One problem with the game is that it lacks endgame for casual players. I am NOT a casual player and I am used to grinding dungeons for gear and I kind of like it. I had to join an endgame guild in order to do titan, BC, and to be more efficient with CM and AK runs, to grind for endgame gear. My girlfriend on the other hand, is a casual player and will have nothing to do once she finishes her story. She probably wont be able to complete her relic quest unless she is carried through Titan, BC will probably be too hard for her skill wise, and she will probably tire of the CM/AK grind that people need to do to get endgame gear. Endgame FATEs are also utter zergfests, you cannot even see Behemoth or Odin's character model most of the time and its pretty much just a blur of lights until you get your reward. I really hope SE can fix this because although I am personally enjoying the endgame content I feel that they should open up the game more to people who arent hardcore players. So far nothing except maybe crystal tower in the next patch makes me feel like there will be more to do for casual players (even housing may be somethng restricted to the ones with only the most money).
Its like once players hit a certain endgame, BAM you are suddenly thrown into the world of hardcore elitist gamers where you are yelled at because you watch cutscenes, dont have awesome twitch reflexes to dodge fast casting AoE, and have nothing to do except run 2 dungeons and fail at Titan pugs all day.
Wow you are smoking good crack. There is a lot of endgame for casuals:
Relic Quest:
Chimera
Hydra
Ifrit HM
Garuda HM
Titan HM
Fates:
Odin
Behemoth
Dungeons:
The Wanderers Palace
Amdapur Keep
Raids:
Castrum Meridium
Praetorium
2.1:
Crystal Tower
King Mog
Extreme modes of primals
Thats just casual endgame. Hardcore endgame has that plus only Bahamuts Coil. Op is not really playing this game.
I know this post was aimed towards casuals but I'm aiming it at everyone.
Chimera
Hydra
Ifrit HM
Garuda HM
Titan HM
You do these once, then there's no point in ever doing them again.
Fates:
Odin
Behemoth
Never seen them up, never, never seen anyone say in chat that they are up.
They must spawn very very less, like one time per day or something.
Personally not a fan of scouting around zones waiting for something that may or may not show up.
Dungeons:
The Wanderers Palace
Amdapur Keep
Did The Wanderers Palace once, after in which I don't see the point of running it ever again, casual or not.
It drops gear that is likely more inferior then the gear you have from getting to 50.
It only drops philosophy points, not mythology that you should cap at 300 per week.
Hence, Amdapor Keep is the single only "useful" dungeon to rerun over and over again until you want to throw up.
The gear drops in there were minor upgrades from my lvl up gear.
I have run Amdapor Keep around 10 times to get enough philosophy points to get my relic weapon completed, I haven't failed to finish it even once.
It turns repetitive fairly quickly.
Raids:
Castrum Meridium
Praetorium
You can't call these raids, they are part of the story you should go through as you finish up your main story.
I only did both once for my quest then I never went in there again as none of the bosses drops any loot at all and all you get for the effort is 100 or so philosophy points, no mythology.
I ask, where the HECK is the variation in content that an MMORPG of this day and age, needs, and should have, to be decent?
Also, I'm sure Square Enix made it like that purely so there will be enough people in queue to actually get new people lvling up and doing their main story into those two "raid" dungeons.
If it wasn't then perhaps new people would need to wait a long long time to get into the two story line raids.
Cut away the 100 philosophy points you get from each of them and there would be none, zip, zero, zilch, nada reason for anyone that's already finish the story to do them.
I suppose the reply from someone will be: Well heck, how much reward do you want / need to play the game then?
Me: >>>>>>>*sigh* *sigh* *sigh*<<<<<<<
2.1:
Crystal Tower
King Mog
Extreme modes of primals
2.1 isn't out yet, so we'll see once that one rolls around.
Just wondering if developer companies are brainwashing their playerbase?
They surely haven't gotten to me at least, and for that I am glad.
Gamers need to stand up and show companies that it ISN'T acceptable to release a game with this little variation in the the year 2013 and onwards.
If you grind your ass off and nolife it, you can be finished with all the non raid content within 3-4 days after you reach 50, including getting your relic weapon, obviously.
The only "real" raid content I see within FFXIV: ARR, is Coil of Bahamut.
Though I have read and heard from many, that, it's a bit so so.
