Steamline the Newbie Experience!

With the advent of Stormblood, my friends and I have been discussing the newbie experience. There are attempts to try to help newbies, but they don't streamline the number of quests and levels required to reach other players.
Suggestion number 1: Make the newbie ring give bonus xp up to lvl 50.
Suggestion number 2: Make LEVELING ROULETTE ACTUALLY LEVEL YOU! Just make it auto level you by one, or better yet just make any dungeon within 4-5 levels of your current level auto level you
Suggestion number 3: With the scrapping of classes, make unlocking ARR jobs start you at level 30 like it does for heavensward.
Suggestion number 4: Make a potion that allows you to skip the ARR story. This needs streamlining, there are way too many quests to get through and so much effort needed to catch up to anyone who has been in the game for a long time.
Suggestion number 5: Make a potion that allows you to auto level 1 job to lvl 50.

I cannot say much of the first 3.

But 4 and 5 will happen. Not sure when but it has been talked about before.

4 and 5 will likely happen sometime during Stormblood's patch cycle.

For 1 it would make more sense just to buff EXP earned. They actually already did with HW. You don't need to do a great deal outside the MSQ to level. They will probably buff HW MSQ exp too in Stormblood.

For 2 at low levels the Roulette practically gives you a level as it is. Higher up its lower but its not supposed to make it that quick. If it was there wouldn't be any need for a potion. I mean the only real reason for needing this is for levelling alt jobs and as it is you get a 100% exp buff for every job after the first up to 50%.

The issue with 3 is the assumption they are scrapping classes which they aren't. If they change the class/job system Yoshi P said it would be in 5.0 at the earliest and made no promises it would even be then. As for unlocking ARR jobs at 30, if they do overhaul classes this might happen but I don't expect it to yet. For a start, quite a few of those Job questlines reference the class ones and SE would have to at least go through and rework those quests to avoid that.

Suggestion number 1: This actually already exists in the form of Company Actions. You should find one that is active but doesn't use it's actions very often and ask them to activate them for you. This not only helps you in the long run, but it could set you up with a thriving community of players who will help you progress through end-game. This may eventually exist in the form of items, but there's already a ton of ways to boost your experience, so I'm pretty sure that if they do anything it'll probably be through Recruit-a-friend.

Suggestion number 2: I don't think this kind of thing would actually work well, since it practically does just give you a level at lower levels, but in areas such as Heavensward, you really don't need to be gaining a level every day just from doing a single dungeon. I should also point out that dungeons are only relevant within a 3 level range, which is shortened to 2 levels in the expansion. So it really wouldn't make sense if you could auto level by doing a dungeon that you're being level sync'd for.

Suggestion number 3: With the scrapping of classes, you won't have to level a side class anymore to get your job class, you really don't need to "start" at level 30 since you'd be eliminating some crucial learning quests for those classes. Not to mention that I would not like to once again bring about the era of GLD/PLDs who queue up for Brayflox's Longstop and then suddenly realize that they aren't a damage dealer job.

Suggestion number 4: While I'm sure they are already thinking up a way for people to skip patch storylines, I'm also certain that players will not be able to skip the main storyline. Not only would it leave you completely lost in the game's narrative unless you watched a lengthy cutscene equivalent to a feature film, but it would overall hinder the experience for that player since they would never be able to return to said story.

Suggestion number 5: Literally no one wants this, ever. Either it's only available to new players, and you completely overload them with information and they are lost when it comes to actually playing their first job (this is also implying that you'd be able to skip the main storyline, which would be awkward if you couldn't), or you make it available to everyone, and then it becomes a question of whether or not that becomes a pay to win type of item. Hell, if you're willing to go that far, why not just make Zodiac weapon replicas available for purchase on the Mog Station when 4.0 comes out.

Honestly, judging from the suggestions you're putting forward, it feels like you want to literally take the experience out of the newbie. There's already a bunch of ways you can increase your experience gain so that you don't need to bog down with side quests, and all of them literally lead the player to being more sociable and active in the game's community.

