Ludicrous game mechanics are ludicrous

[Zohnax]

I think people are forgetting just how old FFXI is, so holding it other MMO standards of today with the Glowing Arrows and Bubbles above NPCs heads and the "please tell me how to beat the game" non-sense is pretty retarded, then even instituting these standards by having to go back for every single quest would require time and space(which remaining PS2 users do not have). And of course, it is easy to look back on reputation quests as tedious meaningless tasks now, but at the time and for awhile it was part of the journey. You used to not be able to get to max level in a day or two, remember? But seriously, complaining about Reputation building and where quests are? Stop filling these forums with useless banter and just go to ffxiclopedia or bgwiki and look up what you need to know, if you cannot figure it out yourself.

[Alhanelem]

We understand that- FFXI is one extreme and many of today's MMOs are the other extreme. Here's wishing somebody would strike a balance. Newer FFXI content has done a better job of that.

[Caketime]

We understand that- FFXI is one extreme and many of today's MMOs are the other extreme. Here's wishing somebody would strike a balance. Newer FFXI content has done a better job of that.

Adding to this, here's wishing for some story content that isn't riddled with obvious timesink intermission quests. I realize writing and scripting takes time, but I would much rather the story content be enjoyable as well as the battle content and not be obvious filler between BC battles for the inevitable piece of shiny at the end. Actually, take the shiny and place it in your bum, I just want a good story.

[Jaall]

Adding to this, here's wishing for some story content that isn't riddled with obvious timesink intermission quests. I realize writing and scripting takes time, but I would much rather the story content be enjoyable as well as the battle content and not be obvious filler between BC battles for the inevitable piece of shiny at the end. Actually, take the shiny and place it in your bum, I just want a good story.

Yes! Bring back decent story lines. Decent stories = epic battles, just look at CoP for e.g.. Promathia - Such an epic BC generally considered one of the best mission fights in the game compared to Shinryu. In theory Shinryu should have been an equally epic battle but because there was no decent script to Abyssea, people just enter, brew, claim rewards. There's nothing epic about that. Please bring back the stories that final fantasy is so famous for, and that keep people hooked.

[Toadie-Odie]

In 03 and 04, I just kept speaking to the NPCs every month RL time or so. I started to notice when I finished one quest, another one would open up and so on. It's was the same way with any RPG at the time like Baldur's Gate for example or Fallout. In all of those games (heck even pokemon) speaking to an NPC more then once over a given period of time would result in more flagged quests.

However... I do agree with one point that is made. The clues to finding out on how to complete the quest (like the Stray Mary one) were very lacking. Other RPGs made it more clear.

Oh and the moss comment. The moss quest is there for the lazy people who don't want to bother with non-repeatable quests for fame or for people who don't like to speak to NPCs. It's your silver platter so to speak.

I will add to this about flagging quests. I've found over the years that any time you flag a quest you can often times speak to nearby npcs for additional information.

I try hard to help out over at http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/ in keeping guides and information current and accurate.
To the OP:

SE didn't create that website or any of the others like it. It was created by people like me and so many others that have written guides, tested abilities, crunched numbers, etc. We didn't have to share that knowledge, but we chose to share it anyway, and we are able to do it because the information is there in the game already. Granted it may not be fully spelled out but it is there for players to piece together and utilize.

Reading your post makes me feel like you are tearing down a community that grew out of a desire to understand, puzzle out, and share information for those that are unable or unwilling to do the same. I feel it's a very good sign that an online game can foster such a community and shouldn't be put down for existing.

[Toadie-Odie]

If you have a map, and the NPC knows exactly where on the map you need to go (which is often the case), why not let them mark your map for you? The mechanic is already present in the game (or have all forgotten how our Adventurer Coupons worked), just woefully underused.

I 100% agree with this. You still have to do the leg work and all but if the NPC has the info to start with, then the NPC should give it when the quest is flagged.