#WHM questline

[candycryptids]

Incredible; this son of a Dzo Herder has SO MUCH to say about DIRT and NATURE

[unionizedwizard]

i just finished the sage job quests so i really gotta know what irma thinks of lalah jinjahl (sp) the moderately bossy sharlayan tank. am i insane or is that like irma catnip (no pun intended)

HAH so i'm sort of stuck in a hole here (i effortlessly parry the joke you were about to make) because i'm not quite sure the quests themselves are canon, since she finally (pinnacle of her character development arc!!!!!) got to study it Properly. at the studium and all. (everyone clap and cheer for irma. SHE DID IT!!). that being said the quests COULD be canon just like. afterwards. or maybe she could be sent to investigate with lalah in the first place... i'm not sure yet hence why i didn't really think about their relationship

(sidenote, but sage was the first healing job i unlocked - after EW - irma having a whole thing about not being able to heal until then, so her first question about "have you ever experienced it? being helpless to help a comrade dying in combat?" was kind of. hilariously on point. laser-focused on her own complexes and all. beautiful way to start a partnership, never change)

but yeah, i think they get along really well (lalah definitely fits the type. for sure) (also i love that she's wearing this outfit while being a tank. icon), and have highly compatible personalities & outlooks on most things - lalah's First Ethical Quandary and "wait, is the State actually.... corrupt? bad? THERE IS SUCH A THING AS MEDICAL ABUSE????" was DEFINITELY very very endearing to irma, 100% approval rate right here

last tangent i promise but it is kind of hilarious that two of the four healer jobs have questlines that are basically "sharlayan dignitaries/respected scholars actually the worst criminals in the land, more at 11". theyre straight-up just roaming eorzea to either do missionary work for these savages (leveva's outlook, initially at least) or roaming eorzea to use these savages as test subjects (cmon, nobody will miss a few extra mouths to feed!) and then it's simply never mentioned again. it's just so compelling i'm obsessed with sharlayan WHAT is wrong with this city-state. i love that if you never play healer at all OR only play whm/sch you will never ever know the ways in which sharlayan is fucked up. you show up and it's all like oooohhhh we made a STARSHIP and we're talking to the MOON BUNNIES and we HATE FUN but they have entire torture apparatuses implemented hydaelyn knows where and they keep their astrologians locked up somewhere (they're scaring the hoes i guess) and they have rogue doctors committing every kind of malpractice on uncivilized savages and calling it "research" and one of the government members has been committing human trafficking and was caught conniving with a foreign power and he never even lost his job. you make eye contact with him as he votes to have you expelled from the city. they even have nobility AND arranged marriages for teenage girls (WHAT). what in the world is going on in these pretty white-domed houses with their neat blue tiling. anyway

[terramythos]

Anyway here's my breakdown of the ffxiv jobs, my opinions on playing each, and the tier rank of how good their story was

TANKS

WARRIOR - warrior is so fucking funny why did they make it able to solo heal itself and the entire party in 90% of the content in the game. Raw Intuition/Bloodwhetting is so broken in dungeons its hilarious. And then they have like 3 additional healing skills on top of that. And they kept buffing it throughout Endwalker. So it is currently the easiest to play, does the most damage (i think...?), and has the best healing of any of the Tank jobs. 2nd fave probably.

Story Tier: C, it's ok, Curious Gorge is a good name. i have like nothing to say about it it's a generic AF story

PALADIN - I used to hate PLD but I think the partial rework they got halfway through Endwalker helped it a lot. It's much less clunky now. Probably still my least favorite Tank though Hallowed Ground is fun and it's pretty close to Gunbreaker for me.

Story Tier: F, this is the worst class storyline in the entire game. It's so stupid. The writing is so bad the writers acknowledge it makes no sense at all and I'm like. Yeah, thanks, I am experiencing this shit. Perhaps write a story that makes sense next time instead of pointing that out.

DARK KNIGHT - Unfortunately this is my favorite Tank 🫡 which is rough since it has the worst survivability out of any of them. But I love how you use MP and the silly number of OGCDs. The Blackest Night is such a fun ability and it's a crime that it's not a baseline skill you get from the start. Why do they have so many DRs that only cover magic damage. I must ask.

Story Tier: S, there's a reason it's the most popular and well regarded class storyline. It's really good, also the only questline I know of that uses the quest log text as part of the narrative. Outside maybe a few of the very late Endwalker quests. And, well... same writer lmao

GUNBREAKER: I think GNB looks cool as fuck and I like that it has 2 DPS rotations. The Gnashing Fang combo is so fun. Superbolide memes are always fun. My main issue with it is a skill issue because I am just constantly misaligning its burst windows.

Story Tier: C. It has some interesting lore but I found it pretty forgettable as a story.

HEALERS

WHITE MAGE: I hated White Mage for a while but something clicked and now I totally get it. I find it fun in dungeons cause you get to Holy spam and stun lock everything. As uh. The healer. That's fun. Once you get Afflatus heals (and then Afflatus Misery) it clicks. It's fun maximizing damage and playing chicken with the tank's HP.

Story Tier: B, you get a lot of lore around the Padjal, and I think the Stormblood story where you find a padjal living in hiding with her mother is pretty good! Also it's not technically the job storyline but there's a WHM side quest to get a unicorn mount? i guess it's technically a CNJ quest but same diff. no one else gets that shit. so that's cool

SCHOLAR: probably my least favorite of the healers... it just feels super clunky. You can tell a bunch of different design philosophies went into it over the years and none of them mesh very well. They've made it so the Fairy Gauge controls literally one spell. Why have the gauge at all? It's also a huge missed opportunity that there's no tie in or interaction with the fae in Shadowbringers. I love the idea of a battle tactician healer but I think it needs a rework.

Story Tier: B+, I liked the characters and its the main way to get backstory and lore on what happened with Nym.

ASTROLOGIAN: While I think AST has a similar issue to SCH (lots of different design philosophies over the years) I find it way more fun to play. I like the card mechanic and how it interacts with the rest of the party. AST is basically the only job that has its own like. Minigame? As part of its rotation. And I know a lot of people don't like the RNG for it but personally I find it fun. I know AST is getting a redesign in Dawntrail so hope it's good.

Story Tier: C? I think? I'll be honest I don't remember it super well but I didn't find anything objectionable about it. And I like the tarot aesthetic and lore and how it's healing based on manipulating luck.

SAGE: I think SGE is tons of fun, I'm not sure if I like it or WHM more. I love all the skills SGE has for preventing damage and the gimmick where your DPS heals someone in the party. Visually the hi-tech laser shooting healer is a lot of fun. IT HAS A GAP CLOSER. The only thing i wish was it wasn't so MP negative and that it did more damage. It's a little sad its DPS output is so low compared to the other healers (even AST when you factor in how it buffs the party). Since SGE is supposed to be a healer that heals through damage it's silly its damage kinda sucks.

Story Tier: A, I loved this storyline. Both the Endwalker job stories are very self contained and interesting. While the twist is pretty obvious it's still an interesting exploration of uh. Scientific ethics. Yeah

PHYSICAL MELEE DPS

MONK: I've probably played MNK the least of the phys melee but I like the whole adaptable combo thing. Not much else to say since I have played it so little. Might bring it back out and try again. It DID have the funniest guide in the Balance discord for a while.

