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Difficulty in FFXI - a retrospective
Asura.Eiryl
By Asura.Eiryl 2023-01-04 12:12:59
I would even bet that you can literally tell a gm that you do use windower and not only would they likely have no clue what it is, they wouldn't care.
The next set of new accounts I make, that's worth $10 to post.
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Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 985
By Bahamut.Justthetip 2023-01-04 12:19:00
Bahamut.Justthetip said: »Carbuncle.Maletaru said: »Bahamut.Justthetip said: »You use this program to modify game files
Yes, Windower is "modifying the game and gameplay"
Which game files does Windower modify? Could someone explain to me how the game functions differently, or how the gameplay is altered by using Windower, instead of just saying it does?
OK, if this is how we're going to have a discussion, I'll take your route: Windower is not modifying the game files. Windower is not modifying the game or gameplay. Go contact a GM and tell them you're using windower lol I'm gonna guess it went over your head but sure man be dumb about it I guess. The program itself isn't til you turn plug-in and ***on. Why people are being braindead apes about this and acting like they don't know what people mean is stupid. Ok, you're right, windower isnt cheating, so you can safely tell GM you play on windower :)
You're pretty much making up your own arbitrary line of what is and isnt acceptable cheating to justify why your cheating is acceptable. Theres only one entity that can draw the line of what isnt and isnt cheating in FFXI, and that is SE. Yes no ***guy I'm saying se decides that also you may wanna redirect your cheating accusations at someone else I'm one of the few left who using full on macros and ***with old equip macros. I don't make the rules nor draw the line so idk why you seem to think I'm spear heading and defending windower I'm calling people out who keep saying it's not really cheating. Also calling a gm ain't gonna do ***they all sleep anyway.
Carbuncle.Maletaru
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 3415
By Carbuncle.Maletaru 2023-01-04 12:22:20
Bahamut.Justthetip said: »I'm gonna guess it went over your head but sure man be dumb about it I guess. The program itself isn't til you turn plug-in and ***on. Why people are being braindead apes about this and acting like they don't know what people mean is stupid.
I'm not clear if you're calling me, Nynja, or someone else a braindead ape here, but for the record:
Nynja advocates that Windower, plugins or not, is against ToS.
I advocate that Plugins, Addons, Taco, Cureplease, etc. are cheating and against ToS, but Windower without any Plugins, Addons, etc. is not against ToS.
I'm not trying to say that you can't use Windower to load lua scripts which modify the gameplay. I'm saying Windower doesn't have to be used to load all that crap, you can just use it to load FFXI in two windows on a machine, which doesn't change the way the game functions, which is what the ToS explicitly states is against their terms.
Here's a thought experiment: if you have two computers or a single computer with a VM, is there a difference in the way your two instances of FFXI run on those two PCs compared to running both instances on a single PC through Windower? OK now load Dressup, Anchor, and Gearswap on one PC, and don't load those on the other PC. Is there a difference in the way the game runs on those two PCs?
This is where I draw the line, the same place (IMHO) SE draws the line, at least according to their website: altering the gameplay of the game.
Bahamut.Mhysa
Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 136
By Bahamut.Mhysa 2023-01-04 12:26:34
Bahamut.Justthetip said: »Bahamut.Justthetip said: »Carbuncle.Maletaru said: »Bahamut.Justthetip said: »You use this program to modify game files
Yes, Windower is "modifying the game and gameplay"
Which game files does Windower modify? Could someone explain to me how the game functions differently, or how the gameplay is altered by using Windower, instead of just saying it does?
