FATE - Can we get more epic public quests

[Tonkra]

The title says it all.
Yes, Final Fantasy XIV is almost perfect when it comes to epic instanced Boss battles or instances. But in my opnion it unfortunately lacks that epicness in FATES.

Back then at 1.0. we made suggestions for "ARR" to add Public quests to Final Fantasy XIV just like in Guild Wars 2. Still the public quests feel a little too simplistic for 98% of the time (spawning mobs that needs to get killed, gathering quest key items etc.).

I would love it if FATES feel more adventurous and more epic. I mean it doesnt have to be for every single FATE, but at least for some of them it would be epic if there were multiple phases.. some story telling and even voice acting in it to make the happenings feel more epic and alive.

Guild Wars 2 - Public Quest in a low level region - it has even a small cutscene to it:

VIDEO: Guild Wars 2 - Defending Shaermoor Public Event Quest



In Warhammer Online for example i remember this public quest from a starting area where a whole story was told with voice acting in it:


VIDEO: Warhammer Online Public Quest

some ideas for FATEs:
- minor FATEs include the standard tasks without any storytelling at all (just like 99% of all fates now)
- Epic FATEs include story and multiple phases, chance of equipment drops the more people participate + equipment to drop
- some FATEs having story telling
- voice acting
- even epic FATEs should be able to be done by solos
- having some FATEs included into the main scenario quests in order to increase the number of players for epic Fates
- if only 1-2 players are doing an epic FATE they may get support from FATE npcs such as a tank or healer or dps OR may get help from your Trust NPC (though we would end with multiple versions of the same story character then)
- implementing story characters in FATES (villains and heros)
- making some FATES to be part of the story lore

Whats your opinion on current FATEs. Do you also thing that FATEs could be improved a little more and could use some sort of "epicness" or story telling to it?

My2Cents

[CorndogLebron]

There are already many FATEs that chain together leading up to one big FATE that drops rewards and achievements (Formidable and Archaeotania in ShB for example). I do hope they add more like those two in the next expac, but maybe make them a bit easier to track - it's a bit sad when you follow one of the chains for 20 minutes only for it to reset back to the first one because the final boss one was already spawned a few hours ago.
I don't think they should be soloable especially if they drop exclusive items, there are more than enough ways such as linkshells, PF or Discord to gather enough people to take one on and it gives more people a chance at getting the rewards. Even ones like 'Special Tarasque Force' in dravania gets people to come and help, even though it just drops an achievement and a triple triad card you can get from beating an NPC.
Maybe a bit of voice acting in FATEs could be good, but I'd rather they just add more voice acted stuff to MSQ and side quests, plus maybe not many people would hear it over the sound of hundreds of spells and attacks going off lol

[Jeeqbit]

The Shadowbringers fates tell the story of the lore of that area. There are lore fate chains in every one. The one in The Tempest tells the story of a beast that would have contributed to the final days.

There is a fate chain like this in The Azim Steppe and Yanxia, all fates have a lore description and build ups before spawning where people appear and talk and then something happens that causes them to need your help.

Many boss fates intended for multiple people can be done solo if you are good. They have been required for sidequests before such as the crystal tower, and it was just annoying waiting for them to spawn so it was changed.

The only other things that are not done already are voice acting and getting main characters participate in fates like in bozja, but we do get guards help out a lot.

[GrizzlyTank]

The fate system is definitely one of the things in this game that could need an overhaul, and GW2 would be the better game to get inspiration for how it can be done with every map being filled with event chains. Some chains are even one world boss spanning the entire zone.

[Kaylal]

I had a chain of FATEs yesterday with my Warrior40 in Coethas Central Highlands. Escort an engineer and protect him from drake's. A second one to protect him while he built a cannon, and a second player turned up. Then finale FATE when big-bad dragon turned up and another few players joined in. It was awesome fun!

[Tonkra]

There are already many FATEs that chain together leading up to one big FATE that drops rewards and achievements (Formidable and Archaeotania in ShB for example).

But these ones are -extremely- simple.

If you compare Guild Wars 2 public events to FFXIV FATEs there are worlds in between when it comes to quality. Okay, not all GW2 public events are epic, but at least some of them.

You have huge tornadoes / thunderstorms boss monsters coming up. A Public quest event in Guild Wars 2 can be a true spectacle (unfortunately i didnt find good screenshots / vids for that) even in the low levels.

