Out of Curiosity - Why Doesn’t FFXIV Have a Risky PvP Wilderness Zone?

[GMAnan]

Hello Everyone,

I’ve been playing FFXIV for a while now, and I want to start by saying that I’m not really a fan of PvP in general. I’m here mostly for the PvE content—raids, dungeons, trials, and the incredible story. That’s what I love most about this game.

That said, something that’s always intrigued me is the complete absence of any high-risk PvP content—specifically, something like a dedicated open-world PvP wilderness zone, where players choose to enter and risk something for potentially big rewards.

I’m not talking about forced PvP or toxic ganking. I mean a voluntary area, separated from the rest of the game, where PvP is always enabled and entering means accepting risk. Think of something like RuneScape’s Wilderness or Albion Online’s red zones.

What I’m Wondering:
- Why hasn’t this type of content ever been tried in FFXIV?
- Would a risky, opt-in PvP zone really clash with the game’s philosophy?
- Couldn’t it peacefully coexist with the current PvE and instanced PvP structure?
- Is there enough interest among the player base to justify developing something like this?

Concept:
The "Wilderness" Zone: A remote, lore-justified area where PvP is always active. Rare crafting items, special relic materials, or high-value treasure maps could be found here.

Risk: If you die, you lose a portion of what you’ve gathered or a special PvP currency—but only what was acquired in the zone.

Reward: Unique cosmetics, titles, achievements, or crafting materials not obtainable elsewhere.

Rules: You enter knowing the risks. For example: there might be 1 vs. 1 areas and clan vs. clan areas.

Even as someone who doesn’t usually enjoy PvP, I think a system like this could offer optional thrill and variety for players who want something different—without impacting the broader community that’s here for story and raids.

What do you all think? Would this be fun, or would it go against what makes FFXIV special?

Thanks

[Alyko]

- Why hasn’t this type of content ever been tried in FFXIV?

The potential for ganking/griefing/other ToS violations was too great. Remember that Quick Chat came about because of the insults that were flying about during the Feast. And even then they had to make the Good Match quick chat only occur at the end of a match because people were using it to insult their teammates. Imagine the salt that would flow if, say, one group decided to make a FC dedicated to extorting other players that wanted to farm relic materials. The possibilities for trolling are endless.

- Would a risky, opt-in PvP zone really clash with the game’s philosophy?

Yes. PvP, lorewise, has always been about shows of strength in a controlled setting. The opt-in PvP zone you're describing is Borderland Ruins.

- Couldn’t it peacefully coexist with the current PvE and instanced PvP structure?

It would quickly become dead content - even worse, it would be dead content that could be easily gatekept by a small group of players and easily griefed.

- Is there enough interest among the player base to justify developing something like this?

Unlikely. There would be a huge burst of initial activity and then it would die down. There's not enough draw to return like, say, a daily roulette.

It doesn't matter if it's "opt-in" only. People opt-in to PvP duties all the time and it's still a mess.

[ThreeBeastSmile]

It won't happen. I mean don't get me wrong, it's something I secretly long to have in this game, as OW PvP is the only thing that's kinda... "novel" enough, I suppose, that one would consider enduring most MMOs' mediocre PvP systems, as most actually competitive games have understandably a much more closed and sterile environment. Sometimes it's nice to cut loose in something more random once in a while though. Guess there's also survival games, but I don't care for the survival loop (the base building specifically) of those games enough for them to be enjoyable. FFXIV's "closed" PvP settings are getting to be rather tedious nowadays.

But yeah it absolutely won't happen, never mind that it'll be populated by 1-2 jobs in particular under the current PvP system. Plus points that there's nothing that can perma stealth at this time. Still won't work out however.

Y'see, you'll have those that feel entitled to those rewards you propose, and they'll kick and scream about having to do PvP for them. Doing PvP would even be considered griefing, probably. We already see this enough in the existing modes. Without rewards though, the majority will give the content a hard pass. A combination of the game being what it is, and the players being what they are... seals this sort of suggestion's fate. Shame perhaps, but it is what it is.

[Mawlzy]

Y'see, you'll have those that feel entitled to those rewards you propose, and they'll kick and scream about having to do PvP for them. Doing PvP would even be considered griefing, probably. We already see this enough in the existing modes. Without rewards though, the majority will give the content a hard pass. A combination of the game being what it is, and the players being what they are... seals this sort of suggestion's fate. Shame perhaps, but it is what it is.

This is a really key point which likely falls under "why we can't have nice things."

We've had complaints on these boards from people who apparently "hate PvP" but for some reason are compelled to do it anyway so they can get a crappy coat.

Given how much of the world is basically devoid of content, there's clearly room for PvP zones, and I would love to see such an addition. Unfortunately I can't see it happening. And if it did, my guess is the brains on Discord would find a way of making it unpleasant and kill off the content.

[Atreus]

Zones with open PvP don't fit the design philosophy of the game by any stretch. I do, however, think consensual things such as dueling should be allowable in more places than just one square in the Wolves' Den Pier.

[GMAnan]

Let me refine the post a bit:

To prevent issues like Discord-organized gatekeeping or ganking groups, RuneScape (which I played for over a decade) handled it well by locking your opponent during a fight, no one else could interfere once combat began (on dedicated zones), there are places ofc where gatekeepers can target others deeply in the wilderness. After the fight, you could instantly teleport out using teleport tablets, and even during combat, offering a fair escape option.


It's not just risky PvP that’s missing in FFXIV, there's also a lack of more individual (or small teams), competitive options, like being able to duel anyone anywhere (perhaps away from crowded major Aetherytes), or have friendly 1v1s with optional stakes.

Again, I’m not a big PvP player myself, but I’d absolutely engage with these modes occasionally, or regularly if there were daily caps or rewards.

Let me know what do you think.

[DallsBeep]

Open world PVP is definitely more exciting to me. Contested zones with PVE content with PVP enabled, even better. Yes, people will coordinate and monopolize content, that's kind of the point of such a design. I don't deny the fact that playing a rogue character and sneaking up on someone and brutalizing them in PVP is very satisfying in other games I've played. I used to play SWG and before speeders were even added to that game I'd walk for literally over an hour to the enemy's base where they were doing missions just to gank them, knowing that if I died my fun would be over. You can't get that feeling by just insta-queuing to some instance for prearranged fights. It's poor mockery of what PVP should be and what MMO's can be. But yes, we can't have nice things because "respect my time I have 3 kids and have a cosplay convention to go to" and shit.

[mallleable]

An open world PVP zone would be great! Make the game mode CTF or something super casual like that.