Valentoine event was great! But the rewards contradict the message

[Ariabeth]

I would first like to preface this post by making clear I do not post this to stir up a debate around this topic. No intentions to throw shade at FFXIV and the development team, as we all know (whether you agree with them or not) what stance the development team has towards this subject. This post is to point out something harmless and silly, that was likely unintentional and will probably be addressed in the future! Also spoilers for the event!

Valentoine 2023
Unless I have completely missed the mark on this years valentoine story, we see Lisette's departure from the event. Her younger sister Astrid, who has been part of the event for several years now as Lisette's protege, will be taking the helm from now on.
Astrid taking her role at the Valentoine event very serious, tries to follow in her sisters footsteps a little too closely. Adorning herself with more "sweet" and "adorable" clothes as her sister has all these years before, unlike her own "dashing" and "handsome" outfit she normally wears.
Taking on her own protege- Emilie, wearing the same "dashing" outfit Astrid formerly wore.

The story has the Warrior of Light join Emilie, to help her learn the ropes and etiquette of inviting people to the Valentoine event. But soon Emilie shares her discomfort with the "dashing" clothes she was asked to wear, and the reactions of the people that came with it. You assure her that this is an important issue to address, and that Astrid would be open to hear about it.

Before Emilie has the chance to share her discomfort in her clothes, you hear from Astrid that she too shares the same feelings about her own change of clothes.
Her clothes are too "sweet" and "adorable", very much unlike she perceives herself as she looks up to the likes of warriors, and relatives in her family with the same occupation.
Emilie expresses her same conundrum, and the two help each other realize an important aspect of Valentoine. That it is important to love oneself before helping others with their love. The two swap clothes, and everything is as it should be.

Honestly I was very surprised with this years story!
Most event stories I gloss over, as the message behind it is very surface level or simple. Initially I thought the same this year, just a simple but sweet story- until I wrote it out on this post, realizing just how much thought went into it.
Writing "feminine" and "masculine" clothing at first, only to go back and do exactly what the writers did for this event; replace these words to "sweet,adorable" and "dashing,handsome". Something that seems quite obvious and easy to read over, but incredibly smart when writing a story!

1/2

[Ariabeth]

The rewards and the silly issue
The rewards are a good one this year, not only an emote and another piece of furniture (Something I'll have to try and stow in my massive clutter of a storeroom later), but also two amazing outfits! The same "sweet" outfit now worn by Emilie.
However, with the message being Love yourself and wear what makes you comfortable, why are these outfits both locked to a gender?

A hypothetical question of course, with no intent to undermine what the FFXIV development team has done so far when it comes to de-gendering clothes!
I suspect with the release of the extra content like Deep Dungeon and the Ultimate in 5.3, and even more content coming in 5.35, the resources were spread thin in the first place.

I'm just throwing this thread up here to point out how it feels a bit silly,
and to hope they will get around de-gendering these outfits soon!
Just like what was done with all the other event items!

EDIT:
It seems some are missing, or not seeing the point of the thread.
We all know the outfits will be made for the other gender in the future, there is no doubt about that.
But the point of the thread is that it is silly to have a story with this message, and not have the outfits be fitted to both genders immediately.
No one is whining about this, no one is chastising the development team. We are just poking fun of a silly thing the FFXIV development team didn't or couldn't do at this time.

2/2

[Oizen]

I'm still stuck here thinking how someone can think yet another event where you just talk to someone on the stage at Old Gridiania is "great"

[Pratini]

I'm still stuck here thinking how someone can think yet another event where you just talk to someone on the stage at Old Gridiania is "great"

Agreed, its pure laziness at this point.

[Ariabeth]

I'm still stuck here thinking how someone can think yet another event where you just talk to someone on the stage at Old Gridiania is "great"

Not really the point of the thread, but a simple event like this where you talk to 3 people and you're done, does not happen as often as you make it seem.
We have plenty of involving events during halloween, easter and summer. Valentine much like new years and little ladies day, are not big events even outside the game.
Besides it is the story that counts, if that is not for you then just enjoy the rewards

[Oizen]

Not really the point of the thread, but a simple event like this where you talk to 3 people and you're done, does not happen as often as you make it seem.
We have plenty of involving events during halloween, easter and summer. Valentine much like new years and little ladies day, are not big events even outside the game.
Besides it is the story that counts, if that is not for you then just enjoy the rewards

Ok but what if 90% of these events didn't take place on the stage in gridania, followed up with walking around talking to random npcs in gridania

[Ariabeth]

Ok but what if 90% of these events didn't take place on the stage in gridania, followed up with walking around talking to random npcs in gridania

Then I guess there is no consistency in how the events have been done since 2.0 or even prior? Idk man I don't think they have time for a minor event to have something extravagant like Halloween every year. I enjoy the stories, I hope you at least like the rewards!

[Rolder50]

I'm still stuck here thinking how someone can think yet another event where you just talk to someone on the stage at Old Gridiania is "great"

And they don't let you get previous year's rewards so they milk them for mogshop money, don't forget that!

[Carin-Eri]

I'm still stuck here thinking how someone can think yet another event where you just talk to someone on the stage at Old Gridiania is "great"

Okay... but it has to be a 'starter' city due to the event being open to players from level 15+

And to be honest, other than some players perhaps finding the location predictable, what reason do they really have to put time and effort into moving it elsewhere? What would be the benefit?