Story Tier: D. I think? I remember thinking it was dumb, lmao. Sorry.

DRAGOON: MAN I wished I liked DRG more. It looks so fucking cool and I like how it interacts with the dragon lore. But I find it very punishing to play. To do good damage you have to align so many different cooldowns... and snapshot your DOT correctly... and screwing one thing up just fucks your DPS output forever. Like AST I believe this is being reworked in Dawntrail so I hope it feels better to play.

Story Tier: C+. I think it starts strong since you get to meet Estinien pre-Heavensward and it melds nicely with that story. But I found it pretty directionless post-HW which is a shame.

NINJA: I remember finding this one fun. I like that there are different combos you do that have varied finishers depending on the situation. I am just... bad at remembering which combo to use to get which finisher, lol. So I haven't played it as much. NIN gets a lot of flavor other jobs don't get with their unique run and jump animations. And you get a Bunny of Shame on your head if you fuck up a combo, which is incredible.

Story Tier: A. The Rogue story is probably the most memorable of the basic class quests. Ninja just has great characters and a fun story. What is with that one guy. Karasu? If you know you know. I also like how the Rogue characters show up later in the Ninja story. That's fun.

SAMURAI: I had a similar experience to WHM here because I initially hated it then really came around once it clicked. SAM seems very complex, it has a ton of buttons and different combos. But it is actually quite intuitive once you figure out the general pattern. And it does INSANE damage. I think it's the highest DPS output in the game? I love building the combos and then doing a huge finisher for a bajillion damage. The guaranteed crits and constant OGCD weaves make me feel unstoppable. I think this is tied with RPR for me.

Story Tier: B+. I found the exiled samurai character and his journey toward redemption very compelling. I won't spoil beyond that. However it does fall apart a little in the second half. Still fun but not as good.

REAPER: I love RPR, the teleportation is a lot of fun, and I love finally unleashing the demon form and going ham on the enemy. The weapons are the coolest looking in the game. Every scythe design hits. I probably played this the most in Endwalker. My main critique is the Death's Design mechanic. I hate having to keep a stupid debuff on the target to do damage. It's like a dot but without the optimized snapshotting. If they want to keep this idea i think it would feel better to change it into something like SGE's Kardia where you apply it to one enemy to do increased damage to it without having to worry about reapplying it. not sure how they would balance this for aoe but that's not my job. But even with that caveat I still really enjoy the job.

Story Tier: A+. While it doesn't reach the highs of DRK's story it comes close. I love the badass old lady main character. Her hunting a voidsent that possessed her grandfather would be cool enough but making her a Garlean exile in hiding who grudgingly agrees to train you just adds an extra cool factor. I really enjoyed this story. As a bonus theres a lot of incidental dialogue in the post-6.0 Endwalker story if you completed the RPR story because it ties in a lot.

PHYSICAL RANGED DPS

BARD: It's a bit clunky, its got some outdated design elements, it has one of the lowest damage outputs in the game... and i LOVE IT. this was technically the first job I ever played? totally different character like 8 years ago. and i was so so bad. I think i am actually pretty good at current BRD. the animations look cool. i like that it's a class you really need to work for and optimize to eke out that last bit of damage. and boosting everyone else's damage by existing is kinda neat.

Story Tier: B. I'll be real I barely remember this but I do remember it was gay as fuck so immediately gets an extra tier for that.

MACHINIST: MCH is really funny right now because like. It's phys ranged, right. The design behind phys ranged is you have 100% uptime cause you can freely move around and not have to worry about cast timers or melee range or anything. So the trade off is that they do less damage than other classes. Endwalker MCH did not get the memo and does insane damage anyway. My controversial opinion is that it has similar burst DPS to RPR. No i will not elaborate. I'm also bad at doing good damage on MCH which is impressive since it is easy.

Story Tier: B+. Some Ishgard noble's gay son wants to build machines instead of killing dragons the good old fashioned way and has to prove himself to get taken seriously. A tale as old as time. See I haven't done this quest in like years but I still remember it. He is a memorable character. It's just not like. knockout wowza compared to the A tier stories.

DANCER: Dancer is the second easiest DPS job in the game behind SMN. So if i am sleepy it's the one I like playing. You play simon says. you do a lot of damage when you play simon says then do almost no fucking damage otherwise. I think it's the lowest direct damage in the game? for a dps i mean. You have high stakes sexual tension with a DPS of your choice via Dance Partner. I wish other DNC players knew how Dance Partner works. YOU CAN DANCE PARTNER ANOTHER DANCER. THE BUFF STACKS. BUT YOU CANNOT DANCE PARTNER THE SAME PLAYER AS ANOTHER DANCER. THOSE BUFFS DO NOT STACK. ok i'm good. anyway

Story Tier: C. there's some shit about negative emotions and purging them? in theory i think this has some interesting implications with Endwalker lore considering Dynamis and its role in the story. Very similar mechanically to what's going on with the DNC story. but i really don't think the writers made the connection so it's like pure speculation and not the actual story. It's meh. fine i guess. i did like all the flashy dancing sequences.

MAGICAL RANGED DPS

BLACK MAGE: I am so so so so so so so bad at BLM. i pull up the guide. i read the guide. it all makes perfect sense. i go into a dungeon or trial or something. somehow i always get like Zeromus or some shit. and i drop Enochian or something and everything goes to shit and i'm yelling and i'm not even like slide casting or teleporting or anything i just run around crying. then i remember i have like 10 more buttons i haven't been pressing and oh god the dot fell off. people play this? for fun? i admire it. apparently they do a ton of damage if you can play it. could not be me.

Story Tier: B? There's some voidsent and Thirteenth lore. all the black mage characters are Lalafell because it's funny i guess. OH YEAH it has like the one named male Keeper of the Moon Miqo'te NPC in the entire game and he's fun. look at this twink:

sorry i don't have anything to say about BLM i am bad at it

SUMMONER: easiest DPS job in the entire game. they redesigned it for Endwalker so it is practically a new job. i have no idea how it played before. but it is super streamlined. maybe too streamlined? it's another one to play if you want to turn your brain off. i like that at 90 you summon The Actual Primals instead of little representations of them. and i like the way your burst phase switches between Bahamut and Phoenix. it all looks very cool. they should add Leviathan as a summon in Dawntrail.

Story Tier: C.. i don't remember a single thing about this questline except you interact with Y'shtola's half sister. i think you go to Cartenau at some point. idk

RED MAGE: RDM is one of those jobs that looks really complicated when you start then you actually play it and it is just super super easy. that being said i think it's really fun. I like balancing the white and black magic gauges. Dualcast is a great gimmick and it feels cool to lob two big spells in a row at something. Dualcast Verraising a chain of dead players is so fucking funny. it's a shame that the existence of Verraise means RDM does shit damage to compensate for its utility. It and DNC just sit at the bottom with BRD barely scratching ahead of them. i think? i don't remember LOL

Story Tier: A, I really like the story and characters. I like that you have a middle-age world weary catboy (catman) as your mentor. and i like that he canonically trained Alisaie too and you chat a little about that. it's a fun story!

