No Community

[Nixxe]

Actually there has been.

It forces you to network, not make friends. Those people you add to your friend list can remain veritable strangers who you only come together with for the sole purpose of killing this, that, or another boss. There is still hard content in the game though, so it's something of a moot point. As I said in my post, there are still plenty of opportunities to make friends in this game if that's what people want.

This character cap is ruining my life.

[Atoli]

This character cap is ruining my life.

Write a few words, then edit your post and you have unlimited character count..^^

[LunaFaye]

It forces you to network, not make friends. Those people you add to your friend list can remain veritable strangers who you only come together with for the sole purpose of killing this, that, or another boss. There is still hard content in the game though, so it's something of a moot point. As I said in my post, there are still plenty of opportunities to make friends in this game if that's what people want.

This character cap is ruining my life.

You can call it whatever you want, at the end it still forces you (your word choice not mine) adapting a specific play style that you might not agree with, or wouldn't chose if there were an other option. I yet have to see the "hard" content you're speaking off and let's not list stuff that has been nerfed to the ground, that clearly doesn't fall under hard content.

[Callinon]

P.S.
SE went with the "WoW" business model because it appeals to all the 14 year olds with their parents CC's. Evidence of the preferred demo is apparent in the new art direction IMHO. The “end game” is catered to feeding the aimless 20-somethings using game progress in lieu of real life progress, they need a constant stream of new content (however empty and thin) to shield them from any terrifying moments of introspection. There were legitimate reasons people frowned upon the "Xbox noobs" and "WoWzers”. They're the lowest common denominator and simultaneously the largest market

...

And there went all your credibility.

When your entire complaint boils down to "get off my lawn," perhaps it's time to re-examine what you're trying to get out of a game.

For the record I played FFXI for 7 years back in the early 2000s and I've been playing MMOs in one form or another for over 20 years. You're looking for the game to force you to make friends with people and it just doesn't work like that anymore, but complaining about younger people playing in your MMOs is just asinine and I think you know that.

[Nixxe]

You can call it whatever you want, at the end it still forces you (your word choice not mine) adapting a specific play style that you might not agree with, or wouldn't chose if there were an other option. I yet have to see the "hard" content you're speaking off and let's not list stuff that has been nerfed to the ground, that clearly doesn't fall under hard content.

Presumably ex primals, Ministrel's Ballad, and Savage raids are still difficult when released and encourage taking people you know and trust rather than just pugging with randoms and hoping for the best. I could be wrong, but Palace of the Dead seems like it has that potential at higher floors as well. If it's nerfed later, that's not important. No content remains difficult forever. Let's not get too fixated though on what in this game is difficult or how difficult it is though, as it would be horribly wrong to think that's required to make friends or socialize with people in this game. Difficult content is a solid opportunity to make friends, but by no means a requirement.


However, I chose the word "forced" rather carefully and meant it in a very straightforward fashion. The OP seems to want a game design that, in their eyes, will demand people make friends to accomplish anything, based in part on a fatally flawed understanding of what sort of things are required for friendship. The reality is that no game can force you to make friends. It can, at best, provide you with opportunities to do so, and FFXIV has those opportunities in abundance. If people feel their social experience is lacking, then reach out to others. Join a free company or a different free company; talk more in your linkshells; interact with random people you encounter. There is an endless number of ways to interact with others and even make friends if people simply take the initiative to do so. If people aren't willing to do that, then there's nothing Square Enix or any other developer can do to fix that.

[Vidu]

You can call it whatever you want, at the end it still forces you (your word choice not mine) adapting a specific play style that you might not agree with, or wouldn't chose if there were an other option. I yet have to see the "hard" content you're speaking off and let's not list stuff that has been nerfed to the ground, that clearly doesn't fall under hard content.

1) Unless this isnt your maincharacter but an alt - yes, you have yet to see that content because you need to get there first. That difficult content is optional endgame stuff mostly - because people are also playing this game to enjoy the story and prefer to do that without being locked at certain points.
2) While a lot of fights have been nerfed to a certain degree, you still have the option to make them more difficult for you - the biggest "nerf" doesnt came from changing mechanics but from people outgearing content and doing level 50 EX-primals and Coil at level 60 - the point here is though: If people would prefer to overcome hardship with their friends to form bonds with them, wouldnt they run this content at minimum ilvl? If thats so much more to prefer why arent people doing that?
My answer is simple: Because they enjoy having fun (with their friends!) more than banging their heads against walls.

