What Story Branch Would You Like to See?

[KenjiChan]

Exactly what it says.

A number of people have been complaining about the story of FF14 - how it's not interesting, there's no connection or it just feels random/pointless. So my question is, what story point would you guys like to explore?

Personally, I'd like to explore our character, the Warrior of Light. It's clear that they're becoming almost demigod like in power, trouncing creatures that, by all rights, they should have been flattened by (King Thordan, Sephirot). And thousands are now putting their faith in the WoL.

NOW WHY DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR.

[Mahri]

If you're implying that we're turning into a Primal: Yes.

[LalafellDown]

Why cant I be the warrior of Darkness? I want to take over the empire and rule or join the empire cause chaos then kick the emperor out and take over.

[Bracken]

This has been discussed a lot in the lore threads about that the Warrior of light is a primal

[Brian_]

Meaningful lore with interesting and significant FF tie-ins and a real sense of intrigue, suspense, and urgency.

Two examples:

Binding --> Final Coil
Warring Triad

Both had meaningful lore backgrounds, significant FF tie-ins (Bahamut being a strong and popular summon, the Warring Triad being a big part of FFVI), and stories with some real consequences and mystery. Both are slightly darker and more serious.

As for what I think also fits this mold, the most obvious example is probably Omega weapon. In terms of lore and FF tie-ins, it is a traditional FF superboss and has links to Bahamut in this game. As a story-line, it could have some genuine political intrigue (already shown through parts of the Ul'dah story) and it's a significant threat so there is real urgency. And, there is plenty of room to foster more mystery and suspense around it with further FF tie-ins.

[Theodric]

I think the story has gotten a lot better over time though there's certainly more room for improvement. I'd like to see the following:

- More time effort spent on building up the antagonists. Let us know exactly what makes them tick. Make some of them sympathetic. Give them friends and allies that they love and care for. Don't make conflicts into 'good' versus 'evil' as that is usually very boring and only leads to stagnation.

- Don't ruin interesting fictional cultures by forcing real world morality on them. Ishgard was very interesting before 3.3 and yet now much of its 'grit' has been eroded away in favour of appealing to those who didn't appreciate the darker themes that played a part in Ishgard. 3.3 wrapped things up a little too smoothly and feels, to me, just as underwhelming as the cop out that was the finale of 2.0.

- Stop surrounding the protagonists with so much plot armour. It's understandable in the Warrior of Light's case but everybody else? Not so much. There's very little sense of shock whenever many of the major characters are in danger because by now it's become obvious that the major Scions and City State leaders are highly unlikely to be killed or seriously injured.

- Less Hildibrand, more side quests that flesh out the game world. Whatever happened to catching up with NPC's through the Moogle Delivery Quests? Not only was it a neat throwback to FFIX's similar side quest but it provided humour and serious moments alike without being as obnoxious as Hildibrand.

- Make Primals/Eikons scary again. They don't feel like a threat when they're summoned and then immediately put down by the Warrior of Light. I mean, sure, we get some very cool fights against them but what do they accomplish? They can Temper people, so have the occasional NPC we're working alongside fall prey to that corruption. Have us have to put them down as an act of mercy due to there supposedly being no cure to Tempering. That would make the stakes feel higher.

- Have the Warrior of Light lose now and then. I'm tired of seeing every major antagonist defeated 'easily'. Beatrix thrashed the party three times in FFIX. You never got the chance to beat her - and that was pretty interesting and refreshing. I'd love to see something similar in FFXIV.

- Let us align ourselves with some Garleans that are loyal to their homeland and people but are open to working alongside Eorzea. You know, much like we worked alongside elements of The Archadian Empire in FFXII without those characters being dull, boring traitors/defectors. We need a Larsa or a Gabranth in FFXIV.

[Luascadan]

More Hildibrand. Much more Hildibrand.

[Waterdeep]

The game has been lacking in one department: Strong story NPCs that the player could bond with. All other FF games did a pretty good job letting the player avatar interact with your fellow party members. I would honestly like a few sidequests where you can bond with Y'shtola, Alphinaude and so on. Imagine getting a quest from Matoya, telling you that her pupil is overworking herself and that you should help distract her a little, ending up with the player character and a reluctant Y'shtola in Gold Saucer, playing minigames together. Or Thancred inviting the WoL to go drinking for an evening, the two of them getting hammered and experiencing all kinds '(mis)adventures' together.

Less world saving and more bonding, please.

[EdwinLi]

- Stop surrounding the protagonists with so much plot armour. It's understandable in the Warrior of Light's case but everybody else? Not so much. There's very little sense of shock whenever many of the major characters are in danger because by now it's become obvious that the major Scions and City State leaders are highly unlikely to be killed or seriously injured.

I actually believe this could happen in 3.55 if 4.0 is Ala Mhigo. Have 3.55 be the beginning of the Battle of Ala Mhigo where all the City States finally unit to take back Ala Mhigo from the Garleans since now Eorzea is finally united. However, then have the battle turn for the worst where the City State is force to retreat but during that retreat the Warrior of Light is seen to have "died" in the First Battle for Ala Mhigo.

The scene should then fades and the Warrior of Light wakes up to meet a new character who may play a vital role in 4.0 and allow the WoL to enter Garlean Control Ala Mhigo under a alias due to the WoL being assumed dead.

All character activity/events after that is assumed to be pre-3.55 Main Scenario until 4.0 story begins due to 3.55 setting that the WoL was assumed/seen to be "KIA" during the first Battle of Ala Mhigo.

After all we can't really expect Ala Mhigo to be suddenly free from Garlean Control withint 2.5 Main Scenario Patch updates so if Ala Mhigo is 4.0 we can expect the 4.0 Storyline to cover freeing Ala Mhigo from Garlean Control thus pushing into a larger War in 4.X involving the next Garlean Invasion of Eorzea then 5.0 where we finally enter Garlean Empire to end the Garlean threat once and for all. If Yoshi-P hint on saving Doomtrain for Accessing the Garlean Empire we may get Doom Train as the final boss for 4.X.

[Shurrikhan]

Something more on the origins for the Warriors of Darkness. I'd take quality over immediacy though. I wouldn't mind that one taking multiple more expansions to be fully fleshed out, as long as there's a lot of meat to it.

Sidenote: Here's hoping that 4.0 is Sharlayan (with hints at a sort of Farplane), and 5.0 is (a slightly time-distorted) Ala Mhigo.