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LF recommendation
ormstunga
Member Posts: 736
Hellu!
I'm looking to surprise my bro with a new MMO, while we wait for SWtor. We always said we'd be playing a fantasy MMO on the side when SWtor is finally out. I thought it would be WoW mostly because my bro looked like he couldnt let that one go. But lo and behold three months ago we both quit after 6 years!
So anyways, I've been checking out FF11 and FF14 for some time now and I'd like some opinions from ppl who've played both. Old (very old even) and tried solid game vs new game with rough launch to say the least =D
Can FF14 shape up? How far has it come? Which game has (more of) that special FF feel? Will we end up waiting for groups to no end if we roll FF11 now? Did it age well? Stuff like that. We have little interest in PvP atm if thats a factor.
Many thanks in advance 
Comments
Neither one of them stack up to WoW as far as keeping you busy with or without a group.
I am sure you have read all of the issues with FFXIV.
FFXI is still kindof the same. They have made an effort to make it easier to lvl to the max lvl, but still endless months of grinding in groups to reach that goal.
I LOVE MMOs, but I can not find one to replace WoW... I don't play WoW anymore (2 months without it) but RIFT doesnt come close, Champions doesnt do it for me, the FtP mmos dont cut it, so I am just going to wait for Diablo 3 or SW to come out.
I always felt the community in WoW was lacking compared to say SWG and WAR, at least in part due to game design ofc but thats already been covered in multiple threads. My brother liked it because of all the little things like collecting mounts and achievements, stuff like that.
Anyway this isnt about WoW, we played it. It was good and then turned ok. It wasnt our first game, and it wasnt "the best" MMO we've played.
ONTOPIC:
Interested in more views
If price isn't an issue, FFXIV is worth a try imo. I've been watching the patches since launch and they're consistent. Content isn't coming as fast as I would personally like, but I can wait, at least it's polishing up. I don't think it'll last you too long tbh, but I can recommend it enough if ur willing to give it a few days of gametime at the least, as long as u make it past the beginning.
I recommend Lineage 2 if you're open to other MMOs, look into it yourself for now.
ff11 is one of my all time favourites. but it's not in the same vein as warcraft and other more modern games. it's designed to be played in 6 person groups and you are mainly killing guys at a camp rather than doing quests. it's frustrating but good.
ff14 will eventually be very good but it's not there yet. it represents SqEnix trying to find the perfect balance between JPN and North American MMOs and, at first, failing.... but from what i hear it's getting better gradually. I have no doubt that SqE was very very humbled by its poor reception and will fix things -- i actually went to retry it but couldnt due to some sort of issue with not being able to log in (and the answers i got over the phone nnot working and me getting rawrfrustrated).
If you wanted to try an older game and maybe one with asian flare i'd try ff11 or perhaps L2 if you dont mind click-to-move.
If you want something in the asian style but more westernized i'd try f14 or aion.
RIP Ribbitribbitt you are missed, kid.
Currently Playing EVE, ESO
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.
Dwight D Eisenhower
My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.
Henry Rollins
Judging from how they manage ff11 and how they try to improve ff14
I would say it's safe to go ahead on ff14 as it will only get better and better.
Given time, i'm sure ff14 will dev into a decent product like ff11
Yes price is no issue, they are both available to me for 10$ each anyways :P
Without actually logging in I cant really tell how bad a state FF14 is really in atm. But I have checked forums on several places and they seem to be working on it at least. I have no doubt they wont just let it go, too much is at stake really (altho SE is already hurt ofc). FF11 seem to receive some luv still after this long, which makes me think even more that FF14 might eventually shape up like some guys said earlier.
Any ideas what endgame is like in FF14? Also, does it have your standard guild setup or something different? Are there dedicated euro servers? I'm quite familiar with youtube and the like lol
but cant seem to find any good vids of either game....
thx again!
Sorry in advance for the long post
I just started the game, and frankly I don't see why so many people hate it. Maybe I'd be singing a different tune if I started at launch, or if I were at max level. Please don't use the whole "SE even admits it sucks... free months... blah blah blah." By giving free time they aren't "admitting it sucks." They are taking it in new directions that may or may not be what people signed up for, and are justly giving some free time while they sort out the details.
I played FFXI, WoW, WAR, AoC, SWG, Aion, Rift, EQ1/2, and I liked them all. The only ones that kept me around were FFXI, WoW, SWG, and AoC for a while, but generally just because everyone I knew quit. I don't understand how people are so fickle with gaming.
FFXIV offers great storylines, unique interfacing, complex and research-worthy crafting, and as of yet I haven't run out of things to do. I have a "daily routine" that is quite fulfilling, I always have a goal to work for. It's great graphically (if your PC can handle it) but I'd strongly recommend downloading their benchmark to see how well you can run it. I scored a 4982, which is on the high side, maybe has something to do with why I enjoy the play experience. All the people complaining about interface, slow response, or lag/latency issues, frankly I have no idea what they are talking about.
