Offline Mode

[Shistar]

It's kinda ironic to call this an MMO when you have main quests that must be finished and grouping with others doesn't matter since duties are solo only. The majority of this game you will be playing like a single player.

The only instance in which you are forced to play alone are solo duties, which are pretty few and far between. The rest you can do alongside a friend or multiple friends just fine. Unless you're talking about the MSQ not accounting for the possibility of you having up 8 other WoLs in your party and acknowledging them accordingly?
That sounds like a nightmare for the writers and the devs both... but it'd be amazing if the game was somewhat aware of your companions. Even something like NPCs acknowledging them like "your companion(s)" depending on how many party members are with you or allowing them to stand in the background of your cutscenes would be wonderful!

Interaction in this game has fallen so much to the point that dungeons / trials come down to:
- "Hello x5" and then silence for eternity [...]

That's not necessarily the game's fault, as nothing is preventing players from expressing themselves. Be the change you want to see and try to make conversation, you'll be surprised by the amount of people who are willing to have a good chat and joke around.

There's also the topic of the strict code of conduct. Many are afraid of being reported for something they didn't consider even remotely offensive, but because they offended another player they may be taken to the Gaol and get a strike on their account. Those strikes are permanent, and get enough of them and you'll be banned. No one wants that.

Big cities are mostly afk-ing your character in certain emotes so others can look at you or your shiny weapon. Do you know how many people I met here felt super lonely and without anyone to share their stories or play the game? A lot.. like every 2nd / 3rd player will come and say how they cannot find anyone to play with or find any nice interaction. Then they decide to create their own FC and live a loner life [...] This is also player's fault for creating this environment alone, not just game's design.

I agree the game's design is fairly poor when it comes to helping you find your communities. Most of them have to rely on Discord to even find like-minded people across DCs and regions, and the best FC finder we've got is in the Lodestone, not the game itself, which I find pretty dumb.

On the other hand, I feel like people have become too comfortable in their safe zone - either after experiencing some of the unhinged, problematic people this game unfortunately provides a platform for, or simply because they expect their ideal FC to somehow pop into existence and whisk them away - and people rarely get out there themselves.
The harsh truth is that if you want something, you either gotta put your name out there and try to attract a like-minded group of people until you find the right fit, or be the one who starts a group of these people by recruiting those who are out there. Either is not easy, of course, but I'd be surprised if anyone found any friends by AFKing in absolute silence in Limsa.

I don't blame people for being introverted or having trouble being the one who initiates, as I am very introverted myself too, but let's be real. You gotta meet people halfway too.


Re: Trusts
I think they're very nice for two reasons: Allowing players out of the prime time to get basic content done despite a lesser amount of players being online + lore and immersion. Scions and companion NPCs make comments about their environment as you go through the dungeon which is nice to fully immerse yourself when you run something for the first time! I always use them for my first run of MSQ dungeons and any trial that will allow for that reason only, as I thankfully don't have any anxiety or struggle that prevents me from playing with others.
I think the players who use it to prevent feeling anxious about others is simply an added bonus, not the main point.

[Grimforth]

It's kinda ironic to call this an MMO when you have main quests that must be finished and grouping with others doesn't matter since duties are solo only.

Duties only became solo only with trusts in SHB and Duty support in EW.

The main reason why we have trusts and Duty support is there are so many players that apparently have social anxiety (then why play an mmo?) and don't like playing with others and would rather play with NPC's.

It's honestly rather dumb that anyone want to take a popular MMO and then turn it single player because you have problems interacting with others, or you have bad internet. Or both.

[ShadowyZero]

The main reason why we have trusts and Duty support is there are so many players that apparently have social anxiety (then why play an mmo?) and don't like playing with others and would rather play with NPC's.

