Homecoming - A look at changes in Eorzea

Hello all! I hope that this post finds you doing well. I have to admit, and anyone that reads my regular blog knows that I had taken kind of a hiatus from Final Fantasy XIV. From the looks of it, I really don't think I was the only one however. It appears that I was last to post, and that my last post here was in February.

I've logged in here and there, participated in a few of the events (because I'm a sucker for such things) but that had been really the extent as things had always seemed come up to distract me. In honesty, I had actually got real involved on a Minecraft server all the while waiting for Final Fantasy XIV to recapture my immediate attention. Hoping that at some point it would whisper sweetly to me, asking me to come home. Not to say I ever stopped following FFXIV, or loving the idea of it, but I did have quite some time there with online inactivity I have to admit. With functions like the Lodestone History page, its hard to deny things like that.. lol :P

In December of last year When they had announced the management shift of Tanaka to Yoshida, I had been really worried. I'm really happy to report as to having had my worries put at ease. The nice thing with what is happening now, is that I feel confident. Even if they do add features that seem scary, or that doesn't end up working as one would have hoped, that this team will listen and work towards a real fix. Even better, they are willing to simply go in a different direction if needed, all the while considering and actually keeping the players in mind. This is evidenced with their most recent set of announcements. I really believe they want us to enjoy our time in Eorzea.

When 1.9 was released and they finally added chocobos and airships, I heard a soft whisper, I had to login and check it out. I started playing off and on again. Enjoying some of the newer implemented quests, and actually smiling about my time in Eorzea once more. I had started by checking out all the hub-bub about the Grand Companies of Eorzea, which I've come to enjoy and can't wait for it to be expanded upon. It was really nice to have more story bits to devour.

There was this point in doing the "Breaking the Seals" quest in Gridania that something changed for me. The music started and I stood there facing this familiar and just feeling the moment. At that moment, the feel of the game took on a new quality to me. It felt different for some reason. Its not that that particular quest is an over the top outstanding quest necessarily, but there was something intriguing there. Something unique and new that I felt in that moment. A sudden instant when things felt more fun than I had experienced in quite awhile.

I remember thinking that if they could build upon what they had there, expand on that glimmer that I saw, that I'd be sold once more. Looking back, things have improved pretty dramatically since the first time I logged in as a Beta tester. They've even pretty vastly improved upon when they hurriedly released this game. Its taken time but FFXIV starting to show real promise and the excitement for me is filtering back in.

Last week they announced that sometime near the end of November - early December, that subscription charges were going to be re-instated. My first reaction was a little dismayed.

To be honest I don't think anyone was excited at the prospect. I mean who in reality wants to pay... for anything.. lol. That said, I'm really ok with it though. I understand that realistically its probably time. Really its not like we didn't know it was coming. My initial reaction had more to do with the fact that I had to reconfigure my monthly budget to accommodate my renewed desire to play. .

The dismayed feeling quickly dissipated however as I read through their "Roadmap" PDF's talking about the metamorphosis that is to occur between now and when FFXIV 2.0 is to be releases.

Seeing concept art for my anticipated Whitemage AF (not sure what they will call it, but humor me with the term for the time being), as well as that for the Bard's AF which lead to an instant desire to see my little lalafell sing. ^^

There in those PDF's they outlined beautiful, thought out plans and ideas for renovating and resolving current issues. Plans to make Eorzea even more beautiful an unique. I will gladly trade seamless zoning for more interesting landscapes and new nooks and crannies to explore. Additions of an auto gear change system (mannequin system) that no longer takes up inventory space. I'm loving what I'm hearing.. A content finder which if implemented correctly, could serve to encourage community rather than break it. (It doesn't have to be a copy and paste of WoW's system that people are complaining about.) Besides, I think it would actually be cool to meet and play with people from other servers occasionally. ^^

This idea of participating in what will be back story lore is also pretty intriguing. Content played during these next year won't be available later. Likely this was an idea thought up to make it seem less painful to players paying a subscription fee, but really I think its kind of brilliant. (We've always known that it is a pay to play game, it shouldn't be reacted to as if its a surprise or unprecedented, we've been playing on borrowed time all along, finished or not. It had been released.)

All in all I feel pretty comfortable with the direction and the hands that are guiding this development. I'm even feeling ok with subscriptions being instituted. I have no problem giving support for them to make this be the game we've always knew it could be.