Also seeing as it seems like Square Enix are making one of the encounters in there impossible to finish as to halt people from finishing the content.
I don't know if it's true or not, but it seems rather fishy if it's true.
Personally I went into hardmode Ifrit in the duty finder alone, for my relic quest, 8 strangers, we one shot it, it was very easy.
A bit later that same day I went into hardmode Garuda duty finder alone, expecting to get my ass kicked a bit this time at least.
Also for relic quest of course, 8 strangers, one shot that one aswell, it was not hard.
Seeing as I did not want to grind Amdapor Keep +45 times for the philosophy points to buy complete ilvl 70 gear so my hp lvls are high enough to do hardmode Titan.
I payed a guild a bit gil to just run me through it so I at least could get my relic weapon and get, some, any, feeling of accomplishment for reaching lvl 50.
Now I know people will disagree with me, I have it coming, fine, but it still completely baffles me that people accept crap like this.
Clearly, yes, clearly, a game company CAN do much better, if they want to and try to put their soul into letting people have things to do throughout the game, most importantly, once you reach cap level.
Seeing as for many years now, the mentality has changed to, cap level is all that matters.
Game developers know this.
If I was lead developer on the FFXIV: ARR team:
The game would never see it's re-release until there was AT LEAST:
5 different, interesting, and challenging lvl 50 only dungeons that all 5 dropped useful gear upgrades for the players and all of them dropped just as much philosophy and mythology points so it didn't really matter which one you do.
This would keep the dungeon grind more decent as you'd have proper variation.
A bunch of lvl 50 only fates that rewarded points / items that you could use at a merchant to buy both fluff items and also useful gear incase you are the kind of person that's not so much into doing dungeons.
Remember, variation, alternatives, is what will make good lasting MMORPG's going into the future.
I know I'm a harsh critic here, but really, FFXIV: ARR has none... Sorry to say it.
At least two proper raid dungeons that dropped loot, so when guild raid teams finishes the first one, they will REALLY have something hard to put their skills to the test.
The first raid being somewhat normal difficulty so more easygoing guilds are able to at least get some progress and get a few bosses down to get some loot for their guild members.
Lvl 50 only crafting leves that gave useful rewards for crafters that wanted a challenge outside crafting things to put on the auction or gear that they equip themselves.
I could come up with a bunch of ideas and things here, things that a capable game developer company would be able to get into their game within reasonable amounts of time, surely.
Instead most people just go: Hey, it is what it is, and it has to be good enough for what it is.
It's dangerous and rude to expect something more.
In which I reply: Ok, if that's the kind of world you want to live in, then go right ahead.
I don't want any part of it at least.
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
I think if you are playing a game purely for some arbitrary reward the game gives you, then if you are honest with yourself, you just don't like the game anyway. Unless you think its fun to get loot for doing things you don't like, then you are locked tight in that skinner box my friend.
Its totally normal to not enjoy what a game has to offer. But be aware that other people play dungeons, fates, crafting, whatever, because they genuinely enjoy doing it. The act of crafting, for example, is its own reward for myself and many others.
I think if you are playing a game purely for some arbitrary reward the game gives you, then if you are honest with yourself, you just don't like the game anyway. Unless you think its fun to get loot for doing things you don't like, then you are locked tight in that skinner box my friend.
Its totally normal to not enjoy what a game has to offer. But be aware that other people play dungeons, fates, crafting, whatever, because they genuinely enjoy doing it. The act of crafting, for example, is its own reward for myself and many others.
Points noted and respected as a fellow opinionator and forumgoer.
For me, my opinion, crap content is still crap content though, and it could be improved immensely, for everyone involved, yourself included.
We just need some more proper people with working brain capacity in the gaming industry.
As of the past years, it's been severly lacking, unfortunately.
Agree or disagree with said statement, it doesn't matter.
I simply see it for what it is.
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
Originally posted by Robert_S4 Originally posted by FoomerangI think if you are playing a game purely for some arbitrary reward the game gives you, then if you are honest with yourself, you just don't like the game anyway. Unless you think its fun to get loot for doing things you don't like, then you are locked tight in that skinner box my friend.Its totally normal to not enjoy what a game has to offer. But be aware that other people play dungeons, fates, crafting, whatever, because they genuinely enjoy doing it. The act of crafting, for example, is its own reward for myself and many others.
Points noted and respected as a fellow opinionator and forumgoer.
