Final Events of the Current Version: Availability and Timing for players?
First of all, I like a good surprise, so I'm not asking for any information regarding the content of the current version's final event(s), however I'm worried about the conditions surrounding these events.
What we know:
• The FFXIV 2.0 Roadmap state "Radical Changes to in-game World", in other words: "Something big" will happen, which will be experienced in the game world.
• We are already seeing visible changes in the game world, brought in progressively (weather effects, the Twelve's signs appearing on prayer stones, increased presence of Garlean ships, Atomos's appearance). These are escalating towards the "Something big" mentioned above.
• The XXXVth Letter From the Producer claims that the current servers could be brought back online just for fun after their official shutdown on Nov. 11, but it would make no sense at all with regards to the storyline, and we'd need to make abstraction of that.
It certainly has a "point of no return" feel, story-wise.
We are told that the final events will be memorable. Yoshida-san compared this to Ultima Online's last day, how you had to be there to experience how grand a sign-off it was.
This brings us to the core of the problem:
Who will get to experience the current version's grand finale, when, and under which circumstances
Scenario 1 - Open-world live event a few moments before the plug is pulled
• Special GM-controlled NPC can be brought in for some unique on-the-spot dialogue
• Server can dispatch worldwide messages with specific timings to describe the catastrophe
• Weather effects, monster spawns and other unusual phenomena can be triggered for a total change of atmosphere.
• When the events are over, the servers go down, and the storyline is coherent until it picks up again in ARR
• Creates a collective experience of the end-game event
• Everyone is concerned, so no one shines as THE Hero
• Players HAVE to be logged in at THAT EXACT TIME, leading to a number of issues
--> Unfair to players in a timezone where the scheduled time is not convenient (middle of the night)
--> Unfair to players unable to attend due to obligations
--> May cause saturation on the servers, unfair to players unable to connect
Scenario 2 - Player-initiated events open to everyone
• Events can be available for an extended period, allowing each player to experience them at their convenience during the availability period, so no one is left out
• Detailed cutscenes can be used to show the final events, with better models and visual effects, for a more polished atmosphere.
• Your character can be THE Hero, with all the content instanced and cutscenes tailored for YOU
• Experience of the ending is very personal rather than collective, not as memorable for a MMO.
• Experiencing the events early during the availability period, and continuing playing afterwards would make no sense story-wise.
Scenario 3 - Conclusion to the Grand Company story quest arc
Building the final events as a quest allows much of the same benefits and problems as Scenario 2 detailed above, with some additions:
• Can rely on story elements detailed in the Grand Company quests, specifically the player's Grand Company
• Can obtain rewards from the quest's completion, a souvenir maybe?
• It would require 3 different characters to experience all 3 endings, as each company would have slight variations
• Players with insufficient advancement in Grand Company quests will be unable to experience the finale.
Scenario 4 - ????
• Something I haven't thought about! *GASP*
It would be nice if the Reps could give us a bit more information on how we will get to experience the final events, and whether the developers have put enough consideration in opening these events to a maximum of players.
