Is it possible to play FFXIV if you don't use Discord?

I know I'm an odd-one-out in that I don't use Discord.
Used to, but I have issues with it now and they remain unresolved so I'm not going to use it.

However it seems that if I don't use Discord then I am automatically excluded from all non soloable content : /

I have no issues with Voice communications in general as I've used several programs over the years in other games, but in XIV it seems like no one is interested in any alternatives.

Is there anyone else out there who plays without it?

No you don't need voice chat for the majority of things, most week 1 kill statics for new raids will propably require you to have it though.

I've never had a DF expect or need discord. If you're doing PF for savage or the like then it'll greatly increase the chance someone wants/expects it though. I've had PF that didn't require it, many were optional but to be fair I don't really like to PF as I don't like having to wait around in a lobby which is where DF shines for me (if I get busy I can even cancel the DF queue without regret, unlike PF which I'd be very guilty for doing if I did).


So yeah, I hardly use it- but context of what you are doing will change if people will look to you to use it or not. A lot easier to communicate quickly in hard content through voice.

I suppose it depends on what content interests you. Anything Savage and up I'm guessing it's usually a requirement, but that's not surprising. As far as something like Extreme trials go...no, you don't need it, though I've been in groups where it has been offered and others have joined while I remained out of it. Cleared/farmed mostly fine, and the mistakes were largely made by those in the Discord. :p But voice chat is far from a requirement for most FF XIV content that isn't Savage or Ultimate raiding. I think it is unnecessary for anything below that and I rarely see it listed as a requirement for such things. Offered at times, sure, but rarely a requirement. So no, I don't use it, and I get along just fine.

Open your own "No Discord needed" PFs?

you don't unless you want to do Baldesion arsenal or current savage/ultimates

Not needed at all, an FC that nags you to go on discord is an FC not worth staying in. I use the game's FC chat and Linkshell chat all the time, and so does most of the community; it's only a small percent of people who refuse to use the game's chat system.

While voice chat is good when there's 2-5 people, when it gets into the higher numbers like 6-15 people it's actually a detriment to communication.

I've never been in a PF that's required it so far, even for Savage. Some offer it but it's quite rare it's a requirement, and if so usually for the last boss of a tier. Statics very often do require it, though we don't in my FC so that's not a definite. Anything other than Savage/Ultimate it's not required at all.

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Originally Posted by Liam_Harper

I've never been in a PF that's required it so far, even for Savage.

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As long as there is a common PF-strategy and everyone is on the same page and knows what to do, usually a macro and some lines in chat are enough, sure. But voice still helps for callouts or if you need to make on-the-fly adjustment (like coordinating support in BA or repositioning if someone dies and someone else needs to take an orb or bait something instead or whatever)

A voice-party will probably recover from a mistake easier than a non-voice-party.

Discord callouts were really important in BA. I found the process a lot of fun. Don't need to use voice but listening to the callouts was something that helped me with multiple clears.

Even most savage PFs don't require voice comms. Some might, though.

So, yes, you can do the majority of group content without voice comms. However, if you run with a static for high end content, they'll probably want you to at least listen.

Even ultimates can be cleared without it, it just take more time, so yes.

I pugged E1S-E7S without discord.
It's not a requirement.

I never been in any party the required it. Plenty have said they are on it for those who would like to join in, but never required.

Discord is not a requirement it just makes clearing content more efficient. No way to type out commands mid fight in anything complicated so discord is sorta the only means of communication besides maby a danger bongos macro. When learning a fight hearing callouts of mechanics coming will increase the speed you clear it by 3-4 fold easily.

In the end is it possible yes, is it optimal no. There are groups for almost everything that do not require it, alot that make it optional. Expect to see alot of mandatory discord groups for upper end content. If discord is a no go, have to look for the groups without it. And expect alot of them to break rather quickly if they are learning parties.

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Originally Posted by Delphaneux

I know I'm an odd-one-out in that I don't use Discord.
Used to, but I have issues with it now and they remain unresolved so I'm not going to use it.

However it seems that if I don't use Discord then I am automatically excluded from all non soloable content : /

I have no issues with Voice communications in general as I've used several programs over the years in other games, but in XIV it seems like no one is interested in any alternatives.

Is there anyone else out there who plays without it?

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Excluded from ALL non-solo content... that seems a bit extreme. Who's excluding you? We set up Ruby EXs all the time in PF and never require folks to use Discord.
Discord for our FC is more of a chatroom while having fun kind of thing.

I remember back when beldesian arsenal came out and alot of people wouldn't let you join there group unless you were in a discord set up by people who organized for beldesian runs, they'd even purposely not help out someone who got in the run by just being lucky and at the right portal in time.