For me, my opinion, crap content is still crap content though, and it could be improved immensely, for everyone involved, yourself included.
We just need some more proper people with working brain capacity in the gaming industry.
As of the past years, it's been severly lacking, unfortunately.
Agree or disagree with said statement, it doesn't matter.
I simply see it for what it is.
Welp, I hope you see it differently some day
Until then, I will concede that we have different opinions on what we consider crap content haha!
Many of the games tanking and going low population of the past few years, could, with some fixes and adjustments, probably have stayed high population if right was done by them.
It's just so odd that all these game companies and the people working there that has an education in game design and has worked with it for years and years just fail to realize that something a bit extra, and get out better games then they do today.
Am I a game guru? Hardly.
Am i someone that knows how perfect games should be like? Hardly.
Am I an arrogant buttnugget?
I really hope not.
Such are not my intentions on the inside, at least.
Though I am baffled that I see most flaws in most newly released MMORPG's so breathtakingly easily all the while the population dwindles down to near nothingness.
Time will tell with FFXIV: ARR.
I love the Final Fantasy IP and have done so for well over a decade, nay, longer then that.
It's also obvious (completely so) that an MMORPG works much differently then a offline game even of the same IP does.
FFXI made it quite well over the years I reckon, for population, so perhaps FFXIV: Arr will aswell.
Alas, I regress, it could have been so much better then what it is.
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
Originally posted by FoomerangI think if you are playing a game purely for some arbitrary reward the game gives you, then if you are honest with yourself, you just don't like the game anyway. Unless you think its fun to get loot for doing things you don't like, then you are locked tight in that skinner box my friend.Its totally normal to not enjoy what a game has to offer. But be aware that other people play dungeons, fates, crafting, whatever, because they genuinely enjoy doing it. The act of crafting, for example, is its own reward for myself and many others.
Points noted and respected as a fellow opinionator and forumgoer.
For me, my opinion, crap content is still crap content though, and it could be improved immensely, for everyone involved, yourself included.
We just need some more proper people with working brain capacity in the gaming industry.
As of the past years, it's been severly lacking, unfortunately.
Agree or disagree with said statement, it doesn't matter.
I simply see it for what it is.
Welp, I hope you see it differently some day
Until then, I will concede that we have different opinions on what we consider crap content haha!
I'm simply a realist, that strives to play games with good gameplay value.
The story 1-50 in FFXIV: ARR was / is awesome, it was / is great.
At one part it had me nearly in tears, seriously.
It was GOOD.
BUT.
That portion could have been a single player game.
Though that's pretty much it.
I have one adventuring class at 50 and one crafting class at 50.
I consider myself semi-casual.
I really feel that I have given it a fair try for what it is.
I'll be as bold / blunt as to say that I'm near certain that you'd enjoy the game if but a little bit more if the changes I have in mind actually were in the game.
Crafting like you talked about, it could be improved tenfold, the diversity aswell, with fixes that don't really take so much time to implement as far as I know.
In the end, it's Square Enix's game, and it is what it is.
I'm just tired of seeing possibly good MMORPG titles go to crap because of bad management and game design.
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
Also, all the players just being content with what they get delivered, won't see this industry into a bright future, mark my words.
It will simply end up a continued farse of the same crap it has been up until now because people keep accepting it to the lengths that it stays profitable for companies to just keep doing like this.
Not good.... Not good...
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
Originally posted by Robert_S4 Originally posted by FoomerangOriginally posted by Robert_S4Originally posted by FoomerangI think if you are playing a game purely for some arbitrary reward the game gives you, then if you are honest with yourself, you just don't like the game anyway. Unless you think its fun to get loot for doing things you don't like, then you are locked tight in that skinner box my friend.Its totally normal to not enjoy what a game has to offer. But be aware that other people play dungeons, fates, crafting, whatever, because they genuinely enjoy doing it. The act of crafting, for example, is its own reward for myself and many others.
Points noted and respected as a fellow opinionator and forumgoer.For me, my opinion, crap content is still crap content though, and it could be improved immensely, for everyone involved, yourself included.We just need some more proper people with working brain capacity in the gaming industry.As of the past years, it's been severly lacking, unfortunately.Agree or disagree with said statement, it doesn't matter.I simply see it for what it is.Welp, I hope you see it differently some day Until then, I will concede that we have different opinions on what we consider crap content haha!
