));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPH

)RUXP7RS
7RGD\
V3RVWV 7RGD\
V3RVWV$OO )$4

)RUXP7RS

(QJOLVK)RUXPV

)RUXP$FWLRQV

&RPPXQLW\

'HY7UDFNHU 6XSSRUW7UDFNHU $GYDQFHG6HDUFK

*HQHUDO'LVFXVVLRQ

));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPH

7KUHDG));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPH

5HVXOWVWRRI
7KUHDG7RROV

6HDUFK7KUHDG

'LVSOD\



7RGD\$0

(YWUDL

));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPH

3OD\HU

Helloeveryone,afewmonthsagoIstartedathread,expressingmyconcernsregardingthestateofFFXIV:
&KDUDFWHU
<XNDUL+DQD
:RUOG
%DOPXQJ
0DLQ&ODVV
6XPPRQHU/Y

-RLQ'DWH
3RVWV

-XO


http://forum.squareenix.com/ffxiv/t...sanexpansion
Havingdecidedtocancelmysubscriptionshortlyafterseeingtheliveletterafewdayslater,whentheydiscussed
onaveryminimumdegreeaboutthecontentof3.1,andfocusingprimarilyonthisminigamecalled"Lordsof
Vermilion"eventhoughtheyrevealedthese"AirshipExplorations"itpickedmyinterest,onpaperitsounded
fantastic,exploration?strongmonsters?theymaydropgoodgearwithrandomizedstats?wow,countmein.
However,thesecondliveletterrollsinandtheytalkevenmoreaboutLordsofVermillion,andmakeasuper
superficialdiscussionabouttherestofthepatchcontent,andthislookedgrimonmyhead,thisprobablymeant
thatAirshipexplorationswassomegimmickorsomethingincrediblyshalloworsomethingdisguisedasnew
contentbutwasprobablysomemindlesszergorakintohunts.
Itwashardtokeepmyinterestinthegameanymore,thefactthatthereweremoreinterestingstuffgamingwise
todoonmyfreetimethanFFXIV,beingunsubbedwasnotreallyaharddecision,Ididn'tevenhavethe
remorsefulorguiltfeelingofleavinglikewhenIunsubbedfromXI.
Timegoesby,thedayofthepatchisin,Ididn'tevenlookatthepatchnotesuntiloneofmyformerstaticfriends
posteditonouroutsideofgamechatgroup,andnotsurprisedtoseethattheseLordsofVermillionistakinga
significantportionofthepatchnotes,myinterestwasevenlowerthangroundatthispointafterseeingit.
Oneofmystaticfriendshowever,wastryingtobeoptimisticaboutthegameeventhoughhewasseverely
disapointedwiththestateofitandconvincedeveryonetoresubandgiveitashot,IagreedbecauseImissed
hangingwithmystatic,Ididn'treallymissthegame.
Thisisbasicallymyresumeofthispatch:
Itfeelsliketheyinvestedtheirwholedevelopmenttimeonasillyminigamethatbarelyanyoneisplaying,the
storywasevenshorterthanBeforethefallPartA,incrediblylacklusterandthemajorityofitfeltlikeafiller.
VoidArkeventhoughthedesignisamazing,themusicisonpoint,asactualcontentitleavesalottobedesired,
italmostfeelslikeIwenttothisthemepark,gotonthisattractionride,gotoffandthought"ohok,thatwas
alrightbutI'mgonnadosomethingelsenow.
AirshipexplorationswasevenworsethanIthought,thefirsttimeIdidit,IfeltlikeIwasdoingglorifiedhunts,
sincenoonehadreallyfiguredouthowthesystemworked,Iwasactuallyyawningnonstopat7pmlikeI'msome
kindofpreteenskidorlikeIwasofoldage.Wewent3dayslaterintohardmodeexpectingittobedifferentbutI
washorrifiedbywhatIsaw,peopleshoutingaposition,sittingononespot,zergingmobsnonstopformorethan
60minutesonthesameposition,yellingateachotherbecausetheydidn'tdoenoughdamagetogetcredit.Thisis
probablytheworstandmostboringcontentIhaveeverplayedinallFFXIVARRhistorymanagingtodethrone
grindingAtmas.
ThordanExtreme,tome,thisistheonlysavinggraceofthepatch,anactualinterestingfighteventhoughit
barelyhasanynewmechanics,allthesearereharshedoldfightmechanicsanditseemslikethenewmechanicin
turnthatisbeingoverusedisturnaroundtoavoidbeingpetrified/feared/charmed.Ionlydidonedungeonand
seeingaseventhosehadrecycledmechanicsIdidn'tevenbotherdoingthesecond.
Itbringsmetothinkthesequestions.
WhydoesFFXIVfocussomuchinthefluffcontent?Whentherestofthecontentisreallylacking,shouldyoureally
beinvestingyourdevelopmenttimeonminigames?thiswasacceptableneartheendlifeof2.0,butnotnearthe
atrociousendgameof3.0
DoesFFXIVteamneedanewcontentdesigner?itslowlyfeelslikeit'strullyonepersonthinkingwhattodowith
theplayablecontentbuthe'srunningoutofideas,becausetheamountofnochangeandrecyclingonthisgame
it'soutstanding,ithardlyfeelschanginganymore,AlexanderSavageistheworstraidIhaveplayedinanygame,
andtoclarify,mystaticquitdoingsavagenotbecauseitwashard,butbecauseitwasmindnumbingboring,and
don'tgetmestartedonthecurrenthealer/tankmetabeingDPS.
IfFFXIVissupposedlydoingamazingwithmillionofsubscribersshouldtheycontinuetobeunderstaffed?Art
designisfantastic,loreisgreat,musicisonpoint,butboyistheactualcontentreallylacking.

