Why do Seasonal Events get stripped down each year and not added too?

[Hyrist]

I mean, you can grasp onto your cooperate greed narrative if it helps you feel better about yourself - but when it comes to the maintaining the goodwill of its player base - The Dev team still has quite a bit of capital to spend.

The argument you're making is one in isolation, spoken in admitted ignorance (been gone since early heavensward), and presumes ill will at the worst concepts.

You know what populates mogstation the most?

Items specifically requested by the playerbase that fell outside the typical development scope of additions. The fact that FFXIV has a dedicated team to adding items to the cash shop - separate from the normal development team - means that they have a team that self sustain and reach out to player needs without vastly impacting the base. Reallocating these people will not provide these items in game, because it would still have to be budgeted inside the existing structure.

Why am I mentioning this old fact? Because you seem to think that they're stripping staff time and budgets specifically for the cash shop. And that has never been the case in this game. They are septate groups with specific tasks. Both were impacted by the pandemic, but you'll never know what got delayed or canceled from Mog Station because we don't have a planned out, reliable schedule from them to keep them to, aside from seasonal items from past events coming back up for sale.

What we can see, is the impact on the event team from the pandemic and other issues.

Your claims have zero basis in reality - this system was spelled out to us years ago.

The better augment is to direct them into what sort of mounts you want within the scope of reward structures we have, and to suggest them be implemented in different ways. As far as events, it's a down year. I don't think this is sinking in, but we're still in a pandemic we're likely going to be feeling the effect of that in the workspace until mid next patch cycle at least. I suggest you set your expectations accordingly.

We're not lacking for events, or mounts, or whatever because of the MogStation crew. If we did not have the Mogstation crew you wouldn't have these items at all. That staff would likely be allocated to a different part of the company.

[Terin]

I just posted this in another thread, I'll add it here...

I'll say that, it's understandable the Devs are struggling to get content for the game out and ready for Endwalker. But I would agree, the "holidays" in FFXIV have become super, super disappointing.

As suggested, perhaps they could bring back story and playable content from past events? I understand that many of those past seasonal event items are available in Mog Station, but... well, I'd argue they'd be better to suck it up and risk losing some of the money there, in order to give active players some truly EXCITING content again. But if nothing else, bring back old items, and maybe recolor them?

My sister, for example, plays FFXIV but since she started, there hasn't been a single Halloween even. She is SUPER bummed about it, because one of the things that got her on-board with FFXIV was me talking about how awesome the Halloween event was (it was always both of our favorite holiday when we were kids). If they can't create new content, rebranding old content would be a pretty great half-measure, especially with the HUGE influx of new players lately. Like, maybe for the "Spooky" outfit, we get an Orange-and-Black-striped version of the clothing, with the all-black remaining exclusive to the OG event or Mog Station. Or the Beholder mount, maybe it's a different color or has a different hat?

[BunniEclair]

I just posted this in another thread, I'll add it here...

I'll say that, it's understandable the Devs are struggling to get content for the game out and ready for Endwalker. But I would agree, the "holidays" in FFXIV have become super, super disappointing.

As suggested, perhaps they could bring back story and playable content from past events? I understand that many of those past seasonal event items are available in Mog Station, but... well, I'd argue they'd be better to suck it up and risk losing some of the money there, in order to give active players some truly EXCITING content again. But if nothing else, bring back old items, and maybe recolor them?

My sister, for example, plays FFXIV but since she started, there hasn't been a single Halloween even. She is SUPER bummed about it, because one of the things that got her on-board with FFXIV was me talking about how awesome the Halloween event was (it was always both of our favorite holiday when we were kids). If they can't create new content, rebranding old content would be a pretty great half-measure, especially with the HUGE influx of new players lately. Like, maybe for the "Spooky" outfit, we get an Orange-and-Black-striped version of the clothing, with the all-black remaining exclusive to the OG event or Mog Station. Or the Beholder mount, maybe it's a different color or has a different hat?

Is this her first year playing? All Saints Wake was only absent last year because of covid. It’ll be back this year, albeit a bit later than usual. Hopefully the two of you can enjoy it together! I’m hoping for a new themed glam and an instanced event myself. I really like the mansion.

