Another disappointing event.

[axemtitanium]

Why don't you design a better one? Someone else's thread managed to garner a dev response. Keep in mind that it must be doable by someone who is level 15.

Personally, I found the quests well-written and engaging. To be fair, what else can you do to make it more quote-unquote "interesting"? Short of programming new game mechanics for a one-off event (which time-consuming, resource-intensive, and likely not worth the return from a cost-benefit standpoint), you can only increase the complexity of a quest by adding more steps in which you fetch stuff (or talk to stuff). Go here, talk to this guy, fight this thing; that's what a quest in a video game is, anything else is just set dressing, but how well-written the set dressing is what makes the quest memorable or not. If the writing was not to your taste, then there's no amount of fetching that would make it "interesting" to you.

EDIT: Looks like I got ninja'd. Anyway, I think you're misunderstanding the purpose of seasonal events within the context of the game-as-a-service that is FFXIV. Seasonal events are fun distractions from the "main" part of the game, which is the mighty quest for epic loot. Everything in the game is designed to make you want to keep paying your monthly fee. Within this context, seasonal events are a nice quality of life addition which doubles as a fleeting time-locked event (i.e., if you don't sub RIGHT NOW for the duration of the event, you won't get access to the limited edition items it provides). Given that development time is limited and that only a fraction of the player base (i.e. the current subscribers and not future subscriber or lapsed subscribers) will be able to experience the event, it behooves the development team to create a "lean" event which satisfies most players without feeling too short, without spending too much time or effort on it so it can justify the cost of implementation. You're perfectly valid in your opinion that the event is too short or simple, but it's simply not economical to spend a lot of effort and time to create content which will only be available for two weeks, when you could be spending that time making the next big raid boss which will be available forever once it's released.

[Duuude007]

The one good point made in this topic was when someone said that a guildhest challenge should be on the table for future seasonal events.

A level cap, a dungeon-esque instance, and totally customizable.

[Mayin]

bumped for super random edit to main post. FUN IDEAS!

[Velox]

I'm having fun so far
Although the downside is that it is reminding me of my "forever alone"-ness -.-

[Noshpan]

Personally I hate all holidays, but I only complain about the real ones.

The Yellow Moon quests were funny enough, though. The second time I did it I wanted to warn all of her paramours to run away from her.

[meJojo]

If I had to spend a lot of time and effort on events I probably wouldn't even do them.

[Rhas]

Hoping things improve.

IT'S NOT A FATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*cough cough*

There's your improvement.

[Felis]

IT'S NOT A FATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*cough cough*

There's your improvement.

And there are also no bells ^^

[Eidolon]

Square Enix finally put a quest in a non-FATE. I am perfectly happy with how this quest series turned out, because I'm not standing around in a FATE area waiting for a spawn and can actually enjoy myself. <_<

[lackofwords]

My opinions aligns with what the OP felt, that this Valentione event is rather lacking in activities, for a lack of a better word.

That isn't to say the stories from the events provides wasn't amusing, but it would be more or less watching an scene play out rather than engaging in one.
Though, the trading (or purchasing) of chocolate at the end is endearing, but doesn't redeem the fact that the entire event was just simply short stories.

If you take a look at previous FFXIV events, they at least had a bit more engagement to it.
Remember the Valentione of 2012? You had to pair up with another player. It wasn't a great design, silly at best, but at least kept the players engaged.
Or Hatching-tide of 2012 (Easter event) you had to observe the hints in the fireworks.
Or All Saints' Wake of 2011 (Halloween event) were the imps were giving out candy if you answer their riddle correctly.

Lately, the past year or so, they've just made these events less creative, and more about just carrying on the same motions you're already familiar with in the game.
Do you like FATEs? Well here's some more familiar FATEs for you for our special event.
Do you like skinner box fetch'em side quest? Well here's some more as well.
I don't know if the designers/developers are doing this on purpose. Maybe they are thinking that the player base either wants this... or either players are afraid of attempting new activities from these seasonal & limited-time events.

In short, I look to events to be something refreshing out of the usual activities I could already partake in FFXIV.
The short stories are amusing, and I do truly love them as much as Hildebrand. Though I crave a bit more of an novel engagement from an seasonal event.

It doesn't even have to be different every year, as long as it isn't an activity that can already be experienced in the normal FFXIV realm.
I'll be happy to even see imp riddles come back again for Halloween.