It's honestly rather dumb that anyone want to take a popular MMO and then turn it single player because you have problems interacting with others, or you have bad internet. Or both.

i dont think thats the case as to why they made duty support/trusts. there were people who complained that their duty ques for old irrelevant content was taking way too long and even with party finder it took just as long cause no one will join in a timely manner if they don't stand to benefit from it in some way, things are not so black and white my friend, and sure you could make the case that some do have anxiety but that is mostly seen with tanks and healers cause their jobs demand more focus and attention while engaged in combat compared to the dps who just button/key mash their rotations until things drop dead etc.
and in any event i don't think you should belittle others for having personal struggles.. thats pretty toxic and mean spirited behavior to have and is punishable if reported.

[NaoSen]

OP I'm not attacking you when I say this as FFXIV has gotten to a point where the majority of the game the other people you see may as well be NPC's.

If a person does not want to interact with other people yet play a MMORPG and complain about social aspects, then they are part of the problem that has damaged this game, this entire genre.
Developer resources wasted on Trusts, Squadrons, entire features (Island Sanctuary) just because people do not want to interact with others in a genre where the whole point of it was interacting with other people.
A TOS that's restrictive to ridiculous levels, where you cannot even talk to a person like you would a friend in real life because a simple thing in even a polite way can get you a ban.

RIP MMORPG's

[Grimforth]

OP I'm not attacking you when I say this as FFXIV has gotten to a point where the majority of the game the other people you see may as well be NPC's.

If a person does not want to interact with other people yet play a MMORPG and complain about social aspects, then they are part of the problem that has damaged this game, this entire genre.
Developer resources wasted on Trusts, Squadrons, entire features (Island Sanctuary) just because people do not want to interact with others in a genre where the whole point of it was interacting with other people.
A TOS that's restrictive to ridiculous levels, where you cannot even talk to a person like you would a friend in real life because a simple thing in even a polite way can get you a ban.

RIP MMORPG's

Me: Hey nice glamour looks badass!

Them: Did you just compliment my glamour? I'm reporting you!

[Elephantality]

I think duty supports are amazing, actually. It's how I could practice tanking and healing and be able to try it confidently with others. However, I agree that it would be difficult to make this game offline when it wasn't designed to be. It is a MMO. I'm happy that they are continuing to make more duty supports. Clearly people don't care for tools to help beginners improve on their own skills.

[VeyaAkemi]

I don't think it's particularly hard to not trip code of conduct, be positive, avoid swearing, and don't make jokes at the expense of any particular group or person, I never had issue being social in my years playing, and people talking how they are so, so afraid of being reported always feels like a bit of a self-report, what are you saying so regularly that could trip ToS...? Cuz I can guarantee that other than some casual swearing, which I can hold back if I focus on it a little, absolutely nothing of how I talk normally is reportable.

[Shistar]

I don't think it's particularly hard to not trip code of conduct, be positive, avoid swearing, and don't make jokes at the expense of any particular group or person, I never had issue being social in my years playing, and people talking how they are so, so afraid of being reported always feels like a bit of a self-report, what are you saying so regularly that could trip ToS...? Cuz I can guarantee that other than some casual swearing, which I can hold back if I focus on it a little, absolutely nothing of how I talk normally is reportable.

You'd be surprised...
I've never had trouble with the code of conduct either, it all makes sense to me. But the game is big enough to have a healthy amount of rude people who don't care or realize they're rude and a healthy amount of people who get offended at the drop of a hat.
Most people in the middle of that spectrum have decided it is best to keep their mouths shut.

[VeyaAkemi]

You'd be surprised...
I've never had trouble with the code of conduct either, it all makes sense to me. But the game is big enough to have a healthy amount of rude people who don't care or realize they're rude and a healthy amount of people who get offended at the drop of a hat.
Most people in the middle of that spectrum have decided it is best to keep their mouths shut.

See, that's the thing though, I know some people can be overly sensitive and will report at the drop of a hat, I also know that if I don't do or say anything reportable, they can make as many unwarranted reports as they want, and I will be safe, so I feel I never have anything to fear, it's actually that simple to me, it's not like a GM will start handing out strikes taking the report at pure face value and without further investigation, after all.

[Myotis]

I spent about 3-4h each day for like 4 days just seeking people to finish a duty to unlock an ultimate at this point an duty support system would be great.

I don't want to pay a sub to just stand half afk waiting for people to move on ...