BLUE MAGE: what the fuck is a blue mage

Story Tier: ???

[thefinalwitness]

but have they met Sylphie?? the girl from the cnj questline

OH YES!!!!!!! e-sumi actually tells eir-a about her after they wake up from their coma :) eir-a was very close friends with sylphie's mother, and was devastated to find out about her having passed away while eir-a was comatose. e-sumi hoped, correctly, that eir-a and sylphie could help each other; that sylphie could help eir-a just by being proof of all the ways their friend lives on in the hearts of others, and that eir-a could help sylphie because eir-a is a lot better with people than their brother LOL.

they are very good friends, a bit of an auntie and niece to one another! eir-a has a habit of befriending all the troublesome cnj/whm npcs; sylphie, gatty, eschiva, alaqa.... all of them are their ducklings LMAO

[dualcastimpact]

introducing: the adventuring party and the auxiliary party

I don't think I've ever really explained the difference between the two parties—or in fact posted anything of substance about them, the latter especially—but the adventuring and auxiliary parties make up my roster of 14 characters in FFXIV. The distinction between the two is that the members of the adventuring party are all 1) friends that make up an actual adventuring party registered with the Adventurers' Guild; and 2) involved in one way or another with major questlines. In contrast, the members of the auxiliary party are 1) not necessarily friends and may not even know one another; and 2) are not involved in any major questlines. They all have their own journeys, to be certain, but if the adventuring party make up the heroes who save the world and have their names written in history, the auxiliary party are the lesser-known heroes of their everyday stories.

Here's a rundown of the party members for both parties and the quests they're involved in, all below the cut:

the adventuring party, viatgers vuit (the travelers eight)

From left to right:

Hyllizirn Ahldachtwyn, adventurer and former Field Commander of the Free Brigade

Main Scenario Quest: Operation Archon (ARR)

Main Scenario Quest: Raubahn's rescue from Halatali (Heavensward)

Main Scenario Quest: the Battle of Ala Mhigo (Stormblood)

Main Scenario Quest: the Battle of Ghimlyt Dark (Stormblood)

Main Scenario Quest: the defense of Paglth'an (Shadowbringers)

Job Quest: MRD (levels 1–30)

Job Quest: WAR (levels 30–80)

Job Quest: DRK (levels 50–60 only)

Job Quest: VPR (levels 80–90)

Variant Dungeon: The Sil'dihn Subterrane

Hildibrand Adventures (ARR)

Further Hildibrand Adventures (Heavensward)

Even Further Hildibrand Adventures (Stormblood)

Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures Quests (Endwalker)

Raginmar Steelbiter, adventurer and former Warrior of Light

the entirety of the Main Scenario Quests (ARR—present)

Job Quest: ROG (levels 1–30)

Job Quest: ARC (levels 1–30)

Job Quest: THM (levels 1–30)

Job Quest: SMN (levels 30–80)

Job Quest: SCH (levels 30–80)

Job Quest: BLM (levels 30–80)

Job Quest: MCH (levels 30–80)

Job Quest: RDM (levels 50–80)

Job Quest: GNB (levels 60–80)

Job Quest: RPR (levels 70–80, cameo)

Job Quest: PCT (levels 80–90)

Normal Raid: The Coils of Bahamut

Normal Raid: Alexander

Normal Raid: Omega

Normal Raid: Eden

Normal Raid: Pandæmonium

Trials: The Warring Triad

Trials: The Four Lords

Trials: The Sorrow of Werlyt

Alliance Raid: Crystal Tower

Alliance Raid: Shadow of Mhach

Alliance Raid: Return to Ivalice

Alliance Raid: YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse

Alliance Raid: Myths of the Realm

Field Operation: The Forbidden Land, Eureka

Field Operation: Save the Queen: Blades of Gunnhildr

Variant Dungeon: The Sil'dihn Subterrane

Variant Dungeon: Mount Rokkon

Variant Dungeon: Aloalo Island

Hildibrand Adventures (ARR)

Further Hildibrand Adventures (Heavensward)

Even Further Hildibrand Adventures (Stormblood)

Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures (Endwalker)

Delivery Moogle Quest: Lone Survivor

Delivery Moogle Quest: The Past Is a Story We Never Tell

Kirika Kagutsuchi, healer and adventurer

Main Scenario Quest: Moenbryda's last stand (ARR)

Main Scenario Quest: the liberation of Doma (Stormblood)

Job Quests: WHM (levels 30–80)

Job Quests: AST (levels 30–80)

Variant Dungeon: The Sil'dihn Subterrane

Variant Dungeon: Mount Rokkon

Doman Enclave Restoration

L'vazha Tia, travelling merchant and adventurer

Main Scenario Quest: rescuing Wilred (ARR)

Main Scenario Quest: aftermath of the Sultana's assassination (Heavensward)

Main Scenario Quest: the liberation of Doma (Stormblood)

Job Quests: NIN (levels 30–80)

Job Quests: SAM (levels 50–60 only)

Trials: The Four Lords

High-level Dungeon: Kugane Castle

Variant Dungeon: The Sil'dihn Subterrane

Variant Dungeon: Mount Rokkon

Doman Enclave Restoration

Delivery Moogle Quest: The Past Is a Story We Never Tell

Adricienne Brookes, courier and adventurer

Main Scenario Quest: Gridania starter quests — the Ixali attack on the Guardian Tree (ARR)

Main Scenario Quest: the defense of Ishgard (Heavensward)

Job Quests: LNC (levels 1–30)

Job Quests: DRG (levels 30–80)

Job Quests: SGE (levels 70–80)

Trials: The Sorrow of Werlyt

Ishgard Restoration

the entirety of the Delivery Moogle Quests

Canso Lechanteur, Twin Adder Lieutenant, music archaeologist and adventurer

Main Scenario Quest: rescuing Wilred (ARR)

Main Scenario Quest: the Battle of Ala Mhigo (Stormblood)

Main Scenario Quest: the Battle of Ghimlyt Dark (Stormblood)

Main Scenario Quest: the defense of Paglth'an (Shadowbringers)

Main Scenario Quest: the Ilsabard Contingent (Endwalker)

Job Quest: BRD (levels 30–80)

Job Quest: DNC (levels 60–80)

Job Quest: RPR (levels 70–80, cameo)

Alliance Raid: Return to Ivalice

Delivery Moogle Quest: The Past Is a Story We Never Tell

Marzanna Branmirasch, adventurer and former Architectus

Main Scenario Quest: discovery of the Imperial research on the Echo (Stormblood)

Main Scenario Quest: the Ilsabard Contingent (Endwalker)

Job Quest: BLU (levels 1–80)

Trials: The Sorrow of Werlyt

Field Operation: Save the Queen: Blades of Gunnhildr

Sasariku Nonoriku, adventurer

Main Scenario Quest: Ul'dah starter quests — the Sultana's stolen crown (ARR)

Main Scenario Quest: the Ilsabard Contingent (Endwalker)

Job Quest: GLD (levels 1–30)

Job Quest: PLD (levels 30–80)

the auxiliary party

Valeria bas Lucernus

none

Fionn Airgetlám

Job Quest: RPR (levels 70–80)

Trials: The Sorrow of Werlyt, cameo

Lunamara Vietta

none

Niko Maimhov

Main Scenario Quest: the expedition into the Tam-Tara Deepcroft (ARR), cameo

Alliance Raid: Myths of the Realm, cameo

Regissant Aujouerre

Main Scenario Quest: the expedition into the Tam-Tara Deepcroft (ARR), cameo

Alliance Raid: Myths of the Realm, cameo

Boss Kedai

none

[soothingmind]

Healer

White Mage

I'll have to note that WHM was the first Healer i picked up a long time ago, just to see what it was about. I didn't even get to 50 before I quit because I truly was not vibing with it at all. To be fair, I was all not comfortable and didn't really understand. Now in the 90 journey I did understand better and still - I just don't vibe with such a Healer class at all lol. Definitely look up to people who can play this class well.

