Quest Markers

[Lynde]

(I'm hoping im posting this in the right part of the forums.)

Heres a few things I've noticed about how the quest marker system works.

1. Quest markers show up as the "!" bubble, regardless if its a flag or a step.

2. Quest markers have the same icon regardless of what TYPE of quest it is.

3. Quest markers only show up on the map if you are within a certain radius of the NPC or area.

So in the end, this can cause some confusion to the players. (It is better than before they added the markers though, that was horrible.)

My suggestions to these problems? Have DIFFERENT ICONS. For example, heres a picture of the UI Map in "Aion", another MMO I currently play. (Copyright NCSoft.)



On the left side, you can see different icons for different types of quests, not to mention the status of it. For example, a normal quest flag is a light blue arrow, a step in the quest is a double light blue arrow, and the completion icon (as in the last NPC you talk to, etc.) is a light blue sun/star. The different colors also show what TYPE of quest it is, campaign (story), key quest (important), standard, and even event quests.

This diversity helps players a lot, and I can testify to this because the game didnt used to be that detailed, it was similar to this game's current questing flags.

The other thing I'd like to bring up (and i think this is the most important one tbh) is the fact that the icons do NOT show up unless you are close. I would reccomend that the icons should be visible regardless of distance, as long as you are in the same zone.

I know this isnt game breaking information, but I hope at least one of the devs reads this, it may help with suggestions for 2.0's UI system.

If anyone else has something to reply to this feel free to voice it here.

[Hagito]

I'm new to FF XIV (pretty much to FF itself...), I had a lot of issues finding new quests due to the limitation of not knowing where to go next, we need a quest log / available quests listing and markers as stated above.

[Delmontyb]

I'm new to FF XIV (pretty much to FF itself...), I had a lot of issues finding new quests due to the limitation of not knowing where to go next, we need a quest log / available quests listing and markers as stated above.

We do have a quest log, it's called a journal in FF... And it will mark the map where you need to go next, but it's not very intuitive. I don't know why I have to go there, to pull up the map to see the marker, when I'd rather just see it on the main map once I have the quest that is.

Hopefully they look at this tread and take this feedback into 2.0.

I'd also like to add that repeatable quests would have it's own style as well.

[Rhianu]

I don't know why I have to go there, to pull up the map to see the marker, when I'd rather just see it on the main map once I have the quest that is.

I agree. The Journal Map and the Main Map should be combined into a single map.

Also, the Journal History should not include the latest entry, since that already appears at the top of the Journal window. Having the Journal display the quest-text twice in the same window just feels redundant and unnecessary, and it makes SE's UI designers look sloppy.

It would also be nice if the Journal History was hidden and you had to expand it to read what it said. That way it makes it easier to focus on what you need to do next, without cluttering up the main Journal window with info about what you've already done.

[Xarius]

Anyone remember FFXI--no markers, or quest description--had to figure out where to go based on what was said and sometimes that was mega-cryptic!

[Yelta_Sumasu]

Anyone remember FFXI--no markers, or quest description--had to figure out where to go based on what was said and sometimes that was mega-cryptic!

Yeah, even when you found a quest you didn't know if it was level appropriate, if you should bring 5 friends, where you were supposed to go to next and what you were supposed to do there. Vague wasn't even the word for it.

I like that the current quests don't put a giant marker on your main map and an arrow to where you are supposed to go. I can usually figure out what I am supposed to be doing based on the quest text in the journal and if I get lost I can check the map in the journal for more detail.

[Lintora]

Anyone remember FFXI--no markers, or quest description--had to figure out where to go based on what was said and sometimes that was mega-cryptic!

This is a perfect comment. SE was always very good at making you think about what you had to do next. Some of you may remember everquest where they didn't even give you a map and you had to figure "everything" out. Having played WOW, where they give you all the markers and directions, FFXI and FFXIV are much better. In WOW you didnt even have to read anything to advance. Here you at least get to take part in the story SE worked so hard to execute. Personally i love how it works now. I do wish the maps were a little more customizable so one can figure it out and place the marker.

Keep up the good work SE.

[Yelta_Sumasu]

I know it can be frustrating but Final Fantasy games have always had the "I have no clue what I'm supposed to do next so I shall talk to every single person in town" way of doing things. Sometimes you had to revisit places and figure out what you missed.

For me personally, I don't want a game where I am lead by the nose from one question mark to the next. There are already enough of those types of games out there and I think it is time for something different.

[MicahZerrshia]

Map in the journal is enough for me, otherwise ur maps get so crowded with markers that its just a big cluster of colored dots. And the fact that I dont need to be led from point A to point B. Im a grown up, i can find the way on my own. Its never really to difficult or overly complicated. The quest system in xiv I think is pretty straight forward.

[Allistar]

For me personally RPG's are all about exploring...taking the little hints and name dropping and figuring out where you should go and what you should do next...I'll admit that in XI it was very hard to do this...but SE has done a better job in XIV...well they did...until they started using markers to identify npc's that you need to talk to, its not as fun as it used to be...they do need to tweek the text for questing a lot so you don't spend an eternity trying to figure things out, but at the same time they shouldn't hold our hands through everything...especially with the post the patch notes.