Stone Philosophy

[Rodger]

Ok, now I intended a fairly rhetorical question and I was curious to see what might be said. Thank you for taking the time to respond. And honestly a part of me wanted to avoid serious discussion but I think there are important things to bring to awareness. If I may, I will explain my thinking.

The primary questions of this game as it pertains to character are primarily about the relationship between player and character. Growing up I was told that “character is what you do when nobody is watching,” and I think in the context of an RPG there is a good deal of discretion in that the experience is a main facet of the game to the player, yet an outside audience may not be aware of the depth. In that light the allotted freedoms are what the player chooses them to be. The act based in choice is what defines your character and progresses to mold your sense of self as a player. In my opinion it Is important to recognize this when considering the mechanisms of the game and how they change your character or experience. Some examples of this are things like the “soul-stone”, the “Book of Khloe” and the purchase of completed Jobs and Main Story ark and even the purchase if in-game currency.

To preserve an uncompromised character I think it is important to be able to say no, and not lose sight of what you value as a gamer in an overwhelmingly large MMO, because let’s face the facts it a clear business to push content. I think this game dose a pretty good job of making that an interesting endeavor to say the least but the concept is the same and in a lot of ways old fashioned. At some point, one must ask themselves some critical questions about its extended influence.

[Vidu]

Ok, now I intended a fairly rhetorical question and I was curious to see what might be said. Thank you for taking the time to respond. And honestly a part of me wanted to avoid serious discussion but I think there are important things to bring to awareness. If I may, I will explain my thinking.

The primary questions of this game as it pertains to character are primarily about the relationship between player and character. Growing up I was told that “character is what you do when nobody is watching,” and I think in the context of an RPG there is a good deal of discretion in that the experience is a main facet of the game to the player, yet an outside audience may not be aware of the depth. In that light the allotthttp://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/forums/647ed freedoms are what the player chooses them to be. The act based in choice is what defines your character and progresses to mold your sense of self as a player. In my opinion it Is important to recognize this when considering the mechanisms of the game and how they change your character or experience. Some examples of this are things like the “soul-stone”, the “Book of Khloe” and the purchase of completed Jobs and Main Story ark and even the purchase if in-game currency.

To preserve an uncompromised character I think it is important to be able to say no, and not lose sight of what you value as a gamer in an overwhelmingly large MMO, because let’s face the facts it a clear business to push content. I think this game dose a pretty good job of making that an interesting endeavor to say the least but the concept is the same and in a lot of ways old fashioned. At some point, one must ask themselves some critical questions about its extended influence.

Can I get a "shake head"-emote, please?

First, I'd like to make you aware of the lodestone-blog again. If all you want to do is type up some rhetorical nonsense and not engage in (serious) discussions, a blog might be better suited for your purposes.

Secondly I cant help to point out that you seem to refuse the word "character" in the sense of "personality" and "avatar within a game". Or maybe you're lumping them together on purpose. Which makes little sense as far as I'm concerned, not even for roleplaying purposes (since you'll hardly every roleplay as yourself, so your character - as in: your own personality as a human being playing this game - will always differ from the character - as in game-avatar - you're playing).

Third on my list is that someone gave you a pretty weird definintion of character. Just to reconfirm that its not me getting this wrong, I looked it up in a dicitonary and the Cambridge one defines character as "the particular combination of qualities in a person or place that makes them different from others".

Fourth I'm unsure how gameplay elements like Khloes book or Soulstones are actually influencing your character - in both ways. Sure, your avatar changes their job when you equip them with a different soulstone... but how does it effect your personality?
Are you honestly suggesting that playing a certain job in a game changes your personality? Phew... in that case I agree, you should ask yourself the critical question of wether or not playing video games is right for you if they have such an effect...

And last: I'm still not sure what you want to say "No" to. The same old formular the game is going through every new patch? If you want to say "No" to that - feel free to do so, by not giving SE your money anymore if you dont feel its worth it anymore.

At least I can agree with you on the point of you asking yourself some critical questions, involving:
Why post in a discussion-forum when you dont want to discuss anything?
Why use overly complicated language to give the (false) sense of depth to your post?
Should you play a game - or games - if they have (fundamental) effects on your personality as a human being?
Why pay for a game if you feel you're not getting your moneys worth?

Have fun answering those questions, potentially in a blogpost...