Just want to say a quick word of thanks to the devs!

So... I've been wanting to experience the story again, from start to finish, and while New Game+ could let someone do that, what I really wanted to do was roll an alt and experience the game through the eyes of a newbie.

But, the sheer grind of ARR always held me back from that idea. I created said alt (an au'ra) and got her to level 12 and just went "blaaah" and stopped as the pacing was way too slow.

Then, after getting caught up on my main with Patch 5.3, I picked this character up again now that it's near the end of the week and I don't have anything to really do on my main, and wow.

20.5 hours /played, and I've got:

ARC 31 (I just need to do the job quest to get the brd crystal)
LTW 21
BTN 20
CRP 23
MSQ is right after you join the GC, and the first GC promotion with nearly enough seals to get the 2nd one, as well as the chocobo and its related quests.

Granted, part of the speed is due to the 30% XP earrings and the fact I chose ARC as my first job (quick nock entirely wrecks your enemies at that point in the game and Peloton is awesome for getting around Pre-chocobo).

Crafting feels really nice now, thanks to the 5.1 changes, and gathering isn't such a slow slog thanks to 5.2. The pacing feels really nice, and I'm HQing things at a decent rate with a little thought put into what to do without the whole toolkit. Not guaranteed HQ yet, but if I take the time with the materials, I can pump the HQs out, and I'm already building up some tools and equipment here-and-there as I go.

So thank you devs for giving me a new reason to log onto the game for more than an hour a day 3 times a week, I've really missed having actual things to do.