My only problem with #5 is that it would be a 1 time thing. The leveling options seem in my honest option too limited. The fastest way to level is PoTD at least from 1-50, and even after buffing the amount of xp each quest gives, you still have the issue of running out of quests to level with. Perhaps making some side experience quests repeatable would be nice. If I were to rework the #5 suggestion that I put out there, I would say that make it available for purchase in the mogstation and make it an auto boost to level 30.

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Originally Posted by Schellering

The fastest way to level is FATE grinding

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There, fixed it for you

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Originally Posted by Schellering

I would say that make it available for purchase in the mogstation and make it an auto boost to level 30.

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That would be passable as long as you still had to do the Main quest in it's entirety.

Dunno if making everything a rush actually helps streamline things.. :/, I think of streamlining as more of making it fit and sleek, easy to understand.

Imo what could really help is creating a better recommendation tool, like a Adventurer LS you get early on that sort of sets up this cute communication with you and the leader of whichever inn city you relate to, a neat interface that helps me know when I have job quests available, where the heck I'm supposed to go for the next new dungeon, MSQ WHERE?, I'm in a zone hook me up with leves, hunts for THAT area, and suggest me to some FATEs, haven't been to the GS yet - you've earned a break.. etc. Even if there is a level jump potion there is still a LOT of stuff that you should be guided on, like just hit 50.. WHERE do you go? Armor, ilvl.. what? GC? What's a GC? So much wut.

When I came back I was like WHERE IS THE MAIN STORY PERSON~? lol I had to go into my journal, find the last quest I completed and then go online and read the quest chains to figure out the next one - cause the game wasn't recommending me to go there. Then I had to go figure out where many of the dungeons which the system didn't recommend either. It's certainly more old school / "immersive" that way but if we're talking about people joining really late wanting to logically get things done, then having to check online for a massive guide isn't the most ideal.

/la (linkshell adventurer) hook me up. Will get you a laundry list of things to do in that zone with consideration of your level and if you have a job quest, with bonuses for doing them in an order that keeps you doing new things (no 24/7 fates, dungeons, or w.e). Experience the open world and the new dungeons, and at lower levels yes reward large sums of EXP but making sure they're trying it all.

/la anything big? could be an easy way to check for new dungeons, MSQ, what have you.

Of course there would be an interface too, don't have to type if you dont want.

Could move some of the nice server messages into the communication too
/la Goodmorning Wubrant! (or whatever time frame it is)
/la I have a request in for an adventurer to check out an issue at Quarrymill, perhaps you should gather some friends! (text comes with a link to map so you can teleport there, marks on your map an npc you should go talk to to learn that scary girl is back and you need to go into X HM dungeon again).
/la Alphinaud would like to speak with you at " "

So by typing "hook me up" in the LS and then it starts a stream of content - she recommends you go to this fate while she looks over the leves, finish that and she has a leve in a nearby location with two minor monster hunts, finish the leve and the two hunts, you go back to the aetheryte for a quick rest - leve reward and you pick up a gift she prepared for you (2 potions, 1 meal), looks like some adventurers are getting ready to do a dungeon would you like to join them (prepares a dungeon queue for you while you do other stuff), looks like you just unlocked a job quest shows a map link, now that you're a higher level she asks if you want to see the beach, a great canyon, or deep forests - you click one and now you're doing your next bracket of content in a new zone.

Would be helpful for DoH and DoL too, especially DoL lol - where the heck you should be leveling and mixing in nice exp rewards while varying the content as much as possible.

I've considered they could also make it far more simpler (but the recommendation system still needs a bit more improvement) and they could make it a moogle buddy.. since I really want one of those anyways.

