An alternative to a new story start point. (Idea proposal and discussion thread)

So I'll be honest. I've never liked the idea of skipping the story we've already got in favor of a new start point. I won't go into detail as to why, but I just think it goes against the idea of the game being an RPG first, and an MMO second.
But there's really no need to compromise that. Ironically a compromise is just what we need.

Here's an idea I just had that I think will future-proof the story for new players somewhat. It's not a perfect solution, but neither is what we have now.

So essentially, I think that you should be able to up-synch your level and gear to an expansion bracket in order to join raid, dungeon, and trial parties that you haven't done the story unlock yet. This would need you to go out of your way to enable it as to avoid potential spoilers for normal story-goers who might want to do some level-appropriate high end content in-between expansions.
There should be a warning when enabling this though. Warnings that you might see things that could reveal story elements before when you're actually supposed to learn them. Ideally giving you the option to limit this to non-mandatory content so you don't end up fighting (Endwalker Trial 2). Still, some players could figure out that one of the lines (P11S) says tie them to another character they may or may not have met yet.

As for the issue of players being given max level toolkits without knowing how to use them, I suggest something similar to Stone, Sky, Sea. You're given the toolkit for your class at whatever expansion level you choose, and a striking dummy. No time limit or health bar. Just the freedom to learn your rotation. There should also be a warning that you should practice a bit before enabling duty up-syncing.
Also, side note. This would help you know if you'll actually like the way a job plays before you invest too much time into it.

These additions would do wonders to get new players into the game much faster. People are already talking about the barrier to entry needed to get into current savage raiding or ultimates for brand new players. The mistake I see being made the most is treating Savage Raiding like it's THE endgame of the game that players are all working towards. It's certainly a big part of endgame, and my favorite aspect of it, but that's the best part of FFXIV. There are many different types of endgame.
You can start doing PvP at level 30, and face the same players who queue in from their level 90 character.
You can start doing Deep Dungeons from level 17.
Glamour prisms can be gotten from level 15, crafting can be started once you got your first class to level 10, and Roleplaying has no minimum level.
I don't see why High End Raiding and Trials should be any different.

I like the idea of offering a stone/sea/sky thing that allows you to play around with the current max level toolkit. Could add it as an option to the hall of the novice/the smiths, with appropriate signposting and explanation. Or to the inn room. And the DF. Maybe all of the above.

Uosyncing to allow participation in locked duties will spoil things, with some few exceptions, so I don't think its a great idea, personally. I mean, part of the reason The Dying Gasp (for example) is cool is its spectacle, but also it's b/c of the road you've taken to get there. Most of the game's instanced content is like that. If you want to unlock those things without context, the story skip already exists.

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Originally Posted by Alleluia

I like the idea of offering a stone/sea/sky thing that allows you to play around with the current max level toolkit. Could add it as an option to the hall of the novice/the smiths, with appropriate signposting and explanation. Or to the inn room. And the DF. Maybe all of the above.

Uosyncing to allow participation in locked duties will spoil things, with some few exceptions, so I don't think its a great idea, personally. I mean, part of the reason The Dying Gasp (for example) is cool is its spectacle, but also it's b/c of the road you've taken to get there. Most of the game's instanced content is like that. If you want to unlock those things without context, the story skip already exists.

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Ok, so this plus OP's idea would be kinda cool. I guess my thoughts are; "If a Sprout wants to do High end content, they first need to complete Hall of Novice content (Would probably need a rework to be more modern, but idk just going with it) and then they have the option available to them. I guess, almost a way to "prove" that they can run with the basic job duties they signed up for.

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Originally Posted by Alleluia

I like the idea of offering a stone/sea/sky thing that allows you to play around with the current max level toolkit. Could add it as an option to the hall of the novice/the smiths, with appropriate signposting and explanation. Or to the inn room. And the DF. Maybe all of the above.

Uosyncing to allow participation in locked duties will spoil things, with some few exceptions, so I don't think its a great idea, personally. I mean, part of the reason The Dying Gasp (for example) is cool is its spectacle, but also it's b/c of the road you've taken to get there. Most of the game's instanced content is like that. If you want to unlock those things without context, the story skip already exists.

