A NEW DAY HAS DAWNED, and with it my chance to, y'know, actually play the game, having survived the account-creation crucible. So I've got my HUD under control, I'm attuned to the Big Blue Go-There Rock, I'm a registered goddamn adventurer, and it's time to Archer the shit out of this thing.
"Adventurers! That's how they do, you know. Just ride chocobos around, listening to Mage's Ballad and cheesing all the microchus!"
I'm given to understand that FFXIV is an unusual example of its genre for a number of reasons; its troubled launch, the uncommonly wholesome and helpful nature of its community, and the quality and quantity of its ongoing development and polishing, the last of which has resulted in a game that, I don't mind telling you, is fucking gorgeous.Maybe it's just being an inmate of Arizona but
goddamn, I want want to go to there
And admittedly part of that is playing it on a PS4, which I recommend for a first-time player like myself not only because it's rill rill pretty and you don't need to worry about how many big strong muscles your computer can make and how fast it can flex them, as is my understanding, but because it's way less intimidating to just get used to a new controller-scheme like in any other game, and just runnin' around Gridania like a big ol' dumdum--jumpin' and such--is so much better than what I have to assume is either a point-and-click setup or ASWD dealie. My bow freshly strung, my attacks hotkeyed, my tail so so fluffy, I begin to adventure in earnest which, I quickly come to understand, involves me doing every single menial task, chore and errand the citizens of Gridania can cook up for me. And honestly, I'm not even mad about it; the city is beautiful and super fun to explore but is enormous and filled with a ton of places I'll invariably need to revisit down the line, and these fetch, delivery, subpoena, kill, escort, notarization, and collection quests crisscrossing the map are actually a pretty subtle, effective way to learn the map and acquaint myself with the million guilds, shops, NPCs and similar. Also, it doesn't hurt that unlike most sidequests in games, these offer a really hefty and progressionally-useful chunk of EXP each in addition to cash and, frequently, a selection of equipment from which one can choose based on one's build and playstyle.
It was in the execution of one of these quests that I, through no fault of my innocent blameless furry-eared own, stumbled into an encounter for which I was HILARIOUSLY underleveled and felt the cold, slurpy shadow of my VERY DOOM upon me, for I am beset by a gargantuan and Very Bad Planto called Matagaiai, an H.R. Giegeresque bundle of roots that don't give a hoot, I am quickly and painfully assured; whipulations and chompenings and poison plant-gasses ensue, and the Eorzean sun(s???) prepares to set blood-red on the Brief Adventuring Career of Den Jaymark. When suddenly, I SHIT THE GENTLE READER NOT, a choir of heroes descends from the celestial sphere upon the backs of war-clad chocobos, and they proceed--not impeded overmuch, one hopes, by my own humble contribution of some baby arrows in the fuckin' thing's stamen and some orange slices and Capri Sun I happened to bring--to ABSOLUTELY ANNIHILATE THIS PLANT'S ASS. It was magical! And I leveled! And then, as quickly, majestically and mysteriously as they arrived, they hopped aboard their resplendent technicolor battle-birdums and were gone.
Hey Matagaigai? Fuck you, buddy.
I tried to make use of the game's gesture-system to thank them but all that remained as evidence of their deeds were a handful of feathers swirling on the chlorophyll-scented mist. It was only by virtue of my quick thinking and learning the chat-log system against my will that I was able to find the names of the champions to whom I owed my life or whatever, I'll be honest, I still don't know what happens when you die in this game because I'm scared to find out. AND SO I WILL THANK THEM HERE: Choccy, Agro, Mira Cephai and Cyline Black, I'm not
entirely sure those are your names and not the names of your chocobos but frankly their approval means more to me, you get it.
I had heard tell of the wholesome and friendly nature of the game, but now I had proof: I was among good people, lizard-people, cat-people, and etc. I was one of them now. I was an Adventurer.
Oh also I found a magic sword in a stump and met a pair of mysterious and improbably-clad kinda science-types and got a vision from one or more gods and apparently it turns out I can maybe see into the past, which is important because nobody can remember anything from before or just after the world-shattering cataclysm that ushered in the present era some years ago? But honestly: that pales in comparison to friendly strangers helping me conquer a challenge I shouldn't have been anywhere near able to.
I should warn you, I go to sleep
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