A Storyteller’s Point of View on Final Fantasy XIV

As a writer, you can elaborate on the headspace of the protagonist; games must either provide the same or present a scenario with enough leeway for a broad application of personalities. XIV strives to do this as an adventurer, but may fall short of the mark for some as until the expansions we are pretty much 'fill in the blanks'; later on it is 'fill the blanks with these dialogue choices' but also we ain't entirely blank slates either...
From the sound of it you're struggling with how Warrior of Light's trait for helping others leads them to be fairly obliging. One way to reason it is the character is a wanderer in need of a good reputation and has not yet the luxury to be more selective. I mean, there's plenty of other adventurers to pick from and who wants to ostracize themselves in a city where their guild (Lancers, Archers etc) resides? Especially to folks inclined to be leery of outsiders like Gridania.

My duskwight in particular didn't care to squander an opportunity to rise above the low level thuggery most of her kind get stuck doing.

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Originally Posted by Raoabolic

Careful, your bias is showing, lol. Instead of attacking credentials or history (Gee, I wonder who else uses this "tactic") how about attack them on what they are saying about the story itself. Big fan of the story he's criticizing? Show up with some counterpoints. Can't be that hard, right?

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the thing thats nagging me, is something about the method he is using and I cant wrap my head around a good way to express it. In my thinking, the story evokes feelings, but how many feelings can be evokes by picking apart every quest for writing flaws? the FFxiv story is decent by MMO standards, and unlike WoW for instance, is relatively self contained (as in you dont need reams of external materials to even make sense of some things) but it IS a story in an MMO... its not the equivalent of a short story or a novel. so regardless of writing skill on the part of the OP, its not a good comparison since the writing will not be the same. the "author inserts" that bug him so much are there for a reason, not just throw aways, but to pass along things happening beyond our scope and a low level character. they provide signs that we might be involved in bigger things as we level up. in a book, or short story, the author provides background a different way, MMO's need to use characters in quests or what have you to provide it.

I dont know, the premise the OP is using just seems flawed. and I am having a difficult putting in words exactly why its flawed. but will continue to work on it.

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Originally Posted by PirateRyanG

He is a self published author. If you get paid for something it does make you a pro, but (and I say this as an actual pro writer), the writing in hiss books is abysmal and it is evident it is self published using either no editor or a cheap one.

He is dressing himself up to be a bigger deal than he is here. He writes gay furry porn.

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So um...he has a page?
Asking for a Friend XD

(Edit)
Nvm, found it

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Originally Posted by Zanarkand-Ronso

So um...he has a page?
Asking for a Friend XD

(Edit)
Nvm, found it

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https://media.tenor.com/I4SaNA6RxCsA...dontchange.gif

Threat Level Elevated (https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...Level_Elevated)

After her dereliction of duty, she charges us with going around and passing a letting to them with the information I’m gathered, and getting them to sign the letter confirming they read it. We do the rounds, and that’s it.

Nothing to tell here story wise, other than if given the choice, I wouldn’t have played along with Roseline trying to salvage her career.

Migrant Marauders (https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...rant_Marauders)

Since we are there, Eylgar imposes on us to look in on a claim of a winged beast endangering passersby. We find an egg, are attacked by vultures, defeat them and report to the guard on the other side of the road. And they are shocked to learn vultures had established a nest within their line of sight and they never noticed it. And, as the great guards they are, instead of owning to their dereliction of duty, they ask me not to mention the egg or nest to his boss.

We can see why the woods are in such troubles, if these 2 guards are any indication of how attentive most of them are to their duties.

Here, I have no idea if showing the guards to be slackers is on purpose, or just a side effect of the Devs not putting this encounter somewhere along the route that is out of sight from any guards. If this doesn’t become a story point, then I’m mark it as weak.

A Hearer Is Often Late (https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w..._Is_Often_Late)

And because he still can’t be bothered to do his duty, Lothaire sends us to check in on a Hearer, who is late for her departure. He’s not worried, but the person in charge of the Hearer’s schedule might be, so maybe we can go prod the Hearer in his stead?

The Hearer is still busy and needs me to tell the others she will be late because she is investigating an evil presence in the woods. Once I deliver the message, they don’t seem worried the Hearer is left alone in the woods where evil is afoot. They’ll simply reschedule the departure.