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Well like I said, there could be an option to restrict it to only optional content. And it would have to give a warning that there are potential spoilers. Maybe just limit it to optional raids and trials anyway. They could also just replace story characters with shadow people, and cut their dialogue if it really makes a difference.
Overall, they'd mostly be minor to the main story. The Alexander raids just kind of come out of nowhere at the end of heavensward for example. (yeah, I know there was something in 1.0, but no one can play that any more.) The only probable exception is the Shadowbringers raids if you can piece together that [Redacted] is actually [Redacted] from earlier in Shadowbringers, if you've even gotten there yet.

Really this is just a way for players to prioritize the gameplay over the rote story experience if they'd rather start doing content with their friends faster. That's been such a big concern as of late. The 400+ hour story that you need to complete all of in order to join the current high end raids is a huge barrier to entry for what a lot of people would consider the best form of endgame.

I'd rather new players just save the story for later with incentive to complete it fully than just buy a story skip, or be given one automatically.

I think after 8.0 they could probably put Shadowbringers and Endwalker in the free trial, so people can experience that whole story at their leisure without a subscription. Then I don't think there would be a need for a new start point really, but I suppose since the story is just going to get longer and longer they may want to do something to get people out of the free trial and into paying faster. If they do make one, ideally they would make a "previously on" style cutscene that shows a reduced version of all the story being skipped when someone starts at the later start point.

People who want to skip just to get to endgame ASAP seem like a different issue, I would hope anyone with that mentality also wants to be good at the game and is going to engage with systems like Stone Sky Sea anyway. I don't think they need a new start point since the skips already get updated every expansion to get you to the start of everything new.

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Originally Posted by Fawkes

I think after 8.0 they could probably put Shadowbringers and Endwalker in the free trial, so people can experience that whole story at their leisure without a subscription. Then I don't think there would be a need for a new start point really, but I suppose since the story is just going to get longer and longer they may want to do something to get people out of the free trial and into paying faster. If they do make one, ideally they would make a "previously on" style cutscene that shows a reduced version of all the story being skipped when someone starts at the later start point.

People who want to skip just to get to endgame ASAP seem like a different issue, I would hope anyone with that mentality also wants to be good at the game and is going to engage with systems like Stone Sky Sea anyway. I don't think they need a new start point since the skips already get updated every expansion to get you to the start of everything new.

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Do you have any idea how long it would take to get from here to Endwalker without any skips? It would takes months. A new start is necessary soon. They should of done one for Dawntrail.

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Originally Posted by DamianFatale

Do you have any idea how long it would take to get from here to Endwalker without any skips? It would takes months. A new start is necessary soon. They should of done one for Dawntrail.

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The free trial has no restrictions on playtime, so if they put Endwalker in it it doesn't matter if it takes months. Those months would all be free.

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Originally Posted by DamianFatale

Do you have any idea how long it would take to get from here to Endwalker without any skips? It would takes months. A new start is necessary soon. They should of done one for Dawntrail.

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I still haven't heard anyone say exactly why we need a new start point aside from just getting to the endgame faster. Instead of getting to endgame fast, bring the endgame to the player earlier. What's wrong with a story that goes on for a long time? Old players already have it completed, and new players shouldn't care what's new or old since it's all new to them.

I don't know why anyone would rush end-game in FFXIV, it's just gear grinding and tome farming, seems a bit silly to get into a casual story-focused MMO RPG and then rush past the story to do... end game trials? Raids? How would letting sprouts play end-game content ahead of time do anything to help the story being long? The current raids for example are all SUPER story heavy and all involve the lore we've built in the last 2 expansions, letting them play that content without unlocking it via story doesn't make any sense to me.

Is it just to let potential players experience what raiding is like in FFXIV to hook them in or something?

Because if they hate the story so much can't they just buy an MSQ boost or something? Seems like there's already a solution for people that want to play FFXIV but not the storyline.

I feel like Dawntrail can make a fine entry to the series.

Much like 2.0 caught up players who didn't play 1.0, I think with the Zodi Arc behind us and the new Arc beginning, it could be a good place to start.

That said, it would be much easier if they weren't insistent on getting the Scions back together for the expansion. They broke up and it would be a better starting place if they weren't all coming along again.

Then there's also the problem that they would have to make an alternate series of quests, at least at the start, to get the player caught up with the players in Dawntrail. I don't think the devs would ever do something like they did with 2.0, where they sprinkled additional stuff throughout the MSQ for 1.0 players.