XI vs XIV Lore - similarities and differences

[Enkidoh]

One of the things I really noticed about FFXIV compared to the single player FFs (that I played) is the way many NPCs have zero respect for the Player Character - in fact, entire Class storylines and sections of the Main Scenario story revolve around you being harassed, beaten, and even manipulated by questgivers and city-state governments alike. According to some other people, this was very much the case in XI as well.

But in XIV, much of it seems to be because Adventurers in general are freedom-loving, and hence they've acquired a reputation for being untrustworthy. In a game like WoW, by contrast, it's more due to the fact that they're training you military-style

Ironically enough, FFXI was worse in that regard in that often the player was officially sent on a mission from their home nation, only to find themselves arrested and accused of some trumped up charge through no fault of their own other than they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time or because they were 'guilty by association' with a npc who was violating some official decree (accessing the Full Moon Fountain under Ajido-Maurjido's orders in the Windurst storyline, inadvertently being present when Prishe allowed Bahamut to escape capture by the Jeuno/Zilart authorities in Chains of Promathia) - usually this then involved the player being blackmailed into doing something against their will simply to avoid jail/execution, often with predictable results.

It seemed more often than not the player became nothing but a tool that differing sinister forces tried to exploit that went far beyond the nations of Altana, simply because of the player character's tendency to stick their nose in where it really didn't belong.

FFXIV 1.0/ARR takes a similar tack, but at least this time everything the adventurer is doing is with official backing - there's no double-crossing by the three nations just to save their own hides for one thing.

[Kicha]

I think one of the biggest differences is that in XIV, you truly are a Warrior of Light and are the central hero to the story. There were some stories in XI where it felt like you were the companion, and the story was really being played out by the NPCs. (ex: Prishe)
Jobs had some quests, but very little in terms of lore generation and it wasn't every 5 levels like it is in XIV.

[Souljacker]

I didn't mind that, though. As much as I enjoy being brought in front of a random crystal in space, it still felt like there was a lot more at stake in XI because the people around me were super important too.

The main difference I think that I see is just a general "feeling" of patriarchy in this game. I don't know if it was intended, but the overwhelming use of male pronouns in the game is shocking and a lot different than I remember from XI. It's especially surprising given the balance of NPCS - guildmasters are split almost evenly down the middle and two of the three main leaders are female (I'm not counting the lalafell since clearly Raubahm is in charge).

There are also a lot of very adult things going on. Specifically, there is a lot of rape and rape themes in the game. Just during the main storyline you will come across at least 5 NPCs that have been raped, are being threatened with rape, or have stories of a close relative\friend being raped (thus fueling their rage for whatever it is you are helping them with). Passing comments around you, side quests, dungeons (satasha comes to mind - the mithra in the captain's quarters and the enemy comments to take the women of your party alive).

There's enough that it stood out and some of the responses to it (I'm thinking specifically of Ala Mihgo and the leader's awful handling of the situation) are really, REALLY questionable. I just think it's too much and while I appreciate a more adult experience during my gameplay as much as the next person, I feel they are coming close to crossing a line here. Some people said that XI felt more dangerous, and from a "wandering monsters" standpoint it certainly was.

XIV has its own monsters, though. I'm not sure it's a place I would really want to live, tbh. I didn't feel that way about XI.

[Magis]

Ironically enough, FFXI was worse in that regard in that often the player was officially sent on a mission from their home nation, only to find themselves arrested and accused of some trumped up charge through no fault of their own other than they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time or because they were 'guilty by association' with a npc who was violating some official decree (accessing the Full Moon Fountain under Ajido-Maurjido's orders in the Windurst storyline, inadvertently being present when Prishe allowed Bahamut to escape capture by the Jeuno/Zilart authorities in Chains of Promathia) - usually this then involved the player being blackmailed into doing something against their will simply to avoid jail/execution, often with predictable results.