Those old games might "suggested" a certain playstyle, but apparently this playstyle isnt was the majority of players wants anymore - just as the majority of players doesnt want to draw dungeon-maps by hand anymore.
Actually, this game is still suggesting to form bonds and play together - it just simply makes it easier for you to find a group.

This is a different game from those old games you guys seem so nostalgic about - and hey, its fine to be nostalgic! And I'm all in favour for more difficult, challenging content - but I also like that we're having some nice options that are making it easier for us to find groups (and maybe even make new friends!)
We are having both options - hard, challenging content that requires a more or less "static" group (or people who know EXCATLY what they're doing so they dont need to communicate) - and content thats just fun (like a game should be!). You can both do with friends. Sharing fun times should form bonds just as good as hardship - or maybe even better. Enjoying yourselfes together seems much more valuable to me than having to wait for Eric again because you cant do anything without him or wiping for the hundreths time.

If there arent enough people interested to make a game like in the old days (like you people want), this wish is probably not shared by enough - not only because of those little youngsters being interested in playing an RPG together with other people but also because some of you guys moved on, when the genre moved on. Moving on seems like a good thing to me here - we have heard enough stories from people finding friends or even their special someone within this game, so dont tell me it isnt possible.

We are given more options how and with whom we want to enjoy this game, by not making it mandatory to enjoy it with someone at all - how is that such a bad thing?
I'm a bit worried for those of you who are apparently only able to make friends if they absolutly have to to achieve something in a game - why not make friends for the sake of, well, the friends themself? The game is certainly giving you the tools to do that - if its not giving you the need to do it, but you feel you lack something... thats on you, get out there!

[Mycow8me]

Been playing since ... well my forum join date atleast... I don't know anyone on my server well enough to call a friend other than the ones that came with me from ffxi. I blame DF and a severe lack of server side content. You don't meet people leveling your character, you don't meet people trying to group for story, you don't do alot of things with people from your server in this game. I dunno, I see where the OPs coming from but I see it from different reasonings. If I hadn't played ffxi for years and years I probably could have adapted to the come and go social aspect of this game alot easier. FFXI forced you to be very active/outgoing if you wanted to get anything done.

[Atoli]

FFXI forced you to be very active/outgoing if you wanted to get anything done.

And XIV forces you to be active and outgoing if you want friends

[FunkYeahDragons]

You get what you put in--if you're not meeting people, it's your approach to socializing in an MMO. People respond to those who take the time for them and are around them often, although some places (dungeons, etc) aren't where people normally go to "hang out". FCs are generally better, as are Linkshells or Discord servers where people can slow down and have more friendly chats, or start to associate voices with characters.

Not all of them are a good fit, but there are many out there. Also, people see what they want to see.

I met a player (former friend) in-game who complained that my FC didn't like them when they were in our Discord as my friend. They said that no one would talk to them except one, while I saw multiple people talking. Meanwhile, everyone was asking me in private when they were going to join us. I personally invited them to a voice channel when they wouldn't join on their own. They never stopped to ask anyone about their lives, and very rarely accepted invitations, and only to things that benefited them like a bird farm they wanted.

Eventually, they left. This was a person who frequently complained about being disliked, unwanted, etc. And to this day, as far as I know, they've never stopped to think if their attitude might be part of the problem.

Not saying this is anyone in particular, just that when I see these complaints I don't think it's the game. FFXIV is full of fun and sociable people who like to make friends and joke around over games, including those who are shy or introverted. If you're not meeting any or every group is the same then you're not looking in the right places or with the right perspective.

[Mycow8me]

And XIV forces you to be active and outgoing if you want friends

I think thats part of the problem though, there is alot of come and go mentality in this game. Only so many people want to be social and once they have formed their inner circles, its hard to join them. Maybe I'm just old and jaded I dunno.