If you've 'run out of stuff to do' in a game as big as 14, the answer isn't 'more 14'

A Reddit post that makes a point worth keeping in mind:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme..._but_if_youve/

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Title.

Don't get me wrong, I've been there with games. But especially when it comes to MMOs, they're kind of designed so that you CAN'T run out of things to do unless you spend a disproportionate amount of time in the game.

If you feel like you have nothing to do, it's more than likely burnout talking. At least twice a year I'll hit a phase where I log in, socialise with the FC, fly around whatever zone I spawned in for 10 minutes then log off. I promise you, when you hit that point you're best off just taking a break. Because it's never (in my case) that there's literally nothing to do. It's that all I have left to do doesn't excite me.

We're at that point in the patch cycle where this is going to be a take that crops up more and more often, and honestly, save your sanity and do something else for a bit. No game should consume you to the point where having nothing to do is a genuine problem. There's an ebb and flow to live service. It can't all be rapids.

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EDIT:

Probably one of the better comments in the thread:

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The game absolutely needs improvement, but it's also not the insufferable unplayable trash that some are making it out to be.

Both sides of the argument are way overblown.

I've been playing since HW. Until ShB, I used to LIVE in this game. Literally, 24/7

By the end of 5.0, that slowed down. I had my first big hiatus from the game. Came back for 5.3, played for a while longer, another hiatus. Endwalker came out. Played a LOT of it. after 6.0, the hype fizzled out a bit again and another hiatus ensued. Came back for 6.4, been playing steadily since then.

I understand the whole "It's not burnout, I feel like playing XIV, there's just nothing to do in it" argument; I've been through it. Any long time player will eventually go through it imo. But at the same time... I don't know man, If it's not bringing you joy, then grinding your head against it isn't gonna make it any better.

And I don't mean this in the yoship "haha go play other stuff and come back in the next patch". I mean this as "go live outside the game for a long while and let the content pile up". It's what I did, and it worked for me. Letting the game sizzle for a while and then coming back to check out a ton of stuff can be really refreshing, even if it's an one and done.

AT THE SAME TIME, I do know what it's like to want to see the thing you love getting better and meeting your expectations. Depending on what you're looking for in XIV, EW may very well be disappointing in many regards, and that's understandable.

This is where I feel OP does have a point with the "the solution is not more 14" pov. Voicing your concerns and trying to have a discussion with like-minded players about the game's issues is fine, but sometimes what you need isn't really a break from the game; it's a break from XIV. As a whole. Not just the game; discussions, forums, communities, streamers, YT content, everything.

Just detox yourself from XIV for like. A good year, and see what that does for you. It worked for me, multiple times.

tl;dr: SQEX is not your friend and it's not a godlike entity that does no wrong, but it's also not out to fucking kill your family and shit in your mouth. I do think OP has a point with the whole taking a break thing, just make it a real break instead of a "I'll be back in the next patch" break.

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And another couple:

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What the majority of people that are complaining about content seem to forget. Is that the dev team is also overhauling the graphics for the entire game and fixing things on the back end so that they can add the QoL things people have been asking for. This is a perfect time for them to fix the spaghetti code left over from 1.0 because they ended the last story ark in 6.0. These tasks take resources hence why we didn't get content that needed to be consistent update during the patch cycles. Both Bozja and Eureka take alot of resources because of all things they add for the fates plus the raids aswell as the story. Then balance all that with the jobs plus the additional actions added.

Another thing people seem to be forgetting is that it was also a good opportunity to test out new content. Island Sanctuary can lead up being a alternative to housing it's only missing a few things for it to be, criterion dungeons are going to be regular content added in future patch cycles they just need to add more to the reward structure.

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I totally agree. If you feel like there is nothing else to do in the game, then go play something else. I play a wide variety of games, and I'm always leaving and then coming back to FF14. My only issue with instances like this is when someone specially says "there is a content drought". When someone sees a big streamer say something like that, it makes that person think there really isn't a whole lot to do in the game, while there is a shit ton to do in the game. It isn't that there is a content drought, its that there is nothing else you (as a person) want to do in the game, and that is totally fine.

