How does FFXIV fare against other modern MMORPGs?

[Kuukyo]

The lack of PvP is a huge part of what makes FFXIV great.

PvP breeds all kinds of terrible behavior, just look at WoW's general community. WoW is a game built around PvP, and tries to get its playerbase to split into two factions, and tries its hardest to get them to hate each other, and of course, it works really well. WoW is very toxic and there is actual player hate towards players of opposite faction. I mean, there was that Blizzcon where a person wearing Alliance colors was physically assaulted by a person (or was it multiple people, I forget) wearing Horde colors.

When you have people physically assaulting each other IRL because of something stupid like an imaginary faction in-game, you've crossed the line.

I'd rather not have more PvP here in FFXIV. The fact it's way off to the side and few people care about it is a good thing.

PvP is almost like a competitive thing, and nothing is good in that when it comes to relationship. I have played a lot of competitive games and to be honest, I'm very tired when people trash talk and hate on each other. But everyone has their own preference in their MMORPG style. Some like the cartoon-ish and the intense environment of PvP in WoW, while some others prefer to spend their time in PvE, stories, contents and hanging around with a chill community in a well polished game like Final Fantasy XIV, which is a reason why I quit GW2. There are definitely features that I still like in that game but the visual of the game is one of the reason I quit it (I do agree that it looks good but I just have a different taste).

[Maeka]

PvP is almost like a competitive thing, and nothing is good in that when it comes to relationship. I have played a lot of competitive games and to be honest, I'm very tired when people trash talk and hate on each other. But everyone has their own preference in their MMORPG style. Some like the cartoon-ish and the intense environment of PvP in WoW, while some others prefer to spend their time in PvE, stories, contents and hanging around with a chill community in a well polished game like Final Fantasy XIV, which is a reason why I quit GW2. There are definitely features that I still like in that game but the visual of the game is one of the reason I quit it (I do agree that it looks good but I just have a different taste).

*nods*

I get that they (the person I quoted) likes PvP and that's fine... but if they like/want PvP, they should try WoW. I bet they'd love it over there if that's what they are seeking.

Thankfully FFXIV is a game that works very well when playing two MMOs, you can put in 5-10 hours a week and still get plenty done in it which leaves you more than enough time to get another MMO to fill in the gap of what FFXIV doesn't give enough of, if that's what one wants.

I don't really see the need to try to turn FFXIV into WoW, no more than I'd go over to WoW asking for more story cutscenes and forced MSQs. WoW is not FFXIV any more than FFXIV is WoW. It's good that they both have their unique design directions.

[Kuukyo]

*nods*

I get that they (the person I quoted) likes PvP and that's fine... but if they like/want PvP, they should try WoW. I bet they'd love it over there if that's what they are seeking.

Thankfully FFXIV is a game that works very well when playing two MMOs, you can put in 5-10 hours a week and still get plenty done in it which leaves you more than enough time to get another MMO to fill in the gap of what FFXIV doesn't give enough of, if that's what one wants.

I don't really see the need to try to turn FFXIV into WoW, no more than I'd go over to WoW asking for more story cutscenes and forced MSQs. WoW is not FFXIV any more than FFXIV is WoW. It's good that they both have their unique design directions.

I came to MMORPGs after spending my 5 years playing competitive games like DotA, League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive and I definitely love these games, but not the community because people hate each other so much they have to trash talk each other and sometimes people even do things that is very offensive to others without regards. First few days I learned to play Counter Strike and I was not good because I was learning the game, and the team just straight up kick me and told me before kicking to stop playing like shit and go kys in voice chats.

What great communities they are when competitive element exists.

[NessaWyvern]

The lack of PvP is a huge part of what makes FFXIV great.

PvP breeds all kinds of terrible behavior, just look at WoW's general community. WoW is a game built around PvP, and tries to get its playerbase to split into two factions, and tries its hardest to get them to hate each other, and of course, it works really well. WoW is very toxic and there is actual player hate towards players of opposite faction. I mean, there was that Blizzcon where a person wearing Alliance colors was physically assaulted by a person (or was it multiple people, I forget) wearing Horde colors.

When you have people physically assaulting each other IRL because of something stupid like an imaginary faction in-game, you've crossed the line.

I'd rather not have more PvP here in FFXIV. The fact it's way off to the side and few people care about it is a good thing.

*nods*

I get that they (the person I quoted) likes PvP and that's fine... but if they like/want PvP, they should try WoW. I bet they'd love it over there if that's what they are seeking.

I have played WoW for a few years, both PvP and PvE, and I have played FFXIV PvP and PvE. The PvP IS fun in WoW, but the PvE in FF14 is more fun than in WoW (for me at least).
I am a long-time fan of Final Fantasy, and I like almost everything FFXIV has to offer.
I like the way the world looks, I like the outfits in FFXIV, I love just about everything in the gold saucer, I love my house, and I love my fully trained companion chocobo. I love all the references from old FF games.
But sometimes, I just want to have me some good ol' PvP, and I don't want to sub to another game just to pvp in it.
FF14 PvP just doesn't scratch that itch well enough atm. It's just not good enough to scratch that itch.

I can say without a doubt, from experience that PvP in FF14 is actually a little more toxic than it is in WoW.
Here's why I think that is the case:

1. Lack of players makes wait times longer than other content. This means that when people do finally get a pop, and then they start losing, people get more frustrated. Whereas in WoW, if you lose in a battleground, no big deal, you'll get another pop quickly and can try again. FF14? Better get ready to wait for ages for another FLs, in which you'll probably lose again!

2.The 3 teams versing each other, and only one wins. People get more toxic when they are losing. With 1 team vs another team, like in WoW, you get 50% of people losing, whereas with 3 teams versing each other in FF14, you get 66% of the people losing. More players losing means more toxicity. Not only that, but one team can sabotage another team, so they both lose. That's a great way to make a match even more toxic.

3. PvP modes aren't diverse and fun enough. When people are having fun, there's less toxicity. I have seen Eureka pagos get pretty toxic, and that's because the content just isn't that fun and very repetative. Something that FF14 PvP is right now.

If PvP was better, more players would play it. Queue times would fall, people would have more fun, toxicity would decrease.
And besides, if you don't like PvP, just don't play it.
Better PvP in FF14 probably won't impact you very much.
And PvP can actually help with PvE, as PvP has improved my PvE ability. The challenge of it forced me to use keybinds, rather than clicking all my abilities with my mouse like I used to. Not only that, but it's a great way to train your reaction times.

I have seen PvE toxicity bleed into PvP when I was on Odin back in ARR though! The PvP linkshell I was in were doing friendly wolves den matches, and once a dude who did a lot of PvE, and would sell savage runs came along. He wanted to flex his muscles in PvP too. He quickly found out that PvP was a very different beast, and kept losing. He actually tried to pay them off with millions to let him win, and their honor as PvPers made them refuse his offers. He wasn't too happy about that.

Anyway, I met my husband because of FF14 PvP (back in heavensward when PvP was better), so for me, PvP has been an overwhelmingly positive experience