Replaying SWTOR is kinda making me realise that... FFXIV is better as a roleplaying game? I don't mean progression "RPG" stuff, but just in terms of roleplaying a character.
Like, yes, you play a very defined character in FFXIV and need to roll with a lot of what's happening. But as you do, you have the agency to go through class stories and side adventures on your own, plus the odd dialog choice. No matter what route you take through the game, FFXIV exhaustively tries to present it all as one coherent story starring you.
SWTOR meanwhile starts with some strong roleplaying choices, only to rob you of all agency whenever it is convenient. As you progress beyond your class story into expansion content, your agency dwindles to the point of insignificance. Vague references to past decisions becomes references to your class story, and your character's triumphs and abilities cease to matter. And worst of all, any sort of coherent personality your character had up to that point vanishes with it.
The Knights of the Fallen Empire xpac tries to remedy this by going heavy into choice & consequence, but it only highlights the game's flaws. While the story is
interesting it is so modular (to fit, IIRC, every single class in the game, of either faction) and becomes so tertiary to TOR that it's difficult to care.
In roleplaying games, I crave the opposite of ludonarrative dissonance (ludonarrative harmony???) moreso than agency, I guess. Probably because linear RPGs always let down in that regard, so the harmony is more of a draw.
Which is a very roundabout way of saying freeform, systems-driven roleplaying games like Mount&Blade or Kenshi are actually the best RPGs, because they give you both agency and harmony thanks to the absence of an authored story.
Unless they changed it since, you can't even take off your helmet as a F2P player. The original Mandalorians.
I think people overhyped Austin on Heavensward and were speaking from hindsight or nostalgia because his critiques of it are spot on. I personally think that he will like Stormblood more because it deals with the politics and factions that Austin is craving right now. Also the music they use in Stormblood is so interesting. A book could be written about just the music they used for the Doma Castle dungeon.
All advanced customisation options are locked, yeah. No hide helmets, colour matching, or outfits (for you or your companions), unless you pay to unlock them for your character or account. IIRC some can be in-game currency, but account-wide unlocks are all RMT transactions.
You also get mounts later, and get no rested XP, if you haven't bought in.
