The current state of the "MMORPG" FFXIV is unsustainable. Here's why

[NekoMataMata]

I really like how you said this, because I totally feel that. A lot.

"Playing the game to not play the game."(1)

And yes, I get that this might be a "me problem."(2)

But, like recently, I had mentioned to a friend that I didn't really mind Island Sanctuary just so long as I was listening to an engaging podcast--essentially playing the game (Island Sanctuary) to not play it (listening to the podcast "Carmudgeon"--with Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam-hyphen-Scott).

There are other examples: macro crafting (i.e., tabbing out while the macro is running, and watch an interesting video about the B18 engine), Diadem gathering (granted, Diadem is not new, but once again, listening to podcasts while mindlessly flying from node to node), and sometimes even roulettes (mostly "Main Story" roulette--like I appreciate the MSQ rework, but it's still very much afk-city; CT/ST raids are podcast fodder; and a large portion of the Lv. 60-80 dungeons--the "trash packs" feel very much like "autopilot"--i.e., turn my brain off and push two or three buttons--in fact, the Lv 90 Troia dungeon just exasperates this, because it's literally "trash packs" upon "trash packs" until the second boss), etc...

That said, I do enjoy certain aspects of the game like some of the latter Alliance (24-man) raids (Ivalice--especially "Math boss" & Mustadio, NieR--love almost everything, the Twelve--mostly because it's new & fresh and my friends goad me to get my weekly coin), Critical Engagements and Delubrum Reginae (although, the Bozja-content, I felt, could have used some tweaks/improvements and, perhaps, been iterated & improved upon)--mostly because I'm actually playing the game--without podcasts or videos running in the background--I'm actually engaged.

I want to continue enjoying Final Fantasy XIV (3), but it's become increasingly difficult, because more and more I feel like it's become a daily/weekly chore/checklist to "play" a game that I'm trying to find new ways to actually not play. I just want more reasons to actually play FF14.

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(1) Yes, I realize it's sort of a "min-max" to an extreme, but that's sophistry
(2) I've unsubscribed/voted-with-my-wallet
(3) I'll totally be back for 6.4/7.0, because I still really like FF14 and the friends I've made along the way

I don't really mind a lot of this.

I realize I'm going to be taking the casual's side on this, but I feel like the game needs a mix of content like this. I really enjoy that the game has content that I sometimes have to focus on, and content that I sometimes don't. It's nice to be able to run crafting macros while working on my schoolwork. It's just really nice to be able to get some of the content out of the way, and then later on be able to have free time to focus on the parts of the game that are actually engaging.

There's definitely times when it doesn't work out that way though. Sometimes I finish the more afk-able stuff in-game and just end up doing nothing while working on stuff irl, or sometimes I don't have enough irl to keep me occupied while I'm doing afk content like MSQ roulette, but I appreciate it.

[Shinkuno]

I guess another reason why this game won't go forward is because of the horde of casuals who are more than fine with Square Enix handling them crumbles of bread instead of a well polished product. Long grinds, well designed forays be damned. Better to just get a relic with 1500 tomes or else it won't respect people's times. Well, can always do the next step 4 months from now on, great. Good design. A game designed so you don't have to play it.
Also both Eureka and Bozja are still kicking in NA, EU and JP. Can't speak for OCE but that whole datacenter was a mistake which is a different issue.

The zones itself may still be kicking, but good luck unlocking them if you for example dont already have the ivalice raids unlocked, 1 hour queue for lighthouse during peak EU times anod no queue pop

[DixieBellOCE]

The zones itself may still be kicking, but good luck unlocking them if you for example dont already have the ivalice raids unlocked, 1 hour queue for lighthouse during peak EU times anod no queue pop

Meanwhile ivalice raids can be 3manned unsynced at level 90.

Unlocking is never a problem.

[Shinkuno]

Meanwhile ivalice raids can be 3manned unsynced at level 90.

Unlocking is never a problem.

werent you the person complaining not wanting to run deep dungeons solo cause its a mmo, same applies here, 3 manning a 24man experience, might aswell not play a mmo

[VelKallor]

I guess another reason why this game won't go forward

[KageTokage]

I do feel like they're leaning way too hard into following the "safe" content cycle they've had since HW.

It's nice that they made an attempt at introducing new types of content through Island Sanctuary and variant/criterion dungeons, but both still lack the longevity the exploratory zones had.

[magitekLuna]

I do feel like they're leaning way too hard into following the "safe" content cycle they've had since HW.

It's nice that they made an attempt at introducing new types of content through Island Sanctuary and variant/criterion dungeons, but both still lack the longevity the exploratory zones had.

variant/criterion dungeons in them self are a really well made content. its fun to do but then what? where the rewards?
as for Island Sanctuary i cant think of any one that for really think this is content as a sane person . Island Sanctuary is a BIG SLAP from yoshi to the players. people asking for years for instant housing . yoshi Sayed there no way to do it as limitations and such. then he do Island Sanctuary that is WAY bigger that instant housing ever be, but there nothing what so ever to do there.

[EliaStormblade]

I do feel like they're leaning way too hard into following the "safe" content cycle they've had since HW.

It's nice that they made an attempt at introducing new types of content through Island Sanctuary and variant/criterion dungeons, but both still lack the longevity the exploratory zones had.

My hypothesis on the former is that what we're seeing is currently more groundwork for it than the actual content for it. Anyway, call me out for coping there if you want, but I just don't think the current state of Island Sanctuary shows the breadth of what it is supposed to be. At least going by the work put into it on a systems/coding level.

As for variants/criterions, myeah, I guess. I don't think there's a lot wrong with one-and-done content, but I do think criterion might have missed the mark they intended it to hit. For one, the base version of criterion (not savage) should've been around extreme trial level whereas a lot of people said it felt more like early to mid-savage. Also more (cosmetic) rewards. Variant, idk. It did... a thing? I did all the variant routes, but to me it didn't really sell the fantasy they were going for. This whole notion of different paths kind of just fizzled for me. Maybe it would be better if variant became more like a mini-outdoor zone with different activities and stuff to earn and then criterion was the instanced dungeon portion of it.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Remember...CASUALs, are what make a game thrive. They will still be around playing and paying so long as they are entertained Well before the Hardcore crowd is gone. Plus there are more Casuals in the gamer Space then hardcores.
But A nice Balance is needed, for the Hardcore who want challenges, and for the Casuals who just want a fun game to play but might become hardcore as they stick with the game.
A grind here or there.

Honestly, the more people talk and harp about Explore Zones, the more Happy I am that they arnt a thing this time. Mainly because as I grow older, I have more responsibilities and dont have as much time or Energy to game. So the current way I can casually enjoy the game and work towards the next Relic step.
But ALSO, we are only on step 2. The Resistance Relic in ShB started out crap easy, and then that got its grindy steps.
Who is to say that wont happen later?

[KageTokage]

Honestly, the more people talk and harp about Explore Zones, the more Happy I am that they arnt a thing this time. Mainly because as I grow older, I have more responsibilities and dont have as much time or Energy to game. So the current way I can casually enjoy the game and work towards the next Relic step.
But ALSO, we are only on step 2. The Resistance Relic in ShB started out crap easy, and then that got its grindy steps.
Who is to say that wont happen later?

The thing is that even if it's more grindy, it's likely just going to boil down to spamming some manner of underutilized content SE wants to liven up again.

I wanted a grind in new content, not stuff I've likely already spent hours farming in previous expansions or the current one.