Far be it from me to complain, but...

[gifthorse]

How exactly are Quest-hubs supposed to work in a game like FFXIV, other than as a cosmetic feature?

Usually, quests serve as both a form of content, but more importantly, also as a form of progression. In FFXIV, things are different because guildleves already serve as the fundamental form of progression in FFXIV, as well as grinding. So, it then begs the question, what do quest hubs actually add to the game world?

I figure I might as well ask.

Cosmetically, quest hubs give the illusion of something to do. But unless they form the foundation of the game, implementing them will be more effort than they are worth. A lot of development goes into a feature that doesn't necessarily bring much to the game, in terms of gameplay.

I hope SE has factored in an immediate use for quest hubs, as opposed to just throwing them into the game to bide us over until real gameplay comes along. An emphasis should be placed on gameplay, not on mindless questing drivel.

Perhaps if quest hubs were used to cushion new players and introduce them into the gameworld, and perhaps even break up the monotony of the zones, then they might be a welcome feature. But if their primary function is just to exist "because other games have quest hubs", then that's pretty shoddy design philosophy.

One of the reasons Yoshi discarded the idea of Player Companies and Player-owned Ships was because he saw no "function" for these features. Well, couldn't you say the same thing for quest-hubs?

I just think it's ironic that gameplay-changing features were thrown out because apparently they didn't have a "function" and yet other things have been added to the game, despite having even less of a "function".