Ah yes, the job quests ... of course it had to be this way, because it is Conjurer / White Mage's entire thing, yet still I wish it showed some criticism to Gridania / Padjal / Elementals. It sure is a questline, hm.

Scholar

Sorry for being a SMN main, I do not know anything about Scholar - I only know there are a lot of Buttons. Godspeed.

The questline was neat! The lore was enjoyable and am glad this was explored. And ... that's all I can say really ...

Astrologian

I was really scared to play this tbh, because of my bad experience with WHM and AST was another Regen Healer. But it turned out I liked this one a lot better, there are many things to do - cards to draw, cards to apply, damage buff, etc. Like I can do things in between that doesn't involve me healing and press a button for damage, I can actually support my party in other ways. Ended up appreciating it a lot.

The questline was ... interesting. I do have to admit that I like Sharlyan-things, so playing this post EW was very funny in hindsight. Liked that one!

Sage

... And now my main Healer class. Idk what it is at Sage, but I feel the most comfortable with that one. Maybe it is the insta-cast heal things, maybe it's the funny shields I can apply with the Eukrasia toggle (though btw Eukrasia-off button when), the Toxikon implimentation with that, the non-lock-on AOE attack, ... there is a lot I really like. I'm definitely trying to make this one of the main classes I play, because I really have fun with it.

The introduction quest for Sage has imo the best tutorial for a new class. And like I said before, I do like some Sharlyan shenanigans - and again, I ended up enjoying it. The plottwist of "I just want to help others and aren't evil at all" does really get me sometimes.

[semi-imaginary-place]

red mage: so basically arya should be a thaumaturge or black mage. she's really really good at the destructive magic and terrible at the restorative magics. why find equilibrium when you can min max and be a nuke.

have you heard of ... blue? or perhaps... green?

I really like x'rhun, great character

given x'rhun's history in the ala mhigo im disappointed the 60-70 storyline isn't going there, ah well time to see what idyllshire has in store.

I was just thinking at the end of the level 60 quest if X'ruhn is in his 40s then lambert probably is too and arya looks to be a teenager, wouldn't it be be messed up is she was his daughter or something. the only reason i didn't quite believe it is because lambert said he's been in a magical coma for many years.

fake memories? artificial humans? many possibilities.

i think its pretty interesting that despite its reputation it is not black magic that is the successor to void magic, it is red magic. and this is despite both black and void magic originating from mhach.

irony that the swashbuckling aesthetic class ends up being the demon summoning dark magic storyline.

wait that coffin is why witchdrop is haunted??

hey i happen to know a certain kitty cat that is a mhach specialist. too bad the questlines can't be interdependent.

hmm even the red mage writers get conjury and white magic mixed up

sorry arya but the 50=60 stuff was far more interesting than the 60-70 stuff

dragoon! ... orn khai just ate like 300 times his body mass in flesh

ninja: ok so we got a bunch of hingashi pretending to be from doma to smuggle a scroll out of garlemarld? I'm just waiting for karasu to be involved somehow. wait wasn't the house of sticks dude murdered like at level 20? there's karasu!

2nd? 3rd? time the game has said the doman rebellion was 1 year ago. the other time I remember off the top my head was right after doma castle when you talk to the blacksmith.

I feel so sorry for Akagi. we sent him on a goose chase to the literal opposite side of the planet.

Why is Karasu so focused on Oboro. he cares more about messing with him than literally anything else.

hey if zakuro is a mercenary we could buy out her contract.

oh that's interesting. yomei and all the shinobi we have met implied that ninja are from yanxia. but hanzo is saying that its from hingashi. then again all the shinobi we talked to were domans talking about their specific ancestral villages.

I totally do not remember who master sasuke is. and i don't think karasu is dead (again). oh master sasuke is the founder of oboro's village

whm: castrum oriens is an odd name given how it means east but is situated in the WESTERN part of the garlean empire

huh you can tell who is a padjal at birth. i remember reading in encyclopaedia eorzea or something that children only find out they're a padjal when the horn start growing in at like 10-15.

uh sylphie aren't you like 14. letting at 14 year old run the show and keep secrets from the conjurers guild while void sent are running around sounds like a recipe for disaster.

why not relocate both gatty and sanche to gridania. sanche would get better medical treatment, gatty would remain with her mother, there would be more conjurers on hand to deal with voidsent incidents, and there would be padjal on hand to tutor gatty.

the writers did this to keep sylphie's importance to the plot but this is a massive plot hole that e-sumi is having sylphie be gatty's teacher. first because as e-sumi himself said sylphie is still learning as an acolyte herself, she might have powerful instinctual magic but her learned knowledge isn't that good. second she wouldn't know white magic or padjal specific stuff. this is such a bad decision. also sylphie is still a kid has shown to be overwhelmed by the scale of this problem and having to take care of and be responsible for another kid. i guess the excuse is that it's technically the wol who's suppose to be doing the teaching but we all know that the player isn't going to be doing anything.

uh she jsut summoned a voidsent you sure she doing need more training its been like a couple months at most

[gaylentine]

does sapph have a name for her weapon? i am curious about sapph's hrothdad too :o

H GOD NAME FOR HER WEAPON. I WISH I THOUGHT ABT THAT BEFORE I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT. i dont have a name for it bc ive always just called it the Laws Order Rapier bc thats in in game name BUT i will not be thinking about that in my lil brain of mine. I DO however have other lore to share about it instead...

her rapier/nouliths, and her entire combat outfit shbr onwards (the exarchic variant one i designed with the heart motif) was actually a gift from the 'Crystal Exarch' that was given to help mend wounds and appease anger after she was summoned (and to just give her an actual outfit in her non-wol au). She designs most of her clothing but her actual most iconic outfit isn't sewn by herself! however it was still technically designed by her. She, alive sapph, never did, but the design of both the weapon and outfit were taken from her journal- from the doomed timeline, and then commisioned to be created by the Crystarium's greatest weaver and goldsmith. It was the last outfit she doodled out in her design journal before her death in that timeline :D

AS FOR HER HROTH DAD his name is Bozidar and he's an ex garlean solider! He was raised to be actually very loyal to the empire as his family suckered up for higher status so he was admitted to the army at a higher rank for his medical knowledge and he's. healed a lot of bad people. but because of his rank he was chosen to help learn red magic from Lambard (IIRC thats that villain from the rdm questline) so he knows both conjury (basically a full whm but without the lore) and red magic. he turned from the empire after falling in love and leading to his death his fiancee, a man who taught him to despise the empire he once loved. He actually found Sapph on the Steppe abandoned while he was on the run after trying to assassinate an Legatus. He didnt plan on keeping her at all but she wiggled her way into his heart anyway :D

[nonbinaryurianger]

I'm really tempted to do the Coils of Bahamut questline when it's relevant to Emix, but I'm also like 90% sure a lv70 WHM couldn't happily solo them unsynced and there is not a chance I'm putting a party together for? 13 raids?

