FFXIV Lore Book: Would SE do it?

[Snugglebutt]

To build on this thought, I wonder if the decision not to create one could also be based on the bit of freedom the localization teams have to slightly alter things in translation. If SE published a book like this, and it was translated as literally as possible from Japanese to sell in English, would we notice some differences in our lore compared to theirs?

It is possible, but it is an additional problem added onto the problems already associated with such a book. Honestly if they do a lore book I imagine it will only be an app or digital only variety. The question though becomes would it be highly profitable to make such a book when we have a lot of wikis which also contain that information. Perhaps a fan could compile a fan made wiki sourced lore e-book in PDF form provided they do not try to make any money from it since they do not own the content derived from the sources that made up the content within it.

[Milmoko_Gemoko]

I'd prefer they add a Data-log/Lore section to the games menues rather then charge us extra for a book.
Like they did with the FFXIII series, enter a new area, kill a new monster and the in-game encyclopedia auto-updates with new info.

[Gralna]

I'd prefer they add a Data-log/Lore section to the games menues rather then charge us extra for a book.
Like they did with the FFXIII series, enter a new area, kill a new monster and the in-game encyclopedia auto-updates with new info.

It would also auto update as storylines progressed, to reflect any new information you learned along the way.

[JayCommon]

I'd prefer they add a Data-log/Lore section to the games menues rather then charge us extra for a book.
Like they did with the FFXIII series, enter a new area, kill a new monster and the in-game encyclopedia auto-updates with new info.

It would also auto update as storylines progressed, to reflect any new information you learned along the way.

These are great ideas. Personally, I would still really like a physical copy of a book with some nice artwork to accompany the lore. ^^

Also, (again towards Snuggle's initial assessment about the story changing) I would love to see maybe like a "Eorzea Compendium" included with the Heavensward expansion CE. It could be the type of lore book that OP is asking for, but specifically state that the events in it are only recollections of the past, and give us maybe a bit more information then dialogue from the game. What comes to mind with your example is how Crystal Tower final boss was first named Acheron, but has since been renamed to Phlegethon. That type of discrepancy could be a bit weird to someone just jumping into the expansion. I would think that once Heavensward comes out, alterations on 2.x material would probably cease, but that's just pure speculation.

[KaiKatzchen]

Yeah the idea isn't perfect, and I am sure there would be some issues but it was just an idea. SE could decide the best way to do it, be it a book or an online thing or in game. But getting the idea out helps them see people would be interested in it.

Thanks for the different ideas and support~!

[Nyasha]

SE needs to find a way to implement the thing.

[HakuroDK]

This is my single most needed feature right now.

[KaiKatzchen]

Glad y'all like the idea.

[odie]

A lore library is rumored to be located in ishgard ... please look forward to it.

Yeah, i do remember reading somewhere that they want to do an actual lore library in game location but that it would have to pass through the approval process. That's all I needed to hear them say lol.

[Alberel]

A lore library is rumored to be located in ishgard ... please look forward to it.

Koji Fox dropped a very unsubtle hint that we'd be getting a lore library in Sharlayan, which is the other (abandoned) city state located within Dravanian territory. The goal, I believe, is essentially to have it act as a reference and resource for the lore that has been disclosed by the team yet is not necessarily explicit within the game. I'm hoping that we may get a few surprise reveals in there for those of us that take the time to trawl through it though.

One thing to note, however, is that a lot of the lore-related things that are still unclear to us are actually being withheld deliberately due to future plot significance. To take the OPs Eighty Sins of Sasalmo, for example, Koji has already refused to give us any answers about this because it's already something planned to be revealed later. As the Hildibrand finale made clear, the history of Ul'Dah and Sil'Dih is actually much more complex than we realised and it may be that they're planning to make this a focus of future content at some point. By extension there may be good reasons why many things such as this are currently mysteries to us.

I'd also like to say that in the interests of good writing there should always be some things that are never explained.