OK, if this is how we're going to have a discussion, I'll take your route: Windower is not modifying the game files. Windower is not modifying the game or gameplay. Go contact a GM and tell them you're using windower lol I'm gonna guess it went over your head but sure man be dumb about it I guess. The program itself isn't til you turn plug-in and ***on. Why people are being braindead apes about this and acting like they don't know what people mean is stupid. Ok, you're right, windower isnt cheating, so you can safely tell GM you play on windower :)
You're pretty much making up your own arbitrary line of what is and isnt acceptable cheating to justify why your cheating is acceptable. Theres only one entity that can draw the line of what isnt and isnt cheating in FFXI, and that is SE. Yes no ***guy I'm saying se decides that also you may wanna redirect your cheating accusations at someone else I'm one of the few left who using full on macros and ***with old equip macros. I don't make the rules nor draw the line so idk why you seem to think I'm spear heading and defending windower I'm calling people out who keep saying it's not really cheating. Also calling a gm ain't gonna do ***they all sleep anyway.
While Nynja, I know you for a time back, and know the people you played with and the way you play. You are riding this high horse as if you were also vanilla homeboy. I hope you also keeping this energy to all the people who you play and played with and the people who have been carrying you through Odyssey, same as Maletaru lol. Don’t forget that there’s receipts from Emerald, Nynja.
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Carbuncle.Nynja
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 5472
By Carbuncle.Nynja 2023-01-04 12:27:43
If Windower allows you to load two copies of FFXI whereas the official windower does not, then it modifies the game.
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Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 985
By Bahamut.Justthetip 2023-01-04 12:28:45
Carbuncle.Maletaru said: »Bahamut.Justthetip said: »I'm gonna guess it went over your head but sure man be dumb about it I guess. The program itself isn't til you turn plug-in and ***on. Why people are being braindead apes about this and acting like they don't know what people mean is stupid.
I'm not clear if you're calling me, Nynja, or someone else a braindead ape here, but for the record:
Nynja advocates that Windower, plugins or not, is against ToS.
I advocate that Plugins, Addons, Taco, Cureplease, etc. are cheating and against ToS, but Windower without any Plugins, Addons, etc. is not against ToS.
I'm not trying to say that you can't use Windower to load lua scripts which modify the gameplay. I'm saying Windower doesn't have to be used to load all that crap, you can just use it to load FFXI in two windows on a machine, which doesn't change the way the game functions, which is what the ToS explicitly states is against their terms.
Here's a thought experiment: if you have two computers or a single computer with a VM, is there a difference in the way your two instances of FFXI run on those two PCs compared to running both instances on a single PC through Windower? OK now load Dressup, Anchor, and Gearswap on one PC, and don't load those on the other PC. Is there a difference in the way the game runs on those two PCs?
This is where I draw the line, the same place (IMHO) SE draws the line, at least according to their website: altering the gameplay of the game. I'm not really calling you braindead just saying people in general who defend windower and seems to think a 3rd party program isn't cheating in anyway. I understand some of the stuff can be done without it. All I'm saying is people just tried to push it like I defend it and saying I full cheat use knock back and blah blah. I don't cheat people who've played with me k ow this I can't even figure out how to get my game sound back on for 11 lol
Carbuncle.Nynja
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 5472
By Carbuncle.Nynja 2023-01-04 12:30:19
While Nynja, I know you for a time back, and know the people you played with and the way you play. You are riding this high horse as if you were also vanilla homeboy. I hope you also keeping this energy to all the people who you play and played with and the people who have been carrying you through Odyssey, same as Maletaru lol. Don’t forget that there’s receipts from Emerald, Nynja.
Server: Valefor
Game: FFXI
Posts: 19647
By Valefor.Prothescar 2023-01-04 12:33:10
I don't think most would classify a fully stock vanilla Windower as cheating, but it is absolutely against ToS whether an individual GM will enforce it on a dime or not.
Only time I really have any umbrage with "cheaters" is when they make a cringe forum post akin to "lol it's easy bro get good" when they're loading up every DLL on github with a gearswap file that basically plays the game for them. When you've automated the game to the point where you don't even have to hit a WS macro, you've forfeited your right to talk ***to or about anyone.
Bahamut.Mhysa
Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 136
By Bahamut.Mhysa 2023-01-04 12:40:20
While Nynja, I know you for a time back, and know the people you played with and the way you play. You are riding this high horse as if you were also vanilla homeboy. I hope you also keeping this energy to all the people who you play and played with and the people who have been carrying you through Odyssey, same as Maletaru lol. Don’t forget that there’s receipts from Emerald, Nynja. 