It seemed more often than not the player became nothing but a tool that differing sinister forces tried to exploit that went far beyond the nations of Altana, simply because of the player character's tendency to stick their nose in where it really didn't belong.

FFXIV 1.0/ARR takes a similar tack, but at least this time everything the adventurer is doing is with official backing - there's no double-crossing by the three nations just to save their own hides for one thing.

Yeah, but what's a good storyline without someone backstabbing another. It made the nations seem more real, and not like some ultimate good.

[Teslo]

One of the main differences is that the threats in XI were mainly internal. Racism in Bastok (The Galka were persecuted both religiously and personally, used for their massive size as disposable miners and/or builders), feuding princes in San'd'Oria as well as a very shifty religious organization to which the entire nation is devoted, and finally Windurst had issues with forbidden magics being uncovered in an effort to understand and fix the magical structures that seem to be draining the environment and slowly converting lush plains into desert, not to mention the issues involving the Star Sybil being unable to read the future any more (One of the defining features of the position). Also the general mistrust that each nation had for the others, held together only by the independent nation of Jeuno (Which, turns out, was run by the surviving heirs of a dangerous lost civilization!)

[Teslo]

The threats in XIV are mostly external. A technologically superior country invading, beast tribes summoning dangerous beings, and... Well those seem to be the main issues until the expansion. :P The internal issues, seen mostly in the job quests, are fairly minor in comparison. The differences in the beast-tribes are of note, as well. In XI the Orcs and Yagudo (So much cooler than the Ixali, by the way!) were dangerous, unrelenting foes constantly plotting the downfall of the awakened races. The Quadav (Turtles!) were a minor nuisance in comparison, but they were territorial. Goblins were a constant threat (As opposed to the joke they've become in XIV). Antica plagued the deserts. Tonberries were terrifying denizens of the jungles. Gigas at every turn in the frozen wastes. Skeletons. Ghosts. Tigers. Crabs. CATERPILLARS! BATS! EVEN BUNNIES! Everything was deadly and you never knew which ones wanted to EAT YOUR FACE! *cough* Yeah, Eorzea is a fairly tame place compared to Vana'diel. XD

[Eggnook24]

Eorzea is a fairly tame place compared to Vana'diel, except for the rapey themes.

[SorriorDragneel]

Eorzea is a fairly tame place compared to Vana'diel, except for the rapey themes.

Ok outside of the Ala Migo thing and yeah the slave trade bit in the Arcanist questline..Annnd the guys in sastasha...I didn't see much rape..Where is all of it?

[BobbinT]

Well... for one thing, the Shantoto (XI cross over) event kinda tell in a way that Eorzea & Vana'diel might be connected somehow, and XIV current time might be distant future of XI timeline. Would explain why there's many mobs design from XI were intact in XI. Heck... even Gigas, Sahagins from XI's Zilart expansion and Mamool Ja from Aht Urhgan expansion also exist in Eorzea. And let's not forget about the goblins & qiqirns who were usually found in cities doing their usual trading stuff.

We do even get treated with taste of XI's latest expansion which the existance of White Lion as PLD mount achievement.

Which makes me wonder, atm XI already has 2 crossover pair (that's XIV & DQX) events while XIV still has one. Wonder if SE will make another of this happening again in the future...

[Teslo]

If Eorzea and Vana'diel are the same places at different time periods, I would think that Eorzea is far in Vana'diels past. Primarily owing to the lack of crags and other similar Zilart structures. There are other things you can look at to draw this conclusion. The ant mobs look like devolved Antica. The northern areas (North shore of Batallia, Sauromugue, and Qufim island) all have a blackened, crystallized look to them, as if some giant magical explosion occurred in the northern region. We don't see that anywhere in Eorzea. (I always wanted to know what caused this...) But if they're happening on the same planet, they're obviously continents that are so far apart that they have no contact with each-other. So much so that the guardian Avatars of Vana'diel are instead vicious Primals in Eorzea. No, I think they might have some kind of relationship, but they're not the same world, past or future.