Write your Positive Experience on FFXIV

[-Lilia-]

Hi! I’ve been scrolling through General Discussion and noticed things have been feeling a little heavy lately. There are many changes, wants, and concerns being shared — which is completely understandable. I thought it might be nice to open a small space for something lighter and more appreciative.

We’re fortunate to have a game like FFXIV, and a community where people can meet, express themselves, and share experiences. It isn’t perfect — and that’s okay — there’s still a lot here that feels genuinely special.

So I wanted to share a simple questionnaire below.
Feel free to answer as many or as few as you like — even just one.
You’re also welcome to simply read and reflect.

1) When did you start playing FFXIV?

2) What keeps you playing?

3) What do you enjoy most about the game?

4) A favorite memory or moment?

5) What makes FFXIV feel different from other MMOs for you?

6) What would you say to someone thinking about trying FFXIV?

7) Favorite emote?

8) Favorite job to relax on?

9) Preferred server or data center?

10) A glam style you always return to?

11) A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?

12) Any closing thought or appreciation you’d like to share?

13) Write a question for the player who replies after you.

[-Lilia-]

1) When Did you Start?: 2010 (I was 16 Years Old playing FFXIV 1.0!)

2) What keeps you playing FFXIV?: I actually rejoined this week. I left in 2018. And it's actually the community, the art, the nostalgia of all Final Fantasy games that keeps me playing! I've met a lot of beautiful people on FFXIV. And I hope to continue to meet more! The family feel with my friends is the best feeling. I cherish being able to connect with them.

3) What do you enjoy most about the game?: The Glams are the best! I love being in a group. The Raids, the story! (although sometimes I do wish there were voice actors all the way through heh). I love the community the most.

4) Favorite memory or moment?: When I played from 2010-2018

5) What makes FFXIV different from other MMOs for you?: I would say I preferred FFXI Online. However FFXIV does give this unique feel. You can play as any job/class you want to whilst still keeping the same character. You can fight as anything! The races are beautiful choices.

6) What would you say to someone thinking of trying FFXIV?: Be prepared for a lot of reading and a lot of patience if you're into the Story. Play for fun!

7) Favorite emote?: /iceheart

8) Favorite job to relax on?: RDM and WHM

9) Preferred server or data center?: I'm uncertain since I just got back. But Leviathan always held a special place in my heart.

10) Glam style you always come back to?: Witches Coatee, Bunny heels, Nails, Bow, Stockings. I can't remember the name of the Glams! But I love Metallics. "Aura Heart" on Ultros is my character if you ever want to see my Glam! My name used to be Nina Rose on Leviathan if anyone knows me.

11) A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?: All Raids featuring other FF games.

12) Closing thought: FFXIV brought many beautiful memories to me. I think it's very important to remember gratitude. We're very fortunate to have this! I lived during a time before Online Games was a thing. And so, this is gorgeous!

+Discord (optional): ellanaura

[Voidmage]

That's actually a nice thread for a change.

1) When Did you Start?:
HW, I think 3.3 with another character back then, took a break and then continued later with my main now.

2) What keeps you playing FFXIV?:
For all my grievances regarding things like the jobs, I still like the game, it's world and how it feels.
I am no fan of the FF-series and always found it completely overhyped but this one here has a world I truly like.

3) What do you enjoy most about the game?:
The lore and story.
I have the encyclopedias at home and had a dnd round with others.
That's why I was so disappointed in base DT or how the EW raid endmystified the twelve.

4) Favorite memory or moment?:
Favorite moment for me was the walk to Niddhogg back in HW.
Just below it is actually someone teaching me limit breaks way back when I started in an ARR dungeon. That moment makes me help other sprouts even today in return.

5) What makes FFXIV different from other MMOs for you?:
The story is a huge part and how much my character matters in this game.
Other than that I actually always liked the "slower pace" of the classes and how that gave me time to think.

6) What would you say to someone thinking of trying FFXIV?:
Trying out is always worth it and just take it slow.
Don't rush to the endgame (unless you only want to raid with your friends) and enjoy the ride.

7) Favorite emote?:
/doze

8) Favorite job to relax on?:
BLM

9) Preferred server or data center?:
Light Data center

10) Glam style you always come back to?:
A black Bandana. The rest changes every so often.

11) A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?:
I do like the "Dead Ends" from EW from the setting, story and boss designs.

12) Closing thought:
I do honestly think that the devs have understood that they have been to complacent on the hype wave and are slowly getting on the correct track again for the most part.

[TeresaFortell]

1) When Did you Start?:
During the start of SHB, 2019.

2) What keeps you playing FFXIV?:
It is a chill game filled with many different activities, so I play it on and off.

