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

[Tridus]

No, wow had no story early on
It thrived with the concept of exploring the warcraft world and had very simplistic story to it because the foxus was exploring the world.
They started going bonkers when they wanted to focus more on story and ppl got the mess that they are giving them now.

... yes it did. It had lots of stories. What it didn't have early on was a single overarching plot. That came later. But there was stories all over the place and vanilla, and TBC had every zone basically telling a story.

[WilhelmWhite]

I love the story, and I also love the fact that the story continues to max lvl. However, I also enjoy that I can be ANY race, and do ANY class. Most MMOS either have classes locked behind certain races, or if they aren't locked, those races have severe starting stat differences that would push you to use specific races with specific classes. (Black Desert Online is the worst with this, in my opinion.) I love that I can be a big dude and still be a healer/caster and not be limited to melee DPS/tank only. <3

[Aylis]

Then it went full on with "change the story to suit whatever we feel like doing this week" and ceased to make any sense whatsoever.

While granted I haven't played since WotLK, from what I gather from playing fly on the wall when friends talk about WoW. It seems that this is largely due to the game showing its age of sorts. Where it reached a point where it had to shake up game play and re-invent game play so much to the point where the story progression was the first thing to get altered. Since game play is largely what keeps players around for the long term, active and logging in without feeling like they're bored or with nothing fun to do.

This might very well happen to FFXIV someday once it's reached that age. If older players are tired of the "formula" and less and less new players come in. Maybe not, only time will tell. FFXIV for now seems to be taking the opposite side of things. Sacrificing game play for story. The formula is the same now as it was back in 2.0, here's the two new dungeons to cap tokens in, here's the new 24 player raid, the new 8 player raid/primal, here's the new savage turns. With next to no shakeups that drastically alter the way the main game is played. The plus side of this being the story will stay coherent always, the downside being the patch cycle will forever be predictable with little to no surprises.

I guess we wait till the 6.0-7.0 era's to see what happens.

[Tridus]

While granted I haven't played since WotLK, from what I gather from playing fly on the wall when friends talk about WoW. It seems that this is largely due to the game showing its age of sorts. Where it reached a point where it had to shake up game play and re-invent game play so much to the point where the story progression was the first thing to get altered.

I think you can do that without a retcon a patch, though. It became pretty clear when they stopped giving a damn and just went "eh, just rewrite what already happened to suit what we want to do next, that's easier."

I don't think FFXIV would go the same way. Sure, stuff will get shaken up. But they've shown a lot more reluctance to retcon and a lot more willingness to plant things ahead of time to get to where they want to be... aside from overusing "oh they didn't really die!"

THAT is getting real old.

[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?

[Shurrikhan]

Yoshi P already addressed your point for us.

https://i.imgur.com/VtCUHXa.png

Complaints are worth twice as much as compliments...

...so be sure to ignore them at least twice as often?

I kid, but I'm just not certain what you intended this quote to apply to...
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@OP
XIV is not at all unique in having a running storyline from start to cap. Imo, there are a couple that also do that better, even, while many others are just as apt to continually increase story content even after the level cap.

And while I'm glad you're enjoying the story, I severely doubt that it's the dominant reason for play for the playerbase as a whole. My own anecdotal experience of some 200+ players I've really discussed this with over the years would put it closer to 15%, and surveys online likewise seem to place it as a significant but far from dominant reason.

In the end a person's main reason for playing will be their own, and as such I don't see how anyone could say that a game is "only about the story" any more than they could say "only about the character options". We can measure objectively what is most often discussed about the game, what goals or areas of interests are given, towards what development costs are spent, towards what ingame hours are spent by players, and what players think that reason is for themselves as individuals, but there is no sole reason around which an MMO will be built, if even any game. Heck, usually the more inseparable the components seem, the more favorably the game is received.

[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.