We have officially reached maintenance....

[hunkygladiator]

Because there are many, many social aspects of FFXIV that I enjoy and could not get from a single player or even multiplayer lobby game. To me, logging into a game and seeing many of the same names in the same places day in and day out for months sometimes as I do my in game walks is still quite precious to me, and in fact nothing short of amazing. To always meet new people and hit them with a dote or a wave and have it returned with a "how have you been? learn any new bard music lately? hows your SO doing?" I feel like I am actually part of a small town in an age where community is largely dead in most other MMO'.s. It's very special to me so I fight hard against things that I think would be to the deteriment of the community.

Either way, I disagree about the story. I thought ARR was a fine intro to the characters and world. Heavensward story was a master piece. Stormblood was meh. Shadowbringers, to me, is my favorite story in any form of media period. The characters and story spoketo me on a very personal level. Forgiveness. Redemption. Themes that I needed at a time in my life when i really needed them. Im okay with it if others do not agree. It doesn't detract from my joy of the story at all. Endwalker was pretty good too but it's very much the Return of the Jedi for me. It did what it needed to do but its no Shadowbringers.

I know it's subjective but FF14's story is not that sophisticated. It isn't really that profound. Endwalker was actually one of the best stories in terms of themes, especially in Ultima Thule, but it's just constantly marred by fanservice and fanfiction-tier writing. Sure, the themes of FF14 are great, but the writing and character development just do not match. When I evaluate a story I also look at components like style, consistency, coherence, and writing techniques. FF14 has great ideas and themes but the execution is particularly bad, especially in Endwalker. I'm sure I'm not the only one who raised an eyebrow at the writing just as something important is happening in the story. It sometimes also feels particularly childish though I'm not sure if it's intended (like the whole Loporrits segment right as we defeat Zodiark). Really for me I go through the MSQ just to witness the best parts and ideas of the story despite the bad writing and filler.