3) What do you enjoy most about the game?:
Crafting. I enjoy this game's crafting system.

4) Favorite memory or moment?:
Clearing my first raid with my party, and subsequently getting a 90s roll on a mount.

5) What makes FFXIV different from other MMOs for you?:
I think the significant difference is that it is a jack-of-all-trades. When you compare it to other MMOs, they cater to a specific kind of player; however, this game offers content that can moderately satisfy everyone.

6) What would you say to someone thinking of trying FFXIV?:
Try crafting, then you will get into gathering, and so on.

7) Favorite emote?:
/beesknees

8) Favorite job to relax on?:
Warrior

9) Preferred server or data center?:
Used to play on crystal before moving to aether, but I would prefer crystal.

10) Glam style you always come back to?:
From the pandamonium tiers

11) A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?:
P10S

12) Closing thought:
I think the game could be better, certainly it is currently in a pretty tough spot. However, we are seeing major improvements throughout recent patches, so it certainly has the potential of being better.

[boigerking]

This is such a cute and nice idea! I think more folks should reflect on what or why they like this game!

When Did you Start?:
Made a free trial character sometime in 4.55 but didn't really start playing till 5.0!

What keeps you playing FFXIV?:
Achievement hunting mostly. I like seeing big number go up. I spend a lot of time solo but I do have friends that I occasionally run content or even just hang out with in game.

What do you enjoy most about the game?:
Even though I haven't been the story's biggest fan since 6.1, I think one of my favorite parts is that there even is one to begin with.
I also love how there's so much you can do, entire year's worth of content for any one person to try.
While my main character has atleast 7k hours on them, I still have thousands of hours left of content to do.

What makes FFXIV different from other MMOs for you?:
Once again, story. I've always been a story guy and being able to interact with it in the way that XIV allows is really fun for me.
Being someone who creates characters, i've loved getting to know my WoL and seeing them through their journey.

What would you say to someone thinking of trying FFXIV?:
Don't be afraid to slow down! It's worth taking your time to enjoy the journey towards the end than to speed towards it.
I've met so many people who have a much healthier relationship with the game when they take their time.

Favorite emote?:
/vreveal

Favorite job to relax on?:
Reaper!

A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?:
Keeper of the Lake

Closing thought:
While the game is going through a tough spot, I still very much so enjoy my time in this game and the friends i've made through it.
I want it to be better, I want people to also enjoy their time in the game, and I have hope for it going forward.

[Kaurhz]

1) When Did you Start?: 2014... I was browsing YouTube and randomly stumbled across some theme music from the game, instantly wanted to try it.

2) What keeps you playing FFXIV?: At this point in time I think friends are what keeps me playing actively

3) What do you enjoy most about the game?: At this point in time I am inclined to say the art style.

4) Favorite memory or moment?: When I played from 2014-2018. After this point in time, the game started to lose a lot of its personality and what kept me hooked.

5) What makes FFXIV different from other MMOs for you?: This is difficult for me to say as my only other point of reference is Runescape, and I think the only thing I can say is this game is more of a treadmill

6) What would you say to someone thinking of trying FFXIV?: Honestly.. Probably not the answer people are looking for, but... Don't.. Invest your time, passion and energy into something else.

7) Favorite emote?: /songbird

8) Favorite job to relax on?: DRK

9) Preferred server or data center?: I'm currently on Sagittarius, but I would say Omega or Cerberus.

10) Glam style you always come back to?: Chiton's or Ponchos.

11) A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?: I will say a few... T7, T9, T13, Nidhogg, and Lakshmi.

12) Closing thought: I don't really enjoy the game these days, as it's effectively just a treadmill... I find myself enjoying older content, e.g., Eureka, than what I do find myself enjoying newer content. But I still do have a lot of fun with friends, regardless of the activity I am doing.

[hydralus]

I don't care who the IRS sends I'm not paying taxes.

[Minarisweet]

Hi! I’ve been scrolling through General Discussion and noticed it’s been feeling a little heavy lately. There are a lot of changes, wants, and concerns being discussed. Which is understandable! but I thought it might be nice to create a space for something lighter and more appreciative.

We’re really fortunate to have a game like FFXIV and a community where we can meet and share experiences like this. It’s not perfect, but there’s a lot here that’s genuinely special.

So I thought I’d share a small questionnaire below. Feel free to post your answers, or simply reflect on them for yourself

1) When Did you Start?:

2) What keeps you playing FFXIV?:

3) What do you enjoy most about the game?:

4) Favorite memory or moment?:

5) What makes FFXIV different from other MMOs for you?:

6) What would you say to someone thinking of trying FFXIV?:

7) Favorite emote?: /iceheart

8) Favorite job to relax on?:

9) Preferred server or data center?:

10) Glam style you always come back to?:

11) A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?:

12) Closing thought:

+Discord (optional):

If you dont want criticisms and only want feel good content reddit is right there.

