OK, so, the closest FFXIV got to actually asking me was just confirming my payment details, but still. The point stands. I’m thinking I’m back.
My action bars and UI are set up again, and I played through a healthy chunk of the post-Heavensward content Saturday night. Turns out, I was further through the Heavensward -> Stormblood patch content than I thought. I had already gone far enough last time to be into the 3.3 content, and end the major conflict of the expansion.
When I returned, I was on the MSQ (Main Story Quest) titled ‘Choices’, which had a bit of ‘Anime Beach Day’ energy to it, albeit with far less fan service.
Our mission was to bring the various city-states together in a Grand Melee, as a sign of breaking Ishgard out of its previously insular footing.
I was actually fairly impressed that the melee itself had some systems attached. Simple ones, sure — but more than I expected. The winner is first to 100 points, where any regular soldier is worth just 1 point.
However, each side will always have one fighter marked by a beam, indicating they are worth 10. You need to take down their big point targets while protecting your own.
And, the whole thing culminates in a boss battle which I shan’t spoil, although I do I have to admit… *cough* …it took me a few tries. Because I thought it was a simple DPS race (I was very close to achieving it this way), but I was underestimating the game again.
There was a mechanic there which needed to be respected. Again, not complex, nothing you wouldn’t have seen before even within FFXIV up until that point. But for whatever reason, I was just completely blind to it, until, I wasn’t… Then was just, ‘Well, duh‘.
Things do take a more serious turn again shortly after this. I remember even commenting on Discord to my friends as playing through this, ‘Things are too happy. Something is going to happen.’
The evil chuckle from the two who have already been through it… Well, actually, it confirmed nothing. That’s just how they sound. But nonetheless, I knew.
But the build took longer than I expected, I mean heck, we even had time for a new dungeon where I got to try out the AI party mechanics for the first time. I am pretty sure the AI party stuff was in the game last time I played, but I don’t think it had come down in levels/expansions as far as I was.
Unfortunately, not too long after this — and at a climax point of the story — I ran into a roadblock.
There is a mandatory trial to complete Patch 3.3’s story, one that needs 8 players. Given how late I was playing, and how old this trial is, even a 40-minute wait time in the queue was insufficient to bring more than one or two people into the queue for it.
There isn’t an AI party option for this either.
I’m going to try again shortly during prime time, but the other option I know exists (although I’m only in favour of it as a last resort) is to request the help of a higher-level player and do it ‘unsynced’, essentially just getting carried through it. Gross.
Even with this roadblock, I’m happy to be back though, and that this time at least, I haven’t let the urge to see this story through pass me by.
Getting my head back around the game hasn’t taken too long, and while waiting in the trial queue, I even applied my patent-pending tried-and-true method for inventory management for an MMO I haven’t played in a long time.
This was posted during Blaugust 2025, the annual blogging event normally hosted by Belghast, with a twist this year of being hosted by Krikket. Blaugust is an event aiming to welcome new blogger blood into the fold and revitalise those who’ve been at it a little longer.
The Blaugust Discord is still available to join in, year-round!