Kinda sucked caused I'd love to give BA a try, I loved eureka, I don't use discord cause I'm on Ps4 and don't feel like setting my controller down and taking myself outta game to full with this thing over here, if I wanna be on my phone I'd turn My PS4 off but while I'm on my PS4 I wanna focus on it.

I have a discord account or whatever it's called but I use it so less that I don't even know my info on there.

It is possible. I don't do savage content but I've been able to clear everything else without voice chat.

I pugged through the last 2 savage tiers on Primal on my alt and I have not once been required to join a Discord. If you're doing it in a static, I'm fairly certain most of them will require you to join a discord though.

How ironic that the second in command @discord f***** the XIV playerbase in the first place. Still ongoing too.

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Originally Posted by Yshtola

How ironic that the second in command @discord f***** the XIV playerbase in the first place. Still ongoing too.

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Your word got bleeped, can you explain it again? He likes/ates the XIV playerbase?

I haven't ever wanted to use any of the voice chat apps, because I don't want to hear the voices of the Players in my ears, I want to hear the voices of their Characters in my head.

If I ever did decide I needed it (I don't do the Savage tier raids) I know I'd first learn how to use a voice-altering bit of software and ensure I ran the voice-altering software before launching voice chat.

So me. Never raided Savage. Outside of Savage, never needed any vocal direction, just "Know your Job, Know the Fight". It's easy to play with JEDF selected, knowing only E, then...

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Originally Posted by Delphaneux

I know I'm an odd-one-out in that I don't use Discord.
Used to, but I have issues with it now and they remain unresolved so I'm not going to use it.

However it seems that if I don't use Discord then I am automatically excluded from all non soloable content : /

I have no issues with Voice communications in general as I've used several programs over the years in other games, but in XIV it seems like no one is interested in any alternatives.

Is there anyone else out there who plays without it?

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My guess you would have to open your own no discord PF or say you are deaf or something.

Needed? No. Preferred? Some cases vary. You can likely clear savage content without it but it's going to take a lot of wipes and instructions are never the clearest in text format as everyone doesn't understand your personality type through text(no matter how good you are at conveying emotion through writing). Personally I prefer no discord whenever possible for pugs and junk but if I'm going with a static or friends... I don't mind using it. Especially helpful in palace of the dead +101 runs too. Really comes down to the preference of the player, their patience and tolerance of other people. We have a lot of complete anti-socialists who refuse to hear so much as a word and we also have people who can't seem to shut up.. It's a mixed bag to sort through but the beauty of discord is, muting people is a thing.

Aside from voice chat being a thing... just having a text chat that's a constant out of the game is also very reliable in reaching out to someone you wish to play with again. Considering you can't always reach someone in game or they unsub or something.

not needed at all outside of BA or Ultimate.
many pug savage/extreme without discord

Well this is all very encouraging.
Though maybe I should clarify I have no beef with voice communications in general, I have beef with using Discord specifically.

I think maybe I should make a new character on some other data centres to see if they would be a better fit for me.
The feel of Crystal seemed to change after the server modifications earlier in the year.

In any case, thank you to everyone who posted here. Makes me feel a little more positive about things going forward :)

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Originally Posted by Amnmaat

Your word got bleeped, can you explain it again? He likes/ates the XIV playerbase?

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Stanislav made Guildwork. Stan used Guildwork to kickstart Discord. He is still taking recurring payment on the platform even though the website has been abandoned since ~3.3

There's a lot to go over, but anyone who plays this game and uses Discord should know that the higher ups are really sketchy.

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Originally Posted by Yshtola

Stanislav made Guildwork. Stan used Guildwork to kickstart Discord. He is still taking recurring payment on the platform even though the website has been abandoned since ~3.3

There's a lot to go over, but anyone who plays this game and uses Discord should know that the higher ups are really sketchy.

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Another one is how Discord drop on any channel "owner" the total responsibility for moderating it (or risk losing the channel), instead of having their own, paid btw, staff. Particularly disgusting when the banned person can create a new account and keep at it.

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Originally Posted by Delphaneux

I know I'm an odd-one-out in that I don't use Discord.
Used to, but I have issues with it now and they remain unresolved so I'm not going to use it.

However it seems that if I don't use Discord then I am automatically excluded from all non soloable content : /

I have no issues with Voice communications in general as I've used several programs over the years in other games, but in XIV it seems like no one is interested in any alternatives.

Is there anyone else out there who plays without it?

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Umm what?

Not trying to be flippant or what not, but most of the time I use discord for funsies and socializing with the FC...if I feel like it. If youre looking for prog for savage, communication is going to help a lot. But for EX, Norms, raids,a nd virtually everything else, it is rarely used. Even when it comes to prog, you dont always need it. Over half the prog groups Ive been a part of dont use it. People just type stuff out. Sometimes they offer up discord cause its easier to communicate and do call outs but its not often mandatory.