Idk why people are discussing with you, when you got banned. Anyway.
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Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 985
By Bahamut.Justthetip 2023-01-04 12:41:02
Valefor.Prothescar said: »I don't think most would classify a fully stock vanilla Windower as cheating, but it is absolutely against ToS whether an individual GM will enforce it on a dime or not.
Only time I really have any umbrage with "cheaters" is when they make a cringe forum post akin to "lol it's easy bro get good" when they're loading up every DLL on github with a gearswap file that basically plays the game for them. When you've automated the game to the point where you don't even have to hit a WS macro, you've forfeited your right to talk ***to or about anyone. This right here is what I mean and is my point thank you. Gonna bow out of this topic now don't wanna get the hammer.
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Bahamut.Mhysa
Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 136
By Bahamut.Mhysa 2023-01-04 12:44:06
Legion feels like a fever dream to me. I remember clearing all halls with my Linkshell (and I thought it was hard, tbh!) but now when I talk to a couple of friends who still play, they mention that they never did Legion due it’s difficulty.
Ah, the good days where 3 HNMs got to stomp on you at the same time!
Legion was probably the first content that really required the DD's to wear hybrid sets. The SCH's would still do their best to stun lock stuff, but the bosses got kinda stupid at the higher tiers. It as alliance content so we got to get creative with party setups.
Right! I actually did enjoy Legion a lot and the strats for it were very mixed. I think it had a lot of potential, but not a lot of people adventured into it. I also remember there being like a week lockout? Again, all of a fever dream!
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Asura.Saevel
Server: Asura
Game: FFXI
Posts: 10279
By Asura.Saevel 2023-01-04 12:50:18
Valefor.Prothescar said: »I don't think most would classify a fully stock vanilla Windower as cheating, but it is absolutely against ToS whether an individual GM will enforce it on a dime or not.
Only time I really have any umbrage with "cheaters" is when they make a cringe forum post akin to "lol it's easy bro get good" when they're loading up every DLL on github with a gearswap file that basically plays the game for them. When you've automated the game to the point where you don't even have to hit a WS macro, you've forfeited your right to talk ***to or about anyone.
Are we playing the game, or is the game playing us?
Step by step guide on how to defeat the ultimate boss in FFXI.
Super Secret Strategy Guide
By Mattelot 2023-01-04 12:50:47
Valefor.Prothescar said: »Only time I really have any umbrage with "cheaters" is when they make a cringe forum post akin to "lol it's easy bro get good" when they're loading up every DLL on github with a gearswap file that basically plays the game for them. When you've automated the game to the point where you don't even have to hit a WS macro, you've forfeited your right to talk ***to or about anyone.
Very well said.
I have to hear bragging comments from cheaters in this game for the past few years. People botting their master levels, flexing about "How come you're only 35, bro? I'm almost 50 on all mine!"
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Carbuncle.Nynja
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 5472
By Carbuncle.Nynja 2023-01-04 12:51:26
While Nynja, I know you for a time back, and know the people you played with and the way you play. You are riding this high horse as if you were also vanilla homeboy. I hope you also keeping this energy to all the people who you play and played with and the people who have been carrying you through Odyssey, same as Maletaru lol. Don’t forget that there’s receipts from Emerald, Nynja. 
Idk why people are discussing with you, when you got banned. Anyway. Remoted home from work just to get this for u bb
Check your sources ***
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Bahamut.Mhysa
Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 136
By Bahamut.Mhysa 2023-01-04 12:57:28
While Nynja, I know you for a time back, and know the people you played with and the way you play. You are riding this high horse as if you were also vanilla homeboy. I hope you also keeping this energy to all the people who you play and played with and the people who have been carrying you through Odyssey, same as Maletaru lol. Don’t forget that there’s receipts from Emerald, Nynja. 
