Talkin' bout OCD, New Game Plus, and how these could compliment each other!

[Terin]

So, for those unaware, I struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It can make playing certain games -- particularly decision-based games -- very... unpleasant.

One thing I've often posted about in the past, is that I often obsess over what is the "canon" City-State, Starting Class, and Grand Company for the "Warrior of Light". Like, if the Midlander from all the cinematics were an actual character in place of our own, which Starting Class and City would he have had? And which Grand Company would he have chosen?

Obviously, there is no "canon", and it doesn't REALLY matter. The problem is, at least CURRENTLY, there is no way to fully "undo" your choices. Your character will ALWAYS show their starting-city as "City-State" in the character sheet (and if you use Fantasia, it even shows the Class you started with), and in the "Unending Journey" (cutscene-viewer at the Inn), you will only show the cutscenes for those choices.

In addition, the Unending Journey will only display cutscenes relevant for the FIRST Grand Company you chose; after defeating Ifrit, each Grand Company sends you to a different zone to meet Biggs and Wedge. If you chose Maelstrom, you're sent to Limsa Lominsa, and even if you switch to Immortal Flames later on, the "Unending Journey" will always show that you joined the Maelstrom and went to Limsa and NOT Thanalan.

Here's my suggestion:

When choosing "New Game+" for "A Realm Reborn", allow us to choose a different starting experience. Let us choose a different Class to start as (keeping progress, mind you, but overwriting whatever choice you ACTUALLY started as), and when you go through the game, have it ADD those cutscenes to your "Unending Journey".

Now; slightly different scenario with Grand Company.

When replaying New Game+, it should automatically choose whatever Grand Company you currently reside in. However, if you ACTUALLY change your Grand Company, then when you are asked to join a Grand Company, it will switch to THAT GC instead of the original one you chose.

So if you originally chose Maelstrom, but you've now switched to Immortal Flames, then whenever you get to that quest in New Game+, it will treat it as if you joined the Immortal Flames even back then.

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Now, I know this sounds like a lot of meaningless work, but... well, I've learned over the years that it's basically impossible to stress how bad OCD can affect you. So instead, I will say this:

If those cutscene variations are unlocked IN ADDITION to the original choices, it might actually encourage completionists to replay the game multiple times, and maybe even have an Achievement for it (ie. an achievement for experiencing all three starting areas, another for siding with all three GC's after defeating Ifrit).

And if those choices simply overwrite your ORIGINAL choices, well then, it gives players a much greater degree of customizing their character anyway! So if you started in Limsa Lominsa, but feel like Gridania is the City-State you actually want to call home, you can now do that!

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Now, even struggling with OCD as I do, even I will admit, this is and SHOULD be a low-priority for the Devs, even in the best case.

I would simply, humbly ask that it might be CONSIDERED as something that could potentially be implemented down the road, sometime after Endwalker launches.

Like I said, I know this probably sounds like a very silly thing to obsess over and literally lose sleep or cry over, but as someone actively struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, I would GREATLY appreciate the gesture, even if it maybe takes a couple of years to get around to.

Thank you for reading, and I hope this at least inspires some amount of consideration.

[ethanrae]

I'm sorry your OCD is so bad. That must be really hard to live with.

I'm not here to comment on your request at all but just that I think canonically, the Warrior of Light likely started as an Archer in Gridania, judging by old cutscenes from 1.0. I think the movie I'm talking about is technically in the Crystarium though.

Good luck with your journey and I hope your OCD subsides for you.