I remember asking a streamer that said that if they did treasure maps, criterion dungeons, Bojza, or hunts and they said no. That's fine if they don't want to do those things, but you really can't say a game has a content drought, if you don't want to do 30% of what a game has to offer.

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shadowbringers vs endwalker

-1 exploration zone with ~12 interesting fights across 2 zones, 6 duels

-3 exploration zone raids

+1 ultimate

+1 deep dungeon

+1 hildy trial

+3 variant and criterion dungeons with 9-12 interesting fights

+1 tribal capstone

acting like there was some sudden massive change in the content and catastrophizing over it is silly

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And, honestly, the real issue with all these discussions, so a really good one:

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I think people need more to be more clear with their criticisms. "Nothing to do" or "no content" are terrible criticisms that couldn't be further from the truth, there's a plethora of content in this game assuming you haven't already spent thousands of hours doing it all.

If what you believe is that the current endgame content is lacking or simply uninteresting, then be more clear about that. Blanket statements about the game having nothing to do only causes confusion, both among the playerbase and probably to the developers too. Be specific about what you want to see improved.

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While in general I definitely agree, the extended lulls between patches isn't a great trend or a good sign for the health of the game. I hope they get back on a faster schedule of productivity in DT.

But since the game is so old, I hope this isn't a sign the are pulling back from it as a top priority.

Clearly it can't be the game it has to be people that are burned out, no way it would be the game, the game is perfect. /s

What a take to have, was a good laugh though thanks

Also "take a break" doesn't work in FFXIV, why you ask ? Because even if you were to take a break for a year, it would be maybe 2 weeks of content at most when you come back.

As usual tons of assumptions, most the people posting critical feedback are not “consumed” by the game. Myself and others have taken multiple breaks, played other games or what have you and when you come back and there is barely any sort of content to actually dive into is the problem but it’s not even worth saying becasue it’s been repeated time and time again and no one actually listens.

For what it's worth, I agree.

Although I'll note, I'm probably more the sort of player the game caters for than those who "spend a disproportionate amount of time in the game". I only manage about one hour before work, about 45 minutes lunchtime and a few hours per evening in-game due to a busy work/family life that doesn't afford me very much 'me' time at all. It took me just over four months to complete the game (from ARR to 6.0 at least), although my in-game time was admittedly hindered by the fact that I started immediately prior to the WoW exodus and was on a trial account that wouldn't even put me in the queue, let alone get me in-game at the time.

Eitherway, even now - having been a consistent player of the game since December 2021, I don't feel as if I've really scratched the surface.

I have to admit, I'm not sure why certain posters keep ignoring the responses from players who are expressing concern about a lack of things to do in the game. We're not asking to be entertained 24/7 and we already are taking breaks/playing other games. There's only 'lots to do' if you're a new player and we're speaking from the perspective of veteran players who would like the game to stop gutting the content with staying power that was previously on offer.

It generally helps to actually read what people say, though I suppose acknowledging what they're saying in the first place would dispel the conjured myths created purely to deflect away from the points being made and the strange caricatures built up around anyone who dares to use this place to leave constructive feedback.

Some previous posts I've made addressing this same thing:

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Originally Posted by Theodric

I don't think that's actually the case at all. It's been a concern for some time now that the game offers very little to players who are all caught up on the latest batch of MSQ's to the point where even after taking breaks veteran players are returning to find that there really isn't much to do even if they artificially pace themselves.

To say nothing of the fact that there is now more time than ever before between each new patch. The problem is further escalated with the deliberate decision to deny players an equivalent to Ishgard Reconstruction and Eureka/Bozja which both proved successful at keeping many veteran players engaged with something to do beyond running roulettes for tomestones.

The concerns aren't being raised by individuals expecting to be entertained 24/7 and so I'll just refer to a couple of my own previous posts on the subject whenever it has arisen:

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Originally Posted by Theodric

As has been pointed out many times already, a lot of players with concerns about FFXIV are playing other games and aren't looking to be entertained by one specific game 24/7.

