Only read opening post; haven't read replies yet. Maybe these things were mentioned before by others, maybe not. Not sure, but these are just my thoughts and opinions on the MSQ skip potions.
The issue I have with the MSQ skip potions are that they're just a band-aid to try and fix a larger issue with this game's design.
This is the main issue I have with them, not the only issue, but I won't get into those here.
I'll preface with saying that I love the story in this game. I have alts just so I can go through the story again, and experience it on different characters, or as a different job from what my main was when she did the MSQ. I have no intentions of using job potions for alts because spending extended periods of time on story content doesn't bother me. I enjoy doing it when I'm burnt out or bored on my main because I've already finished capping tomes or doing my dailies or whatever.
HOWEVER. SE continues to lock new expansions behind the previous ones. 3.0 was locked behind completion of 2.0 and 2.x. 4.0 is going to be locked behind completion of 3.0 and 3.x. While 3.x isn't nearly as long or as fluffy/full of filler content like 2.x was, the fact that SE continues to make previous expansions prerequisites for future expansions only increases the appeal of MSQ skip potions for those that are so eager to get to the Mystical Endgame, and who don't care about the MSQ. If 5.0 is locked behind 4.0, and 6.0 locked behind 5.0, etc., it will eventually come to a point where a new player, unless they WANT to slog through 4 or 5 expansions and years of old content to reach the current endgame, will be almost forced to pay for a skip potion.
I understand that fixing 2.0 and 2.x MSQs would take a lot of work and dev time away from newer content. I'm not suggesting SE focus on that (as much as I think that would be a better solution). But SE can start rectifying their past mistakes of locking expansions behind other expansions starting with 5.0 (since they've basically already said 4.0 is gated behind 3.0+3.x). And perhaps that would reduce the need to purchase MSQ skip potions as this game continues to grow, and will hopefully promote newer players coming into said game. However, SE is a business, and businesses live to make money. So I don't really foresee any kind of fixes to the game formula, especially if it means the skip potion's appeal will grow as time passes and new expansions are added.
I personally think that if SE cared so much about "catching new players up with veterans", since this is their claim behind wanting to add said potions, they would take a note from WoW's book (since so many people seem to want FFXIV to be similar to WoW), and include a free MSQ skip potion with the purchase of a new expansion, and still offer additional ones in the Cash Shop, since, they're going to shove it in there anyways. Instead, they stack charges, and charge new players for:
1. Subscription
2. Base game (A Realm Reborn)
3. Expansion(s) (since the skip potions are predicted to come between 4.0 and 5.0 [probably 5.0], this means Heavensward AND Stormblood)
4. MogStation transaction for Skip Potion
That's a lot of cashy-grabby. Me, personally, if I were a new player and saw that I, not only had to pay any where from $50 to $100 (depending on current sale prices/deals) to get the base game/expansions, AND start paying $10-15/month sub cost AND THEN pay $20-ish for a skip potion, I'd probably say "Lol nope." But, that's just my opinion on the matter.
To Players in Denial the msq for Arr isnt that long SE is just makin a Business Move!
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12-24-2016, 03:39 PMHyoMinPark
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12-24-2016, 04:12 PMSpookyGhostWas going to make a huge post on this but basically when MMOs were young developers actually cared about making an immersive experience with proper world building, exploration, community interaction, etc. In EQ/early WoW/XI everything was focused on doing stuff with other people and helping eachother out which helped form passionate communities. Then came the advent of end game, which lead to people becoming "raiders", which lead to people only caring about end game because "that's where the real challenge is!", which lead to everything that old MMOs stood for dying. A lot of people like to say that XIV is a "story-driven MMO" which sounds like it'd be good on paper, but it just means that there's a linear quest-to-quest-to-quest path that leads you to the end of the game. No more exploring, no more excitement, no more need for a community since you can just queue into DF for everything, etc. etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ilan
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12-25-2016, 11:15 AMbswpayton
How grinding for gear is so fun is beyond me haha
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12-25-2016, 11:52 AMRita1989I personally hate the jump potion but I do agree with SE decision to gate expansions behind story this isn't WoW, story is a huge part of the game and a continuous narrative is why I keep playing if they had to reset it every expansion or start completely from scratch I would definitely be less engaged in the game and if someone wants to skip it they should pay.Quote:
Originally Posted by HyoMinPark
Anyways the jump potion should never be mandatory so don't list it like you need to buy it and honestly I can see alts making up most of purchases not new players, SE should still be trimming the 2.0-2.55 content prior to 4.0 considering the jump potion won't be ready in time for release. -
12-25-2016, 12:55 PMAwfulI mean that depends do you raid or do you farm tomestones every week? Idk how this came about while we're all talking about the Jump Potions that you create-unless you're talking about free 50 gear that they get or whatever then that's fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by bswpayton
But back to it, a lot of raiders raid to get their BiS and most optimal gear such as myself it's a thrill to push yourself to the max as a tank or healer or dps that's one of the only reasons why I raid to get better and optimize myself for raids. If you don't find it fun it's fine but if you're going about it via tomestones yeah I can see how you can get bored/burned out. -
12-25-2016, 01:17 PMSendohJinIt's not a mistake, it's a design choice. They want to tell one continuous related story. If the story is not over it has to be linked.Quote:
Originally Posted by HyoMinPark
Your issue with it is not "fixable" the way you think it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by HyoMinPark
for FFXI each expansion is a self-contained story with no overlap, the main characters and most of the supporting cast are different for each one and the villains are different in each one.
for FFXIV the Scions grow/change throughout every expansion and the Ascians and Garleans so far have their hooks in everything. FFXIV can't break into a new story until the WoL defeats Zodiark and overthrows the Empire. when they make an expansion story that has no Scions/Ascians/Garleans/GC Leaders in it you'll get one that can be started without completing anything of the others. -
12-26-2016, 02:40 AMPriya
I'm only against the story potion. The XP one is fine, but the story skipping ability should be there by default. The biggest problem with the MSQ is that it's required to enter dungeons/zones. If SE would just unlock those dungeons/zones so that someone could enter them regardless of where they are in the MSQ, it would fix the problem. There's no reason to make people pay for that.
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12-26-2016, 02:47 AMbswpayton
But why not tho to me the price is warranted because of the longevity issues. Even if they only charged ten bucks has to be something , If someone comes in with jump potion only intentions I'm sure a longevity of pT will exist. So important to get most front end money as possible if u skip seventy five percent of the game I doubt u will be a six month or year subber