the game is easy, it just means that some people have more skill than others.

If its commonplace to clear dungeons without healers, than maybe something should be looked at, but I haven't heard or seen it being done outside this singular incident. (admittedly I don't follow any other forums or communities outside ZAM).

One thing I do know Combat is 100 times more enjoyable than XI ever was. (at least as a mage)

Edited, Jun 22nd 2013 4:05pm by rdmcandie