Starlight Festival

[Kacho_Nacho]

As a new player, I was touched by the Starlight Celebration. The tale of the Ishgardian knights sneaking orphans into their barracks, etc... which is why the Saint and his little helpers wear red coats has so much more depth than our own Santa Claus who wears red because of a Coke-a-Cola ad campaign. I liked the bit about the bell, too. Overall, I enjoyed the celebration because of it's simplicity. Now, I understand why you veteran players are like "meh." But, to a newbie, it was nice.

Looking forward to next year, I hope there is something in Ishgard to bring the whole tale full circle. Maybe a quest to help the descendants or the original orphans save a new generation of orphans. There could be fates where we have to protect the orphans from attack as we move them to shelter or maybe assist Hilde- I mean- the Saint of Nymeia in some manner.

[Gemma]

I didn't play 1.0, tell me more of the bell?

It was the first Starlight event in 1.0 & all it consisted of was literally running up to the bell, ringing the bell in town & then it would give you event crafting items that you could turn into the Dream Tunic set or Powdered Sugar to make the Starlight foods you see in game like the Ore Fruitcake, Princess Pudding, Snowflake Peak Cake, & Starlight Log.

Everyday just log in, *Ding Ding*, mats, move on...
So yeah was pretty funny to see that bell again xD

-snip-

Not sure how many times they re-did that event I just remember this was the first one cause I was a miqote still:



And the other event involved that Snowman we had to make by throwing snowballs at it to make it bigger (And by that time went back to human):

[Atoli]

The tale of the Ishgardian knights sneaking orphans into their barracks, etc... which is why the Saint and his little helpers wear red coats has so much more depth than our own Santa Claus who wears red because of a Coke-a-Cola ad campaign.

The story of the Ishgardian Knight and the Eorzean origin of the Santa-like Helpers is basically taken straight out of a real life legend
In Germany (and some other European countries too, I think?) his story is celebrated every winter by children all over the country. He was a soldier riding through a snow storm, wearing a warm, red cape. He encountered a poor beggar who asked for help because he'd freeze to death otherwise, so St.Martin divided his red coat and gave one half to the beggar to keep him warm throughout the night. In other versions of the story, he helps begging children instead of an adult beggar.
Even real life Santa Claus has a nice origin story and has been wearing red (namely a red Bishop's robe) before Coca Cola created the version that is common today.

And don't misunderstand - I liked the story, it was cute. But there was such sweet sweet irony in talking about tales long forgotten when it was something widely celebrated all over Eorzea merely 5 years ago. Seems the calamity didn't just knock the memory about the original Warriors of Light out, but also on how they have always been celebrating their fests xD

Looking forward to next year, I hope there is something in Ishgard to bring the whole tale full circle.

I doubt that. Seasonal events always take place in ARR areas so even people who haven't bought the expansion can participate.
I'd love to see something in Coerthas at least, but since the seasonal events are supposed to be easily accessible, putting them into a lvl 35+ area would be...problematic.

And the other event involved that Snowman we had to make by throwing snowballs at it to make it bigger

I loved that event so much *-*
The cutscene was so pretty and...fitting. Gentle and full of winter spirit
And I'm still absolutely in love with the look of the winter Gobbue we got to see there;

[Morningstar1337]

Seems the calamity didn't just knock the memory about the original Warriors of Light out, but also on how they have always been celebrating their fests xD

That actually is rather likely, considering who would be the most likely to help with the festivities and the lack of knowledge as the how the Warriors were forgotten in the first place, for all we know, every deed they;d ever done and most of the context would had been forgotten or faded into myth

[radhaz]

@Atoli
This was the origin of the snowball emote if I remember correctly.
I did like that event, it was a highlight of the 1.0 FFXIV.
That's where we got the reindeer onesie, right?

[Lucke]

I did have a chuckle when we had to fix the Ye Olde 1.0 Bell, and was a little surprised when we rang it, nothing materialized.

[Gemma]

I loved that event so much *-*
The cutscene was so pretty and...fitting. Gentle and full of winter spirit
And I'm still absolutely in love with the look of the winter Gobbue..

Haha, I got an exact picture like that & was gonna use it but was like, "Aww new players would want to see the snowman prolly.. " And yes I loved the snow on it! Better then the carpet one we got imo >_>

I loved that event too, it was a very heartwarming story.
1.0 may have had its problems but I still look back on it fondly like I do XI ^_^

That's where we got the reindeer onesie, right?

Indeed, that year's event items were the Reindeer onesie and the /throw emote.
Along with the previous years foods & what not.

I remember one of the first things I saw logging into the event was some guy in Ul'dah dressed in the Santa garb & a bunch of people /kneel-ing in front of him in the onesies. So that was interesting <_<; lol

Have a Happy Starlight Everyone! (And Happy Holiday's IRL too ^_^b)

[Theodric]

I was sort of hoping that we'd get to attend the luxurious banquet that the Admiral intended to host before it was cancelled. I'd have found that more interesting - especially if it involved some political intrigue. I must admit I'm a little tired of helping orphans/poor NPC's...especially since we end up being forced to do just that in the new side quest. I suppose they want to keep the seasonal events fairly simple though since they're designed to be completed by low level characters. I wouldn't be opposed to some sort of seasonal dungeon that returns every year though. That'd be a lot of fun!

[Alberel]

Events take it in turns to be simple ones or complex ones each year, this year, Little Ladies Day, Moonfire Faire, The Rising and Maiden's Rhaphsody got fates and other mechanics. Plus Heavensturn is only a week away, so we'll have another event soon enough.

We haven't really ever had a 'complex' event in this game. Every one can usually be finished in a matter of hours and all you're left to do is enjoy the decorations for the remaining few weeks.

Most MMOs typically have events that leave players with some unique activities to last the entire duration and reward players with seasonal fluff items. Whilst the short stories we get here in FFXIV are nice the events themselves are incredibly shallow.

[Cilia]

Actually, in my experience the events are usually pretty decently involved. Even if they're not deep story-wise, there's typically some interesting things to do that can take some time.

This here Starlight Festival was an exception. Run between the capitals (excluding Ishgard) and acquire an Iron Clapper on your tour. Pretty short... compared to say the Moonfire Festival (FATE grind) from this year, which aside from taking longer also changed as the event drew to a close (from a poorly-organized beach party to a... better organized and clean beach party).

Chances are they realized with the Anima weapons out people are gonna be grinding for them, so putting in an involved event would be counter-productive.