How to Restore Confidence in FFXIV

[Ath192]

Alright lets actual humor this opinion of yours. If it actually turned out that EW was just a bad expansion.....why do you honestly believe that one single expansion is enough to make this game be irredeemable where it will just completely die. Games have their highs and lo's and they're still surprisingly doing good.

So why the constant doomsaying as if you're some prophet? Oh wait I know what you're gonna say to this one "because we've seen this happen before in WoW yadayeeda"

Yeah we'll guess what, that game is still actually alive even after all of its mess. So who's to say that FFXIV isnt capable of still being good?

Also no, the ideas that you constantly post here isnt to be taken as failproof. None of us have any experience in actually running an MMO, especially one as popular as this game. We provide feedback, say when shit works or sucks and sometimes even outrage over it in social media and you know what, thats fine. But when you start having the delusion that you somehow know better than literally anyone on the community or even the team....thats not criticism buddy, that egoism. And we dont need egotistical people like you, we need people like R401 or even Stormpeak who can voice their criticisms without acting like complete total snobs.

He’s no prophet. You’d have to actually be blind to see the game isn’t tanking. No, this expansion isn’t going to be end of it. It’s the trend that’s worrisome.SHB was dry, EW was dryer, 7.0? Now if that’s dry again then idk what to tell you because idk how it could possibly cut more content. and I won’t be around because of it.

I am honestly wondering how many people like me are out there hanging on for 7.0 to see if the game is still worth playing in the long run.

Aveyond can take credit if he wants but to me a lot of us are thinking the same thing. He’s just more flamboyant and critical than most.

[Atelier-Bagur]

He’s no prophet. You’d have to actually be blind to see the game isn’t tanking. No, this expansion isn’t going to be end of it. It’s the trend that’s worrisome.SHB was dry, EW was dryer, 7.0? Now if that’s dry again then idk what to tell you because idk how it could possibly cut more content. and I won’t be around because of it.

I am honestly wondering how many people like me are out there hanging on for 7.0 to see if the game is still worth playing in the long run.

Aveyond can take credit if he wants but to me a lot of us are thinking the same thing. He’s just more flamboyant and critical than most.

You'd be surprised the amount of people and communities who still find the game fine, if you actually step out of your own zone. They have their issues sure but they dont go overboard with the constant doomsaying you constantly see here.

[Stormpeaks]

You'd be surprised the amount of people and communities who still find the game fine, if you actually step out of your own zone. They have their issues sure but they dont go overboard with the constant doomsaying you constantly see here.

Hopefully you understand that a lot of these same people are also heavily slowing themselves down on purpose, or not playing the content at all, Vel is a good example of that, they will keep telling you that the game and its content is fine, yet they do absolutely none of the content, so of course it'll be fine to them, a lot of people just hang out in this game which is fine, as I've said a million times, I myself mostly hang out and do housing, that doesnt mean I cant see where other people are coming from because I can see that the content is barely existant, so their complaints are valid, I wont tell them that the content is fine because it's just not right.

[Kacho_Nacho]

I think it’s time we break from some of the negativity and instead cast our eyes to the future. Although much has been done to undermine confidence in FFXIV this expansion, I don’t think we’re yet past the point of no return. To that end, I’ve prepared some things that I think would go a long way towards rebuilding the trust that was lost, otherwise it does seem to be that many are unwilling to carry on with the current state of affairs.

Content –

Indisputably, there has been a lot more experimental content released this expansion than in previous ones. However, for all the efforts poured into things like Island Sanctuary and Variant/Criterion Dungeons, the overarching consensus is that there is little point in engaging with such content. The time has come to question and reassess what kind of player the content is being aimed at – someone who when they log in actually wants to actively engage with the game and its world or the players who treat the game more akin to a chat room in the Housing Wards.

The lack of an exploratory zone has been felt especially painfully, even moreso with these relics having no specific content geared towards them. The illusion of choice provided with them does little but to funnel players into Roulettes or Hunt Trains. This however is not satisfactory gameplay for those of us who would much rather spend time in the social and gameplay environment created by zones like Anemos and Bozja. Variant/Criterion Dungeons in no way compensate for this either – the lack of rewards and severe restriction in terms of actions one can use in them compared to Lost/Logos actions do not inspire us to try this content more than once either.

