What makes this game worth playing? What keeps you playing?

[TheRealTuna]

Hi folks!

I'm currently playing a SMN on Adamntoise and am starting to question whether or not this game is going to hold any more value for me.

Starting the game, the obvious carrot-on-the-stick is the job for which you aim -- in my case, Summoner.

With this objective in mind, I tolerated the 1-4 button mashing (and the hilarious downtime resulting from the GCD system, I think I have spent more time standing still waiting for skills to come up than actually attacking stuff because of this) in the hopes that getting Summoner would change stuff up and make the game more interesting.

Welp, it ain't sadly.

(Continued below. Rofl, limit on forum posts -- what is this garbagio)

[TheRealTuna]

I am wondering what has kept all of you playing this game beyond this point. While the visuals are fantastic and everything, the game just seems like a very standard cookie cutter MMORPG, that delivers an experience that I could find in just about any other standard MMO. There seems to be almost no skill involved in playing this game whatsoever, not counting the occasional need to move 2 inches to the left to avoid some skill (and please, this is not skill).

I can't imagine that raiding is going to be all that mechanical or interesting either, just based on what I've seen, but maybe I'm wrong, and raiding is really good in this game or something.

I went in wanting to enjoy this game, but it seems like it's becoming very stale, very quickly.

To clarify, I am not looking for a "if you don't enjoy it, don't play it." Yes, I am sensible enough to arrive at that conclusion myself. I am asking specifically: what drives you to continue playing?

[Shougun]

You can go past the character limit by editing your post, I find it is easiest to write what I'd like to say and then copy it all so when I cut it down I can quickly edit and post the whole thing. Just be sure not to lose your copy, so you don't have half a post lol.

Well the first thing I would point out that SE has made the entry to this game very. . easy for new people to get into. As a level 30 any job you barely have any of the mechanics that will encompass the job you play at max level, which is good if you feel like you want more buttons to play with . Some jobs will also have an easier entrance to their toolkit than others, that playing it and maximizing its efficiency are quite separate. Bards used to be very mobile and I heard of bards using one macro for all their skills (or never using songs..), but then a good bard would probably squirm hearing you just used a macro to combo.

As for outside of your character mechanics, the game has a number of difficult encounters at the used to be cap 50 and then again at 60 (though the truly hard lvl60 mechanics are coming in a patch very soon).

(Possible Spoilers)
Titan Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR3aPDe5fcI
Turn 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_lnPoQNu7w
SMN Guide: http://solitude.guildwork.com/_/rihns-smn-guide

I personally like playing for the environments (game is very pretty), I love SE's concept art and they've been getting closer to their concept arts post 1.0 - awesome. The FF atmosphere, the incredible music, abilities, job system, and moogles and chocobos. Did I mention the Job system? Being able to maintain one character for all your needs is incredibly convenient and feels great (I do not like leveling alts, and I -do- like playing other classes and not having to do the introduction quests 5 times, minor 1.0 to 2.0 job system complaints aside.. lol). The story has been a pleasure, something I don't expect from an MMORPG. I also like that I can generally stay a few steps behind the leaders by playing at my own pace. I certainly can't be at the top of the mountain without putting in the real hours on end game raids, but I can be quite close and not feel like I need to tell my wife I'm going to be gone on the weekend "Please push food under the door! Don't forget to recycle the air in my room kthxbye".

[PotatoWafflez]

When you hit max level you'll find that those little seconds of twiddling your thumbs shouldn't be as bad as they are now give it till 45? I think is when you should start getting more a rhythm and less thumb twiddling but haven't touched my summoner for a while I might be wrong so give it till level 50.

Raiding isn't too bad not really versed in it enough to tell you everything you would want know about it most likely though, the primal fights are good though even if they are easier now they could still kill you at 50 in ilvl130 with a bad group.

I play for friends, I craft for friends, I tank for friends. I play for other people mostly and it gives me a never ending laundry list of things I can be doing or working towards to help other people out. You could play just to raid but you will hit that farming phase and you will probably get bored until the next raid patch. Relic weapons were a decent distraction for some people but it is a grind so might not be your cup of tea. You'll have to see what this new relic chain brings and make up your own mind on that one.

[AskaRay]

Glamour is my endgame... maybe that's silly but?? That's it.
Also I love the story personally.... that's what makes me keep going on and on. I also play for the friends I've made in the game. I played my first month alone, going through the story and everything. During that time I was invited to an FC but I turned down the offer; I like playing games by myself. I eventually took the offer though, after about...maybe two months after? Something like that. We've all become good friends now.

I say keep with it until you can experience top level a bit...if you still aren't having fun, then maybe try something else.

[niwaar]

Your complaints about the GCD are actually quite common for new players. This game revolves around a longer GCD than most other MMOs. It is there because this game wants strategic button pressing rather than just plain mashing. The long GCD does actually get shorter as you level up and gain skill/spell speed both from leveling and your gear. The standard 2.5sec GCD gets lowered to a varying degree depending on your job and gear. My current GCD as a 60 summoner is 2.43 seconds without our Pet Crit/speed buff and the generic starter gear 180 gear set.


The long GCD comes more into play because at 50 and then again at 60 you are doing things DURING that GCD. Summoner in particular has a great deal of abilities that are instant and off the GCD and are weaved into your rotation. Most other jobs have a great deal of these as well. Correctly and Efficiently weaving your off gcd buffs/abilities is the core of being a bad player in FFXIV or a good player.

As for the "Raid" gameplay. Well, lets just say that while there is only 4 encounters a tier these encounters tend to be mechanically driven and fun. There are not loot pinata's like half of the WoW raids have. There is very little trash. There isnt 4-5 days of 3+ hour raiding to be had in XIV. Its just not that type of game. The game has many things to do that are varying degrees of meaningful depending on who you are. Crafting, Gathering, Raiding, Dungeoning, Houseing, Glamour/Vanity farming are just a few. All of which have some semblance of depth.

[Reneo]

Well, the game really comes to life at 50. All of a sudden knowing your job matters, then going at 60 (O.O). Difficulty begins to spike up from what your used to. Some people enjoy that spike, others not so much.

My friend feels the same way you do actually. He feel the 1-45 content is faceroll easy. But around the mid 50 story is when the real 'challenge' begins. You know people actually gotta move out of the orange circle XD Jk.

[Reneo]

Well, the game really comes to life at 50. All of a sudden knowing your job matters, then going at 60 (O.O). Difficulty begins to spike up from what your used to. Some people enjoy that spike, others not so much.

My friend feels the same way you do actually. He feel the 1-45 content is faceroll easy. But around the mid 50 story is when the real 'challenge' begins. You know people actually gotta move out of the orange circle XD Jk.

But in all honesty, what keeps me here is the jobs. I really enjoy the way the healers role can contribute besides healing. =3 The story (gets so much better) and so much...This game offers a variety to do.

When you do 8 man dungeons, it's so fun. XD

[jujuawake]

Good to know! I quit last year as a 34 THM and tried to come back because I love the game world. But combat is just so dull. Glad it gets better!

[AskaRay]

Good to know! I quit last year as a 34 THM and tried to come back because I love the game world. But combat is just so dull. Glad it gets better!

I personally thought BLM was really boring until I hit 50... then I just Flare all the things and it makes me feel better.