5.0 and MSQ Skip: Free Skip Potion?

So maybe, I've missed it with all the news about 4.5 and 5.0 but has SE addressed what are they going to do about the MSQ regarding skip potions?

Because if new players, have to go through hundreds of quests just to get into 5.0 areas and content, I can foresee a lot of them just quitting way before they even finish ARR. ARR alone has 285 MSQ quests.

Some of these are soul-crushingly tedious and I say this as someone who enjoys story.

So will SE give out free skip potions or something similar with 5.0 or will it be $kip potion on the Mog Station again?

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Originally Posted by TwistedTea

So maybe, I've missed it with all the news about 4.5 and 5.0 but has SE addressed what are they going to do about the MSQ regarding skip potions?

Because if a new player has to go through hundreds of quests just to get into 5.0 areas and content, I can foresee a lot of them just quitting way before they even finish ARR. ARR alone has 285 MSQ quests.

Some of these are soul-crushingly tedious and I say this as someone who enjoys story.

So will SE give out free skip potions or something similar with 5.0 or will it be $kip potion on the Mog Station again?

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If they'd quit in ARR why would they be any more likely to get through the 5.0 stuff?

This is starting already? Wow.

They will give the option to buy each expac separately and will add Stormblood/lvl70 jump potion to the list for 5.0. Its a service not a privilege, you pay for what you need/want.

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Originally Posted by jameseoakes

If they'd quit in ARR why would they be any more likely to get through the 5.0 stuff?

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Because ARR does have a whole bunch of pointless fetch/delivery quests,fetch,go here,now go there,now come back again just so we can send you off again.

As many people say, HW was way better for me but having to tell new players, "It gets better in HW!" is a poor selling point for the MSQ and the game.

I don't think SE would ever give MSQ skip potions for free, they want you to go through and enjoy the story, but no doubt they will advertise them for purchase on the MogStation should players choose to go down that route.

Didn’t they talk about hopefully addressing ARR’s MSQ in the future? Of course, thinking it would be in time for 5.0 is probably wishful thinking.

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Originally Posted by HyoMinPark

Didn’t they talk about hopefully addressing ARR’s MSQ in the future? Of course, thinking it would be in time for 5.0 is probably wishful thinking.

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This was mentioned and then the Titan quest chain was brought up and they said they wanted to keep it while laughing, then they said possibly a sidequest chain instead. So it will probably be coming but I who knows when.

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Originally Posted by jameseoakes

If they'd quit in ARR why would they be any more likely to get through the 5.0 stuff?

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Because Heavensward and Stormblood are infinitely better? 2.1 to 2.3 is almost entirely pointless filler. Not to mention a good chunk of 2.0 itself is riddled with filler quests (Hi, Company of Heroes). While I never contemplated quitting outright, I was getting to the point of actually skipping dialogue when I reached the Company of Heroes. It just got so damn boring. It doesn't help early leveling showcases the absolute worst aspects of FFXIV's combat. You basically don't have a rotation of any real merit until almost level 50.

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Originally Posted by bass9020

This is starting already? Wow.

They will give the option to buy each expac separately and will add Stormblood/lvl70 jump potion to the list for 5.0. Its a service not a privilege, you pay for what you need/want.

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This is starting now because there's still time to implement a default free skip MSQ option up to the start of 5.0 for new players. Maybe with recap cutsences or something so that everyone has a general gist of the story.This makes even more sense now if "New Game +" is implemented.

I fail to see how skip potions are a service. We buy the game, the expansions and pay a subscription.

Current skip potions are a lazy and profitable way for SE who chose to gate nearly all of the content behind the MSQ.

Some people will point out that XIV is an FF game before it's an MMORPG but at some point in order to compete with other MMORPGs for subs, the MSQ is a gate to end-game raiding/crafting/chilling out in new areas etc.

MSQ skip is a premium feature.

Your best bet would be on a free one for the next "complete edition" but not just for the expansion, not even for the collectors edition.

This is an MMORPG , if you want to skip everything they worked hard to create, you better be ready to pay extra for it.

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Originally Posted by Talshara_Blade

This is an MMORPG , if you want to skip everything they worked hard to create, you better be ready to pay extra for it.

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Don't see how your statement is relevant.

In fact, because it's an MMORPG, it'd be wise to remove unnecessary gates to content which people can do together.

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Originally Posted by TwistedTea

This is starting now because there's still time to implement a default free skip MSQ option up to the start of 5.0 for new players. Maybe with recap cutsences or something so that everyone has a general gist of the story.This makes even more sense now if "New Game +" is implemented.

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Even if they gave out free skips, would it really be all the way to 5.0? That'd be one movie to give the idea of story and characters... I could see ARR skip or free trial extension as some kind of thing, but straight up to 70 isn't that likely and will make further story fairly meaningless.