All of these content issues are further exacerbated by the increased patch length cycle, which at this point I cannot voice support for because of how the game has consistently not met the standards of previous expansions since their implementation. If we had Restoration content or a relic grind that required more than just tomestomes I would probably not feel the way I do now, but given that this extra waiting hasn’t delivered on much to show for it, I do not believe its in the game’s best interest to continue with these cycles. This isn’t burnout and we are long past the point where players telling each other to “just take a break” are reasonable responses to the situation.

The best solution I can propose is to introduce the first exploratory zone by no later than 7.25, coupled with a Restoration effort that begins in 7.15. Variant/Criterion dungeons should be repurposed for the 7.X series as additional raids in the style of Delubrum Reginae, with more variety in duty actions we can choose from. Following the standard set in Stormblood, I also believe a Deep Dungeon should release at some point during the series in tandem with this other content, in this way nobody is left without something to look forward to.

Story –

FFXIV is an mmorpg that throughout its lifespan, has been rightfully celebrated for its story. However, Endwalker did not do all that came before it justice given its abrupt termination of far too many storylines that different sectors of the playerbase were intrigued by. Those of us who cared for the political machinations in Garlemald have been left with nothing remotely similar to look forward to, not to mention how disconnected the current Void storyline feels from everything else. The initial patches of the 6.X cycle represent a missed opportunity to not only reset the WoL’s power level so that Season 2 of the game could begin on even ground, but also a chance to give us a clean starting point for everything from that point onwards.

The key things that I feel would rejuvenate FFXIV’s storytelling is fresh characters and a fresh location for 7.0 to take place in, something that invokes the same feeling as Ishgard in the distance that makes players go “wow! I want to go there!” Characters should invoke something similar, “wow! I want to learn more about this person and see them in action!” Unfortunately the Scions have done all they can in terms of the story and their growth, and the earlier proposed plan to introduce Krile into the mix isn’t one I can throw support behind. I shudder to think of going from a Scion to potentially a Student of Baldesion, as we’ve let the influence of Sharlayan decide the fate of the world for long enough. More scholars is not the answer.

Truly returning to being an adventurer on the road, a sword for hire, things of that nature in a place no one knows who we are would be so much more refreshing than dragging things from the past decade into this new phase the game is set to enter. Coupled with this should be a strong high fantasy focus in the style akin to FFXVI’s setting, which has a variety of nation states that could easily carry an expansion each perhaps save Dhalmek. However, I could easily buy an FFXIV expansion that sees us go to a place like Rosaria or Sanbreque, or the mist enshrouded lands of Waloed. I want something that makes me feel as excited as I did for Heavensward and Shadowbringers and the places they opened up to the player – the disconnect we’ve seen in both Stormblood and Endwalker’s zones have estranged me at best and destroyed whole portions of the world I was interested in the worst cases.

I invite others to share their thoughts on how FFXIV can do more to restore their own confidence in the game below, in the hopes that whatever awaits us after this expansion ends is better than what we’ve been experiencing lately.

You know, I usually write you off as someone who enjoys stirring up drama for drama's sake; but, I find myself in totally agreement with you on this post. FFXIV needs a fresh start, as big a reboot as ARR was for 1.0 players.

For as big as the promise was, EW feels like too many things were rushed to completion. While other parts feel like they were tacked on at the last moment and don't get me started on the misdirection Square Enix pulled where we defeated the Big Bad™ (who was built up over FOUR expansions)ridiculously easy early in EW only to have some preadolescent bird girl who's really a construct revealed as the real Threat To All Existence™.

We need new lands with new people and NO MORE SCIONS or STUDENTS OF BALDESION. We need reasons to get out in the world instead of hanging out in the capital cities at the aetherytes.

[Atelier-Bagur]

Hopefully you understand that a lot of these same people are also heavily slowing themselves down on purpose, or not playing the content at all, Vel is a good example of that, they will keep telling you that the game and its content is fine, yet they do absolutely none of the content, so of course it'll be fine to them, a lot of people just hang out in this game which is fine, as I've said a million times, I myself mostly hang out and do housing, that doesnt mean I cant see where other people are coming from because I can see that the content is barely existant, so their complaints are valid, I wont tell them that the content is fine because it's just not right.

I mean, Its not as if I dont necessarily disregard everything people say. A lot of the things people criticize I agree with to a certain extent, and even I have my own harsh critiques to parts of this game. But I'm a perspective person so when I take a step back and look at this game, its doing what its intended to be and everywhere I go, people are responding favorably. If this game where in such a big crisis then yeah we'd be seeing a lot more outlets of people saying the same opinions but its not.