[valena-nedela]

Valena is my only Warrior of Light OC. The rest have the Echo, but are just adventurers associated with the Scions — think like Arenvald, Coultenet, Hoary Boulder, and Aenor. So for everybody but Valena, the MSQ often goes quite differently, but her own journey is pretty standard. OC ramblings under the break.

Valena being the actual Warrior of Light, her story pretty much follows the plot of the game, with the only real difference being that the job quests are spread out among the other OCs. The main character perks still mean she's the one who's done the most, but she isn't so ridiculous as doing all the jobs. She's the star of the WHM, SCH, SGE, DRK, NIN, RPR, DNC, BLM, SMN, and RDM questlines. She's also canon a Bard, but Narumi was Jehantel's first pupil — Valena and Valys joined their lessons later. She's an omnicrafter, as well, though she shares the spotlight with Valys and usually at least one other on all of those. I like to think that while Valena is recognized as a capable craftswoman, the others generally resolved the quests. I think only Botanist, Fisher, Leatherworker, and Alchemist go to her.

Valeriane did the PLD, SAM, and GNB storylines. I suppose in her case Aldin got a fair rematch instead of being overwhelmed by the WoL's rejoined aether and backing down. She's the least crafty of the party, but she's competent enough with blacksmithing and armorsmithing to maintain her own gear.

Vavalenu trained alongside Valena as a Conjuror, but she was the one to inherent A-Towa-Cant's legacy, so they never became a true White Mage. They're the one who completed the AST, PCT, WVR, and CUL quests — while they're also a Dancer and Sage as well, Valena took the forefront of those.

Valley did the Monk quests, and while I haven't worked out the actual timeline for that, she wouldn't have started until post-Heavensward. Considering Widargelt's ties to Ala Mhigo, the proximity to the events of Stormblood certainly must have altered things. She was also learning to use Scholar and Summoner magic alongside Valena, but again, Valena was the one who actually drove the story on those. Valley does get the credit for the MIN and GSM quests, though.

Valys is the other omnicrafter, and has had the most quest involvement besides Valena, being the one who completed the WAR, DRG, VPR, CRP, BSM, and ARM quests. And while she was more involved with the Bard story than Valena, that one really goes to Narumi.

The party in general have picked up the background stuff while Valena - and often Narumi - deals with the main story. They were keeping a handle on things in Coerthas and Dravania while Valena was up in the Sea of Clouds seeking parley with the dragons, they remained in Gyr Abania to help the resistance while the other Scions went to Doma... I was going to say that they all remained on the Source handling things at home while the main Scions got yanked to the First, but it would be kind of funny if like... one of them got grabbed. Maybe Valys was grabbed, and Narumi joined the others for most of Shadowbringers. But they were definitely helping take down Telophoroi towers and hunting Blasphemies during Endwalker.

6/6/25

Is there a part of the msq that goes differently for you wol(oc)?

[candycryptids]

“The lake is so beautiful. I never noticed how clearly the sky is reflected in its surface.” - Sylphie

[macgyvertape]

FF14 Stormblood thoughts

Lets see, I posted my running commentary on wrapping up Heavensward in Oct '22 so it's been a while. My friend and I got busy and took a break from the game.

A long time ago I forget who posted:

“#do new players know any opinion they have about stormblood is basically akin to #someone finishing da for the first time this year and saying they have some thoughts about anders they'd like to tell you about #like cool it's understandable you have these thoughts. i however am running for the hills”

which now that I've finished Stormblood I understand, and that's with skipping a bunch of non MSQ stuff.

I'm so excited for Shadowbringers, it was impossible for me to dodge spoilers since people I follow for D2 were posting about it, so I'm going into it knowing a lot of the big spoilers while the friend I play with has no idea. So I was very excited to see a certain skunk haired character pop up post expansion patch.

Actual running commentary on Shadowbringers below, I'm so glad I took notes for when I took a break

Wow so theres swimming in this new city?

I know vaguely who Zenos is and he’s the main antagonist. Just waiting for him to be introduced since the antagonist in the beginning is a joke of a dude with a hammer

Zenos shows up with like a golf club bag of swords, I know this dude is supposed to be this game’s attempt at Sepiroth but I’m not impressed

It was very easy to predict that some of the people we just did quest for were going to die. But damn something happens to Y'shtola every expansion 

This storyline is very serious and draws on real world issues, which could not be more of a contrast to my friend and I playing it as we hangout and eat dinner

Fighting an unwinnable fight with my 2 applicable WHM damage spells. Sure he slashed me up but I feel like in universe I can heal tank through anything but a drugged drink

Wow the Black Rose is some serious warcrimes chemical warfare. 

I thought Lolorito was dead what’s a dude working for him doing here

Fuck this fish-dude with the bell. Its totally personal

Wow so the imperial viceroy is a asshole who has people kill their family for displeasing her. Really casting the imperials as absolute monsters

Wow huge underwater sections, also didn’t know the dragon-ppl lived underwater

The more Yotsuyu talks the more I’m like “hmm maybe Ilberd had a point”

Susano is a delight, he’s just hamming it up

Huh so apparently Kurenai is the real princess and the person we fought was the body double, I’m going to continue this questline even though it isn’t worth it exp wise just to see how this plays out

Gotsetsu returning to the village: not sure if the intent was to have him be naive, but he comes off as an asshole with talking about how he is owed hospitality and complaining about the tone people talk to him in. Like dude, the whole village is going to face deadly repercussions if you’re seen.

I didnt realize there was a wolf-person race. Why can’t we play as them?

I thought Yugiri was gonna die when we fought Zenos round 2. Guess he’s one of those trope “lives for a strong fight”.  

Took a week break then coming back to another new faction with Cirina kinda feels like its killing the momentum

I wasn’t expecting this Sun cult, Magnai is such an asshole, like fuck off with the slavery and a double fuck you with the sexism

Gosetsu is so arrogant, like if he would just shut up things would go so much more smoothly

Is Koko and Sadu of the Dotharl trans or non binary? Great if they are. Like their belief in reincarnation seems pretty understandable if you factor in the later lore about sundered beings being shards of each other and merging over time

Can’t believe we’re letting this empire dude run away for a second time

Yotsuyu had sad childhood backstory, still not sympathetic for the injustices she commits now. 

