Replay value?

I just picked up the game about 4 hours ago for PC and have been just wandering around to get the hang of things. Locations, etc. I've chosen to become a Thaumaturge and was just wondering how long is the main quest? And how many hours would you say one could put into the side quests? I'm wanting this to be an MMORPG with a massive amount of replay value. Which, so far seems like it is. Does anyone know if they plan on releasing expansions as well?

My first hours in the game have been a really great experience. This is the first MMORPG I've ever played more than an hour of, lol.

you will get a mixed bag of answers.... I've started two different characters on different servers and enjoyed the replay value. you can play every class with one character so restarting isn't needed.

MMORPGS aim to be supported for years through updates and expansions, so yes if you enjoy it you will have a lot of stuff available to do as time goes on.

Many answers on the forums will be from level 50 character that are bored with the current content (not all of them, of course), hence some comments maybe be from disgruntled customers. Generally, players not capped yet are still playing the game, so try to keep an open mind.

I've been playing almost daily since its launch and still haven't reached max level on a class yet. It has a lot of replay value if you're into the crafting aspect (which not everyone is), but you'll basically have a much more enriching time if you don't fall into the common MMORPG trap of level-as-fast-as-you-can. Find some nice people and a good FC with similar interests, and slow down and take some screenshots or something and you'll be playing for a long time. I try to keep in mind that MMOs are pretty much supposed to be social interaction games, rather than a second job where I'm the one paying.

If you enjoy grinding, yes. But without the main story/sidequests to offer EXP getting up a 2nd class without creating a new character is mind numbingly boring.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Corrderio

If you enjoy grinding, yes. But without the main story/sidequests to offer EXP getting up a 2nd class without creating a new character is mind numbingly boring.

---

Then you clearly ain't finding enough quests.
I'm leveling up my 2nd job fine with no problem at all, the hunting log, Fates, Dungeons, rested EXP are all helping. SO it's not that much of a Grind.


@Sin_Harvester I'm glad your enjoying the game. Content is constantly being added all the time, I mean tomorrow we got the Lightning cross over event starting ;D

The main quest is designed to run all the way to level 50, so you have quite a lot of ground to cover. That said, the main story also unlocks a lot of unrelated content that improves gameplay considerably (inn, levequests, airship pass, duty finder/dungeons, retainers, Grand Company access/personal mounts, even certain non-dungeon areas are unlocked through storyline progression (like the Isle of Umbra).

That being said, don't feel you need to rush to the end of the story in a week - it's more worth taking your time and enjoying the story, as, apart from some minor exceptions, it is actually very good, especially towards the end. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Martin_Arcainess

Then you clearly ain't finding enough quests.
I'm leveling up my 2nd job fine with no problem at all, the hunting log, Fates, Dungeons, rested EXP are all helping. SO it's not that much of a Grind.


@Sin_Harvester I'm glad your enjoying the game. Content is constantly being added all the time, I mean tomorrow we got the Lightning cross over event starting ;D

---

Well truth be told I did go through most of my reserve for higher quests. About 35ish+, but you still have a finite amount of quests so you can go through them fast. And yes FATE is the main way to level, but it gets mind numbingly dull fast.

I'm going to use FFXI as an example, because I believe we'll see a similar pattern of content locks for XIV. As expansions came out for XI there were story lines with content/access to content near the end of them. Then there was the difficulty with being able to participate in content you often needed at least some amount of gear from previous things to be on-par.

Gaining access/drops for a character in all the content (Sky/Sea/Dynamis/Limbus/Assault/ZNM/HNM/Salvage/BCNM/Einherjar/Meeble etc.) is just a daunting task for your second character... Which depending on your time might be months of work. However XI and XIV allow 1 character to perform multiple roles by changing classes. So you can continue to participate in the content as one class, while potentially getting equipment you can use for another.

That being said with the lock-out feature (Coil) and Token caps (Mythology) getting to "BiS" ilvl90 on one job, let alone on multiple will take time, and isn't exactly friendly. Even using Philosophy tomes to fully equip yourself in ilvl70 requires quite a bit of grind. Leveling up a second or third (or more) class (unless you enjoy Fate Grinding) takes significantly longer than the first, however it isn't without its benefits and you do not need full "BiS" equipment to participate without 'wasting everyone's time'.

tl;dr I don't think that Replay Value applies to MMOs, I think continuous play value is a better term.

For those not informed, they are boosting dungeon XP in the next patch so hopefully they will be more desireable as a means to gain XP because a lot of them are pretty fun.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sin_Harvester

I just picked up the game about 4 hours ago for PC and have been just wandering around to get the hang of things. Locations, etc. I've chosen to become a Thaumaturge and was just wondering how long is the main quest? And how many hours would you say one could put into the side quests? I'm wanting this to be an MMORPG with a massive amount of replay value. Which, so far seems like it is. Does anyone know if they plan on releasing expansions as well?

My first hours in the game have been a really great experience. This is the first MMORPG I've ever played more than an hour of, lol.

---

If you are 100% sure you only want to play one class, doing all the quests (Story and Side) will probably take you 3-4 weeks at a somewhat casual pace.

If you aren't 100% sure you will only play one class and want to keep things a bit more entertaining for the second class, skip Side Quests the first time to 50. You don't need them to get there, you just have to do more dungeons/FATEs to make up for the lost experience, but it will give you something to mix in with FATEs during your second class to keep it amusing.

My first class I got to 50 in maybe 11 days? Not the fastest, but with all the time I could muster and with the intent on making it to max level as quick as I could. At a more relaxed pace, 3-4 weeks I think is a good estimate.

I agree that "replay value" doesn't apply when it comes to MMOs, only continuous play value -- unless you're restarting for aesthetic reasons or unwilling to pay for the server transfer because your friends are on a different one.

I've been playing for about a month and haven't gotten a single class to 50 yet. That's probably because I've dabbled into a different classes for a few levels to get a feel for which what i'd enjoy most. I originally thought I'd take MRD/WAR (because it looked so cool in the opening sequence :P) to 50 first, but I ended up enjoying SCH so much that I took the time to level thm/cnj for cross abilities, which I actually enjoyed too.

More importantly, my FC /LS keeps me entertained and are always helpful. IMO, it's the players you surround yourself with that determines how much you'll enjoy the game. Find yourself some good company, laugh/play/win/fail together, and always remember: it's just a game.

If you play video games 8-16 hours per day like several people on this forum, the replay value will not be very high for you.

For me the replay value will come in the form of skilltrade or craft, and not in the actual story mode. In fact I'm already kinda tired of grinding away and may start fishing on one of my character instead.
So while the replay value may notbe very high, there are at least other things you can do until new content has been added.