ILOH&8VHUV)RFDQW'HVNWRS));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPHKWPO





));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPH
TL'DR:


/DVWHGLWHGE\(YWUDL7RGD\DW$0
5HSO\:LWK4XRWH



7RGD\$0

6HYHQ+HDYHQV

timetotakeabreakorleave

3OD\HU

byebye^^
&KDUDFWHU
6HYHQQD6LJLO
:RUOG
+\SHULRQ
0DLQ&ODVV
&RQMXUHU/Y

-RLQ'DWH
/RFDWLRQ
3RVWV

1RY
//



5HSO\:LWK4XRWH



7RGD\$0

$OH[B/HQGHUVRQ
3OD\HU

I'mcuriouswhatyouwereexpectinginacatchuppatch.Keepinmind95%ofthecontentwillALWAYSbeface
rollinthisgame.Mysuggestionifyoudislikefacerollcontent(perfectlyacceptabletodislikeit)playthisgame
onlyonyourraidnights.Onegamedoesn'thavetobetheonlythingyoudowithyourfreetime.

&KDUDFWHU
$OH[/HQGHUVRQ
:RUOG
=DOHUD
0DLQ&ODVV
&RQMXUHU/Y
-RLQ'DWH
3RVWV

$XJ



5HSO\:LWK4XRWH



7RGD\$0

<DVXKLUR

Playothergamesifyou'refeelingburntout
I'veevenstartedtogetintoplayingotherFFgamesonmybacklog

3OD\HU

butyeahthispatchismyleastfavoriteonesofar,ignoreapologiststellingyoutoquit.
&KDUDFWHU
&HOHVWLD<DVXKLUR
:RUOG
7RQEHUU\
0DLQ&ODVV
&RQMXUHU/Y
-RLQ'DWH
3RVWV

2FW



/DVWHGLWHGE\<DVXKLUR7RGD\DW30
5HSO\:LWK4XRWH



7RGD\30

&RRNLH0RQVWD

Whetherheisburntoutornot,hedoesbringupvalidpointswhichalltherepliessofarhaven'taddressed

ILOH&8VHUV)RFDQW'HVNWRS));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPHKWPO





));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPH

3OD\HU
&KDUDFWHU
6KLUD\XNL.RYD
:RUOG
7RQEHUU\
0DLQ&ODVV
'UDJRRQ/Y
-RLQ'DWH
3RVWV

-XO



5HSO\:LWK4XRWH



7RGD\30

5\HO

2ULJLQDOO\3RVWHGE\6HYHQ+HDYHQV

3OD\HU

WLPHWRWDNHDEUHDNRUOHDYH
&KDUDFWHU
5\HO$OWDULD
:RUOG
([FDOLEXU
0DLQ&ODVV
'DUN.QLJKW/Y

-RLQ'DWH
3RVWV

E\HE\HAA

2ULJLQDOO\3RVWHGE\$OH[B/HQGHUVRQ

,
PFXULRXVZKDW\RXZHUHH[SHFWLQJLQDFDWFKXSSDWFK.HHSLQPLQGRIWKHFRQWHQWZLOO$/:$<6
EHIDFHUROOLQWKLVJDPH0\VXJJHVWLRQLI\RXGLVOLNHIDFHUROOFRQWHQWSHUIHFWO\DFFHSWDEOHWRGLVOLNHLW
SOD\WKLVJDPHRQO\RQ\RXUUDLGQLJKWV2QHJDPHGRHVQ
WKDYHWREHWKHRQO\WKLQJ\RXGRZLWK\RXUIUHH
WLPH

6HS


2ULJLQDOO\3RVWHGE\<DVXKLUR

3OD\RWKHUJDPHVLI\RX
UHIHHOLQJEXUQWRXW
,
YHHYHQVWDUWHGWRJHWLQWRSOD\LQJRWKHU))JDPHVRQP\EDFNORJ
EXW\HDKWKLVSDWFKLVP\OHDVWIDYRULWHRQHVRIDU

