Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Point by point]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-mog-log-point-by-point/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-mog-log-point-by-point/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-mog-log-point-by-point/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
Physical levels are leaving Final Fantasy XIV. We've all known that for a while, to the point that I even wrote a column speculating, in part, about what will happen to the whole bonus point system once that change goes live. As it turns out, what will happen for the time being is that it will be abandoned altogether, with character development going automated until at least 1.20. No more allocation of points to attributes any longer, and no word on what this will mean for the many traits designed to muck about with attribute distribution.

This is going to result in a bit of a downgrade for some players (if you're physical 40 and leveling something at rank 10, for instance), but by and large it's also going to help correct a longstanding issue that the game has had. We've got a lot more options for playing around with attributes and abilities when it comes to FFXIV than we did in Final Fantasy XI, but the downside of the breadth has been the simple problem that no one knows what the attrbute values actually mean. You know the number, but the number itself is pretty much meaningless.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Point by point

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Point by point originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attributesbalancecolumnfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivlevelsopinionpointssquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logupdatesvaluesSat, 10 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How concrete do you want your numbers?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/the-daily-grind-how-concrete-do-you-want-your-numbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/the-daily-grind-how-concrete-do-you-want-your-numbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/15/the-daily-grind-how-concrete-do-you-want-your-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

RPGs in general have always been associated with the idea that abstract qualities can be quantified -- everything from strength and agility to personal charisma and willpower. The concepts have become so tied together that saying something has elements of an RPG usually means "you make numbers go higher." Games like World of Warcraft and EVE Online both have extensive information available about the numbers behind the working of the game.

On the other hand, people have complained that the emphasis on numbers turns the game from an exercise in play and experimentation into differential calculus. And there's certainly room for games like Final Fantasy XI, which gives enough information for comparison without going into detail about what a given value actually does. On the other hand, by removing contextual comparisons, it becomes difficult to figure out what effective difference there actually is between Accuracy +3 and Accuracy +5.

So which do you prefer in a game? Would you rather tend toward having all of the numbers laid out in front of you, even if it means needing ornate spreadsheets to enjoy everything? Or would you rather keep as much of the system as possible under the hood and invisible?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How concrete do you want your numbers? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eveeve-onlineffxifinal-fantasy-xigame-mechanicsmechanicsnumbersstatstdgthe-daily-grindvaluesworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 15 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST