How to Restore Confidence in FFXIV

[aveyond-dreams]

I think it’s time we break from some of the negativity and instead cast our eyes to the future. Although much has been done to undermine confidence in FFXIV this expansion, I don’t think we’re yet past the point of no return. To that end, I’ve prepared some things that I think would go a long way towards rebuilding the trust that was lost, otherwise it does seem to be that many are unwilling to carry on with the current state of affairs.

Content –

Indisputably, there has been a lot more experimental content released this expansion than in previous ones. However, for all the efforts poured into things like Island Sanctuary and Variant/Criterion Dungeons, the overarching consensus is that there is little point in engaging with such content. The time has come to question and reassess what kind of player the content is being aimed at – someone who when they log in actually wants to actively engage with the game and its world or the players who treat the game more akin to a chat room in the Housing Wards.

The lack of an exploratory zone has been felt especially painfully, even moreso with these relics having no specific content geared towards them. The illusion of choice provided with them does little but to funnel players into Roulettes or Hunt Trains. This however is not satisfactory gameplay for those of us who would much rather spend time in the social and gameplay environment created by zones like Anemos and Bozja. Variant/Criterion Dungeons in no way compensate for this either – the lack of rewards and severe restriction in terms of actions one can use in them compared to Lost/Logos actions do not inspire us to try this content more than once either.

All of these content issues are further exacerbated by the increased patch length cycle, which at this point I cannot voice support for because of how the game has consistently not met the standards of previous expansions since their implementation. If we had Restoration content or a relic grind that required more than just tomestomes I would probably not feel the way I do now, but given that this extra waiting hasn’t delivered on much to show for it, I do not believe its in the game’s best interest to continue with these cycles. This isn’t burnout and we are long past the point where players telling each other to “just take a break” are reasonable responses to the situation.

The best solution I can propose is to introduce the first exploratory zone by no later than 7.25, coupled with a Restoration effort that begins in 7.15. Variant/Criterion dungeons should be repurposed for the 7.X series as additional raids in the style of Delubrum Reginae, with more variety in duty actions we can choose from. Following the standard set in Stormblood, I also believe a Deep Dungeon should release at some point during the series in tandem with this other content, in this way nobody is left without something to look forward to.

Story –

FFXIV is an mmorpg that throughout its lifespan, has been rightfully celebrated for its story. However, Endwalker did not do all that came before it justice given its abrupt termination of far too many storylines that different sectors of the playerbase were intrigued by. Those of us who cared for the political machinations in Garlemald have been left with nothing remotely similar to look forward to, not to mention how disconnected the current Void storyline feels from everything else. The initial patches of the 6.X cycle represent a missed opportunity to not only reset the WoL’s power level so that Season 2 of the game could begin on even ground, but also a chance to give us a clean starting point for everything from that point onwards.

The key things that I feel would rejuvenate FFXIV’s storytelling is fresh characters and a fresh location for 7.0 to take place in, something that invokes the same feeling as Ishgard in the distance that makes players go “wow! I want to go there!” Characters should invoke something similar, “wow! I want to learn more about this person and see them in action!” Unfortunately the Scions have done all they can in terms of the story and their growth, and the earlier proposed plan to introduce Krile into the mix isn’t one I can throw support behind. I shudder to think of going from a Scion to potentially a Student of Baldesion, as we’ve let the influence of Sharlayan decide the fate of the world for long enough. More scholars is not the answer.

Truly returning to being an adventurer on the road, a sword for hire, things of that nature in a place no one knows who we are would be so much more refreshing than dragging things from the past decade into this new phase the game is set to enter. Coupled with this should be a strong high fantasy focus in the style akin to FFXVI’s setting, which has a variety of nation states that could easily carry an expansion each perhaps save Dhalmek. However, I could easily buy an FFXIV expansion that sees us go to a place like Rosaria or Sanbreque, or the mist enshrouded lands of Waloed. I want something that makes me feel as excited as I did for Heavensward and Shadowbringers and the places they opened up to the player – the disconnect we’ve seen in both Stormblood and Endwalker’s zones have estranged me at best and destroyed whole portions of the world I was interested in the worst cases.

I invite others to share their thoughts on how FFXIV can do more to restore their own confidence in the game below, in the hopes that whatever awaits us after this expansion ends is better than what we’ve been experiencing lately.

