Been playing this game for ~3 months now. My thoughts so far

[Berethos]

What's annoying is everyone who says "the story just isn't for you," they then don't give very good arguments about why they think the story is alright.
Now I think OP makes some very good points about why the story seems all over the place, it's random and is completely at the behest of the gameplay. "Well we need them to fight a cool boss, throw in a primal/garlean/this other thing!"

If you'd like I could give a break down of why it's not all over the place and how many of the story threads that begin early on (even as far back as levels 10 to 15ish) connect to what happens later, and how various arcs lead to one another...

But it would be a lengthy post, and I'd rather only do that much typing (and fact checking old quests text, dialog, watching cutscenes, etc) if someone actually wants me to.

[AutoWhit]

Some people play a role because they enjoy that aspect and nothing is wrong with that at all. I love healing but I also love dpsing so it makes me happy a healer can do both. In dungeons I do both maybe I dps more than I should but no one usually dies so its ok! ^^ if people don't want to do it then thats fine, life goes on and so does the dungeon. Its not like you or anyone else is hindering the outcome like say a person RPing as an ice mage or a bard not using songs.....

I agree with you. I hope I wasn't misunderstood.

on topic though - people play games for different reasons. I happen to really enjoy the storytelling in this game. In fact I'd go so far as to say there isn't an mmo out there that does it better, and I played almost every class in SWTOR to max level. A game a lot of people consider to have the best storytelling of any mmo. I realize that's not for everyone though.

[Lan_Mantear]

But it would be a lengthy post, and I'd rather only do that much typing (and fact checking old quests text, dialog, watching cutscenes, etc) if someone actually wants me to.

I want you to. If only because I want one location to read "The Chronicles of Eorzea" for when I when I have lore questions. Make sure to include an easy to use appendix at the end of it!

[MayleeMorningstar]

I thought the story was long and sometimes boring when I first played through it. I was playing with a friend, didn't bother to read side quests, and even the main quests got read quickly with a lot of distractions (chatting between friends). I recently replayed the game with an alt, reading every single quest including the side quests. I watched every cutscene and really took my time. I have to say, I'm glad I did, because it's a really strong world they've built. Funny thing is, the 50 storyline went so much faster when I actually paid attention instead of just teleporting from place to place and clicking through all that text.

I do agree that the 50 quests seem long and annoying when all you want to do is get into HW areas and actually progress your character again, but in my case it wasn't because the story was bad, it was due to my own impatience and high expectations of the expansion.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

ou know what would have maybe made me or others care about Minfillia more? If every mission, even ones that didn't involve you meeting her, you have her in her office or somewhere else and she could have had some flavor text. Things on her mind, small conversation, anything really that could have fleshed her out, make her any bit more interesting other than what flimsy personality they showed off during missions. Same as anyone. Maybe my standards are just too damn high, but I want characters that actually look and feel alive. That's why I've said it's gotten better with HW. Because even after missions you'll find characters around in that moment where you can get some dialogue. It's certainly added much for Thancred; thus far he's the one that feels most alive. Alphinaud a bit better, but most of his still ends up focusing on the where the task leaves off.

She does. You have plenty of story bits where it's essentially you and her talking as friends. People dislike Minfillia because she slips into being the damsel you have to rescue far too often. I didn't mind her, personally, but having Alphinaud, Yuguri and Estinien around; actively participating in the immediate story arc, really showed how distant Minfillia can feel. Which, in turn, makes it less engaging when she needs you for something. The abundance of fetch quests didn't help, though I'll have to disagree with anyone saying the story didn't connect.

[Ceasaria]

Big text

Ha true.
That's why for me, Hildibrand and Cie + characters from class/jobs quest (+Haurchefant, Raubahn) are more interesting than most of the main characters.
If i have to remember something epic about this game, it would be maybe Hildibrand quests.

[Derio]

I am hoping for alot less fetch quest and more go kill this or defend this or attack this quests.

[Exidrial]

Hmmm...and after this comment, I'm reminded what an intolerant bunch of people play this game. Note the phrase "play this game" It's a game that we play, you know fun and games, playing for fun, etc... It's not a job or a sport, it's a game, meant to be enjoyed for fun. If you personally lack the patience to deal with others who are not up to your pro-bro standards, then make a premade, and stay away from DF/DR. Complaints like yours display little more than your own intolerance.

The thing is you're not playing on your own.Your actions have an impact on others experiences.
.
I personally do not enjoy carrying people that don't do anything.I do not like the thought of them getting rewarded for doing almost nothing.
DPS and Tanks have to make up for your not dpsing.

