Final Fantasy XIV RPG: Starter Set

This is a very straightforward d20 type of experience, very similar to Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder. Only the starter set is available at this point, but so far the rules are a little simpler and more streamlined than its peers. When comparing to Dungeons & Dragons, character actions/abilities and combat are most like D&D 4th edition. I wasn't as much a fan of 4th edition because it made D&D feel a little too much like an online game while previous (and later, with 5th) editions felt a little more open-ended and narratively flexible. 4th edition cut down too much on the individuality and different playstyles of its classes and put too much emphasis on positioning in combat. Seeing as how Final Fantasy XIV actually IS an online game, this style fits in much better for the Final Fantasy XIV TTRPG and lends it to feeling more like the original game than it would if casters had to prepare small subsets of spells, or if melee classes focused on weapon proficiencies or attacks per round instead of abilities. My main criticism is that this IS only the starter set, with the core rulebooks not yet published. This is great for just running a couple of games, but my own taste lies more in crafting and possibilities. I'm fine running these as a GM, but I'm really not one for prebuilt characters in a game built around character customization and emergent storytelling.

This is a very straightforward d20 type of experience, very similar to Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder. Only the starter set is available at this point, but so far the rules are a little simpler and more streamlined than its peers. When comparing to Dungeons & Dragons, character actions/abilities and combat are most like D&D 4th edition. I wasn't as much a fan of 4th edition because it made D&D feel a little too much like an online game while previous (and later, with 5th) editions felt a little more open-ended and narratively flexible. 4th edition cut down too much on the individuality and different playstyles of its classes and put too much emphasis on positioning in combat. Seeing as how Final Fantasy XIV actually IS an online game, this style fits in much better for the Final Fantasy XIV TTRPG and lends it to feeling more like the original game than it would if casters had to prepare small subsets of spells, or if melee classes focused on weapon proficiencies or attacks per round instead of abilities. My main criticism is that this IS only the starter set, with the core rulebooks not yet published. This is great for just running a couple of games, but my own taste lies more in crafting and possibilities. I'm fine running these as a GM, but I'm really not one for prebuilt characters in a game built around character customization and emergent storytelling.

As far as starter sets go, it's fairly standard as far as content. And for 60 bucks, if you're looking at it from just a bang for your buck you might be better of trying something like Pathfinder's Beginner Box which is 20 bucks cheaper. However, what you do get is a very unique TTRPG and lots of quality inclusions, 9 battlemaps with 3 pre-made scenarios and 12 character sheets that represent 4 jobs at 3 different levels. The scenarios are very linear, but that's to be expected and they are interesting for even seasoned players of the game.

As far as starter sets go, it's fairly standard as far as content. And for 60 bucks, if you're looking at it from just a bang for your buck you might be better of trying something like Pathfinder's Beginner Box which is 20 bucks cheaper. However, what you do get is a very unique TTRPG and lots of quality inclusions, 9 battlemaps with 3 pre-made scenarios and 12 character sheets that represent 4 jobs at 3 different levels. The scenarios are very linear, but that's to be expected and they are interesting for even seasoned players of the game.

Thought there would be an actual player book with classes but there isn't. It is very much a starter guide.

Recommended with extreme caveats. The starter set is quite a bit more bare bones than I'd consider standard (perhaps I'm spoiled by Free League). Less like a ttrpg and more like a board game experience with just a handful of encounters, no customization, no class rules or tinkering, just characters and encounters for levels 30/40/50. The player guide is well written with fun little comics. The translation of MMO mechanics like enmity seem promising. Once the initial disappointment at the lack of real options wears off, I am excited to try it. However it's frustrating how little this reveals about what I would consider the meat of TTRPG play, customization and expression.

Recommended with extreme caveats. The starter set is quite a bit more bare bones than I'd consider standard (perhaps I'm spoiled by Free League). Less like a ttrpg and more like a board game experience with just a handful of encounters, no customization, no class rules or tinkering, just characters and encounters for levels 30/40/50. The player guide is well written with fun little comics. The translation of MMO mechanics like enmity seem promising. Once the initial disappointment at the lack of real options wears off, I am excited to try it. However it's frustrating how little this reveals about what I would consider the meat of TTRPG play, customization and expression.