Kicking a person to level 50 doesn't really sound like the first step in streamlining the newbie experience, that's imo making it much harder to streamline.. because now you have all a sudden thousands of quests you can be doing, some of which are very important, as well as so many areas to visit, dungeons to check out, its just a massive all a sudden unlock. I think a system that could guide you around the game in both a beneficial and less grindy manor could be helpful. Even if you're still being booted to level 50, specifically making you level 50 isn't the key to streamlining.. that's just the key to making sure you can play with friends, but you'll still likely be massively confused (unless your friends are good guides).

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Originally Posted by The_Last_Dragoon

That would be passable as long as you still had to do the Main quest in it's entirety.

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And by that you mean ARR, 2.X patch progression and Heavensward correct? That brings up another can of worms. The patch progression between ARR and Heavensward often stigmatizes the game as a long grind of filler.

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Originally Posted by Schellering

And by that you mean ARR, 2.X patch progression and Heavensward correct? That brings up another can of worms. The patch progression between ARR and Heavensward often stigmatizes the game as a long grind of filler.

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Yeah, the Development team already said they were going to make it so new players could "skip" patch quests and content, but they definitely didn't say anything about the 2.0 and 3.0 main storyline.

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Originally Posted by Shougun

Kicking a person to level 50 doesn't really sound like the first step in streamlining the newbie experience, that's imo making it much harder to streamline.. because now you have all a sudden thousands of quests you can be doing, some of which are very important, as well as so many areas to visit, dungeons to check out, its just a massive all a sudden unlock.Even if you're still being booted to level 50, specifically making you level 50 isn't the queue to streamlining.. that's just the key to making sure you can play with friends, but you'll still likely be massively confused .

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I understand where you are coming from, and I agree that the suggestions all together would make leveling too fast. Not all of them are meant to be implemented together, thus separate suggestions. I talked with a few newbie friends of mine on another server, and the main issue they brought up was the patch progression, especially the 2.X between ARR and Heavensward

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Originally Posted by The_Last_Dragoon

Yeah, the Development team already said they were going to make it so new players could "skip" patch quests and content, but they definitely didn't say anything about the 2.0 and 3.0 main storyline.

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Well then that definitely is a nice step towards the streamlining. Clearly they know where they want to take the game and I just look like an idiot now XD

This is NGE, New Game Experience, this is what killed Star Wars Galaxies.

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Originally Posted by Schellering

I understand where you are coming from, and I agree that the suggestions all together would make leveling too fast. Not all of them are meant to be implemented together, thus separate suggestions. I talked with a few newbie friends of mine on another server, and the main issue they brought up was the patch progression, especially the 2.X between ARR and Heavensward

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I'm not sure exactly what part of the patch progression you're talking about but I can agree at least for myself when new stuff was added was every time I had to go check online for what to do lol. That was especially evident when I came back and was like trying to play where is waldo for the next step in the MSQ haha.

I know at some point they'll have to level boost players or seriously and costly redesign old content, so I'm not terribly against level potions .. it just seems like something that will have to happen if not now sometime later.. But I am concerned if they don't have a better guiding system that new players will either be blessed with finding either a person who has a guide, finding the guide, or just wandering aimlessly around having no idea what is actually a "good" idea to do. Because every NPC and their grandmother will have a ! and something maybe useless maybe important to do and so you'll just ignore it all except the most obvious stuff. Like I've met people who had no idea the game had PvP, or the GS lol. Add a level skip and story skip and people will not realize big parts of the game, perhaps missing important things for progress or just really enjoyable content/world building experience.

Most people don't even know there are NMs inside of leve quests (which is pretty cool), because leve quests are sort of a pain to activate now and FATEs are so plentiful (which is a major reason why I think a system that helps you obtain them remotely/via stream and add adequate bonus reward for mixing up content would help revitalize a dying but not useless content).

So I think we agree haha :D

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Originally Posted by Shougun

Add a level skip and story skip and people will not realize big parts of the game, perhaps missing important things for progress or just really enjoyable content/world building experience.

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I completely agree that the skips have their issues. Some of the go here and come back then go back out quests need to be looked at and those are the ones most people would look to skip. Possibly just streamline the main story by actually using the Scions Linkpearls they give you then hardly ever use. I mean, half the time that I was doing the main story, I remember thinking, why couldn't you have just told me that remotely? Why did I have to come here and then go back to where I just was?