Idk why people are discussing with you, when you got banned. Anyway. Remoted home from work just to get this for u bb
Check your sources ***
Oh wow, I pulled a nerve there haha, my sources are more than fine. Stay banned <3 I am done discussing with you, because it’s an actual waste of time.
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Carbuncle.Nynja
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 5472
By Carbuncle.Nynja 2023-01-04 12:57:53
One more for the road
I changed my names because of pieces of trash snitches like you and that pedo creeper Iszo. Thats my thanks for carrying people through an aeonic run. I dont help people anymore, I stay anonymous in game.
Stay jelly son <3
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Bahamut.Mhysa
Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 136
By Bahamut.Mhysa 2023-01-04 13:02:36
One more for the road
I changed my names because of pieces of trash snitches like you and that pedo creeper Iszo. Thats my thanks for carrying people through an aeonic run. I dont help people anymore, I stay anonymous in game.
Go outside and touch some grass LMAO. I am sure you stay very anonymous and with a whole different char. Again, Im done arguing with you, we know why you got banned. Ride that high horse all you want, but you know the truth. But seriously, go outside and touch some grass, you’re truly bitter over a video game boo. <3
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Asura.Saevel
Server: Asura
Game: FFXI
Posts: 10279
By Asura.Saevel 2023-01-04 13:03:14
One more for the road
I changed my names because of pieces of trash snitches like you and that pedo creeper Iszo. Thats my thanks for carrying people through an aeonic run. I dont help people anymore, I stay anonymous in game.
Stay jelly son <3
It's messed up that the guys in this convo will go out of their way to try to get people banned, even if you help them. Whats worse is the silent ones, they go along and get their wins / loot, then turn around and report the ones responsible for helping them.
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Server: Asura
Game: FFXI
Posts: 1072
By Asura.Iamaman 2023-01-04 13:04:40
Carbuncle.Maletaru said: »Also, reminder that windower is also cheating per the ToS.
[Citation needed]
2.1 Cheating and Botting. You may not create or use any cheats, bots, automation software, hacks, mods or any other unauthorized software designed to modify the Game and gameplay. In addition, you may not take advantage of game system bugs and exploits during gameplay.
I guess if you're defining Windower as modifying the Game and gameplay then sure, but I think "launching two instances of FFXI on the same physical PC" is a stretch when you're talking about modifying the Game and gameplay. Yes, Windower is "modifying the game and gameplay", especially considering SE has made their own windowed function. Carbuncle.Maletaru said: »Bahamut.Justthetip said: »You use this program to modify game files
Yes, Windower is "modifying the game and gameplay"
Which game files does Windower modify? Could someone explain to me how the game functions differently, or how the gameplay is altered by using Windower, instead of just saying it does?
OK, if this is how we're going to have a discussion, I'll take your route: Windower is not modifying the game files. Windower is not modifying the game or gameplay.
This is only part of why they make it against the ToS.
The other reason is they have no control over it. The official client is validated and known to work without triggering all sorts of server side bugs, if there is a bug in Windower that mishandles protocol data then it could cause server side problems and trigger a lot of potential issues. The official client would be validated and tested during development and they control that code. I doubt their parsing code is robust and having an unofficial client interacting with the network code can be scary if you know the server side is poorly written. A lot of code written in this era wasn’t written to account for unexpected values, just to trust the client will only send trustworthy data.
The official client also doesn’t have an API, which is again a stability problem. If you go and write a lua that sends a bunch of malformed data, it could cause a lot of issues.
This is 20 year old code we are talking about here and probably not written to the best of standards, a wrong value here or there could crash the zone or worse. They really don’t want people messing with the lower level details like the packets. The official client won’t cause problems because it’s developed and tested in parallel, Windower and various 3rd party tools aren’t.
