Suggestion [remove Aether Currents as a catch up mechanic]

It's kind of meant to make you explore the map on-foot first, along with tackling key side quests. The fact of the matter is you'll get XP locked throughout the story, so those side quests that give a current also drive into more side quests for XP. There is no need to change anything, it's a a one-and-done process anyway.

Yeah, I kinda like the aether currents, its a pretty nice way of exploring a new zone.

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Originally Posted by technole

It's kind of meant to make you explore the map on-foot first, along with tackling key side quests. The fact of the matter is you'll get XP locked throughout the story, so those side quests that give a current also drive into more side quests for XP. There is no need to change anything, it's a a one-and-done process anyway.

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That's also how I was able to co-level WHM and PLD through both SB and ShB. I think I'll be doing the same with EW this time around.

I'll take aether currents over pathfinder garbage any day of the week.

Aether currents as they are now are just a time-wasting formality. Not bad enough to be a big deal, but pointless beyond the fact that they force exploration.

It's not a big deal. They're fat that could be trimmed at no loss other than a few whiny babies complaining about making the game easier or some stupid shit like that, but inoffensive enough to not really need removing. It's also nice to explore areas we'll otherwise have no need to go back to.

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Originally Posted by van_arn

They absolutely do get tedious if you're doing the unlock quest chains as you try to do the MSQ. The Ruby Sea, for example, has an *awful* quest chain for one aether current that stalls the MSQ for a good hour and a half, and it's not even an entertaining or plot relevant diversion.

A failsafe at the end of the (non-current) expansion that would unlock the same progress the player would unlock if they'd just skipped to the current expansion isn't a bad idea, especially if people are wanting to encourage players not to just skip to the current expansion.

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Not really? The Aethercurrent quests are all streamlined to be in same direction & progress of your MSQ the moment they are available. Aethercurrent quests may have some sidestory in them, but it's not required to do them after unlocking the initial aethercurrent quest. That's up to you whether you want to continue after starting the initial quest chain. If you do them regardless, it means you got hooked into the plot, that means the game's doing its job well.

As you progress through the MSQ, most aether currents are also in the same area as your MSQ requirement or in the direction of another aether current sidequest, so they're usually linked together.

It's only feels tedious if you actively try to hunt for aethercurrents before / after completing all your MSQ in the zone because you're essentially doubling or tripling the amount of time it takes for you to retrace your steps and grab those aethercurrents.

The only sidequest currents that take more than a couple of minutes are the two that require optional dungeons (Dusk Vigil and Shisui of the Violet Tides). And that's only really a big slowdown if you're a DPS and have to wait in the queue.