In Final Fantasy XIV there are certain player types that each of you has encountered at some point. Here are 7 of them.
Veterans know them all. These specific types of players that you will encounter in FFXIV whether you like it or not. They are everywhere and have become almost part of the gaming experience.
Some of these player types can certainly be found in other MMORPGs, while others are exclusive to FFXIV. However, you will encounter them sooner or later in the game. If you are new players who just recently started in the MMORPG, you can mentally prepare for them already.
The AFKers
They are probably the first people you will encounter in FFXIV. The AFKers do exactly what you would expect from them. They stand around all day and are AFK. The most popular places to park one’s character are usually in the capitals, preferably right next to the teleport crystal.
The fanciest projections come out (bonus points if you have an Ultimate weapon) and a spot is chosen where as many people as possible can pass by, especially if they want to visit the market board. Alternatively, instead of cool poses, loop emotes like never-ending dances are also used. A legend says that the playtime of these people is so long that it could be a phone number.
The number of AFKers has currently decreased drastically because they are automatically kicked from the server after 30 minutes.
The Speed-Runners
This slightly hyperactive player type emerges when a squirrel downs a can of Red Bull. You won’t notice the Speed-Runners at first when you end up in a dungeon with them. This is because they immediately activate sprint and are over the hills before you even understand what’s happening.
But don’t worry, once the Speed-Runner realizes that he or she is alone, they most often go back. Unfortunately, often with a big pack of mobs in tow. With a bit of luck, the whole group survives the action and continues at the same pace.
Sometimes it helps to write in party chat at the very beginning of the dungeon that you are new and doing the content for the first time. But only sometimes.
The Explainer Bears
The Explainer Bear is basically the opposite of the Speed-Runner. If you, as newcomers, end up with this player type in a content, they will show you step by step exactly what you need to pay attention to during the fights. Whether you want it or not.
You can’t be mad at the Explainer Bear. This player type just wants to help and make sure that you have a lot of fun in the game. And in the end, hopefully receive all the honors for being the most valuable player to get that fancy Chocobo mount.
So grab a coffee and cookies and prepare for a longer text explaining to you that red circles on the ground are bad for your HP.
The Invincible Bot Army
They are everywhere. They suddenly appear in front of you or teleport to an Aetheryte and immediately vanish into thin air. They come in large groups, all look the same, wear the same gear, and have exotic-sounding names like Hoasihsda Tsoabsfknf.
It is the army of bots that farms the same routes uninterrupted every day. They infest MMORPGs like locusts and even FFXIV is not safe from them. When you’re out in the open world, you will eventually encounter a group of clones standing still and performing the same actions. Do not fear them, as they cannot harm you. It is best to report them one by one and continue on your way.
Every week, Square Enix bans thousands of accounts for illegal activities, but even the developers cannot keep up with the invincible bot army. It is pure Sisyphean work that will probably never stop as long as there are MMORPGs.
The Billionaires
If you encounter the billionaire in the game, you probably won’t notice it at all. Unlike billionaires in real life, they don’t drive Bugatti cars or fly into space (at least not before the Endwalker expansion).
Often, the billionaires in FFXIV are invisible. It could be one of the AFKers dancing next to a teleport crystal. It could be one of the crafters sitting unobtrusively in the corner producing something for 7 straight hours. It’s almost impossible to recognize them in the crowd of players.
But when you open the market board, you quickly find their traces. It is their assistants who dominate the free market and place countless amounts of an item for sale. And lower the price by 1 Gil every time you put your own items in.
The Couple
The couple can be found both in the wild and in the instanced content of FFXIV. This player type always operates very subtly. In the cities, they stand so close to each other that it looks like their characters are almost kissing. Alternatively, one character sits on the lap of another, and they have targeted each other or spam emotes.
In dungeons, they can be recognized by their same last name, and they usually appear in the healer-tank configuration. They decide how the dungeon goes, and if one half of the couple dislikes something and leaves the dungeon, the other is immediately gone as well.
And you then have the choice: Sit and wait for a replacement. Or leave the dungeon and go back to the long DPS queue.
The One Guy in a Frog Costume in the Background
Every newbie runs into this player type at the latest when they arrive at the 8-man instances Castrum Meridianum or Praetorium. The cutscenes to the story in these dungeons cannot be skipped. Accordingly, many players have seen them so often that they could recite the text in their sleep backward.
To at least have a bit of fun, some experienced players dress up in silly costumes to add a touch of humor to the serious cutscenes. However, the costumed character does not necessarily have to be a frog. Alternatively, it can also be a fat Chocobo, a Namazu, an Easter bunny, or a chicken. There is plenty of variety in FFXIV.
So, if you wanted to take cool screenshots of your first encounter with Livia or Gaius van Baelsar, you should expect that a pink frog will likely be visible in the background.
What about you? Which of these player types have you encountered the most? Let us know in the comments.
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