My big problem is when people act irrational about it, especially how recently Im seeing folks here now pinning the blame of this game's problems to rp venues? Excuse me?

This doesnt ever mean the criticism needs to stop. Thats idiotic. What needs to stop is the attitude associated with it.

[TheLoveJenovan]

This is a repost from here. I was a long time subscriber, cancelled a year ago and re-subed for 1 month in April 2023. I'm letting my sub lapse...again.

I'll just add another note for players who are stuck.

FFXIV doesn't reinvest any of the $12.99 monthly subscription, and it has a big problem with maintenance, cheating and lackluster content recently. Genshin Impact and Warframe are arguably better and more modern games, and they're free to play.* The Sereneteapot in Genshin Impact, for example, is what the Island Sanctuary should have been.

Don't give your money to a company that doesn't value your patronage. Big companies like Square-Enix only follow the dollars.

*: I spent less than $30 on each of those games to support them, and I had as much fun in them as FFXIV, which I spent over $350 on subs and 2 expansions.

[SieyaM]

Here are some of the things that can be done to begin restoring my confidence in the game:



The side content for 6.x has quite frankly been a dumpster fire. Island Sweatshop is dead, Criterion was DOA, Orthos is just a copy pasted PotD/HoH, and there is no sustainable content to keep people around. Where is the replacement for Bozja? I'm not even talking about a new exploratory zone, but where is the thing that is meant to fill that void? We're more than halfway through the patches and it's nowhere to be found. Something needs to fill the void left by the missing exploratory zone.

People spent all last expansion complaining about the lack of a deep dungeon, so now we have one and people are complaining that it's another deep dungeon.

[Absimiliard]

People spent all last expansion complaining about the lack of a deep dungeon, so now we have one and people are complaining that it's another deep dungeon.

Nah. Most people were pretty happy with the inclusion of a new Deep Dungeon. Unfortunately, it turned out to be something you could faceroll. Kinda stunted its longevity a bit there.

[aveyond-dreams]

People spent all last expansion complaining about the lack of a deep dungeon, so now we have one and people are complaining that it's another deep dungeon.

I'm someone who thoroughly enjoyed both Palace of the Dead and Heaven on High as deep dungeons when they released but I absolutely loathe anything and everything to do with Eureka Orthos. My reasons are as follows.

For one, nobody wanted to see yet more hideous allagan textures copypasted everywhere.

The majority of the playerbase despises Hermes yet a certain writer decided to one again take the opportunity to gush over him in this deep dungeon's writing.

The weapons are the worst ones yet.

The hairstyle reward is one that at best only appeals to players on the fringes and isn't something I've seen anyone use.

The mount is yet another recycled mob and another with more ugly allagan textures painted on it.

From what I understand new enemies roam around the levelling floors that can one-shot and then wipe whole parties, making this content useless as a less painful way of levelling alt classes.

If we had gotten a deep dungeon on the moon, Garlemald, or even Lea Monde with better rewards I probably would be playing it right now instead of posting on the forums. Instead here we are.

[SieyaM]

I'm someone who thoroughly enjoyed both Palace of the Dead and Heaven on High as deep dungeons when they released but I absolutely loathe anything and everything to do with Eureka Orthos. My reasons are as follows.

For one, nobody wanted to see yet more hideous allagan textures copypasted everywhere.

The majority of the playerbase despises Hermes yet a certain writer decided to one again take the opportunity to gush over him in this deep dungeon's writing.

The weapons are the worst ones yet.

The hairstyle reward is one that at best only appeals to players on the fringes and isn't something I've seen anyone use.

The mount is yet another recycled mob and another with more ugly allagan textures painted on it.

From what I understand new enemies roam around the levelling floors that can one-shot and then wipe whole parties, making this content useless as a less painful way of levelling alt classes.

If we had gotten a deep dungeon on the moon, Garlemald, or even Lea Monde with better rewards I probably would be playing it right now instead of posting on the forums. Instead here we are.

A lot of these seem to be personal complaints about the fact that the aesthetic of the dungeon doesn't suit you, as well as the weapon. I haven't seen hardly anyone with Ultimate weapons but that doesn't mean the content is dead and shouldn't have been developed, but that is considered more of an elitist thing to have so I guess it excuses it's rarity. Of all the complaints around here I don't remember a huge wave of them being about Hermes, but maybe the social circles you're in hates them so it seems that way.