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Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

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  • 41

Sad about the current state of the Lodestone

Public


As I am approaching 4 years of playing the game and being on the Lodestone; one of the things I really miss about the old days is how the Lodestone used to be compared to how it is now.

There used to be so many interesting topics and posts discussing them. Debates, agreeing, disagreeing, advice, help, bitching, trash-talk, it was all there in some way and it was great, knowing that if you posted a thought provoking post it would get replied to.

But now there is just.....nothing. It is rare a well crafted thought provoking post is posted and when one DOES get posted, it is usually either mostly ignored or gets very few responses.

I mean look at the last few days of the Lodestone posts right now and how many of them actually have any replies or comments. Barely any, right? And with those, it is pretty much the "I like your post" type comments. Honestly, that is not surprising since the posts are mainly pictures of some type, FF logs, or short comments about something. The few that are longer are mostly ignored.

I think this is especially sad in the fact that it is kinda-sorta still in the patch season right now so people are still around. But even then, no one wants to bother to comment and discuss anything anymore like the old days. Though to be honest, the content TO invite discussion is not there either.

This is one of the reasons I don't bother posting much here anymore. (Of course my non-fans would probably like it if I did not post anything EVER again! ;p ) The view counts for it are mostly low, and the comments very few if any at all. Of course I still post on occasion, but nothing like the old days.

At least I still have fans and followers who will sometimes still comment on my blogs. And lets not forget the non fans who hate what I write, (but STILL read my stuff! ;p ). They might have negative comments, but at least they comment. (And I don't mind if it's at least constructive criticism. ;-) )

Another thing too are the stories, not from me but in general, they pretty much are mostly gone from here, hardly anyone writes anymore. I think Cleo, Kahori, and Klaus are the only three besides me that I have seen in the last few months that have posted anything, and even they have been slowing down putting stuff out. Honestly, I don't blame them. If their view counts are anything like mine now with them, I understand completely.

It's sad to see the slow death of this site and I don't really see anyway to change its fate. Maybe it's just inevitable, a victim of time, change, and age. If so, so be it. I had some fond memories of the dissuasions here, as well as the blogs I have written, both fiction and non fiction. I will continue to post from time to time, both on FF 14 game stuff, stories, and non-stuff when I feel like it. Whether it's commented on.....well, that's up to you. ;-)


Comments (41)

This comment has been deleted.

Rieve Alavaix

Cactuar [Aether]

I think the last year has taken a toll and at the end of the day people have less energy to spend on things that maybe feel a bit less important than other things. There's a lot going on and not all of us have the emotional energy to invest in stories other than the ones we're living irl.

Also to keep in mind is that 7+ years of ARR+ means that there are fewer minutiae to discuss that haven't already been discussed to completion.

As Misa said: if writing makes you happy, write.

Esper Eidolon

Diabolos [Crystal]

I still write here. Just not nearly as often as I use too because my stuff can not be censored.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

Misa, you are not wrong, I should just do it for the sake of enjoyment. But while in the early days that WAS good enough, over 200+ blogs of stories later one wants to see that others are reading them too. For that means your efforts are giving enjoyment to others, and it is a REALLY nice feeling to have fans of your content.

Whether the others who write feel the same or not I have no idea; but honestly I would be REALLY surprised if the view counts didn't matter at least some to them.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

Yes Reive, people get bored and just stop both posting and commenting on stuff.

Of course it does not help that the content is not there either to provoke discussion. For a stark example, go back 3-4 years and look at the posts to see how different it was. There were more thought provoking posts with the comments to go along with it. It was a different time and a lot of fun to be a participant on here.

Bear Ironfist

Faerie [Aether]

Popularity of discord probably killed a lot of it too. Players wanting to share experiences can now do that on there. While it isn't really a place to writing, not many are doing that anyway.

But yeah, lodestone is a shade of its former self. Back in ARR, I could post a blog and usually get my first comment in 10 minutes. We also used to cap blogs with 99 comments and have to start and second blog for responses!

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

Yes Bear, that too. You should see the various discussions on the FF14 discords I am on about stuff related to the game plus a lot of general silly stuff.