[Aidorouge]

1) When Did you Start?:
December 6th of 2022, which I think was mid/late-Endwalker.

2) What keeps you playing FFXIV?:
Partially sunk-cost fallacy, but partially the hope that if the game's playerbase drops low enough, SE will bring over Final Fantasy 11's Trust system in full so I can play any part of the game without hoping the stars will align so I can play with other people that aren't going to mock/kick me for not knowing how to clear something perfectly on the first try.

3) What do you enjoy most about the game?:
Probably the Final Fantasy aesthetic/references as a whole. I've been playing the series since Final Fantasy 4 (back when it was still called Final Fantasy 2 on SNES), and it remains my most favorite franchise despite not loving all of its entries.

4) Favorite memory or moment?:
Hmm... probably that time me and three other people ended up talking about various things at the end of Sunken Temple of Qarn (Normal) until the timer ran out. It was the first (and sadly, only) time it felt like I was actually playing an MMO and not just a roulette grind wheel.

5) What makes FFXIV different from other MMOs for you?:
That it felt more relaxed, and was about the journey instead of rushing to endgame to be a raid simulator. The social element failed to live up to what was advertised though.

6) What would you say to someone thinking of trying FFXIV?:
Roll anywhere but Dynamis, because having an ACTUAL population that PLAYS the game is crucial to making it feel alive and active. A bunch of housing alts AFKing in their estate will give you a very warped, and likely negative, view of the game and leave it feeling quiet and dead (as opposed to just being anti-social).

7) Favorite emote?:
Usually the ones I unlock from society quests. I make frequent use of Moogle Dance, Moonlift Dance, Yol Dance, and now the Lali Hop along with Gratuity and Charmed.

8) Favorite job to relax on?:
Machinist, because sometimes I just want to shoot things stone-cold dead when I'm in a rush and one Drill, Air Anchor or Chainsaw does the trick.

9) Preferred server or data center?:
I suppose I preferred Primal even before I moved here because I could get PVP to pop even in the late hours, or how its the only data center that sometimes cares about Rival Wings outside of mogtome events.

10) Glam style you always come back to?:
Bikini armor. The Light Steel set has been a core part of most of my glamour plates with only the gloves and boots changing from expansion to expansion. When they finally gave it double dyes so you could change the color of the actual metal parts, it blew the doors completely open on what it could be matched with.

11) A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?:
Can't say I really have any favorites... though any with NPCs I can't save (either due to story reasons or people rushing through and skipping them) or cooperate with to achieve something always stick out to me.

12) Closing thought:
It would be nice if Final Fantasy 14 felt more like an actual MMO, but in lieu of that given how conflicting and hostile the playerbase can be, I'm willing to settle for anything and everything that just lets me hang out with the NPCs all day. Trusts, dungeon/trial/raid objectives, relationship systems, and so on.

[Shurrikhan]

1) When Did you Start?: 1.x Beta

2) What keeps you playing FFXIV?: Not much anymore. I'll log on for new patches, maybe stick around for the month thereof.

3) What do you enjoy most about the game?: Weaving oGCDs, visual design (even if there's a fair bit about it I dislike, too).

4) Favorite memory or moment?: Running into a bunch of cool guys again and again via matchmaking just grinding Levi Extreme for light back in ARR, to where whoever was new would get taken under our wing. Ended up showing another Monk how to maintain GL through the fight.

5) What makes FFXIV different from other MMOs for you?: Same as #4 / the visual upsides of what's otherwise poorly leveraged gameplay.

6) What would you say to someone thinking of trying FFXIV?: Go for it if you think you can find a fun enough LS and are cool with things being pretty slow for a long while.

7) Favorite emote?: N/A

8) Favorite job to relax on?: BRD, maybe? Or DRK?

9) Preferred server or data center?: Aether

10) Glam style you always come back to?: Just something practical-looking, even if not quite as armored as it arguably should be.

11) A dungeon, trial, or raid you secretly love?: Pre-nerf Pharos Sirius, pre-nerf Mog Ex, 1st boss of Void Ark on melee, Byakko Ex when casually MM grinding it in that brief window that HEDF was actually used...

12) Closing thought: It's been a solid enough game but does seem to be running on rapidly fading momentum at this point even for those just popping on every so often (worse, I'd imagine, for those still doing their weekly caps and such). Could really use some encounter / content-type variety to in turn entice some kit variety.