Don’t play an mmo is you don’t want to be social

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Originally Posted by AbelArchaniEA

Don’t play an mmo is you don’t want to be social

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I resisted using Discord for the first couple years playing, mostly because I just wanted to maintain my privacy from other players. Now I do chat with select people who I consider closer friends in the game. So I get hesitating to jump into discord with a bunch of new people... especially if you're more introverted by nature. It can be scary and overwhelming to have early interactions be like that.

But to the original question. The only content I've found that is better with Discord are the harder fights where you want to be able to call out mechanics or coordinate adjustments. Like X person died, will you raise please? Or who can take care of this mechanic for them?

You can use Discord while playing this game?
Ok I know you can but I have never done so.

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Originally Posted by AbelArchaniEA

Don’t play an mmo is you don’t want to be social

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I can be social...without Discord. And I am when I feel like it.

No.
If you don't use Discord and try to play FF14 your PC will explode.

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Originally Posted by Delphaneux

I know I'm an odd-one-out in that I don't use Discord.
Used to, but I have issues with it now and they remain unresolved so I'm not going to use it.

However it seems that if I don't use Discord then I am automatically excluded from all non soloable content : /

I have no issues with Voice communications in general as I've used several programs over the years in other games, but in XIV it seems like no one is interested in any alternatives.

Is there anyone else out there who plays without it?

---

for roulette really don't know anyone using discord for general roulette. Voice is super useful for savages.

I think if you express that you don't use to discordd due to you have unresolved issues they may keep in that mind but they may not invite or even kick you out. However, last year I was having issues with discord and just went via the app on my phone and used it during that time. I let them know I can't talk but can hear them and they were ok with that. It really depends on the group though. Kind of sucks no one is interested in alternative programs.

Probably going to be a very unpopular opinion, but I strongly believe that callouts make for a worse and less self-sufficient player. I pugged the entire Eden's Gate savage tier and never once used any form of voice chat in the process. Late in the tier there were a few times where my friend's static had me sub in for them for a kill or two, and the constant callouts that they were doing for mechanics just drove me insane; to the point where I just wouldn't even get in voice with them. Having someone constantly talking in my ear saying what mechanic was happening and what to do for it just bothered me to no end.

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Originally Posted by Lucy_Pyre

Probably going to be a very unpopular opinion, but I strongly believe that callouts make for a worse and less self-sufficient player. I pugged the entire Eden's Gate savage tier and never once used any form of voice chat in the process. Late in the tier there were a few times where my friend's static had me sub in for them for a kill or two, and the constant callouts that they were doing for mechanics just drove me insane; to the point where I just wouldn't even get in voice with them. Having someone constantly talking in my ear saying what mechanic was happening and what to do for it just bothered me to no end.

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Yeah, I agree. Being able to know the fight inside and out is more beneficial than having callouts. Vocal callouts might help in the short term for your clear/farm, but they won't help a person who doesn't know the entirety of a fight the next time they decide to run it and voice chat isn't available. Knowing the mechanics is far more valuable than having a voice chat. It has also been my experience at times (not all the time, but some of the time) that people who are in a voice chat make more mistakes than those without it because they are anticipating a callout instead of knowing what's coming and knowing how to deal with it.

I have many alts so I've been in 4 savage statics this tier alone and still pug pf every week. By far the good players in PF are much better than most players in statics. PF players don't need call outs and can react to situations on the fly. Many static players prob can't even clear without ppl telling them where to go or what to do. It's because they can only do things the way they learned and can't adapt to changes.

100% possible. Only time you'd really need discord is for Extreme and Savage raiding, and if you know what you are supposed to do well enough, probably not even then.

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Originally Posted by Delphaneux

I know I'm an odd-one-out in that I don't use Discord.
Used to, but I have issues with it now and they remain unresolved so I'm not going to use it.

However it seems that if I don't use Discord then I am automatically excluded from all non soloable content : /

I have no issues with Voice communications in general as I've used several programs over the years in other games, but in XIV it seems like no one is interested in any alternatives.

Is there anyone else out there who plays without it?

---

Voice chat isn't needed at all for any content. Most of the time it's more annoying than useful.
Repeating the same thing multiple times because people weren't listening as opposed to typing it once.
People with the need to state the openly obvious because they think it makes them important.
Over usage resulting in people with drone mentality where their brain doesn't function unless told what to do every second.
Children attempting to sound like their favorite rap artist.

Use it as a social tool and nothing else.

The bar in terms of player quality on MMO's has been steadily plummeting since the birth of WoW as people become reliant on things like voice chat, 3rd party tools, and guides to do anything in game.