Not saying Windower does this or has this problem, but from their POV early on, it’s part of what they are concerned about. Now it’s less of an issue obviously, but I wouldn’t be surprised if sending a random 0xffffffff or 0x41414141 here and there wouldn’t cause issues. At this point they probably have enough confidence in the Windower team and server side fixed over the years to care less about it, but I would expect a poorly written lua to get their attention if it acts up
Carbuncle.Nynja
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 5472
By Carbuncle.Nynja 2023-01-04 13:05:32
Go outside and touch some grass LMAO. I am sure you stay very anonymous and with a whole different char. Again, Im done arguing with you, we know why you got banned. Ride that high horse all you want, but you know the truth. But seriously, go outside and touch some grass, you’re truly bitter over a video game boo. <3 I can say I found the snitch who got me suspended for 3 days.
It's messed up that the guys in this convo will go out of their way to try to get people banned, even if you help them. Whats worse is the silent ones, they go along and get their wins / loot, then turn around and report the ones responsible for helping them. Its beyond pathetic. Their morals go to the wayside when they are profiting from the multiboxers and their tools.
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Bahamut.Mhysa
Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 136
By Bahamut.Mhysa 2023-01-04 13:06:38
Go outside and touch some grass LMAO. I am sure you stay very anonymous and with a whole different char. Again, Im done arguing with you, we know why you got banned. Ride that high horse all you want, but you know the truth. But seriously, go outside and touch some grass, you’re truly bitter over a video game boo. <3 I can say I found the snitch who got me suspended for 3 days.
A whole server away, and I got you suspended. The power I hold is immaculate. I guess I am omnipotent!
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By Mattelot 2023-01-04 13:07:18
I’m so glad I’m not a man.
This is 2023. You can be whatever you say you want to be.
Carbuncle.Nynja
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 5472
By Carbuncle.Nynja 2023-01-04 13:16:55
Reporting people and trying to get people banned in a 22+ year old game is cringe.
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Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 985
By Bahamut.Justthetip 2023-01-04 13:18:51
Reporting people and trying to get people banned in a 22+ year old game is cringe. Using a bot to "carry" people in aeonics is cringe or botting is cringe but it seems to not stop people. It makes them point fingers at others I guess.
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By Katyl 2023-01-04 13:25:47
I'm curious how many legit Eschuteons there are out there that never touched Craft addon once. Probably rarer than Cat's Eyes.
Carbuncle.Nynja
Server: Carbuncle
Game: FFXI
Posts: 5472
By Carbuncle.Nynja 2023-01-04 13:27:10
And at the end of the day, I'm still better than you, and you know it, thats why you had to snitch to try to get me banned.
You failed. Have fun making characters across all 16 servers to find the Hume F I showed off.
I'm out, gym time.
I'm curious how many legit Eschuteons there are out there that never touched Craft addon once. Probably rarer than Cat's Eyes. That number is likely only able to be counted on one hand.
Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 985
By Bahamut.Justthetip 2023-01-04 13:31:38
And at the end of the day, I'm still better than you, and you know it, thats why you had to snitch to try to get me banned.
You failed. Have fun making characters across all 16 servers to find the Hume F I showed off.
I'm out, gym time.
I'm curious how many legit Eschuteons there are out there that never touched Craft addon once. Probably rarer than Cat's Eyes. That number is likely only able to be counted on one hand. You mean the bot is better don't you?
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Bahamut.Mhysa
Server: Bahamut
Game: FFXI
Posts: 136
By Bahamut.Mhysa 2023-01-04 13:34:51
And at the end of the day, I'm still better than you, and you know it, thats why you had to snitch to try to get me banned.
Yes, you are better than me. Because you cheat, and I don't. I hope thinking I am the one who snitched helps you lift more weights and run faster. Delusional men are the funniest kind of men in this game.
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Bit early maybe, but I'd like to read more opinions on other old time FFXI players concerning content difficulty in FFXI.
First of all a premise, what is "difficulty"?
I don't think there is an unambiguous way to define it, it's subject to context, personal opinions and scenarios.