Ifeellikethesecommentsdon'tunderstandtheissue.
Thisisn'tjustabouta"catchuppatch"beingunderwhelmingbutmoretothefactthatonceagainwehaveapatch
withverylittleinnovationorcontentvarietywhichsince3.0hitisthecomplaintthathasbeennearconstant.
It'snotevenamatterofspendingtoomuchtimeinthegameatthispointasalargeamountofcontentwasdead
onarrivalwith3.1duetothediadem,there'slittleincentivetorunVoidArkmorethanonceaweekandplayers
arealreadycomplainingaboutthequeuesforexpertroulette.
Ithinkmanytendtoforgetthatthisisstillagamethatchargesamonthlysubscriptionandisfarfromthefirst
onetodoso,yettherearemanyotherMMOs(someofwhicharefreetoplay)thathavefoundwaystokeep
multiplepiecesofcontentrelevantorinterestingoverlongerpatchcycles.
Thefactthatwecanevenjustifyaslowloadofcontentbehind"wellit'sacatchuppatch"isalarmingtometosay
theleast,whendidwehitthepointthataportionofyourplayerbaseisexpectedtowait36monthsforcontent
thatthey"might"findinteresting?The"hardcores"areexpectedtowait6monthsbetweenraidcyclesandthe
lesshardcorearesupposedtobehappywithfluffcontent?
Thedevteamreallyneedstotakealonghardlookatcontentdesignandlongevityatthemomentandit'sobvious
atthispointthatthey'resimplythrowingthingsatthewalltoseewhatworkslikeAlexanderNormal(whichlikely
wontbein3.2)ortheDiadem(whichthey'relookingtoadjustbasedonthelatestinterview)

5HSO\:LWK4XRWH



7RGD\30

$VWUDO.DRV

2ULJLQDOO\3RVWHGE\(YWUDL

3OD\HU

'RHV));,9WHDPQHHGDQHZFRQWHQWGHVLJQHU"LWVORZO\IHHOVOLNHLW
VWUXOO\RQHSHUVRQWKLQNLQJZKDWWR
GRZLWKWKHSOD\DEOHFRQWHQWEXWKH
VUXQQLQJRXWRILGHDVEHFDXVHWKHDPRXQWRIQRFKDQJHDQGUHF\FOLQJ
RQWKLVJDPHLW
VRXWVWDQGLQJLWKDUGO\IHHOVFKDQJLQJDQ\PRUH

&KDUDFWHU
6RSKLWLD$OH[DQGUD
:RUOG
2GLQ
0DLQ&ODVV
3XJLOLVW/Y
-RLQ'DWH
3RVWV

6HS


,I));,9LVVXSSRVHGO\GRLQJDPD]LQJZLWKPLOOLRQRIVXEVFULEHUVVKRXOGWKH\FRQWLQXHWREHXQGHUVWDIIHG"
$UWGHVLJQLVIDQWDVWLFORUHLVJUHDWPXVLFLVRQSRLQWEXWER\LVWKHDFWXDOFRQWHQWUHDOO\ODFNLQJ

Thishasbeenrunningaroundinmyheadnotlongafterhitting60.Well,evenbeforethenactually,runningupto
thepointwhereyouenterHinterlandsforthefirsttime.
I'mnotwonderingifitneedsanewcontentdesigner,orifit'sevenjustoneguy...whathasbeenonmymindisit
eventhesameguyatall.It'shardtoputintowords...butthings,direction,tone,attentiontothings...many
thingsmorefeel...Idon'tknow,likelessercarewasputonthem,rushedoutandsoon.
IlovedARR,alot...butHW,Idon'tknow,andI'mnotsureexactlywhyeither.

5HSO\:LWK4XRWH

ILOH&8VHUV)RFDQW'HVNWRS));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPHKWPO







));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPH


7RGD\30

0DO]LDQ
3OD\HU
&KDUDFWHU
.\OULQ$UUHVDUG
:RUOG
/DPLD
0DLQ&ODVV
*ODGLDWRU/Y
-RLQ'DWH
3RVWV

Thispatch,specifically,asidefrombeingacatchuppatchforpeoplewhodidn'tfinishAlexSavagewasapatchfor
thedesignerstogoalittleoutoftheboxandtrysomethingdifferent.Theycertainlydidthatandsomeofit
works,someofitdoesn't.AsforLoV,asidefrombeingadiversionandsomethingdifferenttodointhegame,it's
alsoatestbedforthenewmatchingsystemthatwillbeusedforWolves'DenII,andIthinkwecanallagreethat
theyreallyneededtomakesurethatsystemisbetterthantheoriginalone.Thisisanoddnumberpatch,you
shouldn'texpectthingsthatraisethebarhere,andyes...Alexisboring.Hopefullythey'lllearntheirlessonfor3.2
butwewilljusthavetowaitandsee.

