Cut Content of FFXIV

[Ritsugamesh]

Two pieces of 1.0 content that I greatly enjoyed were Hamlet Defense and Skirmishes.

Hamlet Defense - https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Hamlet_Defense - essentially provided semi-perennial crafting/gathering/battle content in a on/off mode. 50 hours of prep where all classes could contribute to prepare for battle, and then the 25 hour defense itself where, again, all classes could contribute in fighting off the beast tribes. Very fun and social content where everyone could play how they wanted and still be valuable. Good times chasing high scores on that.

Skirmishes - https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Skirmish - were instanced island dungeons of sorts for Grand Companies to do as a group, where parties would face a randomised boss gauntlet and could be rewarded with unique weapons and armour for their efforts. Again, fun and unique.

Not sure where we lost that kind of creativity, especially surrounding the Grand Companies. They're an absolute shell of content, with both the whole GC thing legit not improved in 10 years, and Squadrons being a long lost relic of what is now duty support I suppose.

EDIT: Another fun tidbit from 1.0 days - Speedrunning raids actually provided additional loot drops and was incentivised by the devs. Darklight gear (yes the garbage tome gear from 2.0) was like top-tier gear in 1.0 and could only be gained from that. Raids were full on trash/boss/trash/boss type affairs and you could freely change classes in between pulls, making for some really crazy strats with solo heals, off-tanks, multiple black mage burns, and all sorts within a single run. Wild west.