A latest interesting one on the MINE discord is how Piety and Tenacity are actually GOOD to have in builds and show the hard numbers to back up this claim. It's actually made me reconsider how I should gear my WHM and use piety instead of spell speed.

Bad thing about discord though is everything tends to get lumped in the chats.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

I think something else that I should clarify is that yes, people DO write blogs of their encounters and adventures from time to time, but only a few of them keep it up month after month, after year. Most fade away after a few posts having gotten bored with doing it.

So you will see spurts from people of things, then they are gone. Sometimes they return, most often they don't.

And yes Esper, I know you post quite a bit, but it's been a while since your last story, I think it was in November?

Siglinde Skysworn

Sargatanas [Aether]

Lodestone is pretty bad for discussions IMHO. The comment size is so small, 500 chars! And there aren't even basic functions like bold/italics/underline, I can't edit my comments either - I have to delete and repost them.

Lodestone is very feature-poor for a blogging site, it doesn't have many features considered standard on a blogging platform, and this has annoyed me since I started blogging more "seriously" in late 2019.

This comment has been deleted.

Siglinde Skysworn

Sargatanas [Aether]

P.S. I am not surprised that piety and tenacity are good at min ilvl, they are designed to be progression stats. The healers in my static also got piety gear early on. After you cleared, learned to do the fight without mistakes and have your BiS is when you go all out max dps.

Vesta Neptuna

Ultros [Primal]

You actually wanted to read drama? I guess you missed the chaos between me another but thats over with. I dont think the lodestone is the place for personal quirrels. So yeah I guess the place is dead in that regard.

Vesta Neptuna

Ultros [Primal]

Also it was much worst even before you arrived. There were stalkers and whatnot.

Vesta Neptuna

Ultros [Primal]

As for posting encounters, I do it off and on. Not every encounter is blog worthy though and I just 'do dungeons'..which is boring to most people.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

Ugh, you are NOT kidding Sig. the limit and inability to edit is REALLY annoying!

But I deal with it anyway for some weird reason. ;p

Yeah, you are probably right about the stats for min ilevel. As for changing them afterwards, I think only savage raiders really care about upping the DPS to the highest possible for easier farming.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

Oh I read a little of it Sahara, but I felt it was one of those things where we were only getting half the story about the situation so it was a bit hard to understand the motivations. But as you say, it's over and in the past.

Yeah, I know people sometimes post about their runs if they feel they were interesting enough to tell about. After all, we do so many of them, I don't expect posts about everything.

Ugh, stalkers, but here? let me guess, people in the game following them here to post?

Siglinde Skysworn

Sargatanas [Aether]

DPS is valuable as long as you're attempting to farm, because it adds a margin of safety. If you have barely enough DPS to kill the boss, then everyone must play perfectly - no death, no damage down, and that's a huge burden on everyone. Just try farming things like that, it won't be a smooth experience, lol!

Siglinde Skysworn

Sargatanas [Aether]

It's just that, before you have learned all the fight, the margin of safety added by piety and tenacity can be more valuable than that added by dps. Even if you already lost the firepower to clear, in progression there's still value in recovering to see what the next mechanic is or to practice later mechanics.

It's weird that you say only Savage raiders care about increasing DPS! If you ask me, it's that non-Savage raiders don't prioritize DPS enough. Lol.

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Lolo Menehune

Siren [Aether]

Ok so I was going to name a variety of writers on here of various subjects...but suffice to say on page 1 and 2 you will find=:
-Fan fiction writers with little to NO acknowledgement from "vets".
-chronicles of leveling
-Updates on Fashion/Strats/
-How to's nicely written for everyone's edification
-Artwork
-Of course the usual bullshit of: MY FC LEADER fucked us by.....he or she hurt my feelings..blah blah
-The writer with the ego of Zeus's domain
-Floggs/ "Oh there is a blog here?"