People expecting WoW or a standardized, cookie-cutter MMO will not like it. If you want some variety from the norm, goals you need to reseacrh and work for, and great PvE storylines you'll like it. If you like FFXI you'll like it.
So many threads about "WoW clones." Everyone complains about them, yet they are the only games with decent sales records. Then, games come out that don't fit this mold and everyone whines that they aren't like WoW. The MMO playbase is fickle, seems to have utterly no clue what they want, and don't give games a fair shake before they condemn them. FFXIV has loyal players, and it seems like they've "weeded out" all the fickle players. My server has a decent, friendly pop, and I'm happier here than I've been in an MMO for a while. Honestly, if you read too many threads in the WoW forums you'd think it was the worst game ever made - yet it's the biggest, best-selling MMO of all time. So... take negative forum reviews with a grain of salt - I'd give it a shot.
FFXIV:
Very story-driven (lots of cutscenes, characters, and storyline-related quests)
Complex crafting (90% of it requires online research)
Experience is gained through levequests (kill x mobs), behests (kill x big group mob), guild quests (craft/gather something), and chaining mobs (you can do 8 regional and 8 local leves a day, as many guild quests as are offered)
Behests can be done each hour (large group quests, a lot of fun)
Multiple classes per character (you literally change you class by switching weapons, then you can mix and match skills from all of your learned classes - you can play any class on the same toon without rerolling)
No PvP
Definitely need a good Linkshell (Linkshell = guild)
Can level solo or in groups
Great graphics, big world
No auction house (searchable Market Ward where you buy from NPC "retainers")
Menu-driven interface with actionbar
Game for the patient, research-and-involvement gamer
You can't jump (why this is a problem for people I'll never know)
Very high system requirements
FFXI:
Good elements of story (through a rank system, new options open as you rank up, cutscenes)
Weak PVP (Ballista - mini game of sorts. They may have added something since)
Group dependant (you cannot reach max level without 6-player grouping)
You'll need a linkshell
Definitely requires guides and online research to do quests (ie, there's no "!" and "?" quest indicators)
Large, pretty world
Dual-job system (you have a main job and subjob, borrowing skills from each. You can learn and switch to any job, and try multiple job combinations)
Menu-driven interface (macros required for most functions)
Auction House (you have to bid on items, prices aren't listed)
Player House (1 room but very cusotmizable)
You can't jump
Requires a lot of time (mostly organizing parties)
I may be forgetting some elements, but that's it in a nutshell. As you can see its quite different. If you love PvE, get very dedicated to your games, enjoy things done in a different way, and appreciate Final Fantasy story-driven gaming, you'll love it. Otherwise, stick with WoW or rift.
Oh dear. Thx for all your replies guys!
As it turns out my laptop might not run ffxiv satisfactory lol =D
Also, I finally got my wife to try an MMO with me and my bro, and I dont want her stuck looking for groups in FFXI as her first MMO experience. I'm now looking towards EQ2 and VG... Both are pretty good afaik.... we'll see what happens
UPDATE
so after having tried eq2 extended, vanguard and swg (lol, why did I go there, <--- disgruntled vet) I decided I had to try FFXIV. I was put off at first by the high system reqs and the fact that my laptop came with crappy bios and vbios that didnt allow me to update drivers (lol) which meant I couldnt even start the game to begin with.
Anyways, I did my first bios flash ever and viola, problem solved.
Only been playing a few hours so its way too early to tell how this will pan out, but so far it does have the FF feel, music is nice, atmosphere, and it looks great. The UI is really a big negative, and the game has a console feel to it no doubt about that. So far, the good outweighs the bad for me at least.
Also, I picked up 3 copies for just under 6$ each and its free 2 play atm, I'll stick with it. Gave one to my brother yesterday, trying to get my wife to install as I'm typing this haha
$6 each? How did FFXIV get so cheap so fast? I know FFXI is dirt cheap now. Also some very good pros and cons in this thread, I might check out FFXIV myself after reading all this. I had originally written it off since I have had a bone to pick with SE ever since FFXIII.
"They essentially want to say 'Correlation proves Causation' when it's just not true." - Sovrath
could you share where you purchased them for $6 please?
Sry I meant euro. Cant find the icon for it O_o
Got them at cdon, they mostly sell dvds and I think they only deliver in scandinavia or something like that. Free delivery coz my wife ordered so many seasons of "House" haha.
Euro haxxors! Maybe I'll pick up a trial account anyways.
"They essentially want to say 'Correlation proves Causation' when it's just not true." - Sovrath
Just wanted to throw a couple quick fixes, otherwise your right on the money
Played:FFXI, WoW, LOTR,EQ. Playing:FFXIV.
Looking Forward To:DCU, SWTOR.