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Originally Posted by Schellering

I completely agree that the skips have their issues. Some of the go here and come back then go back out quests need to be looked at and those are the ones most people would look to skip. Possibly just streamline the main story by actually using the Scions Linkpearls they give you then hardly ever use. I mean, half the time that I was doing the main story, I remember thinking, why couldn't you have just told me that remotely? Why did I have to come here and then go back to where I just was?

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Yes... So much yes.. You did not need to have me come to you in person to tell me to leave five zones over to buy some soup to come back five zones - I could have just bought the damn soup and brought it to you! lol :P

That's not even a change just for new players, that's a change for my sanity lol.

Also I'd love to see NPC use the mail, I thought it was the coolest thing when I completed a quest for someone in WoW and then like 4 days later I received a follow up mail from that NPC and a reward or once it was another quest. That was just such a small detail moment for me.

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Originally Posted by Shougun

Also I'd love to see NPC use the mail.

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Or better yet, allow us to mail turn ins!

If only they'd add a magical git gud potion for 100 bucks or so. We'll likely need it more than ever with all the people skipping the progressive learning experience offered by leveling properly.

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Originally Posted by The_Last_Dragoon

Yeah, the Development team already said they were going to make it so new players could "skip" patch quests and content, but they definitely didn't say anything about the 2.0 and 3.0 main storyline.

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This isn't entirely true. The only thing they have said about this is they are looking at implementing a story jump potion that fast tracks you forward in the story to a later point or rather auto completes the MSQ to that point. They have said nothing about skipping only patches. Infact their quest systems sounds like it might not be able to do that on a technical side of things.

They have said that Stormblood will require people to have cleared the 3.X patches.

the fastest way to lvl is , if u dont actually look at ur xp and ur current lvl every 30 sec :P leave it be play the game and in no time ur be lvl60 :P

u know if u look at the clock to much , it will go slower and slower :P

Buy potion, skip content and lvls.
Skip cutscenes.
Suddenly find yourself in Stormblood areas.
You don't understand a thing of what's happening and what those colored boxes do on your skill bar.
Skip 4.X cutscenes cause you don't understand a thing of what they talk about.
Be a terrible player in dungeons.
Complain that the community is toxic or that the game has no content.

I understand that some people want to pay money to just pew pew mobs but I'm afraid those skip potions will have some disastrous side effects.

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Originally Posted by The_Last_Dragoon

Suggestion number 4: While I'm sure they are already thinking up a way for people to skip patch storylines, I'm also certain that players will not be able to skip the main storyline. Not only would it leave you completely lost in the game's narrative unless you watched a lengthy cutscene equivalent to a feature film, but it would overall hinder the experience for that player since they would never be able to return to said story.

Suggestion number 5: Literally no one wants this, ever. Either it's only available to new players, and you completely overload them with information and they are lost when it comes to actually playing their first job (this is also implying that you'd be able to skip the main storyline, which would be awkward if you couldn't), or you make it available to everyone, and then it becomes a question of whether or not that becomes a pay to win type of item. Hell, if you're willing to go that far, why not just make Zodiac weapon replicas available for purchase on the Mog Station when 4.0 comes out.

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Yoshi already outlined a detailed approach to how they would implement a jump potion. There will be two potions, one allowing you to skip everything from prior expansions and begin at the start of the current one (Stormblood, in this case). The second will simply boost your level while skipping nothing; intended for people wanting to level secondary jobs without the grind. People who opt to purchase a skip potion do not care about the story. They're playing exclusively for the gameplay or social aspects hence why this appeals to them.

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Originally Posted by The_Last_Dragoon

There, fixed it for you

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Actually, you broke it. For 1-50 leveling, PotD is the fastest way. Even from 50-60, dungeons only come ahead with rested experience unless you have extremely fast queues. Fates have long fallen out of favour nowadays.

