Players need more power

[gifthorse]

You make a strong and good case with what you're suggesting. The problem is the amount of time and money it would take to turn a game already released into what you're saying. Though I love the idea of the "give players the tools to make something to do" philosophy that you brought up, it's so broad people could turn it into many opinions as to what you mean. So can you please elaborate on what you see that philosophy as? Such as - "what tool?", "what can you make?". "I have the sword, I can slay the monsters. In essence that is what your saying." (this is an example of what people will do to this kind of a good post here).

Of course what I am suggesting is nigh on infeasible in a game already released because this is the kind of philsophy that should be the foundation of a game, not a simple appendage. But there is still room for improvement to FFXIV with the addition of player-driven features.

Allow me to elaborate. I will just explain an example of what I mean.

Territory

By this I mean the ability to own land and build things on said land in the persistent game world. (There's enough copy-pasta terrain to go around so I am sure nobody will call foul on urbanisation of their precious game world).

This may sound like a petty addition, but it can lead to some interesting game features when you consider such things as turf warfare, either with other players or with aggressive NPC factions (beastmen tribes and so on).

The protection and welfare of your communities would become a priority, and your own player-community would be compelled to create your own quests as a demand rose for certain things: "create a wall here or defenses there", "dispatch the encroaching beastmen tribes so that we might remain safe".

Being able to move beyond that into small villages and even cities could lead to a political atmosphere which the players were in control of. Such player-driven content would provide countless sources for drama, mutinies, etc., with more meaningful rewards or consequences than anything the developers could write.