From my experience in FFXI, you need to look hard to find a clear story, even when found it's not the most coheasive one. It is a lot like WoW before Cataclysm expansion, goals are temporary and don't merit much interest. Every once and awhile a quest of more importance appears but because it's an MMO nothing major ever changes.
WoW actually has the major edge over FFXI with story now since Cataclysm has been introduced. Leveling bacame more linear (and way faster) but even at level 10 the world makes changes (A major sway in a war happens in Silverpine if that means anything to anyone). I can't say how story-oriented FFXIV is.
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