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Originally Posted by The_Last_Dragoon

Yeah, the Development team already said they were going to make it so new players could "skip" patch quests and content, but they definitely didn't say anything about the 2.0 and 3.0 main storyline.

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This is how Yoshi-P said the jump potion that exists will change once Stormblood is released.

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Finalized Changes to the Feature upon the Release of Stormblood

As I stated previously, the specifications mentioned above are for the potions in the Chinese and Korean versions of the game. We've decided that the potions will change in following ways for the Chinese and Korean versions upon the launch of Stormblood.

The story jumping potion will become the “Adventuring Records of Heavensward.” (we are currently discussing whether or not to keep "Adventuring Records of A Realm Reborn").
Upon using the “Adventuring Records of Heavensward,” the player character will have completed the main quest up to the final quest in patch 3.5 part 2, as well as accepting the initial main quest for Stormblood.
The "Adventuring Records of Heavenward" can only be purchased if the player has purchased and registered their copy of the Heavenward expansion.
Players will be able to boost one job to level 60 with the job jumping potion (the level 50 version of the potion will be removed).
The gear that the players will receive will be changed to level 60 gear for the corresponding job upon purchasing the job jump potion.

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This is how the jump potion will also be implemented if they brought it to other regions.

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Originally Posted by Schellering

Suggestion number 5: Make a potion that allows you to auto level 1 job to lvl 50.

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Level skip potion will come in the cash shop. It will give the job of your choice lv 50 or level 60 and mark every class/job quests of that job as cleared until that level (it don't touch the MSQ). Work only once each potion.

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Originally Posted by Riardon

Buy potion, skip content and lvls.
Skip cutscenes.
Suddenly find yourself in Stormblood areas.
You don't understand a thing of what's happening and what those colored boxes do on your skill bar.
Skip 4.X cutscenes cause you don't understand a thing of what they talk about.
Be a terrible player in dungeons.
Complain that the community is toxic or that the game has no content.

I understand that some people want to pay money to just pew pew mobs but I'm afraid those skip potions will have some disastrous side effects.

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Where have you been? Potions aside since they are not a thing yet, that's what people do right now! People skip cutscenes because they don't want to bother with the story and you have veteran players telling newbies to skip cutscenes so that things can go faster. Despite the novice network and the novice hall, you STILL have people who don't know the basics of their job and then cry foul when people tell them why they are messing up.

Skip potions would not change anything. All those things you fear were happening for a long time.

Wouldn't mind if Glamour/Dying/Mount Riding was added earlier to be honest.

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Originally Posted by MilesSaintboroguh

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No one really cares if you skip cut scenes. However, players have to level right now. And getting one skill at a time every so often makes learning far easier and far better than getting 20 or 30 skills all at once with no prior practice.

The problem does already exist, but jump potions will amplify it. When I took a break from the game for a few months, I forgot some of my rotations for certain classes. Having to relearn them from scratch was rough, I still am not at the level I'd like to be at with them. So even if you have people who want to be good players but used a jump potion, chances are they'll be overwhelmed similarly.

And honestly, the novice network isn't really helpful for anyone except people wanting an extra chat room, a pegasus, or a crown.

I don't won't skip potions added to the game they should just lower the exp needed from lv1 to 50 and maybe remove some of the filler quests from the ARR to HW some of them are pointless

The only thing I'd suggest would be to trim some of the non-essential MSQ from between expansions, such as the ARR-Heavensward gap. It's not the content that gets new players in my experience, it's the humdrum of chocobo-sniffing quests when there's very little action, no new features, and no useful gear, experience, or items as rewards while their friends are all off doing the latest and greatest.

That aside, I think FFXIV does a great job on the new player experience. I was new to FFXIV last summer and am new to WoW right now, and have dabbled in Guild Wars 2 and Blade and Soul. FFXIV stands leagues above the others in ease of entry (WoW in particular is a giant pain in the ass).