Playing an expansion as current content has been a lacklustre MMO experience

[Atelier-Bagur]

What are you talking about? I've repeatedly - WE have repeatedly discussed this. Saying it has not been addressed does not make it true, this whole thread is in regards to the 'MMO' portion of the MMORPG called Final Fantasy XIV.

IT IS A LACKLUSTER MMO

I meme, because it's all I can get across now. You forget what thread you're in, and keep talking about how great of a Single Player game XIV is, when we just want the MMO back.

I've stated multiple times that MSQ was not something I was interested in when I started playing. Even back in ARR almost everyone complained about the MSQ. It was never really seen as the main focus, and it's only recently become the main talking point for the game's 'content'.

Before Shadowbringers, most people didn't give a shit about MSQ, nothing made sense, it was going nowhere, and the writing was 90% awful. They didn't even have Ascians and the Arc as a whole figured out until then.

Are you talking about the fact that XIV is still breathing? It's barely breathing, we had a surge from the WoW exodus, don't pat yourself on the back so hard - That doesn't mean we're the GOAT. When your talking point is saying XIV is the best MMO out there, while simultaneously congratulating the 'MMO' for only being entertaining 3 months every 2 years, then it's no better than every other MMO out there barely hanging onto a playerbase all the same. This one just so happens to have the Final Fantasy title on it, so people naturally seem more interested when they go "'MEMBA CHOCOBO?!"

It's gotten to the point where the MMO portion is no longer fun outside of RPing or decorating your house. Nobody runs the actual content, if they did then we wouldn't be bleeding players to every other MMO currently.

You say that XIV is successful because of it's formula, but forget that the formula has changed significantly every expac cycle before Endwalker. It's only now that Shadowbringers and Endwalker are basically the same, and the combat and content model outside of MSQ continues to wither. It's become what you so desperately want, a Single Player VN with RP housing.

We stopped being an MMO in Stormblood, the design philosophy has slowly been creeping into instanced single-player. We're frogs, and we've been successfully boiled. Congratulations.

Tsk, tsk, tsk are we now just resorting to lies just to desperately argue points?

[R041]

Tsk, tsk, tsk are we now just resorting to lies just to desperately argue points?

Where are the lies? I want to discuss - This thread is regarding the 'MMO' portion. Let's talk, you want to talk. You had your chance right here even. We can be civil.

Talking about the MSQ shouldn't even be allowed here. We can all agree it's not even a Multiplayer experience. If it is, then we may as well just call Netflix the best MMO. At least Netflix doesn't make me watch all episodes of a show before watching another show, or tell me I need to spend $50 to skip to the next series.

[Atelier-Bagur]

Where are the lies? I want to discuss - This thread is regarding the 'MMO' portion. Let's talk, you want to talk. You had your chance right here even. We can be civil.

Talking about the MSQ shouldn't even be allowed here. We can all agree it's not even a Multiplayer experience.

Im just baffled at some of these statements you make

"most people didnt give a shit about MSQ, nothing made sense, writing was 90% awful"

"FFXIV barely breathing, we had a surge from the WoW exodus, dont pat yourself on the back so hard"

1st one is just, hilariously not true. Story engagement doesnt just happen overnight or over a single expansion. Interest gets build slowly through time and seeing how far, the lore goes as well as characters is the reason why the later expansions were more often than not successful to the general audience.

2nd point is a blatant hard twist of the facts about the popularity and sales of FFXIV. Yes indeed, the WoW surge prior to EW was a huge factor to FFXIV's boon, but if you actually pay attention to the numbers and sales, the game has been on its own slowly improving and favoring the general populace, regardless of WoW or not.

[Raven2014]

Where are the lies?

Pretty much the majority of your post.

I want to discuss - This thread is regarding the 'MMO' portion. Let's talk, you want to talk. You had your chance right here even.

You're not discussing, you're are blatantly making thing up. If it's on purpose, than you just straight up lying. If you're not doing on purpose, than you're making a bunch of assumption out of ignorant. You're creating your own definition and argue it's the fact of the universe.