I'm simply a realist, that strives to play games with good gameplay value.
The story 1-50 in FFXIV: ARR was / is awesome, it was / is great.
At one part it had me nearly in tears, seriously.
It was GOOD.
BUT.
That portion could have been a single player game.
Though that's pretty much it.
I have one adventuring class at 50 and one crafting class at 50.
I consider myself semi-casual.
I really feel that I have given it a fair try for what it is.
I'll be as bold as to say that I'm near certain that you'd enjoy the game if but a little bit more if they changes I have in mind actually were in the game.
Crafting like you talked about, it could be improved tenfold, the diversity aswell, with fixes that don't really take so much time to implement as far as I know.
In the end, it's Square Enix's game, and it is what it is.
I'm just tired of seeing possibly good MMORPG titles go to crap because of bad management and game design.
Well thankfully, these are mmos. So its a given that these games get added to, tweaked, overhauled on a regular basis.
No. You know why? You never get better if your not challenged. People get better when they have to try. ITs not that they aren't capable, I feel a lot of players can be far better if they try and are actually challenged to do such. Old School WoW had actually quite a few more casual players jumping in, yet they never really were that bad, they learned to play and got better. When your not challenged, it becomes difficult for you to ever really get better. "Why try if I can just breeze through it?" That mentality is exactly what has diminished the 'skill' of players in MMos and lead to the "I want to be handed things" that has plagued and hurt MMos for years now.
Don't get me wrong, I feel as more stuff is added, it should 'ease' the curve a bit, and perhaps adding more for casuals to do, but I feel dumbing the game down is a horrible way to get players involved. I'm always the type to believe in the 'carrot on a stick' mentality, the desire to play and get better being due to some goal that seems just out a reach that as you get further, you get more done yet you still have more to achieve, and you want to achieve it.
More 'side' things though ain't bad for entertainment like housing or other extra gimmicks. They can be fun for casual and hardcore alike.
Comments
I know this post was aimed towards casuals but I'm aiming it at everyone.
Chimera
Hydra
Ifrit HM
Garuda HM
Titan HM
You do these once, then there's no point in ever doing them again.
Fates:
Odin
Behemoth
Never seen them up, never, never seen anyone say in chat that they are up.
They must spawn very very less, like one time per day or something.
Personally not a fan of scouting around zones waiting for something that may or may not show up.
Dungeons:
The Wanderers Palace
Amdapur Keep
Did The Wanderers Palace once, after in which I don't see the point of running it ever again, casual or not.
It drops gear that is likely more inferior then the gear you have from getting to 50.
It only drops philosophy points, not mythology that you should cap at 300 per week.
Hence, Amdapor Keep is the single only "useful" dungeon to rerun over and over again until you want to throw up.
The gear drops in there were minor upgrades from my lvl up gear.
I have run Amdapor Keep around 10 times to get enough philosophy points to get my relic weapon completed, I haven't failed to finish it even once.
It turns repetitive fairly quickly.
Raids:
Castrum Meridium
Praetorium
You can't call these raids, they are part of the story you should go through as you finish up your main story.
I only did both once for my quest then I never went in there again as none of the bosses drops any loot at all and all you get for the effort is 100 or so philosophy points, no mythology.
I ask, where the HECK is the variation in content that an MMORPG of this day and age, needs, and should have, to be decent?
Also, I'm sure Square Enix made it like that purely so there will be enough people in queue to actually get new people lvling up and doing their main story into those two "raid" dungeons.
If it wasn't then perhaps new people would need to wait a long long time to get into the two story line raids.
Cut away the 100 philosophy points you get from each of them and there would be none, zip, zero, zilch, nada reason for anyone that's already finish the story to do them.
I suppose the reply from someone will be: Well heck, how much reward do you want / need to play the game then?
Me: >>>>>>>*sigh* *sigh* *sigh*<<<<<<<
2.1:
Crystal Tower
King Mog
Extreme modes of primals
2.1 isn't out yet, so we'll see once that one rolls around.
Just wondering if developer companies are brainwashing their playerbase?
They surely haven't gotten to me at least, and for that I am glad.
Gamers need to stand up and show companies that it ISN'T acceptable to release a game with this little variation in the the year 2013 and onwards.
