Hey all! I'm not certain where else to put this, but I've been thinking about the in-game social aspects of FFXIV for a long while now with Free Companies, and their relation to Party Finder/Cross World Linkshells. NA Fanfest really brought the topic to the forefront for me when seeing all of the major updates coming to the game.
I'm a long-time HW player who's been playing nearly every aspect of content the game has to offer outside of the Gold Saucer, fishing log, and competitive PvP. I love the endgame battle content FFXIV has to offer, between ultimate, early savage progression, extreme trials, and field operations. The game is just fun all around.
I feel like a constant pain point I've noticed has really been the in-game social systems that are put in place. Free Companies for a long while have been difficult to utilize due to the limitations of only being able to invite those within your Server, and now, with same-region player matching, that's going to be even further exacerbated by players in different regions meeting one another. Similar to linkshells, cross-world linkshells have largely replaced FC's and linkshells because it's easier to connect with friends through the CWLS.
I hope with Evercold, FC's get updated or absorbed into a CWLS-like system to allow players from different servers to be together in the same FC and be in multiple FC's. I also hope that there are further incentives for FC's to play together and tackle content with in-game events rather than through player-driven events, similar to that of Khloe's Wondrous Tails or Mogpendiums. I understand that the systems with FC's now providing grade 3 buffs are a big reason to join an FC, but I personally feel that doesn't truly incentivize players to play together.
Some examples I can think of at the moment:
Weekly FC project together for a 2-week crafting buff
Complete an overworld event with 3 FC members
Any of the Mogpendium quests (ocean fishing, fates, normal raid tier) for a reward system.
Participate in 5 Frontline events for a 2-week battle pass buff
Complete a Field Operation with another FC
I understand these "quests" can absolutely be managed outside of FFXIV, but it really feels like the "guild" aspect of the game is just nonexistent. I'm looking forward to all of the changes Evercold has to offer. I love that Party Finder is allowing players to find more content to play with one another. I just hope FFXIV can also reevaluate FC's and what they can offer.
If anyone's reading this, thanks for taking the time to read, and I hope you share a similar sentiment.
Continue reading...
I'm a long-time HW player who's been playing nearly every aspect of content the game has to offer outside of the Gold Saucer, fishing log, and competitive PvP. I love the endgame battle content FFXIV has to offer, between ultimate, early savage progression, extreme trials, and field operations. The game is just fun all around.
I feel like a constant pain point I've noticed has really been the in-game social systems that are put in place. Free Companies for a long while have been difficult to utilize due to the limitations of only being able to invite those within your Server, and now, with same-region player matching, that's going to be even further exacerbated by players in different regions meeting one another. Similar to linkshells, cross-world linkshells have largely replaced FC's and linkshells because it's easier to connect with friends through the CWLS.
I hope with Evercold, FC's get updated or absorbed into a CWLS-like system to allow players from different servers to be together in the same FC and be in multiple FC's. I also hope that there are further incentives for FC's to play together and tackle content with in-game events rather than through player-driven events, similar to that of Khloe's Wondrous Tails or Mogpendiums. I understand that the systems with FC's now providing grade 3 buffs are a big reason to join an FC, but I personally feel that doesn't truly incentivize players to play together.
Some examples I can think of at the moment:
Weekly FC project together for a 2-week crafting buff
Complete an overworld event with 3 FC members
Any of the Mogpendium quests (ocean fishing, fates, normal raid tier) for a reward system.
Participate in 5 Frontline events for a 2-week battle pass buff
Complete a Field Operation with another FC
I understand these "quests" can absolutely be managed outside of FFXIV, but it really feels like the "guild" aspect of the game is just nonexistent. I'm looking forward to all of the changes Evercold has to offer. I love that Party Finder is allowing players to find more content to play with one another. I just hope FFXIV can also reevaluate FC's and what they can offer.
If anyone's reading this, thanks for taking the time to read, and I hope you share a similar sentiment.
Continue reading...