They're simply recognising that less and less content is being designed with staying power in mind and that even after taking breaks they're returning to see that elements of the game they enjoy are being taken away for the sake of those who do little but idle in cities and player houses whilst heavily altering the game and their character to be utterly unrecognisable as 'FFXIV.'

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Originally Posted by Theodric

I've yet to see where people are actually asking for content to keep them entertained 24/7. Many people are already taking breaks and playing other games only to come back to FFXIV and find that it isn't adding anything with much in the way of staying power.

It isn't rocket science and it's honestly disappointing to see people deceptively try to frame the concerns and criticism as something entirely different to what it is.

The game has tipped too far in the direction of appeasing those who don't even play the game but instead idle and attend 'venues'. Given that such an approach comes at the expense of content with staying power such as Bozja, Eureka and Ishgard Reconstruction it isn't difficult to see why concerns are being raised.

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Originally Posted by Blossoming

As usual tons of assumptions, most the people posting critical feedback are not “consumed” by the game. Myself and others have taken multiple breaks, played other games or what have you and when you come back and there is barely any sort of content to actually dive into is the problem but it’s not even worth saying becasue it’s been repeated time and time again and no one actually listens.

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Exactly.

Unfortunately this post is created with the intention to silence others, just as OP has frequently done with his report brigading.

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Originally Posted by Carin-Eri

For what it's worth, I agree.

Although I'll note, I'm probably more the sort of player the game caters for than those who "spend a disproportionate amount of time in the game". I only manage about one hour before work, about 45 minutes lunchtime and a few hours per evening in-game due to a busy work/family life that doesn't afford me very much 'me' time at all. It took me just over four months to complete the game (from ARR to 6.0 at least), although my in-game time was admittedly hindered by the fact that I started immediately prior to the WoW exodus and was on a trial account that wouldn't even put me in the queue, let alone get me in-game at the time.

Eitherway, even now - having been a consistent player of the game since December 2021, I don't feel as if I've really scratched the surface.

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Same to be honest. My XIV schedule is typically just running a roulette before work and making sure I get my weekly raid loot. Sometimes I'll spend additional time in the evening levelling something I haven't capped yet, but that's about it.

Due to new games I don't really have the interest in spending any more time in XIV, so the lull doesn't bother me as much as it might others. But in general I don't see extended breaks in content to be good for an MMO.

you will never get the content gluttons to ever admit they are the problem not the content or the game.

this game has to force me to do the content i like by rerunning it that's call longevity people!!!

if the rewards are something i dont want to reun for that's SE's problem i have to like all the rewards to care about it at all!!

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I think people are missing the point. The discussion is that EW patches are releasing content that's much less lasting and repeatable content compared to previous expansions.

People are somewhat disappointed to come back for the newest patch after 4 months and only have 5 hours of new content. You can always find something to do in this game, but not all of that is for everyone. And the longer you play this game, the shorter the "interesting to you" backlog gets.

People are playing other games. They just wish there was more lasting new content to come back to like previous expansions.

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This kind of misses the point to the extreme that it almost comes off as being purposefully disingenuous.

I love this game. It is my favorite game. I don't want to play it all the time, but when I do play it; it'd be nice if there was content that I could just hop in and out of at max level to enjoy with others.

Endwalker has had a dearth of midcore content. Despite their flaws, I enjoyed having Eureka and Bozja as things I could hop into and do stuff with other folks.

I'm sorry but doing roulettes every day isn't engaging, especially when you're getting Syrcus Tower at level 50 with none of your skills almost every time. Grinding FATEs 20 levels lower than me isn't engaging or fun. Sometimes I just want some level 90 content that I can do with others that a Savage or Ultimate raid that requires a high level of technical play and can be stressful.

It's bizarre how some people see criticism of this game as coming from a place of hatred and immediately jumping to it's defense instead of taking a step back to consider why more folks are starting to feel this way.

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Linking to posts in other places is great because I don't even have to write my own rebuttal.