FFXIV's Storyline

That "what does Final Fantasy mean to you" thread got me thinking...

I'm not extremely far in it and I've only played one character, so I can't say much, but... from what I've seen, FFXIV's storyline, as far as Gridania is concerned, bad, but afterward(fade to white), seems to be "Okay" at worst, hopefully "Good".

Something far more involved would be really nice IMO - like a traditional FFXIV storyline, especially if I could bring friends along and we could influence the storyline, but that would make it an even bigger project than it already is. Even if my avatar only got to play a silent partner to some other group of protagonists, or had limited choice responses to influence the events (or both), that would be nice. (I'm thinking Fable style, for the latter suggestion)

As it is, an NPC calls me every once in a while to do this or that and then it's back to grinding forever. I'm aware that it's an MMO... but it's also Final Fantasy. It's not supposed to be some common MMO, it should be the MMO that every MMO aspires to be...

Am I asking for too much?

I think the issue with the story line is too far spread apart. Over all I think the story line is fairly good, it escalates more and more as you go through it.

Currently there is so much unknown about the story at where it currently ends I do not think anyone has a clue what will happen next. Very typical SE story line, issue is we have no end and there is too much timer between story lines.

IF you youtube the Ifrit mission and the final mission where you meet the possible mainboss/headguy from the Gar. Empire you will see the story gets a whole lot more interesting then the intro background story missions.

What is the issue with the gar. empire?, what happened to the city that the empire destroyed?, what is with the primals and the bst tribes?, why do you have the power of echo and why do you have immunity from the primals? I think SE is weaving a great story, it just needs to be finished.

We are all Ghosts. :/

I loathe how you can solo all the missions. You should need atleast 5 people...

It should be you and your friends doing something that leaves you empowered. Not standing around while NPCs fight the general of an army.

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Originally Posted by Rau

I loathe how you can solo all the missions. You should need atleast 5 people...

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If that were the case, it'd probably end up like the epic book quests in Lord of the Rings Online, in that most players were never able to see the storyline due to being unable to get a group together.

One of the biggest let downs of FFXIV for me was the mission themselves, the story isn't bad but missions engineered for a crafter to solo is not as engaging and epic as one where a full party if not alliance is required to succeed. I did the level 15 Gridania mission and litteral got carried through the fight by a endless wave of spawning npcs while I ran in and out trying to fight only to get almost 1 shot.

I couldn't bring a friend alone so instead of eaming up we had to separate and do the exact same mission solo at the same time. THIS broke my heart, missions where you start a battle and afk or just run around playing 25 questions until stuff dies? come on I want blood shed, i want to break a sweat throwing my life on the line. I want the battle to get my blood pumping and most of all I want my friends along for the ride.

If this does not change I doubt I can even finish the story missions in this game.

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Originally Posted by Eolrid

If that were the case, it'd probably end up like the epic book quests in Lord of the Rings Online, in that most players were never able to see the storyline due to being unable to get a group together.

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Thats Lord of the Rings, in Final Fantasy XI I had no problem getting missions done by simply asking LS or shouting for more heads. FFXI community was friendly, helpful and thriving so getting things done wasn't too much of a hassle unless it had a level cap on it then gathering people became an issue before level sync and cap removal in certain expansion areas.

Watch all or part of ToAU 44 and then do the same with Gridania rank 15 mission "Beckon of the Elementals" I think it was called. After doing so tell me which one you prefer.

ToAU 44: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
(Spoilers for those who haven't done yet lol.)

Gridania lvl 15 Mission: The Fight (Spoilers for those who haven't done yet.)

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Originally Posted by Keith_Dragoon

Thats Lord of the Rings, in Final Fantasy XI I had no problem getting missions done by simply asking LS or shouting for more heads. FFXI community was friendly, helpful and thriving so getting things done wasn't too much of a hassle unless it had a level cap on it then gathering people became an issue before level sync and cap removal in certain expansion areas.

Go on youtube and search ToAU 44 or another mission from the game and then do the same with Gridania rank 15 mission "Fade to White" I think it was called. After doing so tell me which one you prefer.

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I enjoy group content, myself. However, this is Final Fantasy XIV, not XI. I just think we need to concentrate on getting a good deal more content into the game and improving its overall health before we go adding storyline content that requires several people to accomplish. Tons of group-only content only works in a game with a healthy population, and at this point I wouldn't call FFXIV "thriving." But I'm generally on your side of the issue.

Back on topic, I'm definitely in favor of a more involved storyline, and I also agree that you should be able to bring friends along if you want.

Not everyone is a fan of group storyline quest, that's the main sales point of SW:TOR. RPG doesn't always equate to a party, otherwise games like TES never exist.

And it kills the immersion in that players who completed the storyline quests/missions can redo it in another group. What, did you just kill the big bad guy the 123456789 times according to the story?

