FFXIV shows what's wrong with MMOs (Not what you think)

[Skivvy]

Because of how well it tells a story. The MSQ is one long continuous chain from the moment you first login at level 1, all the way to max level. And it's brilliant. No other game in the West - that I know of - does that. In SWTOR, you have your class story which goes from 1-50, but that's it. After 50, it's the same story for everyone.

I find myself fully engrossed and engaged in this game. I think about it even when I'm not logged in playing it.

Then I come to these forums and see non-stop complaining about everything. And as someone coming from WoW and other Western MMOs, I truly wonder if you guys know how great you have it. Honestly.

MMOs in the West are having a tough time. Mostly because it's all about ilvls and/or PvP ratings. FFXIV is about the story. And that's rare these days.

Hope you guys recognize that in between your constant complaining.

I don't get this. MMOs are designed to appeal to many different types of players, story is not everything - even in this game. Unless you are new to the game, you're most likely caught up on the story. So when a new patch hits, you can have a day or two of story-time, maaaybe up to a week (being real generous here). What are you supposed to do the rest of the time?

[RaynerH]

A lot of people seem to really like the MSQ here. I don't know, maybe its because I just finished FFXV, but this story seems super Disney and fluffy. FF games usually have a bit of darkness to them that keeps me interested. This story line never really gives me any sense of urgency. Like oh no I've been captured by the Al'jawatevers and I'm stuck in this cave.... but this duty matching is taking forever so let me teleport out and do other stuff for a bit lol.

Enough complaining for one post.

But I do agree with everyone that this isn't the only reason why people play the game. That's like saying everyone goes to school to become a doctor. We all have different ambitions because we are all different.

[Mwynn]

but this story seems super Disney and fluffy. FF games usually have a bit of darkness to them that keeps me interested.

Kingdom Hearts wants to show you a different side.

[Aerlana]

FFXIV and many other games (mainly asiatics MMORPG) get with a MSQ for all character, and some sidequest.
WoW is a really different way, it is some chain quests, and all those chaine quest gives you the story to an area. For those who played legion, there is 4 leveling area, and 4 different story, but all with the same focus (getting 4 items to win against ennemies)
i always dislike the MSQ system. but it is my opininion. i wont speak about why i prefer a no MSQ system. because it wont change anything for what i will say.
I wont speak about quality of story telling or of the world, because even more personnal opinion, wow as FFXIV get some real bullshit...


In all MMORPG i played, even WoW classic, or EQ, the story telling thru quests was a solo thing. yes some quest you need to be in group. but following the story part is a solo-content.
Some people dont care about story, they want gameplay, content, end game PvE or PvP or both. they rush leveling brainlessly, skipping any dialogue, dont reading quest box, skipping any cinematic. For them, MSQ or no MSQ, good story or not it never matter.
But more, we speak about MMO and RPG. in RPG story is a great part to create a good game. The story of doom is fine but... all we want is just killing everything! in RPG we play for the story yes. But there is 3 other letters there. MMO Massively Multiplayer Online.
We play a Final Fantasy, infamous games, due to their stories (and other things i know). But FFXI and FFXIV are MMO, some people, even for XI thought it was a bad idea to give numbers to MMO final fantasy. (so be part of the "main games") Because just adding "MMO" change the rule to the game.

One main difference is about the story. The content is far more important. lets imagine FFXVI get a poor gameplay, not many side content, BUT the story is great, wonderfull. The game will be globally a good one. Now watch a MMORPG, you have great story, everything you see is clearly explain by the in game lore. BUT... there is nothing to do past the story. You come back to a solo game... On a Massively Multiplayer game

What is needed for MMORPG : contents, that you play with friends, that makes you discover new people and become friend. And something really challeging the more you go thru.
Lets speak about Eureka. I know some people like it, other hate it. We clearly have a content that could be improve (if we see how much people dislike it. even if they go in).
Make Eureka a really good content, i mean, about what to do in, with a better work on elemental wheel, many things to do in Eureka, and many fun things. It would be far more popular... with or without a story with it.
Take the Eureka we have, throw away the NMs, add a wonderfully written story. The content will make people cry and scream even more. Even if you really improved the story and the story telling related to eureka...


The story is one point on the MMORPG experience. you play it, but once the quest is done, it is over. Once you finished FFI, FFVI, FFXII or other, you know the story. If you replay again, it is later, to rediscover, do what you failed/didnt try before (like getting a gold chocobo in seven, for example if you didnt do it first play). a MMORPG is a game where you want a high (really high) replayability. lets say you play 10 hours a week, 40 hours a month, 120 hours for 3 month. The stories (MSQ + hildibrand + primals + the raid) will consume... 5 hours of your time? Maybe less (i did never count ^^' ) what about the 115 more hours?
What about people playing 4 or 5 hours a day, nearly 40 hours a week, 160 hours a month, 480 hours for 3 month... the story will also take the same time... a ridiculous part of their game time.

A good story is a good thing in any MMORPG, but clearly not what you will watch first about the greatness of the game.

[Stormfur]

I'm ambivalent about the story. Sure, there are some parts that are absolutely riveting - and parts that shocked and saddened me (I won't post those because of spoilers)

But what I love most about this game is the character growth. One of the weirdest things I enjoy about FFXIV is giving your character a first and last name. You're not just "PlayerBob"'s character, you're "Bob Playerslayer" or whatever.

[Bellsong]

I'm glad you're having a good time with the game OP, but there's a reason all these complaint threads you seem to see exist about the mechanics and content that exists in the game outside of the story. because there's a point where the story ends, there's lulls where content stagnates and there's nothing new to do and the content we have didn't become a chore over time it just started out as one.

There's a reason you rarely ever see complaints about the story outside of disliking certain characters or not liking how some characters/things were introduced to the lore, because it's generally agreed that it's good, fun and refreshing to see story cared about so much in an MMO, the problem is a lot of the stuff around it is incredibly generic, dated, poor design or just bland.

[AngelCheese77]

Oh, I don't have any problem with the story at all. I love it.

I just complain about rude people in DFs and those who grief RPers

[kordhaldrum]

FF XIV main story is really good.

Heavensward story was so good that they could easily make a main Final Fantasy game only using this arc "lore" and "ideas".

I know what ppl mean by saying other games dont give attention to story in west.
Sometimes the problems are both company and community
Others only the company developer itself.

I come from Rift, wich is a game really rich at lore, the writers create such a good universe, and every quests i used to do there i feel bad for those writers being working in such a greedy company because in the right hands they could make a fantastic RPG, top one, but instead, Trion (Rift owner / developer ) focus too much on gameplay (always bugged and unbalanced), cutting costs (the game is always full of bugs because there is not enough DEVs, like, REAL BUGs, dozens of dungeons and raids bosses u ended killing it through some kind of bug and they never fix anything) and make money no matter what they need to do in game, even if it means break the game lore, the gameplay or the community.

[odintius]

I play mostly for story now gear progression is a after thought not really much their imo, which I go play other games for after I've done the story. /Shrugs

[Kazgrel]

People whining on official forums for a game has been a thing looooooong before this game was even a concept.