As each year draws to a close and I eagerly look forward to seeing what my Heavensturn omikuji gives me in Final Fantasy 14, I tell myself I will do more within the MMO in the following year. It never happens. I set myself resolutions and (just like real life) ultimately most, if not all, remain incomplete by the time the next New Year rolls in.
It’s a cycle of disappointment. Instead of celebrating what I accomplished, I focus on all those things I failed to. It sucks the enjoyment out of the game and makes playing it feel more like a chore. This incomplete do-to list feels more and more like a Gunblade of Damocles as the year goes on.
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This Year’s Final Fantasy 14 Starlight Celebration Is My Favourite One Yet
FFXIV outdid itself with this year’s Starlight Celebration and the addition of the Starlight Stalls.
It’s time for me to break that cycle. Instead of dwelling on things I didn’t do, I’m going to remind myself of all the things I did do.
I Stayed Up To Date With The Main Scenario
It’s all too easy to fall behind on Main Scenario Quests in Final Fantasy 14, and this was one thing I was determined to change in recent years, especially with Dawntrail launching. I wanted to experience all the new content as it arrived without stumbling across spoilers on social media and seeing posts of characters I had yet to even meet.
The storyline is best appreciated when you can experience every plot twist and new reveal for yourself, and while Dawntrail had mixed reviews, I enjoyed my time with it and I think the recent Patch 7.1 helped solidify Dawntrail’s path forward.
I Dipped My Toe Into Raids
I’m far from being adept at raiding in FF14, but while I used to avoid this content entirely out of fear of being too awful and suffering the wrath of my fellow party members, I’ve since overcome that trepidation and thrown myself into both the Arcadion and Jeuno: The First Walk.
I’m still highly likely to eat dirt many times on any raid attempt, but I’m enjoying both the greater challenge of raid mechanics and bettering myself at them, reducing my death count each time I try it again.
Players aren’t always as judgemental as you fear they might be. When it came to my first attempt at Jeuno: The First Walk, the White Mage and I almost quit on the final boss as we kept messing up so much that we were embarrassed at how much we were holding the party back. However, our companions, despite being complete strangers, told us not to worry and stick it out together. We bagged the win only a couple of attempts later. Patience and kindness go a long way.
I Mopped Up Some Older Content And Minions
Content is being added to FF14 all the time, so it’s no wonder that there’s still plenty I have left to do. In fact, there’s plenty I have yet to even try. When it comes to older content, there are always bits and pieces I want to finish, such as continuing my beloved minion collection, or other coveted rewards I wish to snag.
This past year, I started actively working towards some of the older minions I’ve been missing and even completed The Great Hunt (Extreme) for the first time ever after realising I could solo it. I have yet to get the Rathalos mount, but I promise you it’s not from lack of trying.
I Finally Hit My Stride With Crafting And Gathering
One thing I’m especially proud of this year is that I finally hit my groove when it came to crafting and gathering. It was something I’d always dabbled in but never focused on, but with a little encouragement from a friend who knows far more than me, I was finally making bank. More importantly, I was enjoying the grind of Disciples of the Hand and Land with some helpful tips to get me levelling faster, which previously felt impossible.
For the first time ever, I levelled Miner alongside Bard with the new level cap increase, keeping both up to speed simultaneously and I enjoyed the expansion all the more for it by taking some time out and not rushing through just the MSQ.
I Stopped Putting Pressure On Myself
We’ve all got busy lives that pull us to and fro, and we’re not always able to play the games as we love when we want to. It’s something I’ve come to accept over recent months as the real world dragged me away from the digital world. Sometimes I go a few weeks without logging in to see my Warrior of Light, and though that used to feel like a bad thing, now I’m accepting that it’s ok.
Are there things I hope to accomplish in 2025 in FF14? Of course there are. But I won’t be making a list and holding myself to it. If I manage it, great. If I don’t, I’ll remind myself to look back at all the things I did achieve instead.
- ESRB
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T for Teen – Language, Mild Blood, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- PC Release Date
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August 27, 2013