[Blood_Blossoms]

I think the mount is adorable tbh.. like the housing items too. I never pay too much attn to the summer events story but it would have been nice to have a glam and the jump puzzle in this year. Hoping next year they can bring back the missing quality from the events.

Yeah the mount is lovely was Quite a surprise to get a polar bear in summer, but you know global warming and all cant see why not.

I mean, you can grasp onto your cooperate greed narrative if it helps you feel better about yourself - but when it comes to the maintaining the goodwill of its player base - The Dev team still has quite a bit of capital to spend.

The argument you're making is one in isolation, spoken in admitted ignorance (been gone since early heavensward), and presumes ill will at the worst concepts.

What we can see, is the impact on the event team from the pandemic and other issues.

Your claims have zero basis in reality - this system was spelled out to us years ago.

The better augment is to direct them into what sort of mounts you want within the scope of reward structures we have, and to suggest them be implemented in different ways. As far as events, it's a down year. I don't think this is sinking in, but we're still in a pandemic we're likely going to be feeling the effect of that in the workspace until mid next patch cycle at least. I suggest you set your expectations accordingly.

We're not lacking for events, or mounts, or whatever because of the MogStation crew. If we did not have the Mogstation crew you wouldn't have these items at all. That staff would likely be allocated to a different part of the company.

don't know who your responding to as no quote to post, but I but I do agree.
As rewords are nice but I don't care for them but I happy they come back and was not the point my post any way. It was more to-do with lack old fates, small event games, jump puzzles and so forth. I got no problem at all with mog station and what they do with. just nice they have team that will let people get the old rewords at lest in some way.

Chopped the post to make shorter as post was bit long.

[Terin]

Also... it would kind of be nice if they bring back a new Glamour set, to have something that looks decent on male characters, too?

It sucks when most stuff seems catered to female characters. Why not like a Hawaiian warrior glam, with tattoos or war paint, that can be both cool and beach-appropriate?

[Terin]

Is this her first year playing? All Saints Wake was only absent last year because of covid. It’ll be back this year, albeit a bit later than usual. Hopefully the two of you can enjoy it together! I’m hoping for a new themed glam and an instanced event myself. I really like the mansion.

I wanna say it was like Christmas of 2018? Whenever it was, I remember joking she had JUST missed it, which was a shame because they'd done the "Haunted Manor" thing, which I thought was cool. Pretty short and not a TON of replay-value or anything, but definitely very cool!

Honestly, I would 100% be happy if after Endwalker's release, the Devs just focused all of their efforts into revamping the major Seasonal events. Like, a GIANT Hogwarts-style castle to visit for Halloween (I forget the in-game names for the events), maybe some quaint, cozy little snowy village for the Christmas-themed event, just Holiday-themed ZONES where you can do FATEs, instead of just reusing places we already have.

Just my two cents!

[Gabadabs]

I'd assume that recently, events have probably been limited due to covid.
But honestly, I'm a bit curious how many people actually end up participating in these events? I've been playing for at least a couple years now and never have personally.

[SilverObi]

Every year someone feels like the events get lesser and lesser each year but I don't see it. Been playing since the beginning and by and large the events are fairly similar in scope and rewards, usually alternating mounts or glamours (and furnishings to the frustrations of the houseless). Usually it seems to come down to personal subjective tastes on what counts as a suitable scope.

As for past event items being in the mogstation... I still feel the reasoning from the devs is dubious at best since XIV's older sibling FFXI returns all the previous years' events every single year. Though this comes at the arguable cost that the events are near carbon copies each time, down to dialogue and systems with next to no changing. The devs could have a vendor that sells old event items quite easily but we've already shown we're okay with paying for them.

To be fair a handful of the events here have remained almost nearly the same in terms of what they offer as activities but we do get new story and characters to reframe the context as well which is something XI gets rarely if at all.

The seasonal events would do well to consider adding new features to go along with the seasonal story progression or additions but I don't consider true at all that they are being stripped down more and more each year. Our biggest lapse in quality and amount was last year and we all know why that was. If this becomes a trend going into next year then we can consider picking up the torches and pitchforks.

[Ultimatecalibur]

Every year someone feels like the events get lesser and lesser each year but I don't see it. Been playing since the beginning and by and large the events are fairly similar in scope and rewards, usually alternating mounts or glamours (and furnishings to the frustrations of the houseless). Usually it seems to come down to personal subjective tastes on what counts as a suitable scope.

Some years did have more to do with more engaging seasonal quests with more rewards.

• Moonfire Faire (2013) - Participate in a FATE to get tokens (Wet Bombard Ash) to buy rewards (Swimsuits and Yukatas) from a seasonal vendor. FATEs were in a variety of zones and the vendors were in the starter cities.
• Moonfire Faire (2014) - Questline leading to 3 repeatable minigame quests (2 in lower La Noscea, 1 in east La Noscea). First completion of each minigame rewarded a Yukata, with further minigame quest completions rewarding fireworks. Completing all 3 minigames and another quest rewarded an emote. Seasonal vendor solid housing items and the previous year's rewards for gil.
• Moonfire Faire (2015) - Questline leads to Costa del Sol and rewarded a swimsuit and top. Seasonal FATEs (there were multiple), a culinarian quest and a fishing quest reward "Faire Voucher XV" which could be traded for an alternate version of the quest reward swimsuit, some of the previous years swimsuits/yukatas, fireworks and a housing item
• Moonfire Faire (2016) - Questline returned to Costa del Sol with 3 repeatable quests which rewarded "Faire Voucher XVI" and the Legacy Warrior chest for completion of all 3 repeatables and a final quest. Vouchers could be traded for Legacy warrior glamour gear, a housing item, music roll and fireworks.
• Moonfire Faire (2017) - Questline returned to Costa del Sol and rewards "Faire Joi" glamour set (a modified version of the Shisui sets). Could get "Faire Voucher XVII" by completing repeatable quests (1 swimming, 1 fishing and 1 cooking) and FATEs. Vouchers could be traded for a poster, a table top food, a music roll and fireworks. The "Moonfire Faire Island" was added this year.
• Moonfire Faire (2018) - Questline returned to Costa del Sol and rewarded the Splash emote and Endless Summer Coffer (with the Endless Summer set). Questline involved partially completing a jumping puzzle which could be repeated for fireworks.
• Moonfire Faire (2019) - Questline returned to Costa del Sol. Pretty much a repeat of 2018 with Vouchers as reward with addition of the old repeatable fishing and gathering quests. Vouchers could be traded for masks, happi, housing items and fireworks
• Moonfire Faire (2020) - Questline returned to Costa del Sol and rewarded an emote. A FATE is the source of Vouchers which could be used to buy the Summer's Flame set, a housing item and fireworks.
• Moonfire Faire (2021) - Questline returned to Costa del Sol and rewarded a mount. Get vouchers by doing FATE which could be used to buy a housing item, 2 table top foods and fireworks.

Last 3 years could arguably be considered to have been phoned in as even 2019 was basically a repeat of the very popular 2018 and 2020/2021 might be considered a backslide all the way to 2013 with the single FATEs being their only activity. The jumping puzzle likely didn't return in 2020/2021 due to introduction of flying to ARR areas.

[SilverObi]

good list

Sorry I was indeed incorrect on which events in particular shuffled around reward types, Moonfire has seemed to make it a tradition of rewarding outfits and this marks the first year we're getting a mount instead. In that case I can understand some people's displeasure, but not this claim that our events are on a tangible slide in quality.

But as you yourself said, it's arguable if the last 3 years could be considered phoned in just due to them being similar in function and style. It feels like there is a sort-of pattern where certain events receive a bigger "budget" than others in a given year and they tend to trade off. I suppose the exception would be Heavensturn which is definitely in a holding pattern with the mochi stuff.

Having looked at the other seasonal events as well, many of them seem to be on a very similar "build" with some variation. As for being more engaging, I suppose that's up to the individual as often times I hear the opinion split down the middle between people enjoying the mini storylines we get and those who dislike "filler" or "fluff" content and would have them go away altogether.

Also wow was the starlight bear really almost 4 years ago?