Lolo Menehune

Siren [Aether]

What I see being the most absent Ann in my opinion is writers CONNECTION to their audience. Having comments flowing under the writing/blog/ information is what pumps the blood...but having the writer interact with the comments, getting familiar with the people writing is what is lacking. Reading is one thing, leaving a heart is cute and all, but connecting to what is written enough to say "Hey, I noticed (insert person's name that commented ) we should run something in-game!

Lolo Menehune

Siren [Aether]

That is what I find different. Whether is was a certain sharp tongued Elzen talking about pulling a entire dungeon without his tank stance on...then flirting with other Elzen female characters posting on here lol. Or a snarky Lala who knew their shit, and called everyone's BS. Or a cute Blond Miquote that was quick witted and flirty. TO a sexy red head that posted her sexy glam of the month, or a Raider that posted about lawn gnomes and the challenges of Doing Savage material. Those people

Lolo Menehune

Siren [Aether]

could draw you in. Like them or not, you felt compelled to respond, or at the very least think of a response for their next post. I think a lot of us hold back to some degree due to the ban hammer that plagued us awhile back, when in reality it's really self imposing a ban. But I understand, all it takes is ONE person upset, at cursing/ slightly suggestive glam or stories, disagreeing, ect to get you banned. Funny how censorship is a two sided blade.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

Wow, Lolo emerges and writes like a demon! Thank you Hon for your inciteful comments. ;-)

Sigh, you know, you are not wrong about the whole -Fan fiction writers with little to NO acknowledgement from "vets".

I HAVE tried to catch the posts from other people and make comments in the past, but I admit I have been slacking about commenting even though I do try and read them> Why? A lot of the time, I just don't know what to really say. I guess it could be a simple "nice job" type of post.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

to let them know I read it. Maybe if more people did that, they would not just stop at a few posts.

The other things though, you were right on the mark! Though you forgot the foreign language posts which no one can read unless you understand the language. ;p

I DO wonder though who the writer is with the Ego; I don't think it's me. LOL

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

As for the other thing, I think that is one of the reasons I do have followers and the whole linkshell thing on Aether. People took an interest of my posts, partly because I responded to their comments and debated with them. They grew to know me, we met in game, and well, DID stuff and STILL do stuff in the game.

But I won't lie, it takes a while for something like that to happen, plus the effort to want to make it happen. I wanted to meet you all, so I created the linkshell for it to happen.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

And finally, I heard about the great 'purge' of 2016, and what it did to this place. It's a shame too that people are wary about their content for fear of reprisal.

But for me, I actually am not. I have posted some rather wacky and annoying things, and probably have offended more than one person. Yet I am STILL here!

I DO wonder if my blogs ever get flagged, but if they do I get no notice of it nor have any been removed from the Lodestone. I STILL say the moderators like reading my stuff. ;-)

Mahdi Draaken

Faerie [Aether]

In the days of my youth, I was told what it was to be a man
Now I've reached the age, I've tried to do all those things the best I can
No matter how I try, I find my way to do the same old jam
Good times, bad times , You know I had my share
When my woman left home With a brown eyed man
Well, I still don't seem to care

Mahdi Draaken

Faerie [Aether]

dont forget the guy who just posts random lyrics from cool songs!

Turwaithion Aewen

Adamantoise [Aether]

I wish I joined the Lodestone back in the days you spoke of. I would have loved to see that type of community here. I just started posting and was curious in what type of content I should write about: about me, a story, or in or out of character, because the Lodestone seems like it has a ton of possibilities.

I love the community in game (at least the ppl who talk and help out), so it'd be neat to see it branch out to on here as well.

Lolo Menehune

Siren [Aether]

Turwaithion, really the best thing would be to try all of it. THEN, ask your FC to read it. I bet you 86% of your FC has NO idea there is even a blog on here, and the small percentage that had most likely posted once or twice..or quietly lurked. Having your FC mates hype you up at the very least will give you inspiration and constructive critique from those you actually would listen to. Bottom line, write what feels good to you. Write for yourself first and foremost!

