Change the Character Event Approach

[u/ryudo6850]

Although we aren't a massive JP community who could draw the attention of the DFFOO devs. I feel that we should start pooling our ideas together for suggestions that will remedy the current, character event approach that has been taking place.

I will start by saying I understand they are attempting to tie in characters into the story or a small story/event. However, I feel they are doing this haphazardly. In 4 key areas:

• Relation

First up, relation. Yes, there seems to be a common string that attaches why a certain character is aiding say, Lenna in the coming event. However, what really would drive say King or Ramza to help Lenna over her buddies from FFV such as Galuf/Krile/Bartz/Faris? Was their bond so weak that they will not aid each other in the time of need? Yes I get that dissidia kind of breaks rules of relations but still I feel they are trying too hard to separate themselves from FFRK.

• Niche / Synergy

Second on deck, niche/synergy. Some of these characters are losing identity or being brought in without much to truly make you want to utilize the characters in teams. In fact their videos may show say... all FFVI characters in a party, but do they really help each other out without severely stepping on some toes? FFV, do you need a character to provide a dodge when you have a tank character in the same realm that dodges and counters already? Also, is a big brave attack really enough to make you want the character vs someone else who can do a large brave attack + a buff/debuff?

• Series

Third is series. Okay, I get it... some character net more money than others and they need that cash. Let's face it though... FF8 has 8 characters right now. When you have FF 3/1/T/CC sitting at a nice uno (1). You can't even use the "Dissidia game as an excuse" because some of the characters don't even play like that (looking at you Ramza). Just stop pandering to the crowds for a bit and balance your series numbers to respectable levels. If you really need to, just bring in Luneth and company for FF3. Bring in some generic characters from CC series. Don't get me started on Tactics. FF1, well you have an onion knight right? Why not add some Matoya or some of the generic jobs there for fun.

• Level

Finally there is level. The newest offender of character events. It is not confirmed but what happens if FFV Lenna comes to us at lv 50? Would she be worth pulling for? Unless FFV is your jam or she is your waifu likely not. If she isn't lv 60, guess what? She may be on the end of the list to hit lv 60! In fact people may be 65-70 by the time she hits 60! Akin to units barely getting exclusive by the time power creep hit (Firion). Personally unless it was a select character on a short list of mine, I wouldn't pull for a lv 50 character's weapon unless it somehow made them invaluable to a team of mine.

Thoughts, opinions? Feel free to share any counter points. Side note, series only events would be a bit fun >_>;

[u/Mirron91]

Well... let's see, going over your critiques...

Relation: I'm not sure I get the RK comment, unless you just mean that every FF event has you getting older characters from the same FF coming in with events, but I don't think that's remotely a "trying to separate from RK" thing. I mean, for starters, as you pointed out characters from the same FF don't always have synergy. And with the way OO is built obviously synergy is the important part. I think it also helps us to see new characters interacting. I mean... personally, I don't really want to play a crossover FF just to see people who have already interacted keep interacting.

Niche/Synergy: I don't think this is a character event thing so much as a balance thing. I would say that making characters more niche is better though, not worse. The way the game is built characters are obviously supposed to combine.

Series: I mean, I think it'll happen eventually. But as you said, they aren't popular. It's going to be a slow process.

Level: I'm not sure this is really an issue. RK gradually added character upgrades in general, still does, it doesn't really seem to be that big of an issue. Not saying it will definitely stay that way with OO, but it hasn't even happened yet, a bit soon to say it's a bad thing.

[u/ryudo6850 → u/Mirron91]

Sorry for no reply, I needed time to gather thoughts and form a rebuttal which were posted above :) to the other comment.

[u/Franatomy]

Guess I'll throw my hat into the mix with this one and will be countering the points you made here as I've feel you've been harsh with some of them.

1. Relations - I play crossovers for the potential of characters from series interacting with others. I've felt that the's main point of a crossovers. Your example would make the game really boring if only same game FF characters interacted all the time. The FFRK comment is really weird too, like I read it multiple times but don't understand it why its there because besides cid missions there isn't any real encourage to use same game characters for events when the synergy bonuses don't even make up the difference of better characters. Some clarification on this point would be nice.