Hien is gonna flood Doma Castle, i know this is like a historical tactic but all I’m thinking of is Rains of Castamere

Damn Gosetsu got taken out by a falling rock (ceiling), how anti climatic I’m not really torn up about it because all the characters just stood around talking

I’m gonna really hope Hien actually killed Yotsuyu with that sword blow

At first i thought some of the questnames were coincidences, but no Doma part of Stormblood has a fair amount of Hamilton references

Oh no Krile, feels like a real kick the dog moment for Fordola

Summoning a primal to bring back a dead child, the question isn’t if this will go poorly but the extent of how poorly it will go. (Although you can resurrect people in battle so I guess thats gameplay and story difference)

I appreciate how Allisaie tried another option

The Shri Lakshmi mechanics were hard and annoying, most challenging fight in a while

Big fire the death star vibes for Fordola, also I just realized she has thigh high tights with the gap between the skirt. WHY instead of armor like other characters get

A randomly appearing Estinien, how did he know to come here? Why now? I have no idea but what a cool entrance, this is the hottest he’s ever been

Does Fordola have the fuckin sharigan?!

Lyse looks hot in the new dress but its the most impractical thing for a fight wtf. Its total fanservice, player character and her fly towards eachother in what could easily be framed as a kiss then the achievement is called “cheek to cheek”

Key to Victory is the quest type I hate where I don’t have firm directions where to go and I got instawiped by the npc followers getting close to the wrong enemy. Wish I could start on very easy

So we freed Krile, what about the rest of the people in the pods?

Zenos turns into the primal dragon that used to be Ilberd, talk about desecrating Ilberd’s belief in using the power to fight the empire

This is a very anticlimatic ending to 4.0. I’m not emotionally tied to Zenos either enjoying him as a villain or hating him as a rival, more like “ah not this asshole again lets see who wins the fight by virtue of plot armor” 

So Zenos killed himself after getting 1 good fight, but I know he’ll be back. I’m imagine my character standing there like the Saitama “ok” face

Ok so Estinian stabbing the eyes means Lahabrea and Igeyorhm are super dead

Guess Elidibus stole Zenos’ body. They should have burned it

Nero being Cid’s ex is the funniest way to interpret him joining the Ironworks

Why is this Arnevald guy talking like he knows me

All of the above written before Jan 2023 and then I took a break till November

Got back into the game and its like “here’s a backstory about a guy who was the product of sexual assault from an occupying military force and his horrible childhood” and then “here’s Fordola’s sad backstory where her father was stoned to death by a mob for collaborating while he was protecting her”.

So that’s really sad, then the next quests are the Sultana’s backstory and “go to the golden saucer, try not to get distracted, challenge impossible”

The orb dissipation duty sucks, I just failed it so I could do it on very easy mode

Me: Alphinaud is gonna fuck up paying for this sword, he’s talking to a pawn broker. 30 min later: yeah he fucked up

Patch 2 sure is my least favorite, I don’t like Gosetsu or Yotsuyu 

Wow not a surprise  the Imperial diplomat is also an imperial zealot, and he’s Yotsuyu’s brother meaning that whole family tree is fucked up

Me: guess the Tsukuyomi wasn’t so infinite. My friend: One Piece was a better anime

The camera really emphasizes Asahi’s crazy eyes and obsession with Zenos. Funny since Zenos then is obsessed with the Warrior of Light

This Garlean with a bunch of Ascian mask trophies is kind of intimidating, but he much have just killed the weak sundered ones. I have no idea who he is, but funnily I know what Ascain is running around as Zenos

Extremely annoying 2 part solo duty that I had to redo when almost getting to the very end, followed by very funny Y'shtola shooting down a guy who had the hots for her

Hell yeah Exarch showing up, now the fun begins because I’m very spoiled on Shadowbringers and my fiend has no clue 

Me: Mr nap time himself! My friend: whose this guy. Such a fun intro with Emet being mean to his family and hamming it up, where he’s ???? until the name Solus is dropped

I appreciate the non serious tune and amount of dutch angles in his intro

Oh shit the Ascian hunter is Gaius (not Balter), I didn't recognize him at all since the part of his old mask around the eyes was white I thought that was his skin color

Oh I’ve been mispronouncing Emet-Selch with a ch sound. Also lmao he takes time to be mean to Varis

Ok after the 2 part negotiation with Varis I want to see Solus bully Varis some more. He deserves it

My friend doesn’t recognize the Crystal Exarch from the brief bit at all, if he didn’t remember who Lahabrea is then no chance he recognizes G’raha Tia except that G’raha has been in Dawntrail marketing 

Damn so Stormblood ends with a fade to black and then a jumpscare evil Varis grin…

Post quest cutscene: Zenos bodyhopping I guess

[racke7]

Me vs FF14, part 3

I've now finally gotten every (free) class up to lvl 50 (not including Blue-Mage).

There's some interesting ones, and a few that just drive me insane.

Cut off, because geez this got long

Healers:

For dungeons, I've enjoyed White-Mage a lot, because it's relatively straight-forward.

You give the tank Regen, you AOE-heal when you see a bunch of people losing health, you don't stand in the enemy-attacks, you keep a DoT on the enemy, and then you just... press an attack-button and keep an eye on the tank's health. It's a good way to learn a dungeon (your role is "follow the tank, and stop them from dying" so you don't have to worry about getting lost), and honestly kind of fun. It gets more complicated in Raids or (Hard) Trials or what-not, because there are more people to keep track of. And since you do kind of have a responsibility (don't die), it can get really stressful in some situations. But mostly, being a WHM is pretty chill. (Even if you have to learn to be fondly amused at people running to their deaths, instead of angrily frustrated at having to resurrect them.)

Scholar is very similar to WHM, except you don't get "Regen". Instead, you have a fairy that does that role for you. So early-levels it's less infuriating to play, but later levels (when their less potent heals and lack of AOE-regen kicks in), it's easy to start getting a bit stressed-out about it (they also technically have more attack-buttons to press, and it freaks me out. That's just unnatural).

Astrologian is very similar to WHM, but with an added RNG-Buff mechanic that you're supposed to be using, which means that you have even more shit to do. So I feel like that one is only fun for masochists.

Tanks:

Compared to Healers, where it's an "easy way to learn the dungeon/fight", a Tank is the one where you kind of have to already know it.

Basically, as a Tank, you have to be the one running in first, drawing the aggro. Which means that you need to know where you're going, and which paths should be taken (and leading the party in that direction). So, if you end up in a dungeon/fight you've never been in, or one you don't remember? You end up feeling really foolish and out-of-your-depth. But when you know that shit? You look so fucking cool. Like, following after a Tank that knows what the hell they're doing? They just fucking leg it, and everything goes so fucking smoothly, and it's just... so cool. And then you can do it too.

Paladin was really boring to level, but it's so nice to be able to see a Boss' charging an attack and going "nah" and just triggering a defensive-skill to negate most of the damage.

Warrior was slightly less boring to level, but is honestly kind of... shit? Like, I keep running into moments as a Warrior where I'm so fucking close to dying. And as a Tank? That's really worrying? I mean sure, there's that "can't fucking die"-skill, but... it doesn't feel so good to have to trigger that just because you pulled a few too many mobs and you're worried the Healer isn't paying enough attention to your health.