If you grind your ass off and nolife it, you can be finished with all the non raid content within 3-4 days after you reach 50, including getting your relic weapon, obviously.
The only "real" raid content I see within FFXIV: ARR, is Coil of Bahamut.
Though I have read and heard from many, that, it's a bit so so.
Also seeing as it seems like Square Enix are making one of the encounters in there impossible to finish as to halt people from finishing the content.
I don't know if it's true or not, but it seems rather fishy if it's true.
Personally I went into hardmode Ifrit in the duty finder alone, for my relic quest, 8 strangers, we one shot it, it was very easy.
A bit later that same day I went into hardmode Garuda duty finder alone, expecting to get my ass kicked a bit this time at least.
Also for relic quest of course, 8 strangers, one shot that one aswell, it was not hard.
Seeing as I did not want to grind Amdapor Keep +45 times for the philosophy points to buy complete ilvl 70 gear so my hp lvls are high enough to do hardmode Titan.
I payed a guild a bit gil to just run me through it so I at least could get my relic weapon and get, some, any, feeling of accomplishment for reaching lvl 50.
Now I know people will disagree with me, I have it coming, fine, but it still completely baffles me that people accept crap like this.
Clearly, yes, clearly, a game company CAN do much better, if they want to and try to put their soul into letting people have things to do throughout the game, most importantly, once you reach cap level.
Seeing as for many years now, the mentality has changed to, cap level is all that matters.
Game developers know this.
If I was lead developer on the FFXIV: ARR team:
The game would never see it's re-release until there was AT LEAST:
5 different, interesting, and challenging lvl 50 only dungeons that all 5 dropped useful gear upgrades for the players and all of them dropped just as much philosophy and mythology points so it didn't really matter which one you do.
This would keep the dungeon grind more decent as you'd have proper variation.
A bunch of lvl 50 only fates that rewarded points / items that you could use at a merchant to buy both fluff items and also useful gear incase you are the kind of person that's not so much into doing dungeons.
Remember, variation, alternatives, is what will make good lasting MMORPG's going into the future.
I know I'm a harsh critic here, but really, FFXIV: ARR has none... Sorry to say it.
At least two proper raid dungeons that dropped loot, so when guild raid teams finishes the first one, they will REALLY have something hard to put their skills to the test.
The first raid being somewhat normal difficulty so more easygoing guilds are able to at least get some progress and get a few bosses down to get some loot for their guild members.
Lvl 50 only crafting leves that gave useful rewards for crafters that wanted a challenge outside crafting things to put on the auction or gear that they equip themselves.
I could come up with a bunch of ideas and things here, things that a capable game developer company would be able to get into their game within reasonable amounts of time, surely.
Instead most people just go: Hey, it is what it is, and it has to be good enough for what it is.
It's dangerous and rude to expect something more.
In which I reply: Ok, if that's the kind of world you want to live in, then go right ahead.
I don't want any part of it at least.
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
I think if you are playing a game purely for some arbitrary reward the game gives you, then if you are honest with yourself, you just don't like the game anyway. Unless you think its fun to get loot for doing things you don't like, then you are locked tight in that skinner box my friend.
Its totally normal to not enjoy what a game has to offer. But be aware that other people play dungeons, fates, crafting, whatever, because they genuinely enjoy doing it. The act of crafting, for example, is its own reward for myself and many others.
Points noted and respected as a fellow opinionator and forumgoer.
For me, my opinion, crap content is still crap content though, and it could be improved immensely, for everyone involved, yourself included.
We just need some more proper people with working brain capacity in the gaming industry.
As of the past years, it's been severly lacking, unfortunately.
Agree or disagree with said statement, it doesn't matter.
I simply see it for what it is.
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
Points noted and respected as a fellow opinionator and forumgoer.
For me, my opinion, crap content is still crap content though, and it could be improved immensely, for everyone involved, yourself included.
We just need some more proper people with working brain capacity in the gaming industry.
As of the past years, it's been severly lacking, unfortunately.
Agree or disagree with said statement, it doesn't matter.
I simply see it for what it is.
Welp, I hope you see it differently some day
Until then, I will concede that we have different opinions on what we consider crap content haha!
Many of the games tanking and going low population of the past few years, could, with some fixes and adjustments, probably have stayed high population if right was done by them.
It's just so odd that all these game companies and the people working there that has an education in game design and has worked with it for years and years just fail to realize that something a bit extra, and get out better games then they do today.
