As a new player that really likes this game ...

[Jybril]

FFXIV is not a hardcore pve game. It never has been as far as I can tell. FFXIV is as casual as casual gets and if you're expecting that to change you're going to be woefully disappointed.

Could FFXIV do with a few more quality of life features? Sure. But it doesn't need to be WoW 2.0. FFXIV is not a "raid or die" game. It is not an "endgame is all that matters" game. It is not just another in a string of WoW clones with the same type of priorities and development.

The entire point of FFXIV is the Main Story. That's why its mandatory. Could the 100 quest leadup from ARR to HW be pruned? Sure, no one will argue that its got way too much filler in it. But there's a reason FFXIV lacks the "hardcore pve community wow has"... and that reason is this game is not WoW and it will never be WoW and it will never live up to your expectations if you're looking for another WoW.

I find it hard to believe that the main thing of XIV is the story. If that's so, why is there a skip-all potion?
People to play catch up?
People to not drudge through boring fetch quest that was 2.0?...SE being greedy? Lol.
Sure, this is a Final Fantasy game, but content and replayabilty must come first. The story should not.
Why? Because this is a MMO, something has to keep the majority here, and that's new and fun stuff in the game.
Game has been the same for nearly 4 years and the boring patterns follows each patch.
I might get a lot of backlash and hate here but again, this is a MMO. I'm not 100% here for the story
and I am a fan of the FF series, but for me (FOR ME) this has to be one of the worst FF stories I have ever read.
And don't come to me talking about FF13 (I know everyone hates the hell out that game lol), this is my opinion and for the record FF13:LR is the worst.

I just think people should calm down about the OP because he does makes some points. I know nothing
of WoW or FFXI or anything like that and I know a lot of people enjoy the story here and that's great! But again,
I think they need to work on content and do much more
than the same things that have been doing. It's wearing people down, and people are getting bored quicker and quicker
by the patch. Just fyi, leveling to max is where the fun ends...I already maxed 3 jobs and I'm sad I'm done because end-game
is not all that great.