Random Drops as blessings
The simple hit-or-miss factor of Final Fantasy XI boils down to what the individual player values in the game. Although many of us want our desired items to drop as easily as it is to log in to our accounts, that type of simplicity would not keep our interests in the game for very long. Being given these random drops that may include such augments as elemental resist does cause a lot of anger and frustration, but the greener side to that bad luck is the motivation to try again. The randomness of the rewards given shouldn’t be looked at as a waste of our time. Rather, it should be considered a blessing in disguise that gives us a reason to continue to play and build our skills to become better players.
Challenge the Inexplorable Zones
The new expansions included zones that seem inexplorable for many players at the 75 skill level. This again boils down to what your value in the game. If skill building is not one you value much, then simply stay out of those zones. There are so many more zones that are considered “explorable” and “safe.” If a challenge is not what you seek, then simply stay away from those zones. You could choose to fish or care for your garden for the rest of your FFXI career. But how much fun would that be to not be able to explore the inexplorable? The appeal of this game doesn’t come from the safe zones, it comes from the danger and challenges that it offers. What is the point of having a 75 character and not showing off the battle skills you’ve acquired for fear of the inexplorable zones?
Pride over MOBS
In the case of the new mobs that have the reputation of being “impossible to kill,” I suggest we keep our eyes on the prize. It is not a secret that those mobs are the only things holding us back from the most sought out gear in Vana’diel. With limited resources, the mobs have to be tough and difficult to beat. If pride is what you seek and that pride is what is keeping you from trying to fight those mobs, think of the bragging points you will have if and when you are able to defeat them?
DON’T QUIT!
The point here is not to idolize the game, but rather to look at how far you have come to be at the 75-skill level. Why throw it all away over updates? It is well known that the devteam updates the game very often and we can’t keep complaining every time it happens. Take what the devteam gives us and instead of becoming victims, open yourselves up to the possibilities and opportunities that the updates offer. While we await the upcoming updates, I offer a simple challenge to everyone: focus on the positives, don’t be afraid to die a few times, and challenge yourself to become a better player.

I guess it’s time to start researching PW and seeing what data there is out there :o

But I’ll get to eventually experience it firsthand, I suppose. We’ve got a PW set ready to go, and eager leadership to try it out.

I should add I’m basing on what I do about PW about the 18-hour failed attempt by BTL, Apathy’s successes, and Excellence’s failures. I’m actually unfamiliar with anyone else besides Apathy being successful.

I guess I should read your blog!

- Randomness in WoW is still something that can be pretty consistent to FFXI’s randomness. However, in WoW, there is almost always a reward for each thing you do so that at least someone in the group can get something beneficial. Even if you end up with something that doesn’t benefit anyone in the group, the item can be vendored for a meaningful amount of money or can be converted into material for augmenting on equipment. Imagine going to Salvage and getting at least one 35 piece.

- On the thought of dependency, WoW usually has one main raid and a bunch of side raids. FFXI is a cluster fuck of random end game activities which are spread way too thin. In a guild, you tend to have one goal in mind and that’s completing the main raid. This is what you really do in a PvE guild until the next content patch comes out. It doesn’t sound like much but there are people that still cannot complete content 2 patches ago and a lot of the newer content now are multi-layered: There’s a 10 man version, a 25 man version and hard mode versions for both of those. Gear and the encounter itself are different in each of those modes. And even if you manage to get all the gear you want from those areas, there’s meta-game achievements and heck… some of these encounters are actually FUN TO DO. Don’t have to camp an HNM, deal with lag from other players, generally aren’t heavily restricted by wait periods.

- Everything in WoW is pretty much laid out to you in terms of calculations and all that jazz. Sure people can say “that ruins the surprise!” but really, show me a person that says that and can make an actual equation as to what is going on in game. Then show me a person who wants to min-max everything that actually prefers hidden equations.

- WoW and even a bunch of other MMOs did something that FFXI should have done: Distinguish Soloable Mobs and Non-Soloable mobs. We call them elites. Everything in FFXI, regardless of level, is generally considered an elite in other MMO standards. You can’t reliability kill something without a huge risk of dying even if the mob’s level is extremely below yours. Of course this is really based on your class but shouldn’t everyone have some sort of chance fighting a mob that’s even matched?

- WoW is a constant changing game and sometimes it can be a pretty bad thing when you come back into a game and everything changed after a fortnight. There are MMOs out there that rarely change from their base material and some of those MMOs should stick to their original base material. FFXI isn’t one of them.

- Relics were a stupid idea especially introduced that early in the game. In fact, a lot of gear introduced early in the game were too good and they have yet to be replaced. There’s also no medium. You go from base to ZOMG MY WEAPON DOES 3X AMOUNT OF DAMAGE RANDOMLY AND A NEW WEAPON SKILLZ OMG. Nothing in between to smooth the progression out.

- Aion actually has some pretty good customer support even though it’s early in the game and they have yet to implement certain things to report players. WoW took this to the next step and they actively participate with their players on the forums while giving a lot of input about the game’s development. Now a lot of people are bitching at the fact that Blizzard ignores them. If I were to compare SE to Blizzard in terms of player response, it would be like comparing the size of an ant compared to the size of the Sun. It’s just that much better.

If they really want to improve FFXIV, I think one important thing is to get the developers and the players a lot closer together than in FFXI. This also includes active participation from SE NA and EU.