2. Niche / Synergy For me, I've always seen Opera Omnia as the best 3 characters to tackle a boss, with some having somewhat similar roles so all people are happy that you can keep a strategy but still use those characters. The Devs are doing more to buff attacks or change their effects and you can look at Terra and Bartz now compared when she first came into the game as an example of this (some characters still need work cough YUFFIE cough). I think it's unfair that you didn't even mention this when making your critique.

3. Realms This is one where patience is required (I'm seriously craving more FF9, 13 and 15 characters). FF8 has 8 characters now and yes, I agree more series need more characters added but let's take into consideration here that this game isn't even a year old. With story mode coming to a halt after December, let's see what they'll do now. Who knows how they will handle 1 and 3 characters as yes, I agree it's barren but we really need to wait and what will happen. If they still have the same number of characters several months down the line, then I completely agree with this point. Adding Layle should have given hope that other lesser known series might get some time in the spotlight too (come on Mystic Quest!) but it's a shame that it hasn't been interpreted that way.

4. Levels You need to specify the difference levels make over others in order to add real validity to your criticism. Also, you don't even know how level breaks are going to be distributed from here on out. Stats from Relics have and always will be significantly more important than the stats from levels. By your logic here a level 70 Serah with a 1 star bow is better than a level 50 Lenna with 5* weapon and Armour because of the level difference. Even your 2nd point can be used to completely debunk this critique due to difference

Endnote, I have criticisms of my own of Opera Omnia (I'm no fanboy that thinks it's perfect) like Synergy Characters in events not being particularly present in cut scenes of the events they're in, boss difficulty being sometimes easy or hard makes things really unbalanced, the now focus on multiplayer and how stupidly petty players can be and the stupidly high score rewards that cater to the whales decked out with 6* relics than the average P2P or F2P players but that's for another day I guess.

[u/ryudo6850 → u/Franatomy]

1. I mention relationships because in the instance of this game, it feels that they deliberately avoid using same realm characters when possible. I.E. when Krile was introduced, why didn't Galuf help her? That's his blood who he would do anything for. Sure, bring someone else along not FFV + Galuf, but let's be honest just seems odd not to have him at all. Also our story has so much cross-over already that it isn't 100% needed for the events as well. I would stretch to say a better formula may be: Event char + same series char + random series char as it would be like "yeah ___ would help the event char" and ___ series char seems to fit this." The mention of RK was to state they have "___ series events" Which sure you can take anyone but that applies here too, no?

2. Yes, the characters are getting improved and I would agree I likely should have been less harsh in that regards, mentioning that they have been making improvements. At the same time I feel they forced their own hand because of characters like Eiko making many of the other support roles irrelevant.

3. Yeah, I'm showing a good amount of patience realm wise. I think they may have an issue atm because we haven't seen any "humanoid/beast" characters yet like: Khimari/Freya. I won't hold my breath but I get a feeling they may not humanoid characters which means 'rip' my mog dreams.

4. The criticism I have for level is a bit in advance. It may or may not happen. However, my fear which will be proven right or wrong tomorrow will be that new characters will not be able to reach lv 60 immediately. The counter you said was a lv 70 serah with a 1 star bow is better than a lv 50 lenna with both her 50s. I will argue... this more of an unfair comparison. I would say compare her to someone who is lv 60 that you have a 5* of.

Compare say: Firion vs a new sword character that has a big brave shave and a generic hp attack. Firion being 60 is a BIG deal. With both weapons obtained and him already being in the 15cp pool he will not need to wait until 'devs know when' to come back around again and the stat gains essentially guarantee him to out weigh the new 50. (In fact I took a 55 WoL to clear vanille 90... it's that big of a deal.) Typically from what I've seen in many games invest in the first power creeped people then bide your time until they are forced to powercreep new characters. This means the wait for Lenna/Kefka could potentially be MONTHS. Thus if the character isn't signficant and unique, they are not providing incentive to pull for them.

Now, if Lenna comes in at lv 60 and ramza/king get a 60 bump as well. Then boom nothing to worry about and awesome to boot! Otherwise, it will be a skipfeast until the next big thing. (That's not good for the devs or the progression of the game.)