Content geared towards FCs

[Vidu]

Key word is "incentive". Just like any good game that has variety of activities, they implement incentives for you wanting to do them. Why would I bother savage raiding? Because the incentive is getting BiS, why do I bother doing select old dungeons and raids? Because the incentive is to collect moogle tomestones, why would I bother doing old relic chains? Because the incentive is to collect nice weapon glams.

So them implementing more group based activities for FC's to do on a weekly or perhaps a monthly basis helps keep some level of social activity with your select group besides just the lackluster FC buffs.

See, thats what I often dont understand - I do content because I enjoy doing it, not only or mainly because of the carrot... Maybe thats because I dont see the need for enforced FC-only content, because I already enjoy playing the game with my friends/FC...

Edit: Actually, I do get the incentive thing to a degree when it comes to loot - but its super confusing to me that people seem to feel that they need to be basically bribed into playing the game with their friends... Being "forced" to do stuff with your FC seems like it shouldnt be a thing, because if you dont enjoy doing stuff with said FC, why are you even in the FC in the first place? (buffy can be gotten elsewhere and are honestly not game changing...)

[Atelier-Bagur]

See, thats what I often dont understand - I do content because I enjoy doing it, not only or mainly because of the carrot... Maybe thats because I dont see the need for enforced FC-only content, because I already enjoy playing the game with my friends/FC...

Edit: Actually, I do get the incentive thing to a degree when it comes to loot - but its super confusing to me that people seem to feel that they need to be basically bribed into playing the game with their friends... Being "forced" to do stuff with your FC seems like it shouldnt be a thing, because if you dont enjoy doing stuff with said FC, why are you even in the FC in the first place? (buffy can be gotten elsewhere and are honestly not game changing...)

Its not a full bribe thing. Rewards are rewards. You derive some of the fun of doing it because you get a reward out of it. Its just playing a bit into the dopamine aspect of MMOs, the issue is keeping a good balance of it with content where its not JUST about the rewards. But if something lacks any tangible reward then that personally affects my brain into not doing it. Thats what incentives mean to me.

Which is why I dont mind Hildibrand quests being a requirement for EW's relic chain. Its a nice incentive to get people to do em since you get some decent trials out of them, also some blue mage spells are acquired from them so there's yet another incentive.

I think the problem is the loose terminology of saying "forced". Am I forced to join an FC in order to progress the game? No. Am I forced to participate in FC made activities such as contests, maps, fate trains etc? No. I just want more in-game activities to be available for FCs. Thats really all to it.

[MonteCristo]

Its not a full bribe thing. Rewards are rewards. You derive some of the fun of doing it because you get a reward out of it. Its just playing a bit into the dopamine aspect of MMOs, the issue is keeping a good balance of it with content where its not JUST about the rewards. But if something lacks any tangible reward then that personally affects my brain into not doing it. Thats what incentives mean to me.

Which is why I dont mind Hildibrand quests being a requirement for EW's relic chain. Its a nice incentive to get people to do em since you get some decent trials out of them, also some blue mage spells are acquired from them so there's yet another incentive.

I think the problem is the loose terminology of saying "forced". Am I forced to join an FC in order to progress the game? No. Am I forced to participate in FC made activities such as contests, maps, fate trains etc? No. I just want more in-game activities to be available for FCs. Thats really all to it.

This is pretty much what i was trying to say.

[Vidu]

Its not a full bribe thing. Rewards are rewards. You derive some of the fun of doing it because you get a reward out of it. Its just playing a bit into the dopamine aspect of MMOs, the issue is keeping a good balance of it with content where its not JUST about the rewards. But if something lacks any tangible reward then that personally affects my brain into not doing it. Thats what incentives mean to me.

Which is why I dont mind Hildibrand quests being a requirement for EW's relic chain. Its a nice incentive to get people to do em since you get some decent trials out of them, also some blue mage spells are acquired from them so there's yet another incentive.

I think the problem is the loose terminology of saying "forced". Am I forced to join an FC in order to progress the game? No. Am I forced to participate in FC made activities such as contests, maps, fate trains etc? No. I just want more in-game activities to be available for FCs. Thats really all to it.

