FFXiV »

After hearing about the many wonderful changes to Final Fantasy Online XIV, I couldn’t help but to reactivate my account. I can’t exactly remember when I cancelled my account but the fact that I didn’t want to play a game that was free speaks volumes. I, like many others, was severely disappointed with how FFXIV turned out. FFXIV predecessor, FFXI Online was one of the first MMOs that I ever played. To this day it still has a strong cult following. In my mind nothing will ever compare to FFXI gaming experience. So when the news hit that SE will be releasing a new Final Fantasy Online I was extremely happy.

I kept a watchful eye on the progress of the game and when it finally came out I snatched up a Collectors Edition version of it. I was excited to be able to reunite with old friends and acquaintances after so many years. I just wished that it was under better circumstances. FFXIV turned out to be a major… MAJOR disappointment. There are hundreds of reasons why I didn’t enjoy FFXIV when it first came out but today I just want to focus on one of them. The questing and grinding portion of the game. The biggest issue I have with FFXIV is the lack of a simple progressive linear questing/grinding system.

In the current version FFXIV 1.2 you are awarded 4 quest(leve) credits every 12 hours. Assuming you log in everyday you will be able to do 8 quest per day. After that you will either have to party up or mindlessly grind all day. I have no problem with grinding or partying but I would like to see a progressive questing system implemented. If you played any other MMO then you probably already know what I mean. If not then I’ll explain how a progressive questing system works.

A progressive questing system is when you go to an area and work your way through level appropriate content. As you progress through the content you gain levels and take on slightly more difficult content. For example, at level 10 you go to a level 10 questing town and accomplish all the content there. Ideally by the time you complete the level 10 content you should be level 16-20. You should then be able to move on to a level 20 town and complete the content there as well.

I feel that if FFXIV implemented a system like this it would help promote interaction with other players in the game. It would also utilize the hundreds of monsters and areas that most players bypass due to the current grinding system. I understand SE is pushing their leve questing system but it’s just not working. By adding area specific quests in they can create lore and back stories to each individual area.

Right now the current leve system is impractical and mind numbing. I can see it turning a lot of new players away from FFXIV. My solution would be to add area specific leve NPCs to each major Aetheryte crystal. The leve allowance should also be removed or adjusted to give more then 4 credits every 12 hours. They can even reduce the rewards for leve completion but 8 quest per day is kind of silly. There’s not enough content in the game as is and to restrict it even further doesn’t not make sense. Give us in game objectives to complete and watch your game prosper SE. I still believe in you and hope that FFXIV 2.0 will be the MMO power house I was waiting for.