NPC Following Quests - Overly complex don't we think?

[WindyGamer]

Don't you think your complaint about this is just silly?

Sure. But so is the Devs wasteing time on the eye candy. The whole NPC follow thing is a Gimmmick. So cool Let's have the gimmick without the eyecandy.

[YukiB]

Sure. But so is the Devs wasteing time on the eye candy. The whole NPC follow thing is a Gimmmick. So cool Let's have the gimmick without the eyecandy.

What's easier to find, a clear visual indicator with a glowing circle and ... speech bubble indicating the NPC has special but optional dialogue at that location, or some sparklies at a place that is decidedly not the quest destination?

Also, waste time on it? They already made it. It would take more time to REMOVE it like you suggest. You might argue it was never worth the time to develop it in the first place, and I'd probably agree with you, but that ship has sailed.

[LaylaTsarra]

Sure. But so is the Devs wasteing time on the eye candy. The whole NPC follow thing is a Gimmmick. So cool Let's have the gimmick without the eyecandy.

It's fun. It's less boring that talking to an npc they run off and you go meet them somewhere else. It's a lot more immersive you feel like they are part of your game.

[StriderShinryu]

I actually prefer the escort system because it's more of a choice. If you just want to get to the end you can just run straight there (or wrap straight there) and be done with them. If you want to actually spend time with the character and have that extra dialogue (and gpose chances) then you can do that do. The "sparkly bread trail" just means you have to stop at every single point regardless of whether you are or not.

I do feel the 6.0 MSQ did have a few too many escort quests (and some people found them buggy with poor pathfinding) but I took that as more of the developers delighting in having a new toy to play with rather than an ongoing design choice.

[Ilisidi]

Yes, the follow quests are great. I wish there had been more following and optional side talk swirls in 6.1 MSQ and the role quest ending than there are.

[TaleraRistain]

Since they fixed it so you can't lose them as easily, I love them. I enjoyed them in 6.0 but that one part was annoying. They make the game feel like a real JRPG and there have been small improvements the past two expansion to do more and more of that.

[BrokentoothMarch]

I liked the part where I had to stalk a girl and pretend that was routine.

[RitsukoSonoda]

They're better for immersion and storytelling IMO.

I find most of the people that didn't like this new type of quest either played Endwalker right from the start of early access when the pathing was buggy and just about anything would cause you to lose the NPC and have to go back and find them, or they're people that just don't care about the 2 things I mentioned and are just trying to reach the end ASAP.

[Syln]

I wish they went on a totally different path with this : you chose a NPC to follow you and it stay until you or it chose to part way (for story reason), with it you could do quest/fate and having it comment on what you are doing, res you and make fun of you if you die or be compassionate depending on the NPC etc etc ...

Basically a chocobo 2.0 that you could have with you everywhere and giving more spice to your adventure.

[WindyGamer]

I wish they went on a totally different path with this : you chose a NPC to follow you and it stay until you or it chose to part way (for story reason), with it you could do quest/fate and having it comment on what you are doing, res you and make fun of you if you die or be compassionate depending on the NPC etc etc ...

Basically a chocobo 2.0 that you could have with you everywhere and giving more spice to your adventure.

This sounds super. A change to the gameplay rather than just a visual change.