You are meant to dps.Don't tell me otherwise.This game wants Healers to dps otherwise you wouldn't have specific stanced or damage skills.If the game really wanted you to heal then mobs would deal way more damage

Again: I don't want to attack anybody.Just sharing my POV again.

Different strokes for different folks. There are several other mmos out there that will happily thrust you into "end game" progression and raids without any pesky story or gated content getting in your way. However a lot of people in FF14 are here for the story and the side activities along with the simple fact it is Final Fantasy. I always appreciate hearing different views but based on what you have said I'm not sure this mmo is for you.

One final point... a core foundation of the mmo genre is time>everything else. In other words people who invest the time can and will get more than those who don't. It's only been in recent years, largely because of the direction of WoW, that people feel the time advantage should be removed and replaced solely with "skill". Furthermore, you can say this game hands you everything on a platter but that is blatantly false. There are tons of other MMOs out there that will literally hand you raid ready gear for zero effort but in FF14 you absolutely have to make a time investment to get gear, earn money, unlock content and rank up in side activities

I got from 120 to 200 in 3 days.It wasn't hard.All it took was spamming Aetherochemical research facility.That dungeon is not hard and getting i200 gear doesn't really take long as well.
I ran hullbreaker isle hm 3 times and got a total of 5 or 6 i115 pieces out of it.
Again that didn't take long and Hullbreaker Isle isn't hard.
You can get i115 gear extremely easily and fast.
i130 takes long because of the weekly cap but it isn't hard to get to it either.Hullbreaker Isle HM rewards you with 40 tomes of lore.

She does. You have plenty of story bits where it's essentially you and her talking as friends. People dislike Minfillia because she slips into being the damsel you have to rescue far too often. I didn't mind her, personally, but having Alphinaud, Yuguri and Estinien around; actively participating in the immediate story arc, really showed how distant Minfillia can feel. Which, in turn, makes it less engaging when she needs you for something. The abundance of fetch quests didn't help, though I'll have to disagree with anyone saying the story didn't connect.

SHE'S NOT MY FRIEND. I barely know her, she doesn't know anything about me and I barely know anything about her.I'm just her slave.I'm the Warrior of light so I should do all the work.She even wanted me to speak to her mother because she felt it was wrong.If we were real friends the Hero of light would have told her that she should do that herself.
The hero of light just nods and does whatever people want him/her to do.

SE is rushing this whole friendship thing.What makes me friends with minfillia?She's more my employer than anything else.

[Blackcanary]

The thing is you're not playing on your own.Your actions have an impact on others experiences.
.
I personally do not enjoy carrying people that don't do anything.I do not like the thought of them getting rewarded for doing almost nothing.
DPS and Tanks have to make up for your not dpsing.

You are meant to dps.Don't tell me otherwise.This game wants Healers to dps otherwise you wouldn't have specific stanced or damage skills.If the game really wanted you to heal then mobs would deal way more damage

Again: I don't want to attack anybody.Just sharing my POV again.

Healers are not meant to DPS. Their ability to change stance is so they can solo when they are not in dungeons. Their main job to hell and keep the party alive. Now if their is a moment where they can DPS in a dungeon to help then that's great. But their main focus should always be on healing no matter what.

[Exidrial]

Healers are not meant to DPS. Their ability to change stance is so they can solo when they are not in dungeons. Their main job to hell and keep the party alive. Now if their is a moment where they can DPS in a dungeon to help then that's great. But their main focus should always be on healing no matter what.

Then how is it that healers can afk for half the dungeon?
Healers have to do almost nothing unless you're AoEing.

SE's biggest mistake is calling them "Healers" when all they are are DPS that just so happen to be able to heal.

Let me tell you something about my playstyle.I'm a DRK.
Once I've established aggro and made sure its stabilized I drop grit and go full DPS.Why?Because the Healers don't have any problems keeping up with the extra damage I take and because I generate enough aggro to not lose aggro.
Everybody thinks it's great when I do that.

I just recently had a dc during the opening cutscene of a dungeon.By the time my internet came back the party was already standing infront of the first boss.They didn't mind me having a dc.

Sure it's a bit different in "hardcore" content but when you're playing that kind of content you generally are that kind of person that wants to min max so somebody who's doing nothing is wasted potential.

Do you want to know when people start flaming me?
When I keep grit on and use my aggro rotation every 10 seconds.Why are they flaming me?I though I was a tank.Everything I'm supposed to do is soak up the damage, aren't I?

Wrong.

This game only consists of DPS.Some have more survivability than others.Those are called "Tanks".
Others have some healing spells, those are called "Healers".

This is enforced by the fact that even DPS can tank pretty ok.Most healers wouldn't mind it. *cough* nin tank *cough*