Dad of Light - Inspired Story Thread

Watching the Dad of Light series made cry through most of it. It was one of the most moving experiences, that I've ever felt with a video game, and it reminded me of why I kept playing in the first place. I want to hear how this game impacted your life, and react to your stories.

Here is mine:

I have developed post traumatic disorder, have recently begun getting treatment. To be honest with you, I'm nearly twenty three, and have been failing to treat it since I was 17 years old. Dark times that I'd rather not repeat made me skeptical of human beings, and gradually turned me into a recluse. It wasn't long before I just flat out gave up, and accepted feeling broken.

I was at a point where I had no idea what friendship was like anymore. I felt like everyone in my life hated me, and that I'd never amount to anything, and would just pass away by the time I was 20-21. In 2015 my father gifted me the game, and a PS4 after seeing me reminisce over my Final Fantasy VI GBA cartridge, and a couple other Final Fantasy games. He even got me a keyboard with a mouse, so that I could talk to people easily.

To be honest, a month later I almost quit. I was about to be done. Everything felt so lonely, and I just didn't feel like anyone actually cared here too. I was wrong.

I met an FC called From The Ashes, and met my best friend. We'll just call him Lyn for short, because of privacy, and suddenly I was making friends! Yes it took me a year to not be lonely again, I played on and off, and truly did like the gameplay, but these people changed everything. I realized how kind adventurers are, and that people do actually want to spend time with you in this life.

Now I run my own FC, and a lizard LS, and there's so many active people! I've created my own online family, and I'm just so relieved. It's because of these people that I felt the courage to finally fight my mental illness, go out and meet people in my area who actually like me, and start getting my life back together. Thank you Eorzea, and thank you to the developers for giving me something to remind me that human beings are usually good, not quite as evil as I feared. I'm going to therapy, and getting medical treatment. You showed me that kindness is real. All I ever wanted was for someone to act happy to see me for once in my life, and man did that wish really grow into something real.

This is the best game ever.

I am so happy that I could help you, hun. I will always be there if you need me. :)

I'm so glad to hear that not just the game but also the people here were able to help give you the strength to open yourself up to others again. It can be difficult some days and easy to think that everyone is terrible or cruel, but that's not always the case. *hugs*

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Originally Posted by Lynto

I am so happy that I could help you, hun. I will always be there if you need me. :)

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Same here. I hope we stay neighbors in the Goblet for a long time.

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Originally Posted by Miu-Cxhlan

I'm so glad to hear that not just the game but also the people here were able to help give you the strength to open yourself up to others again. It can be difficult some days and easy to think that everyone is terrible or cruel, but that's not always the case. *hugs*

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Indeed, but when you're bullied, and attacked, the world will make you think that, and you'll want nothing better than to escape.

This is such a wonderful story! I hope you'll have even more fun in Eorzia and I'm glad the game helped you so much!

Oh, that's such a nice story! I'm happy for you that you found your friends here and actually started to get your real life back together.

As for me, FF also helped me a lot to cope with my situation. I mentioned in another thread that I suffer from anxiety which affects my lifestyle a lot. It's not that bad when I'm around people I love, but when I'm alone the downward spiral starts.
Before I started playing, most of the time I couldn't do anything but sitting in bed, crying and constantly thinking, thinking, thinking. I worried a lot, about my bf's safety since he's got to drive hours to get to work and then working in cities with a quite high crime rate, about my family and also about myself, my mistakes and everything I did.


When I started FF out of curiousity, I instantly fell in love with this game. The storyline, the music, the scenery, everything... Visiting this new world was and still is absolutely amazing for me.
Final Fantasy 14 is one of the very little ways to escape my head and my "bad thoughts", it's one of the only things I can really concentrade on. I guess you could call Eorzea my personal "happy place".

At the moment I'm home alone again and will be for another two weeks until my boyfriend comes back from work. While I logically spent most of the time playing Final Fantasy, I'm now able to do things outside of the game. Not only because I'm getting better in general, but also because I'm fascinated by the characters determination. Even little Tataru is almost never afraid and even when she is, she still get things done. Seeing the characters develop and take action even if the situation seems hopeless, trying their best, has inspired me a lot. It's a great mindset I'm trying to achive aswell.

I didn't need the game to help me with any real life situation but I'm really happy to play nonetheless! I made many friends, and even if some stopped playing, I still think abuot them from time to time hoping they are well, and I did notice that it's helping me socialize. I'm an awkward nerd who doesn't go out much but from talking to people so much in the game, I'm less awkward when talking to people irl. Now I only need to find a way to add "fc leader" to my job applications :P

Happy to see that the online game helped you to be more social. My case is a bit different.

Before I started to play the game, I was more social irl. Now that I am playing the game I become a bit reclusive and don't really want to go out or spend time with family or friends cuz I am playing this MMO. Now, I am organizing and reducing my play hours to go out more like I used to before playing FFXIV.

My mom and I are watching Dad of Light together and we keep crying because we remember what it was like when I first got her into mmo's. She had retired, my dad had passed, and due to health reasons she couldn't get out much. So I got her to play World of Warcraft with me. She was really mad when she realized that all the people she saw running around were real people and they could see her falling off buildings and running into trees but she enjoyed herself.

But she didn't really blossom until Final Fantasy XIV. She even did most of Alexander normal...at 68 years old! She even has her own set of friends that she's made on her own. Which is amazing since in WoW she never even wanted to speak to anyone.