Here, I’m attributing my disbelief that they are leaving what seems to amount to a priest alone while there might be something evil nearby to me not understanding how powerful a Hearer is. But if I have to go rescue them…

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Originally Posted by Lunalepsy

So... are you certified? are you a professional writer? We never figured it out.

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how does a writer get certified?

I think a big part of your problem is you are assuming that npc's in ANY mmo are competent at their jobs.

they are not, and thats a game mechanic. otherwise, why would anyone hire you to do anything? you barely know any skills, you have no known reputation, so you would be begging for gil and scraps at various places around town. the entire point of the story early on is to move you to different areas, this is to level you and impart some familiarity with the world you are playing in, little more. its not going to be prize winning material for that reason, it is geared towards getting you places, and it does that.

for an author, your point of views aren't exactly enthralling. I was sort of hoping you'd be telling us YOUR characters story as you experienced it, not just a "this is weird", "oh, she did something stupid there".

come on, write!

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Originally Posted by Boblawblah

for an author, your point of views aren't exactly enthralling. I was sort of hoping you'd be telling us YOUR characters story as you experienced it, not just a "this is weird", "oh, she did something stupid there".

come on, write!

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I don't particularly think they quite know how to give points of view like that. Skimming through their work, it feels like they lack a certain ability to actually dig in to these sorts of things.

Also they write like a mid-tier 2000-kudos ao3 fanfic author from 2012 - the kind that says "No flames!" in the beginning author's note.

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Originally Posted by Boblawblah

for an author, your point of views aren't exactly enthralling. I was sort of hoping you'd be telling us YOUR characters story as you experienced it, not just a "this is weird", "oh, she did something stupid there".

come on, write!

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That would actually be an interesting thread to make. "What is your WoL's back story/headcanon?" or something.

Man I didn't think I'd be this entertained reading this thread...but you guys turned it into gold. I love you guys.

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Originally Posted by ronibosch

https://media.tenor.com/I4SaNA6RxCsA...dontchange.gif

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https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-FBB2O...w-t500x500.jpg

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Originally Posted by Renalt

Man I didn't think I'd be this entertained reading this thread...but you guys turned it into gold. I love you guys.

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https://y.yarn.co/99efbd2f-9588-4c14...7460d_text.gif

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Originally Posted by MilkieTea

Also they write like a mid-tier 2000-kudos ao3 fanfic author from 2012

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I didnt want to be mean, cause my god, Im not a writer myself.
But Ive done enough RP to kind of notice the writing style. Its very distinct from other Books I have Read.
Its not my cup of Tea. Maybe some day Ill find my ideal Furry Writer

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Originally Posted by Zanarkand-Ronso

I didnt want to be mean, cause my god, Im not a writer myself.
But Ive done enough RP to kind of notice the writing style. Its very distinct from other Books I have Read.
Its not my cup of Tea. Maybe some day Ill find my ideal Furry Writer

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You dont have to be a chef to notice when something tastes crappy :D

That's my take on it, anyhow

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Originally Posted by MilkieTea

You dont have to be a chef to notice when something tastes crappy :D

That's my take on it, anyhow

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I like to use a similar analogy. I don't need to be a helicopter pilot to know it's not suppose to swan dive into the ground and explode.

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Originally Posted by Renalt

I like to use a similar analogy. I don't need to be a helicopter pilot to know it's not suppose to swan dive into the ground and explode.

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True, but if that Swan Dive breaks the surface of the water with as little splash as possible, and the Helicopter doesnt explode or kill the Pilot, we might take home the Gold!

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Originally Posted by Zanarkand-Ronso

True, but if that Swan Dive breaks the surface of the water with as little splash as possible, and the Helicopter doesnt explode or kill the Pilot, we might take home the Gold!

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AT the very least Honorable Mention.

this is curious.

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Originally Posted by kindar1

how does a writer get certified?

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When your profile has a blue checkmark. :^)

Salvaging the Scene (https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...ging_the_Scene)

After we have delivered our message, we are needed to retrieve cargo from an accident site. We retrieve it, have to defend ourselves, then deliver it to its destination.

This is a simple story that doesn’t try too hard, and it works.

Leia's Legacy (https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Leia%27s_Legacy)

An egg is stolen, and we must retrieve it.

We question ranch workers around the settlement, report our findings, and are sent to deal with the thief. We find the egg with a moogle as they are attacked and we defeat the bandits, then return the egg to the stables, get some back-story on Keitha, and get our reward.

