The Content Cycle needs to break.

[Bonoki]

Complaining about a new quest design, when it's the first time in a while that there's been an attempt at innovation, wasn't very wise indeed.

In From the Cold was the peak solo duty design, but because people complained, we now have "Very Easy" mode, and some players use it to skip the challenge in all solo duties entirely. It’s the same with Role-Play quests where you control NPCs—they're a great way to make the story more immersive, but they’re not popular. Even little things like NPC escort missions or interactive zoom-ins get brushed off as tedious.

The broader issue seems to be that quest design in FFXIV is underappreciated. Whenever SE attempts to innovate or break the mold of traditional questing, the feedback tends to lean negative. This resistance stifles creativity and risks making the game a bland, formulaic experience. If we want the game to continue growing and evolving, players must embrace these attempts to make the journey more engaging and immersive rather than dismissing them for convenience.

Edit: I think quest design is underappreciated, largely because it can feel tedious when playing multiple alts. What’s exciting the first time often becomes a chore on subsequent playthroughs.