Suggestions: Quality of Life Stuff and other suggestions

[Demonjustin]

I don't think that it should be visibly present icons above a NPC's head or something like that, if anything, I would opt for one or both of these solutions.

A: Have a new marker color such as red for quests, or simply recycle the hardly used green we have now, with these markers we should be able to talk to a NPC who can mark all currently available quests on our map with these markers. The location of this NPC should be somewhat easy to find out, rather than making it hard to find like how Trust can be for anyone who doesn't read the update notes. When progressing in a quest new markers could be placed on your maps accordingly and the old ones removed, as to keep your map up to date on the quest in progress and inform you of your next traveling location. This marker system would not annoy people who are not in need of it, it would not clutter, and it would only really end up helping people, the difficulty in this option I fear is implementing it, as SE may have problems with actually getting it in the game.

B: Make the quest log more comprehensive. The quest log could not possibly be more vague with its descriptions of what you are expected to do, if the quest descriptions were made more like how RoE is displayed, with some accurate information as to your objectives, that would easily help people complete them. If the quest log displayed positions for NPCs or at least told you what zone to look in, it would make it much easier to understand and complete, rather than the NPC only giving hints as to the location you need to go and at the same time providing no help if you need to stop during a quest and forget where you were. By adding a list format as well, they could put something like a hollow circle next to each objective and replace it with something like a star upon completion so a person knows exactly where they are in a quest when coming back to it. This again seems like it would be a lot of work on SE's part and may not be possible because the quest system is quite old and it would take time to redo it probably, though it is just the display and may be easier than it sounds.

[Evogolist]

I don't think that it should be visibly present icons above a NPC's head or something like that, if anything, I would opt for one or both of these solutions.

A: Have a new marker color such as red for quests, or simply recycle the hardly used green we have now, with these markers we should be able to talk to a NPC who can mark all currently available quests on our map with these markers. The location of this NPC should be somewhat easy to find out, rather than making it hard to find like how Trust can be for anyone who doesn't read the update notes. When progressing in a quest new markers could be placed on your maps accordingly and the old ones removed, as to keep your map up to date on the quest in progress and inform you of your next traveling location. This marker system would not annoy people who are not in need of it, it would not clutter, and it would only really end up helping people, the difficulty in this option I fear is implementing it, as SE may have problems with actually getting it in the game.

B: Make the quest log more comprehensive. The quest log could not possibly be more vague with its descriptions of what you are expected to do, if the quest descriptions were made more like how RoE is displayed, with some accurate information as to your objectives, that would easily help people complete them. If the quest log displayed positions for NPCs or at least told you what zone to look in, it would make it much easier to understand and complete, rather than the NPC only giving hints as to the location you need to go and at the same time providing no help if you need to stop during a quest and forget where you were. By adding a list format as well, they could put something like a hollow circle next to each objective and replace it with something like a star upon completion so a person knows exactly where they are in a quest when coming back to it. This again seems like it would be a lot of work on SE's part and may not be possible because the quest system is quite old and it would take time to redo it probably, though it is just the display and may be easier than it sounds.

I would second this, both of them. I like how you think and either one would be a great alternative to quest icons.

Just on a side note, I hate that the moment someone mentions anything slightly similar to what WoW has and everyone begins going into a WoW panic attack. As if this game hasn't already started going down that road with item level equipment and becoming more casual/solo friendly. Even with the addition of quest icons, you guys have to remember that most quests are locked by their respective fame level requirement. Even with Jeuno, where most of the quest aren't available until after you've acquired a sufficient amount of fame in each of the three main cities, you would be icon free until enough fame was established. Like I said, it doesn't even have to be the big exclamation point floating overtop of a npc's head. A simple change in the color of their name, or just something in the quest log would be enough to help players out when questing.

Funny story is, a few months back I was considering quitting this game after playing since PS2 release. I mean I could pretty much solo almost everything here and most of my jobs were at 99 now and I was getting bored. Fortunately and Unfortunately (don't ask) I fell out of love with XIV and decided to come back to XI. Mind you, this isn't the same XI that I fell in love with 11-12 yrs ago, but yet I've been having fun thus far with some of the newer content. Do I want this game to be or become like WoW or any of it's clones? No...hell no! I played WoW for like a week, quit and haven't resubbed since. I can't even play any of it's clones because I feel empty inside. My point, this game at some point was bound to change whether we like it or not. Adding a few things, making a few changes, and updating a few old mechanics so that the game can last another 11+ years in a world where most MMO's are nothing more than WoW clones and are going FTP is better than letting this game die and fade into obscurity. Don't like quest icons? Fine, but why not add some feature that allows players to identify which npcs are quest givers or quest involved. The expansion of wide scan to all jobs was great, but why not take it a step further?