FFXI or GW2 - Is this game even worth it?Follow

Hello Everyone!

Before I get deep into this subject, 1st off I like to say I played FFXI since 2006 for the xbox360 and stopped playing it at 2011.
I Never really enjoyed the game's combat system when I made my 1st character which was a Warrior, and I never played any FF titles before.
I'm a huge StarOcean Fan and combat system, so when I 1st got FFXI, I expected the game's combat system to be action and engaging.
I was in a sure hell of a surprized when I saw my character auto-attking and im just standing there watching my character do all the work while I was doing nothing at level 1. But over time when I got new abilities and such, it got a bit better, but I found myself playing the game mostly to be with my friends not so much for the actual game itself... of course, that is when I got into doing Missions at lvl75.

I have completed all my Rank Missions, ZM, CoP, ToAU, and WotG just because I enjoyed the storyline progression and thrill during my adventures... Of course in the proccess of doing them, I wasn't motivated to make a new character, because the grind starts all over again and the Storyline missions are Exactly the same. The World of Vanadiel is Static... Nothing really changes..

FFXI is my 1st MMORPG I have ever played and so, over time I started to enjoy the game better as I got to learn about it and play it more, specially at lvl75 cap, before the lvl99 cap of course... I used to have 8 jobs at lvl75 but now I got them at lvl99 with a few other jobs around 70 thanks to Abyssea.

FFXI was always Time Consuming and never truly challenging. With Abyssea, The game has become Less Time consuming and Still not challenging.
The challenge of the game is Claiming the NM or HNM or Mobs, playing with the right job setups and the right people. And usually the right people where never my friends since my friends dont play the jobs I need them, making it not so fun playing with each other due to these limitations. Even though I have 8 jobs at cap, it's still not fun since I have to play either Tank or Healer classes and I rarely get to play the classes I want for an event.

I had a LOT of problems with this game and finally decided to take a break from it... That break took a long time since I have been playing other Games lately.
And then... I decided during my break, to try a new MMO... None of them appealed to me until I saw.....

...GuildWars2 (GW2)

I played GW2's Beta Weekend Event 1 and Beta Weekend Event 2 and soon I will play Beta Event 3 which will be this July 20th.... Can't wait to play it again! xD

EVERYTHING I wanted FFXI to be, is what GW2 is right now...
After I played my 1st GW2 beta, I was in SHOCK! I have NEVER thought a Game like this would even exist!!! Is this real?! Is this True!?
I mean this game BREAKS Every RULE we know about MMORPGs up to date and I am hooked on to it like a leach! THe game is Action Based MMORPG and The game has ZERO Grinds, full Personal Stories with epic Dynamic Events that chain over each other based on Cause/Effect and you dont level up by grinding Monsters or grinding quests, in Fact, there are NO QUESTS in GW2, you level up simply be Adventuring a Living breathing world that constantly changes based on actions you make with other players in the world you explore.

You know how FFXI you have to level up grinding by killing monsters? ((Now Abysea leaching))
and lvl up doing MMM ((Mazes people dont do anyways)) just so you can grind armor/items at lvl75 ((Level99 now)) and possibly do storyline if u want?

In GW2, you simply dont grind to level up. You dont Grind Monsters or Grind Quests... You Actually Adventure and do what you want and enjoy!

This is what you do to level up and progress your character:

((Dynamic Events)) - that occur all over the world based on Cause/effect, win/lose situation will chain other events. You explore and make a difference in the world and if you fail or win, it will effect the world Dramaticly. This is NOT like FFXI's HNMs where they reset and respawn 72hours or such.. THis is truly based on Cause/effect within the world of other events that chain it. It's hard to explain but basicly unlike FFXI's HNMs, your NOT going to wait to do 1 event, If you do this, then your going to fall behind and miss out everything. The events are designed so you go and explore and play the game as an Adventure game and if so you choose to play alts or you become lvl80 cap, every char u play will always give you a new sense of adventure, never the same feel, making the game actually have a High Replay Value. *These are Not marked on your map*

((Heart Tasks)) - Marked on your map as hearts, They are guidliness and tasks that stay the same and dont change,and can only be done Once as you explore They are scattered on map for u to do something as you find Dynamic Events within the area. So More EXP and exploring!