And it's MMO-RPG. You don't get to choose to chop off half of the label just to suit your argument. FF14 has both, and no amount of arse pulling will change that. An MMORPG with only MMO and no RPG will become a MOBA game, and that's a completely category.

Talking about the MSQ shouldn't even be allowed here.

This is like saying "let's have a debate but I'm the only one allowed to talk".

Also this just prove you're a hypocrite. Because you said this and right below continue to talk about the MSQ.

We can all agree it's not even a Multiplayer experience.

No, we don't. I have over thousands of hours in FF14, and only a minuscule of that time spending playing solo.

In case you're still wondering about "where the lie", well, you just see another one. When I run dungeon, when I raid, when I do trial, when I pvp, when I run fate ... the heck are those if not multiplayer? And you can do all of those when lvling.

- Fate opened at lvl 1.
- Dungeon opened at lvl16.
- Trial at 25.
- PvP unlock at 30.
- Raid at 50 (alliance).

If it is, then we may as well just call Netflix the best MMO. At least Netflix doesn't make me watch all episodes of a show before watching another show, or tell me I need to spend $50 to skip to the next series.

You're basically taking a horse tail and jam it into a dog ass can claim you have an argument. You really don't.

Congratulations.

Seeing I've been playing for 10 years and enjoy it for the most part, your Congratulation is well place and received. Thank you, even though I know you only said it sarcastically.

Between a person who invest time and money to enjoy himself, and a person who invest time and money into something that they don't ... I wonder who is more sane? You claimed that this has been a thing from SB? Well, seeing how the game still manage to keep you here all time despite what you claim, I guess it is doing something right by you despite you don't want to admit it.

Oh, and you want to see another lie?

Are you talking about the fact that XIV is still breathing?

SB was like what, half a decade ago? If you're not lying shouldn't the game be dead and buried by now? Or you gonna claim ShB also had an emergency injection from another game? 5 and half year is a pretty damn long time to stay relevant just by leeching off others. If I'm a betting man, I would dare to place a bet the long term success of FF14 maybe due to standing on its own.

Like I said, stop drump up the echo inside your own head, it ain't gonna bend reality to your will no matter loud you shout.

[Jojoya]

Where are the lies? I want to discuss - This thread is regarding the 'MMO' portion. Let's talk, you want to talk. You had your chance right here even. We can be civil.

Talking about the MSQ shouldn't even be allowed here. We can all agree it's not even a Multiplayer experience. If it is, then we may as well just call Netflix the best MMO. At least Netflix doesn't make me watch all episodes of a show before watching another show, or tell me I need to spend $50 to skip to the next series.

I can sense your frustration. I think under other circumstances you'd be fairly constructive in a discussion.

But it's not happening here. Your frustration is distorting your responses.

What you might be looking for in a MMO of any type is not what every MMO must be. Few MMOs lack some sort of single player mode. Sometimes players aren't interested in doing things with other players though they still want to play the game. Sometimes they're waiting for friends or family to be able to get online but they want something to do in game that will be meaningful to their character while they're waiting. Game developers have learned that players also need solo content in a MMO to help retain interest.

Just because content can be completed solo doesn't always mean it must be or is even intended to be completed solo. As a good example, Duty support was added for players who feel uncomfortable in group content but it also comes with an attached time penalty because those dungeons and trials are still intended to be done with a group. Contrast that against the solo duties that must be completed solo.

You seem to be stressing yourself out trying to express your frustration over a game. That's not healthy. It's a sign you need to take a step back for a while.

It's your choice but I would suggest taking a few weeks away right now not just from playing FFXIV but from posting in the forums as well. Every time you're tempted to post here, pick up one of your other games you're playing instead. Or pick a new game to try (very easy to do if you have PSN or a Steam account).

Then if you feel like it come back when 6.3 is released. See if the few weeks away have changed anything for you. If your feelings of frustration immediately flare back up again, sounds like a good time for a prolonged break from the game. Other than a house and its contents, everything would still be waiting for you when/if you decide to give the game another try.

No game is worth compromising your health, and allowing stress and frustration to build up is a good way to get sick or trigger more serious medical conditions.