SE: Please tone it down a hair

[Cendres]

It's not about HOW it is written though it's about HOW MUCH. Make the difference.

[Elexia]

It's not about HOW it is written though it's about HOW MUCH. Make the difference.

Yep. Difference is those who like and want to read versus those who dislike reading/can't actually read. Since even if its voice acted people won't sit through all of it unless it's full of action.

Gotta face facts, sometimes something just simply isn't for everyone.

[Cendres]

Yep. Difference is those who like and want to read versus those who dislike reading/can't actually read. Since even if its voice acted people won't sit through all of it unless it's full of action.

Gotta face facts, sometimes something just simply isn't for everyone.

Nope not even close.

[Elexia]

Nope not even close.

It is close, how can something be 'too much' if it doesn't come down to wanting/not wanting to read?

[Cendres]

It is close, how can something be 'too much' if it doesn't come down to wanting/not wanting to read?

Since you seem to profess your love of reading, please do actually read my posts (while using reading comprehension) and then come back to me with a reply that's relevant.

You know what? I'll give the benefit of the doubt and answer your question point bank: there's no point in adding lines and lines of text that do not say anything. To keep your audience captivated every sentence should convey meaning and not just be there for the sake of taking up time and space.

If every sentence in XIV was really meaningful it would be fantastic, but that's not the case. I LOVE reading, I read a lot in real life and have no problem with it in a game, but I don't like dialogue that is semi and sometimes even mostly pointless. I know it can be better and riveting!

With NPCs that make you laugh or give you decent information or both even, with their own personalities.

[Rjain]

HOW MUCH.

Have you ever read Shakespeare?

There are reasons Shakespeare remains one of the most popular and enjoyed play-writes in history. Oh yeah, and there's pages upon pages of the same difficult English. But yet, people continue to enjoy it. A surprise! Those people must enjoy reading and/or stories and/or dramatic performances. Much like what the dialogue is aimed at in this game. People who enjoy reading and/or stories and/or dramatic performances. If you as a player do not fit into having the amount of patience required to read, then you may simply skip the stories and do well not to complain.

[Cendres]

Have you ever read Shakespeare?

There are reasons Shakespeare remains one of the most popular and enjoyed play-writes in history. Oh yeah, and there's pages upon pages of the same difficult English. But yet, people continue to enjoy it. A surprise! Those people must enjoy reading and/or stories and/or dramatic performances. Much like what the dialogue is aimed at in this game. People who enjoy reading and/or stories and/or dramatic performances. If you as a player do not fit into having the amount of patience required to read, then you may simply skip the stories and do well not to complain.

Shakespeare is interesting because every single sentence has a specific intent. I can't say the same for FFXIV, but I wish I could, maybe someday I will. In XIV right now you've got entirely useless sentences that could easily be condensed and still have the same effect. Talking just to talk is pointless, talking with meaning isn't.

BTW I read everything, I love stories, but even I can recognize there's more then a few times in XIV I want the NPC to get to the point already and quit boring me. If I was hanging on to every word I would not have this perception. Something about the writing can be improved. We are not talking about taking away anything but IMPROVING things.

Criticism of this nature is a good thing.

[ShinChuck]

Have you ever read Shakespeare?

There are reasons Shakespeare remains one of the most popular and enjoyed play-writes in history. Oh yeah, and there's pages upon pages of the same difficult English. But yet, people continue to enjoy it. A surprise! Those people must enjoy reading and/or stories and/or dramatic performances. Much like what the dialogue is aimed at in this game. People who enjoy reading and/or stories and/or dramatic performances. If you as a player do not fit into having the amount of patience required to read, then you may simply skip the stories and do well not to complain.

Shakespeare is interesting because every single sentence has a specific intent. I can't say the same for FFXIV, but I wish I could, maybe someday I will. In XIV right now you've got entirely useless sentences that could easily be condensed and still have the same effect. Talking just to talk is pointless, talking with meaning isn't.

BTW I read everything, I love stories, but even I can recognize there's more then a few times in XIV I want the NPC to get to the point already and quit boring me. If I was hanging on to every word I would not have this perception. Something about the writing can be improved. We are not talking about taking away anything but IMPROVING things.

Criticism of this nature is a good thing.

Cendres, you nailed it. It's interesting Rjain chose Shakespeare, because in Shakespeare's own words "Brevity is the soul of wit". He essentially trimmed the fat and removed the superfluous, which made for an overall superior story, and that's essential to why his works were so great and people still enjoy them.

As another wise man elaborated (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw!),

"Shakespeare wrote that 'brevity is the soul of wit'. He did not then add 'unless you're writing a webcomic'. It applies to everything, and don't tell me you're arrogant enough to claim to know better than Shakespeare."

Neither did Shakespeare say "unless you're writing dialog for an MMO." Rjain could not have hurt their argument more by bringing up Shakespeare, as it's essentially the polar opposite of FFXIV's writing style and further illustrates the issue many people have with it.

[Asiaine]

Have you ever read Shakespeare?

There are reasons Shakespeare remains one of the most popular and enjoyed play-writes in history. Oh yeah, and there's pages upon pages of the same difficult English. But yet, people continue to enjoy it. A surprise! Those people must enjoy reading and/or stories and/or dramatic performances. Much like what the dialogue is aimed at in this game. People who enjoy reading and/or stories and/or dramatic performances. If you as a player do not fit into having the amount of patience required to read, then you may simply skip the stories and do well not to complain.

The worrying thing is... Shakespeare was not writing for the educated and upper classes... quite the contrary. To suggest his writings and concepts were difficult and advanced reveals the truth about our lack of comprehension and limited literary competence.

Sad are we, for living in a world of 'tl;dr -> LOL big words r l@m3. Gimme stuff!'