Storywise, the main issue I feel here is a lack of agency. This is another case of us being told what is happening, when a chain of small quests could have conveyed the same information, and left me feeling like the victory was mine, instead of just going where I’m told.

Dread Is in the Air (https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w..._Is_in_the_Air)

Ixali dirigibles have been seen over the Guardian Tree, and we need to take a report to Mother Miounne. There, we are told how great our actions have been and how everyone has only great praise about us. She reads the letter, is surprised, then tells us there is this urgent matter I have to help with, but I can take however long I can to get ready for the mission.

Another case of being told how good we are, when nothing we have done is all that impressive. Also, again, something urgent where I can take however long I want. I do understand that not every player will be ready to take on the next mission, but if a sense of urgency won’t be real, it shouldn’t be part of the story. And if it is urgent, put a timer up and let the player deal with the complications that cause.

Somehow my brain thought he was posting the quests at the levels they were at. Instead of at what level they occur at. Again most of the time there won't be a time limit as like you said someone might not be ready to tackle the quest. The only complications is that you get the failed duty noise and need to restart. Which gets both annoying and tiresome. Not saying that the game does a good job of showing urgency or time passage, buy I either have grown used to it or accept that in most cases what kind of media I'm partaking in.

Technically we do have timed events in the game, from dungeons to various instances...but stuff like quests have never been set to a timer. Besides, what point is there to a timed quest if its completion is vital to progressing? You're simply adding a layer of frustration and for an illusion of urgency that will be popped the moment you can retry the quest.
For those events which do such as some beast tribe quests, the timer itself has a different reason to exist than to faff around pretending we're on a schedule.

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Originally Posted by kindar1

Addendum

As of the time I am posting this, my subscription has expired. The only way this affects me is that I will not be able to play beyond the last MSQ level 59 quest.

So, the story now has until I hit that point to convince me to buy a subscription.

I want to make sure it’s clear. This isn’t a ‘keep playing because things will get good eventually’ situation. Just about everyone who’s talked with me about the game has told me that already. No. When I hit that last quest and I’m informed that, unless I get a subscription, I will not know what the next quest entails. I must be at the very least sufficiently curious about what’s to come, that I’ll want to spend the money.

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This is something that bothers me, you boast about your writing credentials yet you are only judging by story aspect, you are not taking in consideration the gameplay or social elements of it, in this addedum you speak like it's some kind of comic book or novel where you are only in for the story and even taking it as a game you are solely treating as some kind of single player game, when it's intrinsic of the social elements and they cant bend the story to deny you of using these aspects just because whatever is happening in the MSQ is urgent.

you have also said you "cant criticize on gameplay" like, sure you may not be some game designer but you are still a player and a consumer. sure your commentary won't be deep but i'm pretty sure at level 30 you can speak at least something, principally even some skill from the classes tie back to the lore.

also talk about botany and carpentry, thats nice.

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Originally Posted by AmpelioB

This is something that bothers me, you boast about your writing credentials yet you are only judging by story aspect, you are not taking in consideration the gameplay or social elements of it, in this addedum you speak like it's some kind of comic book or novel where you are only in for the story and even taking it as a game you are solely treating as some kind of single player game, when it's intrinsic of the social elements and they cant bend the story to deny you of using these aspects just because whatever is happening in the MSQ is urgent.

you have also said you "cant criticize on gameplay" like, sure you may not be some game designer but you are still a player and a consumer. sure your commentary won't be deep but i'm pretty sure at level 30 you can speak at least something, principally even some skill from the classes tie back to the lore.

also talk about botany and carpentry, thats nice.

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Although to defend his take a bit, there's nothing wrong with sticking to FFXIV just for it's plot, so if he ever manages to get invested in the world, characters and the events happening prior to the expiration of the free trial then that's already fine as is.

I first grew to enjoy the game for it's world and most importantly my own personal attachment to my WoL, everything else came 2nd afterwards and I've grown to enjoy that too.

But everyone is different, not everyone will be pleased by the game (which is major well no dip) and that's fine too.

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Storywise, the main issue I feel here is a lack of agency. This is another case of us being told what is happening, when a chain of small quests could have conveyed the same information, and left me feeling like the victory was mine, instead of just going where I’m told.

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There is much more to this, and I find it odd you didnt mention the moogle's involvement in all of this...it matters a great deal...now and later.

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Another case of being told how good we are, when nothing we have done is all that impressive. Also, again, something urgent where I can take however long I want. I do understand that not every player will be ready to take on the next mission, but if a sense of urgency won’t be real, it shouldn’t be part of the story. And if it is urgent, put a timer up and let the player deal with the complications that cause.

