How to Restore Confidence in FFXIV

[Vrankyl]

Tell us you dont play other MMO's without telling us you dont play other MMO's, there is no "crawling back" after people go over to other MMO's, people stay there, in the absolute best case scenario they play both, that's what happened with the massive wow exodus, they all tried FFXIV and made the population explode, then they crawled back to WoW, if you think people crawl back to FFXIV after trying other MMO's, you are delusional, not everyone wants free handout relics and an absolute bare expansion with barely any content to do at all

It's actually pretty normal for people to play multiple MMOs these days. MMOs are no longer the massive time sinks they used to be where if you didn't dedicate every second of your free time to it you'd fall behind with no chance of catching up. I routinely go and jump into ESO for a bit, or WoW and normally do so while still playing FF14. I've even taken breaks, where I've gone to another game for almost two years and came back to FF14. Most of the people I play with play multiple MMOs because, as I said, gone are the days of needing to sink every moment of your life into it and now you can play multiples without sacrificing any kind of progress in them for the most part. At least not progress that can't be made up easily enough.

As for the topic. I've been playing since ARR and I honestly have no issues with how the game is going. There are some things I would change yes, like making V&C Dungeons more worthwhile to keep them active and adding diminishing returns to CC abilities in PvP (Please please please give us diminishing returns. Being kept perma stunned for minutes while you are run over by a wave of players is not fun). But I am enjoying the story and the direction it is going in, and I am glad we have no exploratory zone. That stuff can stay gone as far as I am concerned, though I would welcome back some of the ARR things for Relics like having specific fights for it, or having to do certain things along with grinding out currency. Just no more Eureka or Bozja. Please. No more.

[Themarvin]

Tell us you dont play other MMO's without telling us you dont play other MMO's, there is no "crawling back" after people go over to other MMO's, people stay there, in the absolute best case scenario they play both, that's what happened with the massive wow exodus, they all tried FFXIV and made the population explode, then they crawled back to WoW, if you think people crawl back to FFXIV after trying other MMO's, you are delusional, not everyone wants free handout relics and an absolute bare expansion with barely any content to do at all

Played other MMO's they all got flaws... the op whines too much.

[AwesomeJr44]

the op whines too much.

Ironically, the people whining about the whiners whine more than the whiners.

Now, here we are in an expansion where I have to tolerate people who deliberately mislead others and misrepresent me when they, doubtless, would have little to no issue if the changes I long for came to pass with official sanction.

Some of the people here definitely fit into this category. If Yoshi P put his stamp of approval on your 6.x patch rewrite (for example), it would be praised as a masterclass in writing for no other reason than Yoshi endorsing it. Some may scoff at that idea, but we all know they would.

[Velvet_Lunarfang]

If they want to restore confidence first of all make our jobs more exciting and unique again not brain dead with no identity. Give better rewards for criterion dungeons/end game content. Better gear progression. Better end game content, looking at you Island Sanctuary.

[Kacho_Nacho]

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.

You know, I usually write you off as someone who enjoys stirring up drama for drama's sake; but, I find myself in totally agreement with you on this post. FFXIV needs a fresh start, as big a reboot as ARR was for 1.0 players.

For as big as the promise was, EW feels like too many things were rushed to completion. While other parts feel like they were tacked on at the last moment and don't get me started on the misdirection Square Enix pulled where we defeated the Big Bad™ (who was built up over FOUR expansions)ridiculously easy early in EW only to have some preadolescent bird girl who's really a construct revealed as the real Threat To All Existence™.

We need new lands with new people and NO MORE SCIONS or STUDENTS OF BALDESION. We need reasons to get out in the world instead of hanging out in the capital cities at the aetherytes.

[VelKallor]

Aveyond has a long history of sweeping claims and grandiose statements on what everyone wants, going back to his ridiculous claim that "Overwhelming player feedback is they want Yshtola gone" and "The Scions have reached their use by date and we want a new cast" are just two.

"We?" Who is we?

Him, maybe, but IMO I am not a hypocrite when i state categorically that what he wants is not what others want and yeah, damned right, no one speaks for me.

I never asked him or anyone else to either...Ill give you a parallel, when my late wife was in hospital, a nurse who had known her a few days, had the nerve, the gall, the absolute CHUTZPAH to tell me, her husband of twenty years that she knew my wife better than I DID??