Ultimately the most efficient way to measure it would be by amount of players completing a specific content in a window of time post release. A smaller number of players completing a content X weeks after release, would hint at that content being more "difficult" than others. With the uningnorable key aspect that it's hard to measure it since there is no official, open and transparent list (like in WoW for instance) and we only get approximate values from boards like FFXIAH, where only a small part of the overall player base participate in discussions, hence this can lead to biased perceptions.
Also right now we have a much smaller player base compared to several years ago, this skews the results because there are less overall attempts at a specific content, at the same time on average the player-base still playing these days is likely more proficient at the game than the average level we had several years ago.
The amount of different tools in the players' hands and how widespread they are compared to several years ago, also affects the result.
From the developers' point of view
"Balancing" the difficulty of content for Devs is much higher when you have too many variables at play.
This is exactly the reason why over the years most MMOs, following WoW's model, tried to standardize these variables.
With less and less of them at play, it's easier for Devs to "control" the environment and hence create a more predictable one where the difficulty isn't too hard or too easy according to those variables.
WoW started this progressively with several steps bit by bit. The most important one has been the "homogeneization" approach started in patch 3.0 (WotLK), followed by 4.0 (Cataclysm).
In FFXI the definition of "roles" according to the trinity system is more bland. This is made furtherly complex by the fact you can customize role/purpose by combining different subjobs, by variable number of players participating in the content (3-18) and by the fact that there's a plethora of different support buffs, most of which can be combined together because they don't share the same slot.
This makes it incredibly hard for devs to "balance" content because players have too much freedom and what can be borderline impossible with some setups, becomes a joke with some combinations (synergy) of specific jobs/buffs.
Lately SE tried its own way to "standardize" things without completely changing the game approach like WoW did.
They did this by creating limitations (6 people content, no subjob, WS wall), immunities (targets immune to several abilities/spells/effects) and "fuck you" mechanics (instant death, unresistable full dispel, AoE weakened status, targets ignoring enmity rules, systems that require a specific proc with that proc getting progressively harder to activate each following time) and much higher HP pools of targets (making zergs with buff-stacking and short duration invincibility things like Perfect Defense, uneffective, especially in environment where content is fixed for 6 people and not variable).
All of these features together greatly limitate the excessive freedom in the hands of players, making content somewhat more "equally difficult" instead than being excessively difficult with some setups, but easy with some others.
A Retrospective of end-game content difficulty
Here's my personal take on some end-game content I can think of
Abyssea Difficulty increased with each release, but ultimately it wasn't too high thanks to the extreme power granted by zone buffs, atmas, proc system and last but not least Primeval Brew. Once you unlocked all the "good" stuff, it wasn't really a big deal. Also you had the freedom granted by being allowed to bring up to 18 people. Same old FFXI situation with some stuff being very hard with most setups, but extremely easy with multiple specific setups. Also things progressively became easier and easier as you unlocked stuff (KIs, Atmas, Buffs, last but not least increased level cap)
Voidwatch Situation similar to Abyssea but with less "power creep" because it was already level 99 content and Atmacites/Buffs were less powerful than in Abyssea. The hardest fights in Voidwatch were tough and hardly farmable by anyone, but still doable once you unlocked the right stuff and used one of the multiple available "easy" setups.
Legion No Atmacites, no zone buffs, the addition of (back then) new zone enmity rules, several fuck-up moves but you had the "freedom" of bringing up to 18 people. Content was very, very difficult but if amount of support jobs with necessary gear and amount of addons (react etc) were as widespread as they are today, content would've been perceived as easier. Still, much harder than the others listed so far.
Delve Difficult content requiring the activation of specific gimmicks (granted by specific setups) on most of the NMs involved. Doing all 6 bosses in the same run was challenging at start, especially because of the lack of gear options due to the transition to ilevel paradygm. You still had the freedom granted by up to 18 people and had mostly to rely on stunning the dangerous moves. Difficult, interesting and "fair" content. Arguably full-runs granted too many points compared to the non-complete runs and with the amount of gear options we have nowadays, it would've been trivial.