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There is a thread and theme you have either missed or ignored...and it shows. I assume you either disregarded or ignored Mother Miounne's comments when you first arrived in Gridania. How much of the actual text are you reading?..or are you reading it at all?

Had you done so, then Miounne's comments have more significance than you realised.

MSQ isnt on a timer because its designed to be started and stopped whenever the player wants.

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you boast about your writing credentials

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Yeah, 15 novels in ten years?

Question - the qiqim's egg theft, committed 'to survive' - was it a fertilized chocobo egg? My impression at the time is the fellas stole it for greeds sake as well, rather than as a desperate act of hunger that could only be satisfied by crunching on baby eggs. Doesn't make the retribution any less brutal, but does put things into perspective.

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Originally Posted by VelKallor

There is much more to this, and I find it odd you didnt mention the moogle's involvement in all of this...it matters a great deal...now and later.



There is a thread and theme you have either missed or ignored...and it shows. I assume you either disregarded or ignored Mother Miounne's comments when you first arrived in Gridania. How much of the actual text are you reading?..or are you reading it at all?

Had you done so, then Miounne's comments have more significance than you realised.

MSQ isnt on a timer because its designed to be started and stopped whenever the player wants.



Yeah, 15 novels in ten years?

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I do wonder about how much they really are reading. As a lot of their misunderstandings does come off as not paying attention to what's being stated in the quests. A lot of the things he has a problem with or seems to not understand are things brought up in those quests. The few timers outside of some kind of duty is normally the ones where you are transporting something from point A to point B. Either its a heavy object and your legs will give out after 2mins or there's something faulty with said object.

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Originally Posted by Atelier-Bagur

Although to defend his take a bit, there's nothing wrong with sticking to FFXIV just for it's plot, so if he ever manages to get invested in the world, characters and the events happening prior to the expiration of the free trial then that's already fine as is.

I first grew to enjoy the game for it's world and most importantly my own personal attachment to my WoL, everything else came 2nd afterwards and I've grown to enjoy that too.

But everyone is different, not everyone will be pleased by the game (which is major well no dip) and that's fine too.

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that wasnt my point, my point is they are so focusing on story elements that they are ignoring the fact that its still a game, not an novel.

I'll say though, I like the glam you have on your character. Do you have any lore for your character so far?

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Originally Posted by AmpelioB

that wasnt my point, my point is they are so focusing on story elements that they are ignoring the fact that its still a game, not an novel.

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To be fair, the game markets it's story VERY heavily so it would be silly to dismiss the story, warts and all.

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Originally Posted by Raoabolic

To be fair, the game markets it's story VERY heavily so it would be silly to dismiss the story, warts and all.

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again thats not my point, my point is that the game and story is a set, not separate experiences, and the OP isnt taking that in account.

To Guard a Guardian
(https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...ard_a_Guardian)

“Time is of the essence.” Mother Miounne
“Sure it is.” Me

The Guardian Tree is under threat, so we must warn the militia and help them in any way we can. We deliver it and upon reading it, Lewin can’t understand how the Wood Wailers or the God’s Quiver don’t know about this.

I haven’t dealt with the Quiver, but I’d be more than happy to tell him about the Wood Wailer’s incompetence, if the game lets me. Fortunately for them, we are interrupted, by news the Ixal are already at the Guardian Tree. There is no time to waste, we must go defend the tree.

Where’s my timer to show urgency?

We get there, fight the Ixal, win. I’m tasked with remaining behind while they bolster the flanks. While alone, a masked mage shows up, summons a creature, and attacks me. The authors inserts show up and we win. There is exposition, the militia returns, and we head back. Where I am again congratulated. Only, for once, it feels somewhat deserved. We are interrupted by the SeedSeer herself inviting me to take part in a coming ceremony as her emissary.

This quest feels deserved. The people involved in it come across as competent, what we do matters, and the stakes feel like they matter too. There is even a ‘twist’ to the story.

The one aspect I think could be improved, is when the author inserts arrive. It would work better for them to come in at the last moment if I’m about to lose the fight, and even arrive just after I’ve won, if I don’t need rescuing.