It needs group mission, but at the same time it needs not to be all about group mission. A common ground to share, not only one or the other.

And yet more comparisons between content far into a game's lifespan with a game that's pretty much left the oven before it was fully cooked.

But yes, I see dead people.

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Originally Posted by Eolrid

If that were the case, it'd probably end up like the epic book quests in Lord of the Rings Online, in that most players were never able to see the storyline due to being unable to get a group together.

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Its not that hard to get 4 people together.

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Originally Posted by Eolrid

I enjoy group content, myself. However, this is Final Fantasy XIV, not XI. I just think we need to concentrate on getting a good deal more content into the game and improving its overall health before we go adding storyline content that requires several people to accomplish. Tons of group-only content only works in a game with a healthy population, and at this point I wouldn't call FFXIV "thriving." But I'm generally on your side of the issue.

Back on topic, I'm definitely in favor of a more involved storyline, and I also agree that you should be able to bring friends along if you want.

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True but if they build the game in a way to promote grouping on missions it adds to the games fun factor and more content that you can just afk while NPCs do all the dirty work isn't going to bring anyone back it'll make what small numbers we have shrink, there are plenty of active players on each server, some more then others but people will come back when things get fixed up. Adding brand new AFK missions is not the right path. It may not be XI but it worked wonders for XI's community even when that game was in the gutter like this one is, turned that game from coal to a diamond and I know it can do the same here,

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Originally Posted by Malakhim

And yet more comparisons between content far into a game's lifespan with a game that's pretty much left the oven before it was fully cooked.

But yes, I see dead people.

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I could give an example of mission that was launched with the game and still more engaging then anything we have in XIV cept lvl 40+ faction leve NMs.

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Originally Posted by Keith_Dragoon

True but if they build the game in a way to promote grouping on missions it adds to the games fun factor and more content that you can just afk while NPCs do all the dirty work isn't going to bring anyone back it'll make what small numbers we have shrink, there are plenty of active players on each server, some more then others but people will come back when things get fixed up. Adding brand new AFK missions is not the right path. It may not be XI but it worked wonders for XI's community even when that game was in the gutter like this one is, turned that game from coal to a diamond and I know it can do the same here,

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I totally agree with you, and you're right that more group-based content actually lends to a better community experience which in turn would probably lead to a higher population.

I guess, ultimately, I'm just kind of a jaded MMO player who has a hard time being optimistic about this sort of thing. I've played too many "dead" MMOs with a lot of content but with no one to do it with, so I've just developed that sort of mindset. We'll see how it goes.

At any rate, I hope you're right, and that this game can turn itself around and become what FFXI was/is.

Making missions that require 4 people (The number Yoshi said he wanted for a small party) should not be difficult at all. It will add some skill required and add some epicness back into it. I mean if we fight that big dragon or something form the opening scene do you really want to be able to solo it, or let a few npcs kill it for you. There is just no fun, epicness, or any good qualities in a game where you can solo everything.

I do not see an issue of requiring day 50+ missions requiring 4 ppl to kill, if you cannot get that many people to help you try 4 things:

1) Shout- will be surprised how well this works
2) Get a linkshell (if you linkshell does not blow it should have some people that will help you)
3) Offer some kind of reward for doing it, aka bribe ppl.
4) If the other 3 situations do not work try not being a complete D-Bag and maby someone will help you, cause apparently the community blisted you.

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Originally Posted by Xatsh

Making missions that require 4 people (The number Yoshi said he wanted for a small party) should not be difficult at all. It will add some skill required and add some epicness back into it. I mean if we fight that big dragon or something form the opening scene do you really want to be able to solo it, or let a few npcs kill it for you. There is just no fun, epicness, or any good qualities in a game where you can solo everything.
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I died a little on the inside ; ;

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Originally Posted by Eolrid

I totally agree with you, and you're right that more group-based content actually lends to a better community experience which in turn would probably lead to a higher population.

I guess, ultimately, I'm just kind of a jaded MMO player who has a hard time being optimistic about this sort of thing. I've played too many "dead" MMOs with a lot of content but with no one to do it with, so I've just developed that sort of mindset. We'll see how it goes.

At any rate, I hope you're right, and that this game can turn itself around and become what FFXI was/is.

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Trust me, I have made minor suggestions that game companies have brushed off as uneeded or trivial and when I finally got enough community supprt behind the idea they added it only to increase the ammount of people playing the game and lessened the people complaining. Not saying I am a pro at suggestions but I have an eye for seeing flaw and filling that in with a good idea, i just can't do it alone and that is why I ask for community feedback/support.

I would creat a topic compiling all my suggestions along with every decent non-biased suggesstion that will benefit the game without doing any harm but even my thread about Linkshell Improvements gets pushed aside by all the topics about how this game is bad or needs XYZ instead of ABC.

