Succinct Story Line summary?

[lun4tic]

Then, why do you bother to play? Seriously, you're playing an RPG in a fantasy setting, it should be obvious that the language used by characters will be stylized in a way similar to the way that it is in Eorzea, it's like that in every RPG with a fantasy setting.

I'm not sure what you're talking about with regard to a watered down story line, if you expected gritty realism and more hard core action/intrigue, then you've come to the wrong kind of virtual world.

Playing a game isn't reading a book. I can still enjoy the game if I dislike the story.

And I don't know what game you've been playing if you can't see how thin the story is. It's not Final Fantasy caliber, that's for sure.

[Kosmos992k]

Playing a game isn't reading a book. I can still enjoy the game if I dislike the story.

And I don't know what game you've been playing if you can't see how thin the story is. It's not Final Fantasy caliber, that's for sure.

lol, Final Fantasy caliber? Let's see, evil empire invades, only you the young, fresh faced, newly anointed warrior of light can save the world? It's as standard a plot line as any fantasy game I can mention. Oh wait I forgot the political intrigue in Ul'dah, the threat to the elemental balance of the world, and of course the shadowy bad guys in capes who manipulate events from behind the scenes and can summon forth the voidsent, and the upcoming face off with the religious theocracy in Ishgard. Yes, very thin, and that ignores the individual storylines of some of the bad guys themselves, and the whole Coil story line, along with Hildebrand and the various smaller side stories going on with the class quests and other events in each city state. Yes, so very thin on story....

[lun4tic]

Most of what you've mentioned has such a non-presence in the game, due to being so poorly fleshed out, that I've forgotten they're things. As for the coil storyline, I'm on turn five and it's pretty much been this:

"Gosh! That looks like a wing! IT'S BAHAMUT'S WING!!!"
"Gosh! That looks like a claw! IT'S BAHAMUT'S CLAW!!!"

What is it even about? What is any of this about? Where are the compelling characters? Where are the hard decisions? The consequences of our actions? These are all things a Final Fantasy game should have, to some degree, but FFXIV lacks all of it. It's a Disney story about playing whack-a-mole with non-threatening primals and stopping the non-threatening, all-around evil invaders from hanging out. It was slapped together on a tight schedule and it shows.

[Bluevann]

I'd recommend using an alt and do the quests. You'll hardly need to do any leveling to be honest. if you do all the quests, that will provide you enough exp to be caught up with level requirements.

[Intaki]

I like how the people who admit to not reading the story or dialogue are the ones that criticize it the most.

[Risvertasashi]

Yup, not really that into it. I play an MMO because I likee doing raid content with other people and building a character up over time.

While Kosmos992k didn't need to be so mean-spirited and close-minded about it...

Just from pure curiosity, why make this thread then? I don't think your reasons for playing are invalid or anything--different people play for different reasons and raiding/progression is just as good as playing for the story or whatever other reasons people have. But I'm curious.

EDIT: I found a better link!

...although it's quite the read: http://gamerescape.com/2015/01/19/th...reborn-part-1/
This one is more up to date than the FF wiki, but it's still a patch or 2 behind. I imagine we'll get get a bunch of 2.x summaries once it's actually finished

[Kosmos992k]

While Kosmos992k didn't need to be so mean-spirited and close-minded about it...

I'm not being mean spirited or closed minded, I simply cannot understand why anyone would play a final fantasy game and ignore the story, or expect to play without reference to the story.

[Risvertasashi]

I'm not being mean spirited or closed minded, I simply cannot understand why anyone would play a final fantasy game and ignore the story, or expect to play without reference to the story.

Pretty much the definition there. But I'll try to explain in the hope that all is not lost.

Some people play games for the game part of it. Mechanics. Being one of the highest skilled players. The prestige of getting a world or server first. Or more modestly, just the challenge. Or for social reasons: Having fun with friends (be that raiding, RPing, or who knows what else).

There are many other reasons to play that I haven't touched on, but which may lead a person to skip all story/cutscenes/etc. Some people just aren't here for it. This is not exactly uncommon. Yes, FF story tends to be a few notches above typical MMOs and all that, but it's still not going to appeal to everyone. Their reasons for playing are no less valid for it.

[Ehayte]

I'd recommend using an alt and do the quests. You'll hardly need to do any leveling to be honest. if you do all the quests, that will provide you enough exp to be caught up with level requirements.

That will take far to long and try my patience far too much.

I like how the people who admit to not reading the story or dialogue are the ones that criticize it the most.

I gave the story what I considered to be a fair shake at each patch. I did read/watch up to Prae. Unimpressed and unable to get back into it.

While Kosmos992k didn't need to be so mean-spirited and close-minded about it...

Just from pure curiosity, why make this thread then? I don't think your reasons for playing are invalid or anything--different people play for different reasons and raiding/progression is just as good as playing for the story or whatever other reasons people have. But I'm curious.

Anyway, this page has what you want: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/L...XIV_Storylines

Thank you for the link - I want to be able to catch up and get acquainted enough with the politics, etc, so that I can appreciate the transition into 3.0. I don't really have that big of an issue with the story, I don't think that its great, but I don't find it horrible or anything, I just have an issue with how much of my time it takes to experience it. I am here for raiding and challenging content and progressing my character. If I wanted a story I'd play a single player RPG. IMO this game is good enough to stand up without a specific story, I just like to play around in the world.

I'm not being mean spirited or closed minded, I simply cannot understand why anyone would play a final fantasy game and ignore the story, or expect to play without reference to the story.

That's fine that you don't understand but your reaction should be confusion and not anger. You decided that even though you weren't capable of providing a synopsis that I didn't ask for, if you were, you wouldn't give it to me because of my ignorance. That's pretty rude to have said. You could have just said nothing at all about that. I gave you, over 4 posts now, my reasons for playing FFXIV and not having enough motivation to experience the story as presented, so if you don't understand where I am coming from I have to imagine its on you.

[Kosmos992k]

That's fine that you don't understand but your reaction should be confusion and not anger. You decided that even though you weren't capable of providing a synopsis that I didn't ask for, if you were, you wouldn't give it to me because of my ignorance. That's pretty rude to have said. You could have just said nothing at all about that. I gave you, over 4 posts now, my reasons for playing FFXIV and not having enough motivation to experience the story as presented, so if you don't understand where I am coming from I have to imagine its on you.

How is it rude? You expressed willful ignorance of the story, I merely pointed that out.