Am I a game guru? Hardly.
Am i someone that knows how perfect games should be like? Hardly.
Am I an arrogant buttnugget?
I really hope not.
Such are not my intentions on the inside, at least.
Though I am baffled that I see most flaws in most newly released MMORPG's so breathtakingly easily all the while the population dwindles down to near nothingness.
Time will tell with FFXIV: ARR.
I love the Final Fantasy IP and have done so for well over a decade, nay, longer then that.
It's also obvious (completely so) that an MMORPG works much differently then a offline game even of the same IP does.
FFXI made it quite well over the years I reckon, for population, so perhaps FFXIV: Arr will aswell.
Alas, I regress, it could have been so much better then what it is.
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
I'm simply a realist, that strives to play games with good gameplay value.
The story 1-50 in FFXIV: ARR was / is awesome, it was / is great.
At one part it had me nearly in tears, seriously.
It was GOOD.
BUT.
That portion could have been a single player game.
Though that's pretty much it.
I have one adventuring class at 50 and one crafting class at 50.
I consider myself semi-casual.
I really feel that I have given it a fair try for what it is.
I'll be as bold / blunt as to say that I'm near certain that you'd enjoy the game if but a little bit more if the changes I have in mind actually were in the game.
Crafting like you talked about, it could be improved tenfold, the diversity aswell, with fixes that don't really take so much time to implement as far as I know.
In the end, it's Square Enix's game, and it is what it is.
I'm just tired of seeing possibly good MMORPG titles go to crap because of bad management and game design.
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
Also, all the players just being content with what they get delivered, won't see this industry into a bright future, mark my words.
It will simply end up a continued farse of the same crap it has been up until now because people keep accepting it to the lengths that it stays profitable for companies to just keep doing like this.
Not good.... Not good...
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
Welp, I hope you see it differently some day
I'm simply a realist, that strives to play games with good gameplay value.
The story 1-50 in FFXIV: ARR was / is awesome, it was / is great.
At one part it had me nearly in tears, seriously.
It was GOOD.
BUT.
That portion could have been a single player game.
Though that's pretty much it.
I have one adventuring class at 50 and one crafting class at 50.
I consider myself semi-casual.
I really feel that I have given it a fair try for what it is.
I'll be as bold as to say that I'm near certain that you'd enjoy the game if but a little bit more if they changes I have in mind actually were in the game.
Crafting like you talked about, it could be improved tenfold, the diversity aswell, with fixes that don't really take so much time to implement as far as I know.
In the end, it's Square Enix's game, and it is what it is.
I'm just tired of seeing possibly good MMORPG titles go to crap because of bad management and game design.
Well thankfully, these are mmos. So its a given that these games get added to, tweaked, overhauled on a regular basis.
All the love to the people reading this thread and enjoying FFXIV: ARR, I got nothing against you people.
I guess I come off as a bitter grumpy person, though there's not much I can do to help it in this kind of situation.
Not really out to start discussions or arguements here.
Thanks for reading my posts.
And... Like you say Foomerang, MMORPG's are games that gets changed, tweaked and patched all the time.
So here's to hoping it gets improved so everyone that has a Final Fantasy MMORPG interest can cure their gaming itch
I'm out of here!
The people and the friends that we have lost, and the dreams that have faded, never forget them~
Take care
No. You know why? You never get better if your not challenged. People get better when they have to try. ITs not that they aren't capable, I feel a lot of players can be far better if they try and are actually challenged to do such. Old School WoW had actually quite a few more casual players jumping in, yet they never really were that bad, they learned to play and got better. When your not challenged, it becomes difficult for you to ever really get better. "Why try if I can just breeze through it?" That mentality is exactly what has diminished the 'skill' of players in MMos and lead to the "I want to be handed things" that has plagued and hurt MMos for years now.
Don't get me wrong, I feel as more stuff is added, it should 'ease' the curve a bit, and perhaps adding more for casuals to do, but I feel dumbing the game down is a horrible way to get players involved. I'm always the type to believe in the 'carrot on a stick' mentality, the desire to play and get better being due to some goal that seems just out a reach that as you get further, you get more done yet you still have more to achieve, and you want to achieve it.
More 'side' things though ain't bad for entertainment like housing or other extra gimmicks. They can be fun for casual and hardcore alike.