Festive Endeavors
(https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...tive_Endeavors)

“No one can doubt your worth.” Bowlord Lewin
“That’s because they aren’t paying attention.” Me

We must prepare for the festivities, so it’s off to see Mother Miounne. Again, we are told of the magnitude of being the one picked to be emissary. We go pick up the item needed to play our role and are warned to take great care of it. We hand the box to Mother Miounne, find out it’s a mask, and that it was made with special wood given by the Guardian tree itself.

And… that’s it.

That is the whole of the preparation for this special event where I am to play such an important role.

I am rather underwhelmed. This is another case of telling versus showing. I’m told it’s important, but nothing that happens supports it. Instead of just picking up the mask, I would have liked a series of quests where we need to acquire the material needed to have the mask made. Maybe throw in a few attempts by the bad guys to keep me from accomplishing my goal.

Again, I should feel like I’ve earned the item in question, instead of simply having it handed to me.

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Originally Posted by Cygnia

Question - the qiqim's egg theft, committed 'to survive' - was it a fertilized chocobo egg? My impression at the time is the fellas stole it for greeds sake as well, rather than as a desperate act of hunger that could only be satisfied by crunching on baby eggs. Doesn't make the retribution any less brutal, but does put things into perspective.

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Alright. you raise a good point. I tracked down the dialogue, and while there is nothing in it going out of its way to make the ratman's act malicious, they use "looting" to describe what they did that led to the egg being broken. to me, looting invokes an act of desperation, someone driven to do something bad to survive. I think that's why the retribution felt disproportionate.

but, Looting can definitely be an act of vandalism, and I think this is what the authors were going for here. as you said, the ratman was driven by greed, and didn't care for what got damaged in the process. So I'm more okay with what we are sent to do.

I've updated the entry with your question and the response I put here

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Originally Posted by kindar1

Where’s my timer to show urgency?

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Why are you so fixated on that? is it the only way you think a game can convey "urgency" to you?

No matter how many times you tell this guy that a timer is not a good gameplay mechanic, he ignores it. It's just silly at this point.

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Originally Posted by AmpelioB

Why are you so fixated on that? is it the only way you think a game can convey "urgency" to you?

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because you know, in a story, like a book, if you convey urgency, the reader cant just decide to have coffee because the author writes its urgent... so they are morally obliged to sit and read through instead of putting the book down.

that and "author inserts" like its a witty term. because this isnt a novel, these "inserts" are needed so the player is not subjected to a wall of text placing things in the world. Plus, I feel he is using the term incorrectly OP are you meaning a self insert? in that case, wait until the event, where you will see a fantasy world character created to be like Yoshi P. That is a self insert, or author insert, where an author inserts themself into a fantasy world.

so... if you wouldnt mind, elucidate on your often used term "author insert" and what you mean by it. which of the many story writers do you consider these characters to be? or are you simply using it as a term for characters you dislike? since it is early in your journey and you use it often, it would be good to clarify this for your readers.

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Where’s my timer to show urgency?

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Answer reposted as you ignored it: the MSQ is set up to be started and stopped at the players convenience

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“No one can doubt your worth.” Bowlord Lewin
“That’s because they aren’t paying attention.” Me

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Yes, you are skipping quest text.

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That is the whole of the preparation for this special event where I am to play such an important role.

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The mask you have been handed is made from bark of their most sacred site, a site that is home to the Elemental Powers, you being given that mask is a HUGE honour. You werent paying ANY attention to what this Tree represents..or why that attack by the Ixal was such a crisis.

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nothing that happens supports it.

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Other than being given an irreplaceable mask made from sacred bark? Think they would just hand that to anyone?

Remember Beatin's words?

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"Get as much as a scratch on the thing, and I shall make an unceremonial artifact out of you"

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"author insert"

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I think its his dismissive way of referring to NPC's he feels are 'furniture" or "disposable characters".

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Instead of just picking up the mask, I would have liked a series of quests where we need to acquire the material needed to have the mask made

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Again, it isnt "just a tree", youj cant go and get those items because the Elementals would not allow it, and that bark was a gift to the Twelveswood through the Seedseers alone.

You set foot on sacred soil only by their leave.

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Papalymo and Yda are who I consider Author inserts. they show up, do their thing, and leave. they add nothing to the sequence.

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Uh huh....

Renewing the Covenant (https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...g_the_Covenant)

“There really is nothing to being Emissary.” Mother Miounne
“Then why is everyone making such a big deal of the <bleeping> thing?” Me

It turns out all I have to do is stand around and look dignified. And if I don’t wear the mask, the person who is to allow me in might not know who I am.

