IMO the core issue with PSO2's gameplay loop has been Urgent Quest / Emergency Quests in Japan, and I hope this changes in NGS. Let me explain why I believe this is an issue, especially in PSO2's current state in NA and even in the past in Japan:

PSO2 relies too heavily on scheduled UQs / EQs, the main big raids of the game that net you the loot you really want. This is exactly the issue with the game in my opinion. With nothing else meaningful to grind for (Ultimate in NA especially getting tiring) there is not much incentive to play the game outside of these scheduled times, with the exception of an unscheduled, but if you've played the last two weeks you'd know that the amount of unscheduled UQs have been pitiful to say the least. Similarly, you could come home from work or school and hop on for some PSO2 only for nothing to actually occur in the little bit of free time you have.

That's why I hope NGS changes this, to make content more meaningful no matter what time you play. Because in reality, the gameplay loop for most in PSO2 devolves into "sitting in lobby until next EQ". This has been the case even in Japan often enough.

It's way too late to change the core loop of PSO2 right now, but if I were to change it I'd make UQs / EQs accessible all times of the day, with restrictions, either X amount times per day or less drop rate over scheduled UQ / EQs. Or to make it so that older EQs rotate in for free to play whenever. That way people can enjoy the content that they want to go for and farm what they need. The only way this would work however is if old content doesn't become irrelevant, so all UQs become useful in some way to anyone.

I hope NGS changes how this core gameplay loop works, because I'd like to log into the game knowing I'm doing something useful with my time. Right now, I don't think that's the case and it hasn't been in PSO2 Japan for a long time as well (it has since changed a bit with more Limited Quests and Divide Quest, but even then old content is still irrelevant).

When 99% of the best items in the game drop from UQs / EQs that only occur at specific times, some of which you may never be able to attend due to circumstances outside your control (work, school), it can be frustrating going into a game knowing that there's nothing to really do or work for.

Again, I know this changes a bit in Japan but even still I don't think it's enough to carry the game. I hope NGS makes some serious changes. That's all. I hope to hear your respectful opinions.

Yes I understand Triggers exist, however I don't think it's enough to to carry daily play sessions.

Well the only real solution to this then is to make triggers more readily accessible. My take is to add em in a shop where you can buy em In limited numbers daily with Mesa. Not just FF. But a dedicated shop for all triggers.

I am 100% with you. The UQ system is awful. Most other MMOs like say WoW or FF14 you have a weekly lock out for raids and such but otherwise you can attempt the raid at any time you want. PSO2? Well you better be on at this specific time or you are missing out kiddo.

Sure we have triggers but not for each fight and they are generally limited far as obtaining them.

@redBadger22 said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

the core issue with PSO2's gameplay loop has been Urgent Quest / Emergency Quests in Japan

Except it isn't. You getting tired of it or tired of doing other content like Ultimate doesn't mean it's a problem.

You also conveniently forget that the schedules are only for SPECIFIC UQs, there's others thrown around in the time space between them.

@redBadger22 said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

When 99% of the best items in the game drop from UQs / EQs

This isn't true either. Some good items can be found from them, but not 99% of them. Ultimate quests have some, crafting eventually gives us some, certain enemies have some as well.

@Gamers-are-so-oppressed said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

I am 100% with you. The UQ system is awful. Most other MMOs like say WoW or FF14 you have a weekly lock out for raids and such but otherwise you can attempt the raid at any time you want. PSO2? Well you better be on at this specific time or you are missing out kiddo.

Sure we have triggers but not for each fight and they are generally limited far as obtaining them.

This is what I'm saying. Between that or the one other quest type for loot, there isn't much to do at all.

@Ephemiel said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

@redBadger22 said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

the core issue with PSO2's gameplay loop has been Urgent Quest / Emergency Quests in Japan

Except it isn't. You getting tired of it or tired of doing other content like Ultimate doesn't mean it's a problem.

You also conveniently forget that the schedules are only for SPECIFIC UQs, there's others thrown around in the time space between them.

@redBadger22 said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

When 99% of the best items in the game drop from UQs / EQs

This isn't true either. Some good items can be found from them, but not 99% of them. Ultimate quests have some, crafting eventually gives us some, certain enemies have some as well.

You're missing the point. If there way any other content worth doing in NA at the moment besides Ultimates, I'm sure this wouldn't be an issue. But currently the only good things to get from Ultimate are the Nem / Slave weapons.

In Japan Sega does this thing where they introduce new quest types and old ones die. Ridroids, Ultimates, AQs, etc are all dead in Japan. If these quests has anything meaningful to work for it would be a different story, but they don't. So you end up getting one single quest to grind for at a time, and it just isn't that fun imo.

Having Urgents being playable at any time can fix this issue, and NGS can make grinding content actually relevant.

You cannot argue with the fact that in both Japan and NA most good content can only be done during these very limited time quests. When 15*s come out its basically the only option in many, many cases.

IMO its a flawed gameplay loop. Doing ultimates 24/7 is not a fun or engaging gameplay loop, since it is very little rewarding. I hope NGS makes these larger raids more relevant, and accounts for many people who are unable to play them at all due to work or school conflicts. You should be able to log into the game and play the content you want to play. These restrictions hinder that for many, working individuals.

People comparing an instanced MMO like PSO2 vs full MMORPGs like WoW and FFXIV truly make me smile. You guys truly don't know how this stuff works.

@redBadger22 said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

You're missing the point.

