The Forums is a good place to escape Toxic Positivity

[0blivion]

Meh, FFXIV players are toxic either way. Hell, I am toxic. I like DT even though it's like, my third least favorite expansion, because I like Wuk Lamat and Sphene (ideally in the same room). It's whatever, just don't talk to hypercasuals and you won't encounter toxic positivity. same for ultimate raiders and people who unironically parse leveling roulettes.

[Raikai]

Said this in the other thread:

Is this Forum even a good place to "hang out" and discuss anything other than negative feedback?

I don't think, because the outdated webpage engine/tech they use here actively makes the user experience unpleasant. It's hard to format the posting text, is hard to quote specific bits of someone, it's hard to keep track of posts, it's not even properly moderated.

[BigCheez]

I don't have many friends that play FFXIV still, and the few that do are strong Dawntrail defenders (but not forum goers), so I am unable to state my opinion without getting a "Yikes :I" response, because it's a "hater" opinion even if I lean towards a bit more of a positive opinion on DT compared to quite a few forum members I've seen.

This is sad. The first sign of a struggling game is players complaining about it. One of the last signs of a struggling game is when the only people still playing it are the white knights.

[Striker44]

This is sad. The first sign of a struggling game is players complaining about it. One of the last signs of a struggling game is when the only people still playing it are the white knights.

The latter I'll agree with. The former...there will always be people complaining about a game. Every game. Every where. Heck, ShB is widely viewed as far and away the "best" expansion FFXIV had...yet if you were around the forums at that time, you'd think it was the worst thing ever. Same happened with WoW's forum during the WotLK days (which reached a peak of around 12,000,000 active players that will likely never be topped by any MMO). Forums by their nature attract complainers.

[Gember]

The latter I'll agree with. The former...there will always be people complaining about a game. Every game. Every where. Heck, ShB is widely viewed as far and away the "best" expansion FFXIV had...yet if you were around the forums at that time, you'd think it was the worst thing ever. Same happened with WoW's forum during the WotLK days (which reached a peak of around 12,000,000 active players that will likely never be topped by any MMO). Forums by their nature attract complainers.

Yeah, if anyone wants to enjoy the game, their best choice would be to ignore everything social media about the game. Avoid Reddit, avoid these forums, avoid Twitter/BlueSky, and maybe a handful of content creators from Twitch or YouTube; I think you'll be mostly solid. Ignorance is bliss.

[ElysiumDragon]

I think a key part of the problem is that there's a chronic lack of uniform and consistent feedback.

"Make FFXIV a totally different game according to my whims" isn't feedback either, and that's what so many of the recent complaints have been about. That's not feedback you listen to, it's feedback you disregard.

[Shinku_Tachi]

I think a key part of the problem is that there's a chronic lack of uniform and consistent feedback.

"Make FFXIV a totally different game according to my whims" isn't feedback either, and that's what so many of the recent complaints have been about. That's not feedback you listen to, it's feedback you disregard.

This is a very good point. That's why in one of the other threads recently, I suggested Yoshi-P do what he did when he took charge during 1.0 and issue surveys to the playerbase, in the form of "yea or nay" and "a/b/c" questions, addressing the concerns and grievances people have had since the release of Dawntrail.

Questions like that can present more uniform feedback to the team, without the cacophony of noise. So it makes it easier to take direct and decisive action based on what players want. Plus, it will give Yoshi-P and CBU3 the opportunity to show that the players that they are taking feedback and listening, rather than leaving players feeling like they're unheard.

[Mawlzy]

This is a very good point. That's why in one of the other threads recently, I suggested Yoshi-P do what he did when he took charge during 1.0 and issue surveys to the playerbase, in the form of "yea or nay" and "a/b/c" questions, addressing the concerns and grievances people have had since the release of Dawntrail.

Questions like that can present more uniform feedback to the team, without the cacophony of noise. So it makes it easier to take direct and decisive action based on what players want. Plus, it will give Yoshi-P and CBU3 the opportunity to show that the players that they are taking feedback and listening, rather than leaving players feeling like they're unheard.

It would create goodwill and furnish SE with actionable information. The question at this point is whether they care about either.

[Valence]

"Make FFXIV a totally different game according to my whims" isn't feedback either, and that's what so many of the recent complaints have been about. That's not feedback you listen to, it's feedback you disregard.

This got me curious: what feedback do you consider as "feedback you listen to", and what do you consider as "make a totally different game according to my whims kind of feedback you don't listen to"?

[MaikoRaines]

In this case I have some really good news for you: nobody forces you to partake in the forums, nor is there any risk of partaking accidentally.

Hmm.

I like to check in here now and then, just to marvel at the sheer density of stupidity. It's like a motivational quote, but louder and dumber—really puts my own life into perspective. It's not all stupid but just enough.

I come here for the same reason people watch car crashes—morbid curiosity and the warm reassurance that, whatever else is happening, at least I’m not out here confusing opinions with facts in front of an audience. Nothing lifts the spirits like a front-row seat to brain cells being sacrificed in real time.

It's my personal gratitude journal, just with more public embarrassment