Public quests in Guild Wars 2 feel like an adventure. In FFXIV it feels like lifeless grind fest of killing soulless hordes of mobs.
Its hard to describe if you havent played a public quest in guild wars 2.

The fate system is definitely one of the things in this game that could need an overhaul, and GW2 would be the better game to get inspiration for how it can be done with every map being filled with event chains. Some chains are even one world boss spanning the entire zone.

this


/EDIT

i found an example for the public quests in GW2 at the beginning of the game:

Guild Wars 2 - Defending Shaermoor Public Event Quest

This public quest has even a small cinematic cutscene in it.

[Warlyx]

i would love meta events from Gw2 tbh those are tons of funs and every1 in the zone has to work toguether , i have done many tons of time and still find them somewhat fun , fates arent even close

example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1oE1EaHa68

yeah 1h22 min of event lol but meta events are huge , the ending fight is %!%& epic! love it everytime

[kaynide]

To;dr version of below:

1) FFXIV fates are boring; there is nothing at stake and no variety and no real engagement.
2) Some examples of GW2’s “fate” system.


——

A thing that Guildwars does well is world bosses, which exist…somewhat limited..in FFXIV. The thing that makes them shine is that there is a guaranteed pop time for the first part of the chain, so people can organize. Some have a chain of quests there are several that might pop at once that people can split into. More people just makes the boss pop faster.

Essentially a more complex one would be: Event A (pops at specified time) -> B, C, D pop -> World Boss (when B, C, D are done)

The bosses themselves are not THAT much different from a good fate..maybe closer to a Bozja engagement. Moreover, they all drop reasonable loot that make it worth doing every time they pop if you’ve nothing else going on.

In FFXIV, this is like the Kitsune or the Tempest chain… or that dragon in Coarthas..but for those it’s RNG when they pop and the drops make you only ever need to do them like….once or twice.


The biggest problem to me in FFXIV is there are only like… 6 different copy pasted fates. It just stops being interesting, especially when there is absolutely nothing at stake win or lose.

I can’t think of them all, but:
1) protect NPC on route
2) pickup the things and deliver
3) kill the one big monster
4) kill the little monsters
5) kill the little monsters before they break the things
6) two groups of things fighting each other.

Guildwars has these, but instead of despawning, our protected NPC might turn into a shop. And more so, most “fates” in GW2 has something like 3 ways to clear them.

Ex:

1) your task is to cause havoc in a centaur encampment. You can a) wreck their buildings/weapon stashes, b) free prisoners or c) fight the actual centaurs. Success means the centaurs don’t launch an attack on a nearby town. Failure means an impending raid on a nearby town which is a secondary “fate” with its own success/failure conditions.

2) the centaurs are attacking a town. You can a) fight the centaurs b) aid injured townsfolk or c) put out fires. Success pushes the centaurs back, possibly making them summon a major boss for retaliation. Failure, the town is no longer functioning; the teleporter is down, NPC shops are gone until rescued at a further event.

[Tonkra]

i would love meta events from Gw2 tbh those are tons of funs and every1 in the zone has to work toguether , i have done many tons of time and still find them somewhat fun , fates arent even close

example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1oE1EaHa68

yeah 1h22 min of event lol but meta events are huge , the ending fight is %!%& epic! love it everytime

Thats really impressive, complex, epic and huge. The presentation is not as stiff as FATEs in FFXIV.

Dunno why, maybe its because of the voice acting, the music, how every phase gets fluently into the next phase - very naturally.
In FFXIV its like: "oh there popped a boss - kill him". Without any storytelling or anything why the boss is there, why do we kill him etc.
It just doesnt feel very organic or natural - the presentation (unlike dungeon instances) are extremely stiff in FATEs of Final Fantasy 14 in contrast to Guild Wars 2.

The public events in GW2 on the contrary feel so organic, real and adventurous.
In FFXIV its like a GM clicked on a button to spawn some random mobs to grind through for 95% of the time.

[kaynide]

I had a chain of FATEs yesterday with my Warrior40 in Coethas Central Highlands. Escort an engineer and protect him from drake's. A second one to protect him while he built a cannon, and a second player turned up. Then finale FATE when big-bad dragon turned up and another few players joined in. It was awesome fun!

That is a good example from FFXIV of a good fate chain. Were that there were more!