So… everyone has heard of me, except the woman who’s to let me in. And the way to identify myself is an object the enemy could have found out about and copied to get in and kill the SeedSeer.

Again, the hand of the writer is visible. And they aren’t respecting what they have established. And this is such an easy fix I’m annoyed it isn’t employed. Mother Miounne has me go to the Theater, before I am let in, Estaine asks that I put the mask on so the attendees will know me for the Emissary. And it’s done. The goals are met, and no one comes across as… well, I’m going to be polite and not say it.

The ceremony starts, the SeedSeer notices something about me, tells me about the Warrior of Light, I have a vision of the Battle of Carteneau, then wake up at the inn, and I’m told the SeedSeer wants to see me now that I’m better.

While there is nothing wrong with the ceremony or the vision, by the time it’s over. I’m left wondering why it’s there at all. The back story is relevant, I’m sure, but I’m not invested in any of it. I’m, quite literally, only going through the motion that the story puts me through, so I can’t quite care about any of it.

This isn’t something that can be fixed here, but on the journey that takes me here. Many of the quests could be reworked so that I’m left feeling like I had an active role in making them happen, instead of simply being pulled along by them.

It would be nice to be made to feel like we matter, instead of always being told we do.

While this detail falls more on the gameplay side, having each quest give a lower amount of Exp, would allow there to be more of them to help build up the storytelling. It would also ensure we have to take side quests and explore the other stories I am told are part of FF14.

At the end of this quest, I’m level 17. The next quest is level 15. The only times I had to take a quest outside the MSQ, it was to reach level 4, and then, to get the gil needed to get my equipment to the level one quest requested.

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Originally Posted by Kes13a

because you know, in a story, like a book, if you convey urgency, the reader cant just decide to have coffee because the author writes its urgent... so they are morally obliged to sit and read through instead of putting the book down.

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you almost hit the nail on the head here. when a book pulls off the sense of urgency properly, the reader finds themselves wanting to continue reading intil that urgency is resolved. they aren't morally obligated, but a well-written sense of urgency will make it hard for them to pull away from the book.

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so... if you wouldnt mind, elucidate on your often used term "author insert" and what you mean by it. which of the many story writers do you consider these characters to be? or are you simply using it as a term for characters you dislike? since it is early in your journey and you use it often, it would be good to clarify this for your readers.

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To me, the author insert is a character(s) whose sole purpose seems to be to remind the main character they aren’t that important. That there are better people out there doing better work. In fan fiction, those will be called Marie Sues.

When they show up a writer’s original work, the story will suddenly shift to them for no narrative reason. They will show up where the is no need for them, other than the author wanting the reader to have some piece of information, but they can’t think of a better way to convey it. To justify their presence, they are often given abilities that might not quite work with the story, and/or treat the main character as if they are beneath them, not smart enough to come up with that one piece of information they must have. Then they leave, and the reader finds themselves wondering that if the author insert is so much better to the story than the main character, why aren’t we reading that character’s story?

While I expect most here will disagree with how I feel, that is how Yda and Papalymo come across to me most of the time they show up

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Originally Posted by VelKallor

Other than being given an irreplaceable mask made from sacred bark? Think they would just hand that to anyone?

Remember Beatin's words?


Again, it isnt "just a tree", youj cant go and get those items because the Elementals would not allow it, and that bark was a gift to the Twelveswood through the Seedseers alone.

You set foot on sacred soil only by their leave.


Uh huh....

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this is where I'm happy I can only do 3 posts per day, because I had a really sarcastic reply to this that would have done nothing but aggravate the situation. but I couldn't post it, so I had time to think about what I want to say.

if you are wondering why I will ignore certain comments, that is one of the reason. I'd like my replies to add something to the conversation.

the irreplaceable mask I am given is this one, https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Monoa_Mask . a mask I can purchase at this location in Gridania https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/w...ewards#vendor2 as well as one store in each of the other 2 city states, and in the player housing.

Yes, I am well aware the store sells them so that if the player loses theirs the story can keep going. that does not change the fact that on a narrative level, this mask is not unique. it would be so simple to make us care about the mask instead of being told we have to care.

and for the record, I am the type of player who, if I'm given an item that is needed to continue the game and can't be replaced, I will restart the game if my carelessness causes me to lose it.

I'm not saying the game has to do that. I simply think that it is weak storytelling to simply tell me 'care' when a handful of quests could have shown me why the mask is so precious.