FFXIV Bitter Sweet

[CaZx]

I kinda wish you would edit out the long drawn out intro where you try and explain yourself (there is really no reason to explain yourself..your on point and present a good argument..anyone who disagrees isn't going to change their mind by reading your intro) but the overall message is very accurate.

Personally, I have enjoyed the game...but to be brutally honest I am not sure there is much that will hold me in this game for the long haul...yeah I get there will be more updates and maybe some will save the day..but the core of the game just doesn't feel like something that will hold MY attention for months on end (notice I said MY attention..I am not trying to put words in anyone's mouth).

1. I found the overall scope of the world to be a little disappointing. It isn't incredibly small by any means...but lets be real here..it is not that big either. I mean I can ride my mount from the starting cities clear to the lvl 50 areas in a matter of what maybe 7-10 minutes? The smaller sized areas combined with all the fast travel you mention considerably take away from the sense of adventure that could be had with this game.

2. The story and missions could be more engrossing..I think most people are drawn to the final fantasy universe for a story and for the lore of a FF universe. As you mentioned you hear from an NPC that item "X" will be such an incredible challenge to obtain..yet you literally walk all of 1 minute..kill a few incredibly easy mobs (by yourself) and obtain the item within a few minutes..then move onto the next quest.

3. The speed of leveling is a little too fast for my taste as well. That said I have not been speed leveling my character to lvl 50 like so many other people have done...However, I do feel like I made it to lvl 43 too quickly. I wish the task of leveling a character felt more involved and was more of a challenge so that when I did reach the current level cap I would feel like I have accomplished something. A combination of larger game areas..harder mob fights..more requirements to party up for leveling and questing...slower leveling..and perhaps less emphasis on quick traveling all could help to create a game that draws you into the leveling of your character as much if not more so than it does just playing end game content.

4. The lack of a need to socially interact is a little dull for an MMO in my opinion. I get that people essentially have the choice and can party up and socialize if they so choose...but this is an MMO it should essentially be a requirement that I need to group up for harder mob fights and maybe even leveling parties..not just zerg fest fate parties.

5. I play as a THM/BLM for my main and I have to say I am a little let down by the entire spell system. I feel like the spells are relatively boring..as you mentioned its a basic rotation of spells over and over again. Its crap in my opinion that the elements do not play a larger role..heck the whole elemental thing (fire gives bonus damage to ice monsters..ect) has been a major part of every single Final Fantasy (single player) that I can recall and it has the potential to add so much more to the game in terms of depth. I can remember the first time I cast thunder (not knowing what to expect) and boy was I disappointed.


I guess I just feel l little let down by the spell system/design and I feel like it could have been done better.

The whole crafting is also a little bit of a let down. I mean I have enjoyed some time spent on my goldsmith but it almost feels like the entire first 30-40 levels worth of equipment that I can craft are utterly worthless in terms of selling to other players because we get SO much of it from NPC quests. You do not get everything..but you get enough for it to basically make the crafter items null n void. There is also the fact that crafter made items simply do not hold a candle to the other equipment you obtain in the game through various sources..therefore the crafter made items are again next to pointless for most people to use.

I have enjoyed my time on this game..and I really want to get hooked..I am simply not there yet though. I had hoped that it would draw me in and keep my attention and I would not need to bother with something like The Elder Scrolls Online. However, at this point I am thinking I may have to at least see what that game is all about when it launches..to see if it offers something more. I mean I realize it could fail too..but heck I am already starting to get a little bored with ARR and I have not even hit 50 yet. The simple fact that I am forced to choose between mindless levling using fates or slow and boring leveling using dungeons is simply a little disheartening.

All that said I am still willing to give the game time and hopefully the gameplay all balances out..time will tell.

[MistressAthena]

I kinda wish you would edit out the long drawn out intro where you try and explain yourself (there is really no reason to explain yourself..your on point and present a good argument..anyone who disagrees isn't going to change their mind by reading your intro) but the overall message is very accurate.

I feel like I need too, simply because of how many times people say things like "OP is just QQIng" or "Gtfo then" or "what you say is an opinion" on things which really aren't opinions (which is why I made that little section as well). I get so many of those comments, I feel as though I do need to explain myself.

[Yoko_Kurama]

First, to the OP, I love your post, completely encompasses the main issues with this so called MMO-RPG.
Secondly,

1. I found the overall scope of the world to be a little disappointing. It isn't incredibly small by any means...but lets be real here..it is not that big either. I mean I can ride my mount from the starting cities clear to the lvl 50 areas in a matter of what maybe 7-10 minutes? The smaller sized areas combined with all the fast travel you mention considerably take away from the sense of adventure that could be had with this game.

3. The speed of leveling is a little too fast for my taste as well. That said I have not been speed leveling my character to lvl 50 like so many other people have done...However, I do feel like I made it to lvl 43 too quickly. I wish the task of leveling a character felt more involved and was more of a challenge so that when I did reach the current level cap I would feel like I have accomplished something. A combination of larger game areas..harder mob fights..more requirements to party up for leveling and questing...slower leveling..and perhaps less emphasis on quick traveling all could help to create a game that draws you into the leveling of your character as much if not more so than it does just playing end game content.

4. The lack of a need to socially interact is a little dull for an MMO in my opinion. I get that people essentially have the choice and can party up and socialize if they so choose...but this is an MMO it should essentially be a requirement that I need to group up for harder mob fights and maybe even leveling parties..not just zerg fest fate parties.

These are definitely some huge factors that need to be addressed. First off make the map system not so user friendly, I shouldn't even know that a fate is near me unless i happen to be walking by and see players already fighting a monster. I shouldn't know that my quest destination is precisely behind a cliff up on a tree based on the fact that on my map i got a glowing dot telling me it has to be there...By making it so that we actually have to focus on what is on our screens instead of our maps the sense of adventure would probably double if not triple.