Far be it from me to complain, but...

[gifthorse]

How exactly are Quest-hubs supposed to work in a game like FFXIV, other than as a cosmetic feature?

Usually, quests serve as both a form of content, but more importantly, also as a form of progression. In FFXIV, things are different because guildleves already serve as the fundamental form of progression in FFXIV, as well as grinding. So, it then begs the question, what do quest hubs actually add to the game world?

I figure I might as well ask.

Cosmetically, quest hubs give the illusion of something to do. But unless they form the foundation of the game, implementing them will be more effort than they are worth. A lot of development goes into a feature that doesn't necessarily bring much to the game, in terms of gameplay.

I hope SE has factored in an immediate use for quest hubs, as opposed to just throwing them into the game to bide us over until real gameplay comes along. An emphasis should be placed on gameplay, not on mindless questing drivel.

Perhaps if quest hubs were used to cushion new players and introduce them into the gameworld, and perhaps even break up the monotony of the zones, then they might be a welcome feature. But if their primary function is just to exist "because other games have quest hubs", then that's pretty shoddy design philosophy.

One of the reasons Yoshi discarded the idea of Player Companies and Player-owned Ships was because he saw no "function" for these features. Well, couldn't you say the same thing for quest-hubs?

I just think it's ironic that gameplay-changing features were thrown out because apparently they didn't have a "function" and yet other things have been added to the game, despite having even less of a "function".

[Gramul]

Far be it from me to complain

Oh hoho you.

But as far as Encampments go, we don't really know how they will work or what sort of quests we'll be given. Anything we really talk about now is purely speculation.

[Jennestia]

Just somewhere people will gather instead of just staying in the city or the popular leve camps, like in XI everyone gathered in Jeuno then Whitegate then later Port Jeuno for Abyssea and early in life, people gathered at Selbina or the Outpost in dunes for partying. Since they're related to quests it's likely the quest hangout.

Also, he didn't discard anything -- he clearly said he won't implement something till he has a use for them, i.e why build a cake when you have nothing to do with it? (his example)

[darkstarpoet1]

Just somewhere people will gather instead of just staying in the city or the popular leve camps, like in XI everyone gathered in Jeuno then Whitegate then later Port Jeuno for Abyssea and early in life, people gathered at Selbina or the Outpost in dunes for partying. Since they're related to quests it's likely the quest hangout.

Also, he didn't discard anything -- he clearly said he won't implement something till he has a use for them, i.e why build a cake when you have nothing to do with it? (his example)

sorry to disagree with his line of thinking, but he should have asked the thousands of players that left what one thing they were waiting in game to be added before they came out. i can name hundreds of people in different linkshells that left the game and stated they'd wait til. more content and the player ran companies were implemented. those same people still come in after each patch to see if those were taken care of. since they are not they stay away.

[Nephera]

Progression is a little..uh..boring right now, I think it probably should have been a part of the main quests..but they dont really have enough combat for them to do that.

[Physic]

I didnt play wow, i dont really understand what a quest hub is, is it just some place you get quests? cause that sounds like a guild leve counter essentially

[gifthorse]

How can quest-hubs be used as a form of progression in a game where you can rank up multiple classes?

In ffxiv, quest hubs wont be tied to progression. They will just be cosmetic.

[gifthorse]

I didnt play wow, i dont really understand what a quest hub is, is it just some place you get quests? cause that sounds like a guild leve counter essentially

Basically, in WoW, Aion, Rift there is usually an NPC that gives a chain quest and then a motley combination of others that give EXP quests.

Usually games that use this concept use quests as a form of progression. Like instead of grinding, you just do all these quests in the zone. Then move onto the next. It becomes some lame relay race between quest hubs, I guess.

[Gramul]

How can quest-hubs be used as a form of progression in a game where you can rank up multiple classes?

In ffxiv, quest hubs wont be tied to progression. They will just be cosmetic.

If interesting little story arcs are cosmetic, then I'm all for them being cosmetic. This is obviously considering the probability that they will have little story arcs.

As I recall, the first players poll had the majority asking for more story quests.

[Physic]

Basically, in WoW, Aion, Rift there is usually an NPC that gives a chain quest and then a motley combination of others that give EXP quests.

Usually games that use this concept use quests as a form of progression. Like instead of grinding, you just do all these quests in the zone. Then move onto the next. It becomes some lame relay race between quest hubs, I guess.

ahhh, i did that in aion and CO, i usually enjoyed them, but yeah those gave exp, annd they usually took over as a means for xp, whereas i feel they should only have been an option. Having real stories is cool though.