And you're ignoring the facts. For us, at least till December or so, this will ALWAYS happen because we're cramming the entire game's contents into a couple of months. For quite a while, most of what we do will be overshadowed almost immediately and people need to either realize this or simply don't play for now.

@Ephemiel said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

People comparing an instanced MMO like PSO2 vs full MMORPGs like WoW and FFXIV truly make me smile. You guys truly don't know how this stuff works.

You have no actual counter argument. Please contribute to a respectful discussion and contribute, otherwise please don't bother. I've laid out my points, and you barely gave a counter claim.

My point being is that anyone should be able to log in at any time and find meaningful content to do. Currently with PSO2 this isn't the case. NGS can change it by being less "instanced" as you say. IMO it's not fun. When I go back to work, I'll hardly have time to play the UQs I want at their scheduled times, and I'll be left behind. Why not let people play the content they want to play, instead of limiting it to chance?

Not a great system imo.

@Ephemiel said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

People comparing an instanced MMO like PSO2 vs full MMORPGs like WoW and FFXIV truly make me smile. You guys truly don't know how this stuff works.

@redBadger22 said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

You're missing the point.

And you're ignoring the facts. For us, at least till December or so, this will ALWAYS happen because we're cramming the entire game's contents into a couple of months. For quite a while, most of what we do will be overshadowed almost immediately and people need to either realize this or simply don't play for now.

The game has had the same flaws in Japan since it launched, too. This isn't specific criticism to NA PSO2 specifically, but to PSO2's gameplay loop as a whole. This is more what I would like see changed in NGS, since it's far too late for these changes to occur in actual PSO2.

The loop turns into "afk in lobby until next EQ" for a reason. It's clear as day that this is what it devolves into for most players. You just look at the dwindling player count to understand this. People won't want to stick around if there isn't anything meaningful to push toward, and a lot of people only log in during UQ times. This has always been the case for a lot of players, and demonstrates PSO2s biggest flaw.

@redBadger22 said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

You have no actual counter argument.

When you give me an actual argument, you'll get a counter argument. Otherwise, my point stands that none of you seem to understand how MMOs work, nor how PSO2 will work till we catch up to the JP version.

Maybe they are taking the GW2 route with open world UQs/events in genesis

The issue is that the Urgent Quests tend to be the most rewarding and most relevant content. While there might be content that exists outside of Urgents, you're completely fine skipping them just doing the Urgents instead, as that's where all the best stuff is.

This has been an issue that has plagued PSO2 for years, and thankfully with Episode 5 and Episode 6, they seemed to have realised this, where there's relevant content outside of Urgents, and Urgents are just another thing to do, rather than the thing to do.

UQ other nothing. Ultimate quests are the only place to get anything worthwhile which is a shame cause they suck.

@Ephemiel said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

People comparing an instanced MMO like PSO2 vs full MMORPGs like WoW and FFXIV truly make me smile. You guys truly don't know how this stuff works.

@redBadger22 said in Opinion - PSO2s biggest issue for years:

You're missing the point.

And you're ignoring the facts. For us, at least till December or so, this will ALWAYS happen because we're cramming the entire game's contents into a couple of months. For quite a while, most of what we do will be overshadowed almost immediately and people need to either realize this or simply don't play for now.

Regardless of what the argument is, long as it paints PSO2 in a slightly negative light you will be against it. We've seen your comment history. Also the "You guys truly don't know how this stuff works." line. As if you do.... Just so cringey...

I think everything you're saying is totally understandable despite me thinking the opposite, personally I've always liked the idea of urgent quests being scheduled (or appearing randomly) because it's cool seeing the ticker at the top of the screen getting to the max depending on what uq it is.

I do think triggers should be more readily accessible, throw them in the battle mode shop / casino coin shop, and maybe have more variety (such as a different one each day) in the FF shop.

As for the issues of gear coming from UQs, as of now the only "best" gear that comes from UQs have such an astronomically low drop rate (the 14* weapons) you can assume you'll never get one. I think in episode 5 this gets fixed with the next exchange shop where you can get the 14* weapons which will be the next best for a while, or something.

It is fine at it is but, accessible to everyone and latest UQ even have level requirements which relief a bit the constant carrying.

Schedule is also posted, so it is possible to plan when you go raid. There's also Collection File which can be Lucrative or a nice gain to go for.

Games like WoW or FF14 has a good recipe but not one that necessarily carter to everyone. Reason why other MMOs exists. PSO is labbeled as a Online RPG. Yes Multiplayer there exist but you should not approach the game with an elitism attitude. Organized events or content is still doable with a decent Alliance.

Triggers has a lot of unexploited potential. Right now it's Masetta sink from Fresh Find (Even tho it's out of commission for now.) So a group working out together theorically can raid for a while.

The biggest problem on a bigger scale is the randomness of times. It's all over the place and often unscheduled. I was hoping with western release there would be some sort of time zone focus based on the ship. Girl, was I wrong.

NGS needs to improve those endgame systems. But seeing how FF14 is the biggest competition to PSO2 and with all the new games such as Blue Protocol looming. They need to step up their game.

PSO2 itself will more then likely remain the same but perhaps with some additional quality of life since I assume NGS will make an exodus of PSO2. But remain to see.

I like the system, I like the game being enjoyable for everyone. I think it's great skill cap is not too high. Keeping the content accessible, I've not had so much with my loved ones since WoW classic (the original one), and that is fantastic.