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Originally Posted by Xatsh

I mean if we fight that big dragon or something form the opening scene do you really want to be able to solo it, or let a few npcs kill it for you.

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Indeed. They just need to make separate storylines for crafters and gatherers so that the battle-oriented storylines can be customized to the desires and wants of battle classes. Currently, this "any class can do the story mode" nonsense just makes the whole thing bland.

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Originally Posted by Rentahamster

Indeed. They just need to make separate storylines for crafters and gatherers so that the battle-oriented storylines can be customized to the desires and wants of battle classes. Currently, this "any class can do the story mode" nonsense just makes the whole thing bland.

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Exactly my point just less long-winded lol

I like the plot quest in FF14, I think they are great. As to those mad about being able to solo them, times are changing, games are getting more solo oriented. Also, there becomes a problem in MMOs when people have done the story-line quests, people than have finished them have no incentive to help and it becomes an issue to even get them done if you start the game late or want to level a mule. I played FF11 and due to me moving and not being able to get the internet at my new house for some months, I got way behind on COP. Do you know how much time, energy, and gil I had to spend to get people to help me with CoP quest. I pretty much begged every night for 3 weeks just to get 5-3 (trackers fight) done. If I ever had to do that in another game, I would quit, but I loved FF11 so much, I stuck it out. I loved the fact that COP was tough, and when I finally got my Rajas Ring, it felt like I had truly accomplished something. I like that feeling, but to have to beg/buy help.... never again, the difficulty should never ever be in the form of just putting a group together to the mission/quest/instance/whatever.

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Originally Posted by Rau

I loathe how you can solo all the missions. You should need atleast 5 people...

It should be you and your friends doing something that leaves you empowered. Not standing around while NPCs fight the general of an army.

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I feel the same way. Doing a mission in a group is the best. I don't see the point in even doing a solo mission in an MMO. I mean I love storylines (if they are good anyway) and RPGs, but if I wanted to do it solo I wouldn't be playing online and it certainly wouldn't be in an MMO.

In my opinion, FF XIV has one of the coolest, most interesting stories I've seen in an RPG in a long time. The only problem with it, is that the pacing is awful. It takes weeks upon months, and for some years, just to reach the end. Another problem is that they are WAY too short, and some are very uneventful.

However, the lore and story arch they have created is some of the best I've seen in awhile. It's similar to XI's in some ways with the beast tribes being present in the world, but they are more cooperative from what I've collected to work together with the major races and battle against an even greater threat, the Garlean Empire.

An Empire has been present in several previous FF games before, but here they seem much more fleshed out, mysterious, and powerful. The beast tribes are also filled with lore and mystery. Where do they come from? Who are their gods and why do they worship them? Who will they side with in the end?

Also, Ishgard, the castle kingdom to the far North in Coerthas, is a HUGE mystery of amazement in my eye. The journey to the city is quite a trek in itself, but gaining access to it is an even bigger question. There is an entire story that Ishgard holds within it's stone walls. A war against the dragons to the far west of Dravania, that terrorize the local airships that fly around the area.

The little hamlets across Coerthas and other areas also feed players with more lore in the story and whats to be expected with future content.

There's so much more that I'm leaving out, and my sympathies go out to anyone who hasn't been able to fully explore all the lore and content the game's story has to offer up until this point. I wish there were some way to make it easier to gain access to for all the players to enjoy, because right now the game itself is turning a lot of players away, and even the players still active don't really understand what's going on because they are too busy grinding and crafting to explore the world and absorb all the knowledge the land holds for players in the near future.

yeah the pacing is straight up terrible

thats why i'm just leveling a class to 50 and doing all the post 20 quests at once.

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Originally Posted by Punxsutawney

I like the plot quest in FF14, I think they are great. As to those mad about being able to solo them, times are changing, games are getting more solo oriented. Also, there becomes a problem in MMOs when people have done the story-line quests, people than have finished them have no incentive to help and it becomes an issue to even get them done if you start the game late or want to level a mule. I played FF11 and due to me moving and not being able to get the internet at my new house for some months, I got way behind on COP. Do you know how much time, energy, and gil I had to spend to get people to help me with CoP quest. I pretty much begged every night for 3 weeks just to get 5-3 (trackers fight) done. If I ever had to do that in another game, I would quit, but I loved FF11 so much, I stuck it out. I loved the fact that COP was tough, and when I finally got my Rajas Ring, it felt like I had truly accomplished something. I like that feeling, but to have to beg/buy help.... never again, the difficulty should never ever be in the form of just putting a group together to the mission/quest/instance/whatever.

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There is a difference in solo and being carried, in XIV the missions carry you threw them thats no fun at all. If a crafter can do a mission solo then it does not technically count as "solo" because they can't fight.

If setting the difficulty level to 0 is the new path of MMOs I'm done lol.