Final Fantasy XIV Is Now a 'Realm Reborn,' Whatever That Means

@AbeBroHamLincon said:

@Shaanyboi said:

@Smokey_Earhole said:

So...when was the last time anyone really gave a shit about the FF franchise? Be honest.

Well there was a lot of people that somehow fooled themselves into thinking FFXIII looked in any way good...

indeed good sir 7&10 that is all.

...Frankly, those are representative of what DOESN'T interest me in Final Fantasy. 4 and 6, and I respect 9. But then there's the bullshit techno-fantasy thing with 7 and it just does for me....

@Smokey_Earhole: Maybe not you, but plenty love Final Fantasy. They wouldn't be making games if nobody gave a crap.

@MajorToms said:

@Smokey_Earhole: Maybe not you, but plenty love Final Fantasy. They wouldn't be making games if nobody gave a crap.

I'm one of the ones who gives a crap. Always have.

@nrh79 said:

@MajorToms said:

@Smokey_Earhole: Maybe not you, but plenty love Final Fantasy. They wouldn't be making games if nobody gave a crap.

I'm one of the ones who gives a crap. Always have.

Not only that, but you can care about a series or 'give a crap', with that notion being completely separate to whether someone likes the games or not.

@envane said:

@Otzlowe: oh yeah .. explain to me .someone that abandoned the game in disgust in the first month and refused to even come back when it was free for so long ..

how is the game better ? .. there were some base systems and stuff there that i COULD have enjoyed if it wasnt bogged down with a fucking horrible ui , horrible ass world to explore , horrible horrible trading , AND OH MY GOD NO those crafting quests ....

Hello, I would like to explain what already has gotten better and what will be getting better in A Realm Reborn. (sorry going to be a long one... )

What has already gotten better:

Battle System: They've completely changed it from the 1 spam to an auto attack system found in more traditional MMOs. Some may view this as a bad thing, however, it is spiced up with a positional Combo system in which you are able to to do a specific string of weapon skills that reward you with no tp cost, bonus effects (stun, paralyze, etc) and multiplied damage. Mages get spell combos too that do a lot of damage!

Enmity system has changed completely into something thats extremely manageable, the game now has a aggro meter so you know how close you are to getting the mobs attentiion.

Class and Job: Classes abilities have been completely rebalanced and now each class has a good identity, unlike at launch when everyone felt like the same thing. Amory system now lets you keep all of your class abilities on the bar and gives you additional bonus slots for equipping abilities outside of that class. The rebalanced class abilities make it easier for you to get the more important skills at earlier levels so you don't have to level every class to 50 to be competent. Classic final fantasy jobs have been introduced. they are like advance classes (gladiator->Paladin), designed for party play. Less freedom in cross class abilities, more specific job only abilities (that you have to get through quest).

Pretty damned good battle content: End game content now consist of fighting Ifrit, fighting King moogle (and friends). Fighting Garuda. All of these are extremely well designed and challenging, Frustrating. Team coordination is key and there isn't a moment where you can take your attention away or else your team will wipe. 4 instanced Dungeons with their own challenging boss battles. 4 open world strongholds to invade and level up in. Hamlet Defense, Skirmish battles against old bosses.

Grand Company: Join one of the three nations to get access to nation exclusive loot. The string of Quest in these companies also comprise of the bulk of the extremely interesting main story.

Storytelling: The storytelling they've experimented with so far have been extremely interesting. While the content of the sidequest of the game is still pretty shitty, they do lead up to the cataclysmic event you see in the trailer. in the world now there is a Giant Red Ball in the sky that has gotten bigger and bigger with each patch. Random Imperial invasions happen in far off places. GM's that will come in and roleplay some random characters. Great cutscenes. It went a long way to making things feel more alive.

Changes to crafting: its a simpler faster system now. recipes are much less expansive and require less help from other crafting classes. Repair system has been completely remodeled so that repairs use a universal material instead of very specific ones. Items don't become useless until they hit 0 durability.

Materia Craft: Materia has beeen introduced into the game, which give bonus stats to equipment that can be affixed with materia.

No fatigue, just typical mmo rested bonus.

There is a ton more that i'm glossing over, but this post has gone on long enough really. A Realm Reborn promises:

A new Client, server system. They're going to scrap the entirety of the old graphics engine and game client for a new one which the producer believes is the best MMO engine on the planet. Graphic engine is incredibly scalable, and it is said those screenshots that have already been released were running off of Yoshida's couple year old laptop. The UI is completely changed and there will be two separate types of ui for keyboard and mouse and controller players. The server system will finally be up to snuff with what should be expected out of a launched big budget game. The Maps are going to be totally redone to get rid of the repetition of the environment, using the meteor as a story excuse to do so. character progression through the levels are going to be re-evaluated.

Many people believed that the game at its core was broken. And they addressed everything they could already that the current engine could allow them. They realized early on that it would have to take a complete rebuilding of the code to save the name and that's what they are doing. I'm sorry again for the long post everyone.

@envane said:

@Otzlowe: oh yeah .. explain to me .someone that abandoned the game in disgust in the first month and refused to even come back when it was free for so long ..

how is the game better ? .. there were some base systems and stuff there that i COULD have enjoyed if it wasnt bogged down with a fucking horrible ui , horrible ass world to explore , horrible horrible trading , AND OH MY GOD NO those crafting quests ....

Zhinse already gave you quite a few things to read over, but I suppose I'll give you a more truncated idea of how I feel.

To be quite plain all but three of those things are changing. I can't actually tell you to what degree - because I haven't experienced them personally (they're coming in 2.0 which isn't out yet) - but the UI, world and inventory management systems were some of the most complained about systems in the game. Along with the game engine (to run more quickly) those features are being overhauled.

Crafting is being changed from the original menu-based system to use actions like a combat profession, though it is my understanding that the base "Standard, Fast, Careful and Wait" actions will remain, but also be accompanies by buff skills that modify your crafting for a time.

However, it is my knowledge that the questing will remain largely the same.

tl;dr: It's my personal suggestion that you wait until 2.0 is officially out. If those things bothered you the most, they're still there as of right now and might turn you off before 2.0 comes out. Unless you're chomping at the bit to come back and think you could put up with it for a couple months.

i dont have faith in a single diety but i do have faith in ffxiv :]

Hm, I remember playing this game years ago when it was first released. Paid 70 dollars for it so I could play early with my friends. It taught me a very valuable lesson: Don't buy MMORPGs on day one EVER again. Played it for barely two weeks before I couldn't handle it anymore.

I heard it has been vastly improved over the 2~ year period it has been out though, as if that's any consolation.

Can this game just DIE already? I still have my letter of apology from Square haha.

@Godak said:

Well, son, when one realm re-loves another realm very much...

:D

At least it's going to be $10/month, instead of the usual $15. Still not sold on this until I see what the update looks like.

@DaBuddaDa said:

Could Alex possibly add more snark and sarcasm in a single video post?

Probably, it's about the only thing his writing has going for it.

Played this game when it was first released and boy did it let me down... Don't think I'm sold on this new version until I see how their new vision for the game plays.

I'm just going to go ahead and assume that this is all in-engine footage and totally representative of the gameplay experience.