[Saraide]

What I wish to see is a bit of a return to stormblood savage design (yes yes I know, I started in ShB so I'm just basing this on doing kefka savage on MINE). Uptime wasnt free, bosses didnt span the entire arena. Last savage tier wasnt it. P8s phase 2 was punishing on an almost ultimate level but not nearly as fun and also had exactly 0 variation on how to resolve mechanics.

[SeiyaSoiya]

thing long me no read

[Avoidy]

Big agree on going somewhere far away. My two favorite expansions, HW and ShB, were in part because we were able to just get away from everything and explore a wholly new environment with its own politics and culture. I know being teleported to another world is done to death but the foundation is there already with the other shards. And the game's writers tend to shine when they're allowed to break out of the box a bit and just write a cool story without worrying about how it clashes with 12 years of established Eorzean lore.

Failing that, even just an acknowledgement of how things are would go a long way. Communication is so big. But I don't think the XIV team even realizes there's a problem. From their perspective, they released a deep dungeon, a new "hardcore" dungeon format, a relic, they're dropping alliance raids/savage raids/ex raids/unreal updates on a good enough schedule, and they gave everyone a private island. If players are quitting, the devs assume, it's because they're taking expected breaks. The cash shop makes up for their absence. And there are enough active players in their metrics (clubbers and social gang) to support their feelings on the game being fine. But the reality is the content they implement lacks replayability. The deep dungeon is the same deep dungeon we've always had. Variant dungeons fell off hard after about a week and never came back. The island is just a timegated slog. I could go on but what's the point. The devs don't see this. I swear they're just reading metrics and they equate the players online idling and doing beesknees in a basement with a sign that the game's in a healthy state. Hell, someone's gonna reply to this post saying there isn't a problem because in their mind 6 hours of content every 4 months is completely fine. This is why I'm sort of not expecting it to get better. Just acknowledging that there's a problem in the first place is like climbing a mountain.

[aveyond-dreams]

There is definitely a problem with how feedback is being passed on or interpreted. It would be of great assistance if we had more active representatives on the forums, but the only time in recent memory that I have seen them make an appearance was regarding the outrage over Hrothgar haircuts. Even then, it was more to attempt to assuage them rather than acknowledge something had gone wrong.

Things just are not ok right now. Though if that isn't clear now, I suppose it will never be.

[ZephyrMenodora]

I haven't lost confidence so nothing to restore on my end. But curious to see what other people find wrong with it.

[TomsYoungerBro]

In regards to content, one thing i've noticed is they like to make content from scratch and then drop it like its hot. Its no wonder they cant produce enough fulfilling content for the masses as they always start from square one. The Diadem got one update outside of its expansion and no updates to re-focus it into something enjoyable. Eureka was dropped after Stormblood, Bozja/Zadnor after Shb, and IS and Criterion will get the same treatment come end of EW given their pattern. Instead of working to improve and add-on to these existing systems of gameplay, they just throw their hands up in the air and go back to the beginning. What does that result in? Unpolished and lacking gameplay elements that only start to hit their stride towards the end of the expansion (maybe).

[Alleluia]

There is definitely a problem with how feedback is being passed on or interpreted. It would be of great assistance if we had more active representatives on the forums, but the only time in recent memory that I have seen them make an appearance was regarding the outrage over Hrothgar haircuts. Even then, it was more to attempt to assuage them rather than acknowledge something had gone wrong.

Things just are not ok right now. Though if that isn't clear now, I suppose it will never be.

Not trying to be antagonistic, but I think that assessment is more subjective than your tone paints it. The game feels pretty good to me. Particularly the narrative side. It is the best part, though have my own minor gripes like preferring they bring back class specific quest chains. (And who knows, they might in the future.)

[Atelier-Bagur]

I would just ignore the story segment since thats entirely subjective. Ive seen people love it and only here in the forums is where I see people dislike it. So pretty much par for course.

What they just really need to do to restore confidence is one simple thing. Start communicating and engaging better with your audience on all parts. This means JPN, NA, and EU.

People will be a lot more aware and possibly receptive with the direction and reasonings behind their decisions if they just talked to us directly more instead of relying on LLs. The LLs have been good but we can do better.

We should also want to have community managers engage in the forums more frequently rather than just show up say hi and then scurry into the dark depths only to delete threads and issue bans.


Just. Communicate. Better.

Thats all they need to do

[NekoMataMata]

I disagree with a bit of what's mentioned in the story section but surprisingly... The rest is accurate.

Also, I really think it says something when the regular forum trolls are posting normal threads because they don't have to go out of their way to post anything unusual to create some make believe controversy.