Do you think that your character in Final Fantasy XIV Online is the central character of the plot? Yes. Is your character central to the plot? ...Kind of. Your character just takes orders from other, more pivotal characters to achieve a goal that isn't of your creation.

Wanna save Eorzea from destruction? You're not going to be the one to do that.

What I'm talking about is what makes a Final Fantasy main character - a central character in the plot. There's a difference, you see. In Fantasy XIII, Lightning makes a role in developing the plot. In Final Fantasy XIV, the plot moves you... slowly.

Final Fantasy main characters are known to summon huge behemoths (Yuna), jump stories high(Lightning), wield giant swords like it's made of nothing (Cloud), punch someone so hard they dissipate (Snow), own and ride a giant airship (Cid, Cid, Cid, Cid, and Cid), survive from falling millions of feet by summoning a giant supermonster to aid you (Lightning), attacking and defying gods (Lightning), being able to defeat 1000-foot+ monsters (Lightning), exploring the unexplored without fear or regret (Lightning), destroying large areas without sweating (Lightning), defeating and summoning the God of Thunder, then riding him like a horse (Lightning), Taking out huge armies in one huge swoop (Lightning), taking part in ruining a national celebration race thingie (Lightning), taking down trains that are going at extreme speeds (Lightning), and much, muuuuch more.

You? You're nothing as an MMO character. You can't even jump - and even when you can - you can't do much else. You have no desire to put fate into your hands. You have no emotions in those emotionless eyes of yours. You can stare at a wall for hours without shifting weight. You're a disgrace as a Final Fantasy main character.

Hell, you're a disgrace as an MMO character. Every player character on AION can beat you up good, including the lv1s. You know why? They can jump. They can fly. They can shoot meteors. They wield huge swords. They were chosen by a dead benevolent god. Their source of power comes from a celestial entity's corpse. They can survive extreme heat. They can stand on top of the core of a planet and not even flinch. They can do flips, hide into shadows, disguse themselves as plants and animals, defeat huge humanoid monsters and golems, including ones that are 10x their size or even 100x. They have a mission to carry out and a destiny.

If you create an Elyos your destiny is to fulfill a prophecy and to get back your lost memories and immense power to help the Elyos cause and fight the draconic Balaur. If you create an Asmodian, your destiny is to defeat an Elyos as powerful as an empyrian lord and obtain immense power to help fight the draconic Balaur. If you create a character on Final Fantasy XIV, your destiny is to get better at being psychic (The Echo) and help save the world from bunnies, ladybugs, and some Darth Vader ripoff.

There isn't a Final Fantasy story in Final Fantasy XIV. There is no huge, epic conflict. There is nothing like Sephiroth, no Sin, no Shinra, no Fal'Cie, no Golbeza, no Ex-Death. What little conflict there is is minor compared to every single other game in the series except XI.

The story of Final Fantasy XIV - and your character's destiny in it - sucks compared to a plethora of other MMOs. There is nothing like the Scourge and the Lich King, the Draconic Lords of the Balaur, Kromede the Corrupted. Nothing interesting happens that keeps your character ultimately interested in your investment of time. Nothing interesting happens that shows any form of great conflict.

Remember that huge airship with the dragon in the game opening? The one with the fancy graphics? Don't worry! No civilization was destroyed. Just some trees, farm animals, and adventurers. And yeah! The ship doesn't really do much afterwards. It's a ruin. That interesting, epic fight ended before your character's plot started.

This isn't a suggestion... it's just feedback. A very ranty feedback.