Incursion Hard because of the uncommon (back then) zone enmity rules, the amount of AoE moves and frequent dispels, in addition to very dangerous moves from some NMs. Difficulty was potentially very high at the maximum level, but you didn't really have all that need to farm the content at the max difficulty level, it was unefficient and unnecessary (as a matter of fact, only a couple of groups managed to, back then)
Vagary Content was unfriendly for melee, which is one of the reason why mage setups were so favoured. Several fuck-up moves but there were multiple ways of dealing with them, in addition to the freedom granted by the up to 18 people. Easily farmable once the pop conditions were found out.
Aeonic (Zi'tah, Ru'aun, Reisen highest tier battles) The hardest fights were quite challenging, notably WoC, Kiryu and the 7 Reisen bosses. That's before the SMN burns became widespread. Ultimately power creep (from Job Points first, then gear) made the content progressively easier but at start it was quite tough. Despite being able to bring up to 18 people the HP scaling of bosses arguably made killing with 6-8 people easier than bringing 18
Omen Content was tough when you could only bring 6 people. Being able to bring 18, the tweaks to some moves of the minibosses and ultimately the power creep from gear/job points made the content quite easy and accessible
Master Trials These were quite tough, especially but not only for the 6 people limitation. The entry cost and cosmetic-only rewards didn't make it that popular for a lot of players, at the same time though you didn't feel like you were missing out a lot by deciding to skip it (sigh). Ultimately made easier thanks to the power creep (Job Points, Gear)
Divergence Dynamis The biggest enemy in here was lag and the amount of packet loss :-P Jokes aside this content was somewhat challenging at start, so many things could go wrong even simply with a series of bad pulls with too many statues with the wrong eyes at the worst moment. You still had a lot of freedom with the up to 18 people allowed in. I feel this content made it easier for larger groups than smaller ones. Some W2 bosses were arguably tough, Wave 3 had very steep requirements at start in terms of Accuracy needed, there were less valid options for DT/Hybrid sets for most jobs. W3 bosses presented some challenges but also gave you the option to make the fight easier by killing all Fetters. While ultimately made much easier thanks to the huge amount of new gear available (and now master levels) I'd say this can still be somewhat challenging for small groups
Odyssey Sheol-Gaol The highest tier of this content is quite difficult, to the point some things not only haven't been beated yet, weeks after release (which is something I'd say unusual, given FFXI's history over the last few years) but some haven't even being attempted yet.
The content creates a more "controllable" environment by limitating the amount of players who can participate, disabling the freedom granted by subjobs and gating the content behind a currency used to attempt the fights (segments), which you can only gain in limited amounts, once per day.
There are incredibly high incentives to tackle this content on the highest difficulty, to unlock augments cap and to efficiently farm the high amount of points required.
The several limitations in setups required for each fight, entry fees, difficulty unlock and multiple "fuck off" mechanics give these fights little space for error and leave maybe too much in the hands of random things that the players cannot control in any way.
My personal take is that, thanks to the extremely controlled environment Odyssey Sheol Gaol is so far the "most difficult" content for FFXI.
They succeeded in making the hardest version of the content "desirable".
They succeeded in limitating the huge amount of freedom/synergy in the hands of players, hence creating content that's more averagely/regularly difficult, instead that the classic Black or White FFXI situation (where a content is extremely hard with most setups, but somewhat easy with a few others).
They succeded in creating this extremely controlled environment, without completely changing the core of the game (like WoW, for instance).
They failed in making, in my humble opinion, the content a bit too unaccessible (too many requirements, too many punishments, too many random/uncontrollable things).
I'm glad they managed to reach these goals.
I hope over the next few years the content will be progressively made more accessible for everyone but I don't see how they can do it given how there are no Job adjustments plans, ML is capped at 50 (and quite hard to reach) etc.
We'll see!
All things said, despite me whining a lot for all the choices they made for Odyssey, I can somewhat see why they made them and apreciate the fact they managed to reach this level of challenge.
Wish the content would mantain this level of challenge but with more reasonable/accessible requirements, but oh well, it is what it is.
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