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Every expansion I have done MSQ and all surrounding sidequests until max level, generally I max before I run out of sidequests. This one seems to expect not just that but add in some fates and roulettes as well. I've been locked out of 2 MSQs so far because I wasn't high enough. I was within 10-15% of leveling though so it wasn't a huge disparity.
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I have been doing the same thing I've been doing for every expansion. Between roulettes, the MSQ, exploring the zones, getting 6 FATEs done per zone, the Role and +Quests and the various Exp Boni* I was ahead of the MSQ all the way to 80 without touching a single Sidequest.
It certainly helped that I incidentally completed the PvE and FATE part of the weekly agenda twice but I can't say I've been hurting for Exp at any point.
The one sidequest I did do was at level 80 to get a second ring.
*rested Exp, food, rank 2 of the FC buff and the Earrings for sub-71 content specifically
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I only hit two points where really had to grind a lil bit during the MSQ. Which was easily solved by rerunning some dungeons a few times. I ended up doing the 73 dungeon and the 77 until level sync capped as was also after the gear as wanted to save to coffers for a different job with longer queue times instead using for SCH. The rest of the xp was covered by MSQ, Role quests, exploration and a handful of fates.