((Personal Stories)) - These are Instances marked on ur map as a green dot, which is based on your character's storyline. Each character you make, will have questions you can answer that developes your character's personality, character's background, Character's racial ability, and Destiny and during these storylines, you make choices and take actions that dramaticlly and permanantly changes the situation of your Personal storyline, Think of this as a Single Player RPG experience where u can do them with friends in a party or solo depending on how hard the challenges are. These give great Rewards as well and great Exp as well during your adventures. Also, keep in mind, each character you make has their Own Storyline and it is all ((Voice Acted)) cutscenes with their own challenges. Your character SPEAKS!

((Minigames)) - Yes you get Rewards and exp doing minigames too! And those minigames are fun if so you choose during exploration / adventure

((Jumping puzzles)) / ((Platforming))- YES, you get Rewards doing them and they are tough.. They have Death traps such as Statues that throw Flames, Death spikes on the floor and rocks falling that can crush you, even winds that blow you off the cliff where you can die... it's all intensed situation and lots of puzzles to solve while platforming. There are many of them and they have beautiful sites, and if u finish the Jumping puzzles / platforming stages, you get a bigger reward chest which are randomized with goods and EXP.

((Exploring)) - YES... You do get EXP just exploring without ever having to do Combat, and yes you can lvl up doing them and descovering new things that can even potentially trigger dynamic events and potentially get you to find Hidden Locations to find rare items gaurded by dynamic bosses.

((World Dynamic Bosses)) - These happen... and when they do... They're going to DESTORY EVERYTHING. xD they give great EXP and players can team up and fight these and protect villages and cities.. Kinda like how WhiteGates gets attked by hordes of mobs, but BETTER... it actually effects the area if you win/lose in different sanario. lol Might even have fun to see the Bosses win and see how the world changes up to be huh?

((StoryMode Dungoens)) - Yes, This is Fun... You team up with 5 players and explore a new dungoen that gives you lots of exp and follow an awesome storyline of what is going on in that dungoen. The story tells you what happend before You unlock Explorable Dungoen. You get lots of exp and it is challenging

((Dynamic Explorable Dungoens)) - Okie... These dungoens have many different paths, Plus, it's dynamic... Which means based on the situation that is occuring within that dungoen, you will experience different things happening in the same path. Soo you wont ever have the same experience doing the same thing again. You can always have fun with new challenges on the same dungoen if so you choose. They have awesome skins and exp and rewards too. There are more than 1 dungoen in this game but so far, the beta only allowed us to experience 1 dungoen.. and that 1 dungoen was like playing 6 different kinds of dungoens! xD it was fun!

((PvP)) - YES.. You get Experience Points doing PVP!!!!!! Since the Combat is NOT turn based, and since the combat is Action Based where u need to dodge, heal, and constantly move around as you pull off skills, The PvP in this game is seriously fun.. Ohh! and it is NOT Gear Oriented! Everyone has the same gear and everyone is boost to lvl80 cap from what ever their original lvls are, to fairly compete against other players for fun, This progresses your PvE char during PvP so you dont have to feel like your being behind.. There are more info on this but I dont want to write it all down on this thread lol Maybe I'll show you a link of the video or something? idk?

((UnderWater Exploration / Combat / Dynamic Bosses)) - OMG I love this so much! You do get exp for this as you explore and do Underwater combat with Bosses or even dynamic events.. I highly recomend players to give this a try to see for it themsleves, I cant really explain it in words.

((Unlocking Waypoints)) - Fast travel points which you find during explorations

((Skill Challenges)) - which are tied to your Proffession, they give you exp and skillpoints so u can upgrade your skills. Very fun. Some are based on Puzzles/quiz, and some are based on Fighting, and doing minigames.

ugh... I can't really name all the contents, there are so many to do while you explore and adventure in GW2 that actually progresses your character, that I don't think I can name all the contents...

All in All.. Leveling is actually fun in GW2 since it is based on Adventuring in PvE or PvP.

Back to FFXI....

I want to play FFXI again Mainly because I saw 2 new classes and a brand new Expansion pack being designed for it.. =) This definantly gets me interested to re-sub and play a bit more... Since I did do all the story missions in FFXI.. Now I can do a new one that's what im thinking!