$XJ



7KHVXPRIDOOKXQWDUJXPHQWVRYHUHDUO\SXOOHUVKWWSJRRJO,)7,(

/RQJOLYHWKH*KRVW%HDU
5HSO\:LWK4XRWH



7RGD\30

'DSSHO

Iagreewithyou.

3OD\HU

IwashopingHeavenswardwouldtakesomerisksandexplorenewpossibilitiesforcontent...butsofaritsbeena
straightrepeatof2.X.Ithinkthat'sthemainproblem,they'rejustplayingitwaytoosafeanditsreallygetting
stale.IabsolutelylovethisgameandIstillenjoyplayingitbutI'mreallygettingfrustratedwiththedirectionthe
teamistaking.

&KDUDFWHU
'DSSHO6KX]LPRWR
:RUOG
)DHULH
0DLQ&ODVV
0DFKLQLVW/Y
-RLQ'DWH
/RFDWLRQ
3RVWV

$XJ
8O
GDK


edit:Ishouldmentionthatthestoryandlevelingexperiencewasn'tbad.Playingthrough5060thefirsttimewas
greatfunandIalwayslookforwardtonewsegmentsofstory,whetheritsmainscenarioorsidestories.I'm
mainlytalkingaboutendgamecontenthere,thoughIdowishtheyhaddonesomethingdifferentforlevelingother
thanjustquest/dungeon.


/DVWHGLWHGE\'DSSHO7RGD\DW30
5HSO\:LWK4XRWH



7RGD\30

<DVXKLUR

2ULJLQDOO\3RVWHGE\5\HO

3OD\HU

,IHHOOLNHWKHVHFRPPHQWVGRQ
WXQGHUVWDQGWKHLVVXH
&KDUDFWHU
&HOHVWLD<DVXKLUR
:RUOG
7RQEHUU\
0DLQ&ODVV
&RQMXUHU/Y

-RLQ'DWH
3RVWV

2FW


IunderstandcompletelywhichiswhyIsaidthispatchistheworstoneyetintermsofcontent,everythingjust
feelsthesame.
Idon'treallyliketalkingdownonanyoneandIappreciateYoshidaforsavingXIVandtheseriesingeneralbutto
behonestIthinkit'ssafetoadmitthathemightbeabitofaonetrickponyridingtoomuchonthefactthehe's
thefaceofXIVandhesavedthegame.Greatguy,butIthinksomeoneelseshouldhaveagodirectingapatch.
EvenFFXIstillmanagestobringsomethingnewandkeepmostoldcontentrelevant
Whyaren'tIplayingthat?IamaswellasX2andI'mhavingfun.


/DVWHGLWHGE\<DVXKLUR7RGD\DW30
5HSO\:LWK4XRWH

4XLFN1DYLJDWLRQ

*HQHUDO'LVFXVVLRQ  7RS

3UHYLRXV7KUHDG_1H[W7KUHDG

7RS

(QJOLVK1$

648$5((1,;&2/7'$OO5LJKWV5HVHUYHG

ILOH&8VHUV)RFDQW'HVNWRS));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPHKWPO





));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPH
),1$/)$17$6<;,9LVDUHJLVWHUHGWUDGHPDUNRI6TXDUH(QL[+ROGLQJV&R/WG+($9(16:$5'DQG$5($/05(%251DUHWUDGHPDUNVRI6TXDUH(QL[&R/WG
),1$/)$17$6<648$5((1,;DQGWKH648$5((1,;ORJRDUHUHJLVWHUHGWUDGHPDUNVRUWUDGHPDUNVRI6TXDUH(QL[+ROGLQJV&R/WG
3OD\6WDWLRQDQGWKH36)DPLO\ORJRDQG36DUHUHJLVWHUHGWUDGHPDUNVDQGWKH3OD\6WDWLRQ1HWZRUNORJRLVDWUDGHPDUNRI6RQ\&RPSXWHU(QWHUWDLQPHQW,QF
36LVDWUDGHPDUNRIWKHVDPHFRPSDQ\7KH(65%UDWLQJLFRQLVDUHJLVWHUHGWUDGHPDUNRIWKH(QWHUWDLQPHQW6RIWZDUH$VVRFLDWLRQ$OORWKHUWUDGHPDUNVDUH
WKHSURSHUWLHVRIWKHLUUHVSHFWLYHRZQHUV

LIUDPHVUF ZZZJRRJOHWDJPDQDJHUFRPQVKWPO"LG *70..3KHLJKW ZLGWK VW\OH GLVSOD\QRQHYLVLELOLW\KLGGHQ!LIUDPH!

ILOH&8VHUV)RFDQW'HVNWRS));,9DQGWKHIHHORIGHFOLQHUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWRIWKHJDPHKWPO