FFXIV: A Classic Experience

[Calevr]

Final Fantasy XIV is one of the most actively played MMORPG for the past few years and has had a lot of updates to improve its content by which offers a huge amount of stuff to do for many players. I personally love and appreciate this game. Unfortunately, though for me, the concept design of this game has increasingly become less to what I usually enjoy, or I am looking for today, but nonetheless, I do enjoy the game.

For a while now, I have been wondering about whether this game would be more interesting (to me) if it had a classic server, something that offered an old school (vintage) experience. I know some may contend that the idea of a ‘classic’ server would be a tedious and unrewarding experience for the modern gamer. Some might say that the tasks we had a decade ago like quests were too lengthy or repetitive and that simply killing thousands of monsters to level up a character is not satisfying or considerate of the player’s time.


What do the veterans think? Let’s discuss alternatives.

As a collective opinion, what do you think to SE creating a classic experience?
What would you imagine the server to be like?
What levelling methods would you like the server to acquire?
Would you want the levelling process to be fast, slow or like the game is currently?
Would you remove the duty finder in-game?
Would you bring anything back from FFXIV 1.x or 2.0?
Would you want more open world group content?
Which content from other MMORGs would you want to see?

[Calevr]

Would you want a FFXIV classic experience of some kind?

[Snorky]

If you follow the logic of other games who offered this classic experience type server it's popular for a short period of time then the server just depopulated. My reasoning is everyone remembers how tedious it was before improvements and don't want that experience. So for me that would be a NO thanks on a classic server.

[Keridwyn]

They asked him about 1.x servers once upon a time. He had only one word to say about it.

"Nightmare."

I don't think we'll be seeing 2.x-onward throwback servers for a while if ever. We barely have enough currently.

[VelKallor]

For a while now, I have been wondering about whether this game would be more interesting (to me) if it had a classic server, something that offered an old school (vintage) experience. I know some may contend that the idea of a ‘classic’ server would be a tedious and unrewarding experience for the modern gamer. Some might say that the tasks we had a decade ago like quests were too lengthy or repetitive and that simply killing thousands of monsters to level up a character is not satisfying or considerate of the player’s time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmffV4oKZu4&t=1s

"Nightmare"

[DBriggs304]

No. No. And No.

[Lihtleita]

you want to wait 8 mins between pulls for cooldowns to comeback and to reapply food?
you want there to be over 10 types of glamour prisms in your limited inventory?
you want to have to be at north shroud shroud on a tuesday because thats the only time you can get a coil group on your tiny tiny server?

then 2.x servers are for you!

[Caitlyn]

Hell no.

Cleric stance. No.
Stonewall macro. No.
Wait for cooldowns to reset. No.
No Au Ra. Are you crazy???


Even when I wish, that they bring back old version for some classes (Summoner for example), the game is getting better with each patch (for the most part).

[Calevr]

For my personal preference, I am not keen on a 'throwback' server, but I am interested in somethhing new that could offer a different experience that has more open world social group content. For a simple example, it could be that the overworld monsters are very strong and therefore, would require players to form parties to level up. That would be a classic experience. Another idea would be that quests only reward gil and some basic gear but no experience points. Crafting would play an important part in providing decent gear and so on...

Bringing back 1.0 as it was then would be a nighmare. I can understand that. I don't think everyone wanting a classic experience would want to see that again. However, there were some good ideas from that era even if the game was badly optimized.

Its a classic experience, not necessary a classic time period of past updates that is being suggested here.

[DPZ2]

For a simple example, it could be that the overworld monsters are very strong and therefore, would require players to form parties to level up. That would be a classic experience. Another idea would be that quests only reward gil and some basic gear but no experience points. Crafting would play an important part in providing decent gear and so on...

You are, unfortunately, describing another game entirely, not a return to some 'classic' version of this game. I understand you can still play EverQuest, and I know you can play Final Fantasy XI. These are closer to what you consider a 'classic MMO', primarily because they were designed almost 20 years ago.

When people are waxing nostalgic for the good old days, they actually have some reason behind it. WoW, for example, changed many systems completely between Burning Crusade and Lich King, and again after Cataclysm. The original non-expansion WoW had some charm and entire systems for character personalization that do not exist today.

The only things in FFXIV that changed much are primarily quality-of-life improvements. What got removed that one could be nostalgic about? A number of quests in the ARR storyline, which many will tell you still needs to be shortened further (not that I agree). The world still looks the same, because the major changes occurred off-screen between FFXIV 1.x and FFXIV ARR. The dungeon instances haven't changed. There has been some change in cross-class skills (now called Role skills). This change made sense, in that, for example, if you are a Tank you wanted to get the paladin-specific or warrior-specific abilities anyway.