However,
I dont know if it would be worth it for me at least.. I dont want to grind killing mobs again to lvl up.. It's boring.
I do Want to LEACH in Abyssea... It's boring
I don't want to do Book Burns... It's the same thing as mob grinding but with more exp and bigger groups, repeating the same mobs with level sync if so you choose.
I don't want to LOOK for people with a specific class to play such as a WHM or PLD or THF or NIN... I'm sure THF is best tank now in FFXI but thats the last time I checked, still, I just want to play with my friends any class I want and they want.
I don't want to do Abyssea again... I got my twilight Scythe and Body and Helm...I don't want to GRIND more GEAR or Upgrade them.. I just want to Play and adventure with friends to have fun without having to worry about gimping.
I dont wana Skill up... This is not only time consuming but boring.. standing in one spot killing same mobs or NOT killing just standing still to raise evasion... ugh.
I dont want to Camp "???" its boring
I dont want to camp HNMs or NMs... its pointless
I dont have fun WAITING.. I just want to PLAY lol

I DO.. want to play the 2 new class with full abilities that I can fully enjoy.
I DO.. I want explore the new areas in the new expansion pack up coming.
I DO.. I want do More StoryLine Missions with my friends! ((I Love FFXI's Storyline.. what can I say?))
I DO.. Want to do Assaults again.. BUT I DONT want to only be able to do them 3 times every 3 days... Waiting is Not fun.. Playing is
I DO.. Want to have the ability to be able to Redo StoryLine Missions I have completed without having to always find someone who needs them... I like to play when I want.
I DO.. Want to re-watch the Storyline Cutscenes.. I miss CoP's Cutscenes the most xD.. and No.. I dont wana see it in Youtube with someone else's Character. I love my character too much to see it be replaced during a cutscene.
I DO.. Want to do fun Events in FFXI that people WILL DO With ME... >.< And not gear oriented again but maybe exp oriented?

Anyways, I dont have time for Time Consuming Games anymore that are based on grinding. I know lvling is easier in Abyssea but it's still a grind even if u can get 1 class from lvl1-99.. Still have to go through the process of leaching or killing same mobs to reach lvl cap before you can ACTUALLY do the Fun stuff.. Even that, you still have to grind to cap up your skills and gear ugh!!

I just want to know if More has changed since I left last year?
Has anything changed dramaticly after Abyssea?
Are there More ways to progress within the game?
Will the new Expansion pack ACTUALLY be Fun and not a hella grind?
I have 8 classes at lvl99 so I wont have to grind unless I decided to play the 2 new classes... which is highly possible since it is another reason why I want to Re-sub to FFXI...

Please let me know if FFXI is worth re-subbing to.. If it's "Fun" and has lots to do if I finished my missions up to WotG.
Thanks!

Also, for those who actually dont know what GW2 is. I recomend watching these 3 entertaining informational videos, linked Below:

Video #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBC_ig73aMs

Video #2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3uMlHSbPSY

Video #3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35BPhT-KI1E

This should cover up what I was saying before.
If FFXI is as Fun as my GW2's Beta Experience, I'll definantly be re-subbing sooner before Expansion!



Edited, Jul 13th 2012 9:56pm by Azpekt

...does this count as advertisement?

Hmm, I wonder why Adblock Plus isn't working. I guess I missed an update?

Seriously, what's the point of this post? You've obviously made up your mind on what you enjoy better. Why would anyone else's opinion matter at this point? This is just silly.

Why choose?

FFXI is super cheap to play, and GW2 will have no monthly fees.

Just play both!

They are completely different kinds of games anyway that should complement each other nicely.

GW2 is the sh*t even though it actually is sh*t.

This.

too long; didn't read

I will be playing both. Gw2 is very fun and somewhat innovative. It is also made by a company that really cares about the quality of their product.

OP is definitely suffering from rosy hued fanboyism. The game is very good. Very good. Its not the second coming.


Just play both and stop advertising unless youre getting paid for it!

(Just resubbed/installed ffxi last night. So much fun already)

Edited, Jul 14th 2012 4:19pm by Llester

It means you need to lurk moar. Also welcome to the internet, nub.


No. It doesn't ever mean that. Unless you're part of that bizarre crowd that refuses to accept that "lol" doesn't mean "laughing out loud" or "lots of laughs", but rather "lots of love", because while the former is mildly acceptable given "laughing out loud" is essentially the same thing, even if via a different mechanic, absolutely no one except for bizarre old ladies reads "lol" as "lots of love" no matter the context

So much this

Go play GW2 for the six weeks it'll take you to do literally everything, go back every 4-5 months for a few weeks of content when they release an expansion pack, and play FFXI the eleven months of the year you have left over - you might finish a Relic by next July!

Edited, Jul 13th 2012 10:03pm by Raelix