This game used to have a fun playerbase. What happened?

[Aidorouge]

Can't say I ever got that sense of community given I started in 2022 and was on a low-pop server, so I always had to data center travel to do stuff with randoms I would very likely never see again. Even now being locked on Dynamis I'm just counting down the days until I can DC travel again because I'm not really interested in bonding with all these "new strangers" over here, lol.

I do question if this supposedly "peak" social experience ever existed though given that people have been using cliques and plugins to filter each other since... well, every MMO ever. I'm sure you even had your diehard "if you don't love 1.0, you don't belong here" fans back then too and think *everything* that came after "ruined it all". When you have this many people in one place, you're going to encounter all kinds of different folks, and just like in real life it's not always easy to find the ones you'll mesh with. There was probably never an all encompassing utopia in this game then, but rather some very enjoyable and memorable spheres to play within, but over time other spheres formed up and now perhaps it *is* harder to find the ones certain people would like to visit or even stay in. Harder, but not impossible, I would hope for those seeking some manner of community or even just camaraderie.

[TKOtheKDR]

Everyone is 14 years older than when 1.0 launched. We all have many more responsibilities, including families and careers. Putting up with the requirements of working to maintain an acceptable life and dealing with the general stupidity of humanity in is bound to curtail the overall joy experienced on a day to day basis.

[DrForester]

Game still has a fun playerbase.

Thing is, they're playing the game rather than flinging their fleeces around the forums.

[Turnintino]

Try focusing less on what you don't like and finding what you do. The community's bigger now than it was; snobbish raiders and Lominsan loiterers are just two drops in the bucket. The friends I've made since I started playing seriously only a couple years ago, and the folks in my FC, are very much like the community you described. It's not hard to find.

[HisuianMiqote]

most of my interactions in-game have been good, either you're deliberately seeking out rude people/communities or you're spending too much time on social media which is intentionally divisive, made to farm rage clicks, and sow petty discourse

[Wildheaven182]

Huh, FF fans really dont have a sense of humor beyond omg urianger talks fancy xDDDDDDDDDD