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Freya Firestar

Omega [Chaos]

It is kind of sad about the lodestone, I personally believe discord killed it, however its has been used for a number of things which I don't think it should have been used for, I have had someone posting malicious accusations against me and trash talking me, I don't think it should be used for that sort of thing. I think anything positive and helpful yes that's fine, anything that contains drama then no I don't think that should be posted anywhere at all.

Cherish Ashbel

Faerie [Aether]

I could name a handful of people I uses to have some banters here about 4 years ago. I noticed a decline of activity since then and their disappearance sort of pulled me with them too.

Although I think Mahdi’s the only one I really remember from those days lol. Maybe Lolo, too, who might remember me as a lala.

Lolo Menehune

Siren [Aether]

I do Cherish...and I forgive you, we all lose are way sometimes :D LALA POWerrrrrr ;P

Lolo Menehune

Siren [Aether]

I wish there was an edit button...sigh. *our

Lisotte Poena

Sargatanas [Aether]

Honestly, not even back in 2.0 did I really know Lodestone blogs were much of a thing. I remember Wordpress blogs and the like. All my feed ever showed was JP blogs (which are numerous; Valerie was reading some and she said they're hilarious). Wish I'd have seen the blogs before. Honestly was surprised to get any views at all on them, thought people didn't blog much anymore.

Also, I didn't know you have a blog here too. Personally I'd probably suck at fanfic writing lol but yours looksgood

Lisotte Poena

Sargatanas [Aether]

Also, I really appreciated your comment and had responded to it, Valerie has definitely enjoyed the game in a different way. She felt kinda bad about the comment though so I deleted both your comment and my reply. But I was thinking really crappy to delete a comment for valid criticism, so I'm sorry about that and won't be deleting comments in the future I think.

Lalli Physalis

Sargatanas [Aether]

The irony that this post has generated so much engagement is not lost on me xD

I think the pandemic isn't helping, that's for sure. I for one was really hyped to get into HW and write about it, but the covid situation worsened in my country, our government got really intense about it, and it just kind of nuked the mental health progress I'd made. Right now I'm floating somewhere in between a constant state of panic and crushing sadness. When I get like this I don't really do much tbh.

Lalli Physalis

Sargatanas [Aether]

On the main point of your post Anna: the Lodestone seems a relic of a bygone era in many ways. People have gone on to platforms that are flexible and have apps because phones are basically the new PCs. I was thinking that if/when I start writing again, I'll try posting my entries on Tumblr as well. I'll see if there are people over there who are more active than on here. The platform is more flexible than the Lodestone that's for sure.

Vesta Neptuna

Ultros [Primal]

"Ugh, stalkers, but here? let me guess, people in the game following them here to post?"

No. It was mainly done by someone named Haley. Basically if you were a female(and made it known you were irl), he went go creep mode and stalk a person's blog. We once had a rather elaborate poster about her sex life and he went so far as to transfer to her to server.. He got banned forever though from the game and lodestone.

Kupo Warkson

Siren [Aether]

"Debates, agreeing, disagreeing, advice, help, bitching, trash-talk"

Trolling, you forgot trolling. But I feel like I was the cause of 90% of the debates and trash-talk on here back in the day. It's definitely empty without any people to troll, I don't even know why I decided to post on here again after so long.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

IKR Lalli? :D

Thought you were gone hon. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I guess it's really hard in the cities not having much access to nature to get out of your home and go places. Plus so many people in one area does not help much.

One good thing here though compared to places like Discord is that it's easier for your thoughts to be noticed and commented on. With discord, all posts are stuck in one of the various posting areas so there can't be distinctive dedicated discussions.

Annabel Ashcroft

Faerie [Aether]

Oh GOD Kupo, Yes I remember the trolling, especially on MY posts! ;p

Yeah, I would not be surprised if you disappeared again out of boredom.

Honestly, the only reason I am really around is the statics I am in, otherwise I would take another long break from the game.

Game wise, I guess there is the new stuff next week, but that will only last about a month before I finish it. Then I'll be bored again.

Thesa Victoria

Jenova [Aether]

i didnt know if this site was that so lively as you speak of. This is also my first post in the site.. and i just "walking" here and there out of curiosity lol
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