Dark-Knight is... interesting? It's very damage-focused, but it does have a bit of damage-reduction (even one specifically against magic, which is a bit of an awkward distinction to keep in mind). I think it's probably the most fun outside of dungeons, and not quite as bad as Warrior in-dungeon.

DPS:

For the Main-Story Questline, I've mostly been using Monk.

It's... pretty comfortable? It's a DPS-class, so I don't have to feel like I'm constantly just out-lasting the enemy. It's a melee-class, so it's relatively non-squishy. And it has an easy-to-understand but relatively complicated mini-game of an attack-rotation, so you won't get horribly bored with it. It's squishy enough that I've gotten killed a few times, but it's mostly been alright. And again, the ability to have the combat-rotation feel like you're doing something is a life-saver in some of the MSQ-fights. Tried doing a Raid once as a Monk though, and trying to keep track of where I need to be standing and what enemy I ought to be attacking when and how and-... It wasn't for me.

Machinist has been pretty chill for speed-running dungeons, even if it feels like they've got too many buttons to press during boss-fights.

It's mainly for those times where the tank can just keep running forever, with an ever-increasing amount of mobs following behind them. With the instant-AOE with decent range, it feels like most enemies kind of disappear from that mob-train pretty quickly, and it's a nice feeling. I can only assume that Bard (or maybe even Dragoon) could be similar if I could just figure out how to play it. (They're at level 50, but I didn't say I'd done anything with them.)

Ninjas give me a headache. I've mostly just been using them to run around grabbing mat-drops for crafting, and apparently they get even more complicated at higher levels? Ninja is... a lot.

Summoner gets automatically leveled alongside Scholar which is... neat? But it also means that I basically don't play it at all? And it's... a mix between "this is complicated" and "this is pathetically simple" so... not really sure what to think about that one (the level 60-set is sooo fucking pretty though).

But for Raids? Raids is where Black-Mage is actually really fun.

See, during Raids, there are so many people everywhere, that one DPSer more-or-less isn't going to matter that much. So the "pressure to perform" is pretty much nonexistent. And because you're a Black-Mage, and therefore constantly trapped in "can't move, I'm casting a spell"-situations, nobody is even going to be surprised when you get yourself killed. Targeting is also really forgiving, because you have a charge-time to doing damage, so there's no point in you targeting the low-health enemies. And also, a lot of your DPS is AOE anyway, so just throw some of that at the biggest guy and hope that you're helping. It's like the chillest fucking class to play during Raids, and I love it to bits. (Even if the wait-times kinda suck.) I will however note that leveling? Sucked (so many levels to unlock the fun mechanics). Speed-running through dungeons? Sucked (can't keep up with the running). Fighting outside of party-situations? Sucked (they're so fucking squishy).

So... all-in-all?

WHM is the nicest for dungeon-running (also, shortest queue) and very good for learning dungeons/fights.

BLM is the hands-down best for Raids (even if the queue-time is way too fucking long), but sucks at everything else.

Monk is fun for non-dungeon encounters.

Paladin can be really fun (you look so fucking competent and cool) if you know the fight/dungeon, but also kind of humiliating if you don't (they also usually have a pretty short queue).

PS. Also, as a WHM-main? The times I've seen some DPS stand in the middle of an attack that they should be dodging? A few? It happens to the best of us? I have no strong feelings on the matter? I keep Swiftcast ready for Resurrections for a reason, and up until that point? People getting hit just means that I have a reason to do something other than pressing my single attack-button, so I'm fine with it?

PPS. But to the one Tank who went back in to stand in front of the boss when they were using a constant flame-thrower attack? And got like half their health shaved off in a fucking instant? Fuck you specifically.

[beyond-mortal-limits]

for the questions meme:

22. Do you  have a unique tale for their job class or is it pretty much like what it is in the game?

Disclaimer: I haven't played Stormblood yet (about to start Far Edge Of Fate) so all of this is with regards to class quests up to Level 60.

I've adapted many elements of the canonical class quests into Petra's backstory, though the one that's most intact is probably DRK. Most everything is the same, though certain events (like the Level 30 quest and the confrontation at Whitebrim) are changed slightly to match Petra's bespoke general backstory.

PLD, her main identity and first footing in ARR, is also mostly untouched - though a lot of the boring stuff to do with Grand Traditions Of The Paladin Order are dropped. For Petra, the paladin crown is instead evidence of her qualifications in Sultansworn training.

WAR is heavily changed up, and is more like a male anglerfish attached to the events of DRK 30-50. Petra never went to the Marauder's Guild, and Curious Gorge and his brother don't really exist. That said, the MRD questline was excellent and I loved playing it.

WHM and AST basically never happpened, but SCH does happen and takes place between the Level 54 and 55 quests of 3.0 - though with Petra and Alka's roles reversed, so that he's learning and casting Nymian magic while Petra receives training in Nymian Marine combat techniques. Halga Tolga's instruction makes Petra a better fighter within a team compared to her previous experience as a solo mercenary.

Petra has experienced none of the DPS jobs, ARC included. I might work in MCH 4.0 depending on what happens in those quests. I like the idea of Petra using a gun with her shield instead of a sword.

[sifafinalfantasy]

Morroyo as a Job Mentor/Guildmaster

Morroyo's questline would go more into the various Primals and the history of the Allagan summoner, but it's more showing than just TELLING them. He'd take them to various Allagan ruins, like the ones near Carteneau and the Crystal Tower. Also the ones connected with Mhach. Instead of just lecturing about them, he'd get his students actively in the field, taking readings, making observations, etc. Morroyo is very much the hands-on type. He would also ask learned scholars to help as well. G'raha Tia, first and foremost. Y'mithra and Rammbroes and the researchers in Mor Dhona. K'rhid Tia and Guildmistress Thurbygeim of the Arcanists' Guild. Surito Carito and Alka Zolka of the Nymian Scholars. Finally, he'd also introduce non-Eorzean traditions as well, like Geomancy, Hannish Alchemy and Ishgardian Astrology. Just because it's 'different' doesn't mean it's 'backwards'. (That attitude rankled him in both the WHM and AST storylines). The student would think him a cool professor type, but a bit weird compared to typical mentors/guildmasters. He expects a lot from his students and will not hesitate to tell his students if they're not performing to expectations.

[archer3-13]

whm i've actually done the ARR questlines for already, so im inclined to agree with you that its a solid overall questline. the senna siblings are decent characters, the story is focused and relevant to the themes at play, and the missions are interesting without being too overwhelming. i most definitely rank them as superior to the god damn paladin ARR questline which sucks and is boring.

the arcanist questline... i dont think its a terrible experience but i would say that it ends up being forgettable because its not really focused all that much on the 'learning to be an arcanist' aspect of the class questline. to compare with conjurer for a second, in the conjurer quests well you have the character story of helping a young girl overcome her own traumas and hangups, your also learning about how conjuration works in both a story and gameplay sense, its place in the world, its history, and it ties into the character of the weeks/questlines own struggles as a character. your just kinda doing things in the arcanist questline by comparison. like, theres a character narrative but its not really relevant to the class your supposed to be learning about which makes it feel weaker by comparison even without the problem of the majority of its relevance being sprung at the last minute. and then what your actually doing in a gameplay sense also feels unfocused. it all needed to be tighter in general really in terms of writing.

as for the thaumaturge questline, it ends up being forgettable because its bad, and not even in an interesting way its just bad in an annoying way.

I HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THE STARTING CLASS QUESTLINES IN FFXIV, SO HERES AN OFF THE CUFF COMPARISON OF THE STARTING CLASSES

this will all be subject to opinion of course, but idk i wanna do it.

starting with, how do each of the starting classes play before you upgrade to the proper jobs?

not well on the whole if im being honest. i dont think any one of the classes stand out in the below 30 range, a consequence of being the basic building blocks of the game but still. from best to worst

1 pugilist: its fast, it hits hard, its gimmick is easy to grasp, and it gives you a good collection of tools to easily slip in to how people generally play this insane game. the only bit i have a problem with would be steel peak and the chakra gauge, as steel peak feels pretty useless at the pugilist level [it hits slightly harder then a normal hit, but your basic combo is just better in every way then the set up it needs].

2 lancer: rather plain missionary as far as a dps class goes, though i feel thats to its benefit in many ways as its real simple to figure out and use. plus javelins are a nice poking tool as everyone charges recklessly ahead. what brings the class down somewhat is that it has no aoe before dragoon and that it feels sluggish compared to something like pugilist. hit sound effect is deliciously cronchy though.

3 archer: pretty much everything you'd realistically want from the class honestly, it feels a bit sluggish at the start but when ya unlock the aoe shooting the class quickly becomes one of the best for handling large groups of enemies. its solid all around if somewhat unexciting at times sitting in the back shooting arrows.

4 marauder/gladiator: putting them together because they play exactly the bloody same below 30. thankfully despite the worry i had going into a tanking class, i found myself rather enjoying the kit. the most difference between the two i'll note is that marauder is more aggressive well gladiator is more reactive as far as tanking goes. but again, at the below 30 level they play exactly the bloody same.

5 rogue: id like this class more if its kit was a bit bigger. like lancer its lacking aoe before upgrade but unlike lancer its kit is way too small to offer much variety in how you approach situations. plus the hide and backstab stuff is only really useful, so far anyways, in story moments or open world cheese. regardless, the class is fast and hits well so its feels exhilarating to use.

6 arcanist: its kinda intimidating when ya first get hold of it, but i find once ya get a grasp on the class its actually one of the more fun ones to play at low level. i feel it hits harder and faster then other magic classes, you can do a lot with it, and getting the rhythm for its use feels real satisfying.

7 conjurer: being a low level healer feels agonizing, your squishy, you cant hit too hard or fast, and the micromanaging feels daunting especially when your first getting used to the class. and when ya get the hang of it, it doesn't feel quite as rewarding as other classes as your generally stuck to the tanks ass, and if your arent stuck to the tanks ass then shits gone horribly wrong. atleast people seem to appreciate you more.

8 thaumaturge: unlike conjurer which was cursed by design as a basic bitch healer, thaumaturge feels awful to play on the whole in my experience. ironically you dont feel like your hitting as hard as the arcanist, your slower, the switching gauge gets annoying, and ya cant really do anything exciting with the class. i dont hate it, but i do think if a new player is starting with it, they'd get a pretty aggravating impression of the game.

and now, onto the stories of the class questlines themselves! again from best to worst

1 rogue: massively benefits from being the late comer. its more extensive, more cinematic, the character writing well not anything extraordinary is still solid overall, and well the quests can be a bit lengthy they do offer interesting things to do.

2 lancer: gets to rest at the top of the pile less because of anything specific it does and more so because of how it stands out. the only class quest line that functions as an honest to god tragedy/parable/whatever ya wanna call it which elevates it otherwise smaller nature compared to other class quests. i dont feel foulques is actually all that interesting of a character, and if another starting class questline took a similar approach as the lancer quests then i feel he'd be far less memorable [as hes just kinda a self important ass at the end of the day, despite his tragic backstory]. Still, in the lancer quests case, simplicity is elegance in that the quests are straightforward and the story direct in its impact. inelegant definitely. unique, definitely.

3 conjurer: its okay. doesn't trip over itself, says what it wants to say, and has you doing things that arent too much of a hassle. i really like its ending scene too where... conjurer girl finally properly connects with the nature magic vibes for the first time, and remarks on how much more alive everything now feels. its euphoric in a way, and makes the process of getting to the end refreshing.

4 pugilist: dumb but in a fun way, the quest stories for pugilist dont take themselves too seriously and just have fun with what they're doing and in that sense it makes the pugilist quests a lot more fun then i think they would be otherwise. its not a gutbuster, but its intentional comedy that lands which is to its favour. some of the quests themselves can be kinda annoying to do though.

5 archer: kinda bland and it trips over itself getting to the end. i like what its trying to do, taking two characters who follow diametric beliefs about archery and who get at each others throats, only to come together in the end to emphasize the benefits of cooperation, cultural exchanges and crosses, and to tie to archeries literal history within gridanias context. elezen dudes a bit too prickly though without getting enough redressing on the matter, miqo'te girl is underwritten which makes her struggles not land with as much weight as they should, and i feel the plot takes such a sharp turn into the poacher bandit thing that the ending lands with more of a whimper then a bang. plus the quests themselves can be rather annoying. still, it was trying to do something interesting and didn't completely fail in that regard.

6 gladiator: i like some of the character dynamics at play and the quests dont suck. the story is too ambitious for its actual runtime though, so everything feels rushed and underwritten, and theres nothing really at play here that connects too deeply to what it means to be a ffxiv gladiator either in terms of themes, setting or even just on a functional gameplay level like all of the above classes. those characters are the only thing holdin it at 6 really.

7 arcanist: im not a big fan on glasses characters so a story heavily featuring them and generic genius academic type characters who prattle on about statistics and probability or what not... well that wasn't gonna be a slam dunk for me. the plot for these ones also just feels meandering, and like the archer plot it takes a hard swerve into the new thing it introduces at the tail end to its own detriment, only even more so. at the end of the day im just not sure what they were trying to do here overall. plus some of the quests are kinda a pain to complete.

8 marauder: boooooooooring. not only is the story a drag, but its characters are not interesting in the slightest save for like... one joke about marauders not being good at subtly. plus its difficult to have a story where your antagonistic force is a monsterous animal that doesnt speak human, unless you really well characterize the monster or have good characters on the side. and the marauder quests dont do either of these. finally what doesn't help is that the quests themselves are kinda boring to play.

9 thaumaturge: this one legit pisses me off, and it has everything to do with the story and nothing to do with the characters. im not a big fan of the characters mind, but they're fine. whats happening though in terms of character actions and plot movement is just stupid though, especially that damn jar with the devil in it. and to top it off, the ending feels anti climatic as fuck! the one brother well possessed goes around killing at least a dozen people, yet theres no remark on the matter after the possession and the intended theme to be take away from all this is "believe in yourself :)". fuck this questline.