She even made all the same mistakes the Dad of Light made which made us both laugh. Though she did one better, in WoW she managed to find her way into a lvl 40+ zone all by herself at level 7 and was eaten by the Plaguelands Welcome Bear.

This really is a great show, and I'm glad it was made. We've enjoyed remembering all the crazy adventures we had together.

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Originally Posted by LittleSparrow

This is such a wonderful story! I hope you'll have even more fun in Eorzia and I'm glad the game helped you so much!

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Currently being happy that SE gave us a second chance on the Yokai event. I can finish the rest that I wasn't strong enough to finish. Strangely now I feel like I might be able to handle it this time.

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Originally Posted by Lalafallen

Oh, that's such a nice story! I'm happy for you that you found your friends here and actually started to get your real life back together.

As for me, FF also helped me a lot to cope with my situation. I mentioned in another thread that I suffer from anxiety which affects my lifestyle a lot. It's not that bad when I'm around people I love, but when I'm alone the downward spiral starts.
Before I started playing, most of the time I couldn't do anything but sitting in bed, crying and constantly thinking, thinking, thinking. I worried a lot, about my bf's safety since he's got to drive hours to get to work and then working in cities with a quite high crime rate, about my family and also about myself, my mistakes and everything I did.


When I started FF out of curiousity, I instantly fell in love with this game. The storyline, the music, the scenery, everything... Visiting this new world was and still is absolutely amazing for me.
Final Fantasy 14 is one of the very little ways to escape my head and my "bad thoughts", it's one of the only things I can really concentrade on. I guess you could call Eorzea my personal "happy place".

At the moment I'm home alone again and will be for another two weeks until my boyfriend comes back from work. While I logically spent most of the time playing Final Fantasy, I'm now able to do things outside of the game. Not only because I'm getting better in general, but also because I'm fascinated by the characters determination. Even little Tataru is almost never afraid and even when she is, she still get things done. Seeing the characters develop and take action even if the situation seems hopeless, trying their best, has inspired me a lot. It's a great mindset I'm trying to achive aswell.

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I was in the same boat as you with the laying in bed thing. I just felt completely unmotivated after being attacked. I couldn't do anything out of fear for my life, and just didn't want to live. It didn't help that before that I already had a habit of doing the same thing. It went on for about a year. What I want you to know, is that you CAN reach your goal. Look into getting therapy if you can afford it, and trust in that people really are helpful. You can pick your own therapist, and there's nothing wrong with seeking someone else If they make you uncomfortable. Be the writer of your own destiny my friend.

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Originally Posted by Rakiria

I didn't need the game to help me with any real life situation but I'm really happy to play nonetheless! I made many friends, and even if some stopped playing, I still think abuot them from time to time hoping they are well, and I did notice that it's helping me socialize. I'm an awkward nerd who doesn't go out much but from talking to people so much in the game, I'm less awkward when talking to people irl. Now I only need to find a way to add "fc leader" to my job applications :P

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I completely agree that the game helps people become less awkward. Though I may of gained the fact that I'm an awkward Final Fantasy XIV fan, I lost my inability to talk to people, and make friends. I wish you all the best.

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Originally Posted by JumperX

Happy to see that the online game helped you to be more social. My case is a bit different.

Before I started to play the game, I was more social irl. Now that I am playing the game I become a bit reclusive and don't really want to go out or spend time with family or friends cuz I am playing this MMO. Now, I am organizing and reducing my play hours to go out more like I used to before playing FFXIV.

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You cannot let this game ruin your life. Definitely don't feel ashamed to play, but take some time out for your friends, and for building your future. Life won't wait for you, but XIV will.

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Originally Posted by Linadae

My mom and I are watching Dad of Light together and we keep crying because we remember what it was like when I first got her into mmo's. She had retired, my dad had passed, and due to health reasons she couldn't get out much. So I got her to play World of Warcraft with me. She was really mad when she realized that all the people she saw running around were real people and they could see her falling off buildings and running into trees but she enjoyed herself.

But she didn't really blossom until Final Fantasy XIV. She even did most of Alexander normal...at 68 years old! She even has her own set of friends that she's made on her own. Which is amazing since in WoW she never even wanted to speak to anyone.

She even made all the same mistakes the Dad of Light made which made us both laugh. Though she did one better, in WoW she managed to find her way into a lvl 40+ zone all by herself at level 7 and was eaten by the Plaguelands Welcome Bear.

This really is a great show, and I'm glad it was made. We've enjoyed remembering all the crazy adventures we had together.

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That is one of the cutest stories I had ever heard. It's nice to know that video games aren't just enjoyed by young people, but by older audiences as well. I also really hope that we'll get another season of Dad of Light, but with different stories. These are really inspiring, and helpful for mmo players to see.

I found the tv series to be very nice too. I also mentioned in another thread how this game also helped me in some personal circumstance. I am happy that the game also helped you. Wishing us all the best. :)

DamianFatale I am so touched by your story, and it is amazing to hear how the friends you met in Final Fantasy had such a deep and meaningful influence on your real life interactions. Thank you for sharing! :)

Great story and thanks for sharing it, it is so nice if a show can help.
Myself i started watching the show and it is kind of cool, is it a fan mad show?
I was unsure but so far i am liking it