With respect, Towa, you want to know what I think? Ask me. If you dont then neither you or anyone else speaks for me. Ever.

How is that "hypocritical"??

We are all free to state our own opinions and wants, absolutely, but no one, and I mean no one here, has the right to claim to speak for others. This forum is a tiny microcosm and to an extent an echo chamber..again, what we see here does NOT reflect the wants, needs or preferences of the vast majority who play and who DO NOT post here.

So, unless by some magic or other device he or others are able to discern the opinion / mindset / wishes of every player on every single server worldwide?

No.

[Stormpeaks]

Aveyond has a long history of sweeping claims and grandiose statements on what everyone wants, going back to his ridiculous claim that "Overwhelming player feedback is they want Yshtola gone" and "The Scions have reached their use by date and we want a new cast" are just two.

"We?" Who is we?

Him, maybe, but IMO I am not a hypocrite when i state categorically that what he wants is not what others want and yeah, damned right, no one speaks for me.

I never asked him or anyone else to either...Ill give you a parallel, when my late wife was in hospital, a nurse who had known her a few days, had the nerve, the gall, the absolute CHUTZPAH to tell me, her husband of twenty years that she knew my wife better than I DID??

With respect, Towa, you want to know what I think? Ask me. If you dont then neither you or anyone else speaks for me. Ever.

How is that "hypocritical"??

We are all free to state our own opinions and wants, absolutely, but no one, and I mean no one here, has the right to claim to speak for others. This forum is a tiny microcosm and to an extent an echo chamber..again, what we see here does NOT reflect the wants, needs or preferences of the vast majority who play and who DO NOT post here.

So, unless by some magic or other device he or others are able to discern the opinion / mindset / wishes of every player on every single server worldwide?

No.

blah blah blah blah blah blah game is perfect, people complaining bad blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

[AwesomeJr44]

blah blah blah blah blah blah game is perfect, people complaining bad blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

"blah blah blah blah blah blah the game is perfect it has endless content but i dont do any of the content, blah blah blah blah blah blah"

This is the perfect summary of the average Vel post. I love it!

(The only thing you forgot is to make every other word in either CAPITALS, bold, or italics like this to catch that OG Vel rant feel)

[TowaIsBestGirl]

Aveyond has a long history of sweeping claims and grandiose statements on what everyone wants, going back to his ridiculous claim that "Overwhelming player feedback is they want Yshtola gone" and "The Scions have reached their use by date and we want a new cast" are just two.

"We?" Who is we?

Him, maybe, but IMO I am not a hypocrite when i state categorically that what he wants is not what others want and yeah, damned right, no one speaks for me.

I never asked him or anyone else to either...Ill give you a parallel, when my late wife was in hospital, a nurse who had known her a few days, had the nerve, the gall, the absolute CHUTZPAH to tell me, her husband of twenty years that she knew my wife better than I DID??

With respect, Towa, you want to know what I think? Ask me. If you dont then neither you or anyone else speaks for me. Ever.

How is that "hypocritical"??

We are all free to state our own opinions and wants, absolutely, but no one, and I mean no one here, has the right to claim to speak for others. This forum is a tiny microcosm and to an extent an echo chamber..again, what we see here does NOT reflect the wants, needs or preferences of the vast majority who play and who DO NOT post here.

So, unless by some magic or other device he or others are able to discern the opinion / mindset / wishes of every player on every single server worldwide?

No.

Yes, but what entitles you to demand everyone consult you every time they state their case? You're literally not seeing it, what you do. I've not seen a single poster claim to speak for you nor others, at least not in those words. They only ever seek to put forth their stance on any number of given matters, and the manner in which you word your seemingly every post doesn't do your image nor your credibility any major favors. To be frank, in comparison most of the more contentious posters around here seem far more approachable. You are highly combative, and if you truly wish to be consulted it would do you well to tailor your speech accordingly. If they've made use of unreasonably aggressive language, I haven't seen it so you'll have to excuse me for the time being at least. In conclusion?

[Saraide]

I've not seen a single poster claim to speak for you nor others, at least not in those words.

Aveyond once told us that society at large is sick of yshtola. Funniest stuff he ever posted.