But what would be the benefit of having these activities only be available to FCs? I really fail to see why that would be a better thing over content thats just available to any group of people, no matter if they're in the same FC or not. We've got lots of content that is available to FCs - you mention a few yourself, but pretty much any content in game can be done with a group of FC-members, if you want to do content together. Maybe its me but it seems really weird to me to need an extra-reward to do content with people you enjoy having around - at least for me running a raid with some FC-mates feels more rewarding than doing it by myself because I know I've got competent people with me, as well as having someone to talk to during the run.

More content would surely be nice - but I dont see how "more content, but have to do with your FC" is better than just more content that you can do with anyone you want.

[Atelier-Bagur]

But what would be the benefit of having these activities only be available to FCs? I really fail to see why that would be a better thing over content thats just available to any group of people, no matter if they're in the same FC or not. We've got lots of content that is available to FCs - you mention a few yourself, but pretty much any content in game can be done with a group of FC-members, if you want to do content together. Maybe its me but it seems really weird to me to need an extra-reward to do content with people you enjoy having around - at least for me running a raid with some FC-mates feels more rewarding than doing it by myself because I know I've got competent people with me, as well as having someone to talk to during the run.

More content would surely be nice - but I dont see how "more content, but have to do with your FC" is better than just more content that you can do with anyone you want.

all I'm advocating is to have some bit more FC related content

[Jojoya]

The OP has me confused by saying FCs remind him more of a social group than a guild.

That's all FCs and guilds ever were - social groups. Like-minded players with similar interests and compatible personalities come together to do things. There's no requirement that specific content must be done.

If FCs aren't doing the content already in the game together, it probably won't be different with any other content SE choses to add.

What do you mean, "other people can't"? FCs are a core part of game design, just like every other piece of content in the game. There's nothing stopping you from joining an FC.

Sure there is. It's not a solo decision on your part. You don't get to just walk up to people and say "I've decided I'm in your FC now".

Someone already in the FC with the correct permissions needs to invite you to join or accept the application you submit. The same person (usually along with several others) also have the ability to kick you from the FC on a whim if they desire. That leaves you at the mercy of someone's willingness to invite you and the FC's willingness to keep you as a member.

FCs are not a core part of game design. No one is guaranteed a spot in a FC simply because they created a character. They're an optional part of game design. You can play the entire game without joining a FC and miss out on nothing of importance. Even most of the FC actions (minor QoL) are available through Squadron Manuals.

all I'm advocating is to have some bit more FC related content

FCs are perfectly capable of creating their own if they feel there is a lack.

[caffe_macchiato]

FCs are not a core part of game design. No one is guaranteed a spot in a FC simply because they created a character. They're an optional part of game design. You can play the entire game without joining a FC and miss out on nothing of importance. Even most of the FC actions (minor QoL) are available through Squadron Manuals.

Someday, FFXIV players will realize that multiplayer is the core of a game like this, and without good multiplayer incentives, our game as a whole is lacking. We all think that FFXIV is this amazing blockbuster title that's taking the world by storm. It's not. It's not even the most-played MMO--or the second, or the third, or even the fourth. So our sense of grandiosity is completely unwarranted. What we do have, though, unlike most other MMOs, is a complete disinterest in retaining players. The content is as wide as an ocean and shallow as a puddle. Most players don't sub year-round. We get what we deserve. According to the vast, vast majority of MMO players, we aren't the best. Maybe we should look at ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves why.

Someday you will realize that group content is a good thing--and quit FFXIV accordingly!

The game has moved to catering to single players and small groups only.

Sad but true.

[MonteCristo]

Someday, FFXIV players will realize that multiplayer is the core of a game like this, and without good multiplayer incentives, our game as a whole is lacking. We all think that FFXIV is this amazing blockbuster title that's taking the world by storm. It's not. It's not even the most-played MMO--or the second, or the third, or even the fourth. So our sense of grandiosity is completely unwarranted. What we do have, though, unlike most other MMOs, is a complete disinterest in retaining players. The content is as wide as an ocean and shallow as a puddle. Most players don't sub year-round. We get what we deserve. According to the vast, vast majority of MMO players, we aren't the best. Maybe we should look at ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves why.

Someday you will realize that group content is a good thing--and quit FFXIV accordingly!



Sad but true.

Echoes my sentiments