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Originally Posted by Turnipsi

Even if they gave out free skips, would it really be all the way to 5.0? That'd be one movie to give the idea of story and characters... I could see ARR skip or free trial extension as some kind of thing, but straight up to 70 isn't that likely and will make further story fairly meaningless.

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The story is not relevant for many players. Maybe some parts of it are interesting. These players here are for end-game raiding,crafting,socializing in the new areas,taking screenshots etc.Heck, the fact that paid skip potions exists indicate that SE is aware of this segment of players and they are significant enough to cater a product for them.

And every time something is like this is brought up, people defend the MSQ saying that XIV is a FF/story-driven game first.

Sure, that's all fine and dandy but are we really going to call the MSQ as it currently is, conducive to an MMORPG experience?

For the most part, it's a solo experience and you use the lobby finder/duty roulette to clear duties and trials.Then get back to your solo MSQ experience.

"Story-immersion" is another reason often brought up but when you have things like, a character, who has not even completed ARR's MSQ being able to teleport into Shirogane or using 2 person mounts to fly friends to SB aetherytes they are not technically supposed to be at, aren't those "story-immersion" breaking?

ARR MSQ sucks and a long tedious grind to get to HW which is better but not great.

All that MSQ AAR filler should be made optional. Period.
Making a mandatory MSQ quest where we run around the world so that Tataru Taru could make tea was a ridiculous idea in the first place.

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Originally Posted by Edax

All that MSQ AAR filler should be made optional. Period.
Making a mandatory MSQ quest where we run around the world so that Tataru Taru could make tea was a ridiculous idea in the first place.

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The devs and others will say it's too much effort/time/money to change existing MSQ/code since it's interwoven with so many other parts of the game. I'm inclined to agree.

So my hope is that new players will get a free skip MSQ option to the start of 5.0 with a recap movie to fill them in on the general gist of the story.

Also with 6.0, moving away from this concept of the MSQ gating everything, including non-combat content.

Why are you so concerned about new players? We go through this every expansion and never once have had a problem. Let a new player decide what they want or dont want. The game is still going and hasnt shut down, even getting 2 new DC's, I think we are ok.

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Originally Posted by TwistedTea

So maybe, I've missed it with all the news about 4.5 and 5.0 but has SE addressed what are they going to do about the MSQ regarding skip potions?

Because if new players, have to go through hundreds of quests just to get into 5.0 areas and content, I can foresee a lot of them just quitting way before they even finish ARR. ARR alone has 285 MSQ quests.

Some of these are soul-crushingly tedious and I say this as someone who enjoys story.

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Why would people want to skip most of the game? The only soul-crushingly tedious part is the gear grind at level cap.

When you buy a game, you want to play the full story and content you get.

If you want to catch up to friends, you either start now playing or buy the jump potions.

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Originally Posted by xbahax92

When you buy a game, you want to play the full story and content you get.

If you want to catch up to friends, you either start now playing or buy the jump potions.

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"The story is not relevant for many players. Maybe some parts of it are interesting. These players here are for end-game raiding,crafting,socializing in the new areas,taking screenshots etc.(The other reasons people play an MMORPG as opposed to a single-player game)

Heck, the fact that paid skip potions exists indicate that SE is aware of this segment of players and they are significant enough to cater a product for them."

No the skips won't be free... they've already shown that you have to pay for skip to 60 and it would make no sense for them to allow skip to 70 for free. I do suspect they will have a free fantasia this time around like they did when they introduced Aura.

SE invested most resources on these content,
& some people choose not to do it...lol
there's not much left to play in this game really.

You won't have more fun on gears & glamours than the story,
Idling in the town & queue for duty finder 1000x times are not better than reading the story text & watching the quest cutscenes.
then you will get bored very soon & move to the next FOTM game, just like other 95% players

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Originally Posted by TwistedTea

Don't see how your statement is relevant.

In fact, because it's an MMORPG, it'd be wise to remove unnecessary gates to content which people can do together.

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unnecessary gates? THAT is the game!

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Originally Posted by ShanXiv

SE invested most resources on these content
& some people choose not to do it...lol
there's not much left to play in this game really.
then you will move to the next FOTM game very soon, just like other 95% players

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Investing resources does not equate to quality enjoyable content; see Eureka.

There's a lot to do in this game even without the MSQ or Eureka.Also I'm not against the entirety of the MSQ.

I've done all the sidequests from ARR to SB. Have most of my Beast Tribes at max rep or close to max rep.

Leveled up 3 healers and 2 DOLs. Plus a few other classes at various levels.

Currently leveling all my crafters. Once I'm done with crafters, it'll be onto farming old Ex primals for mounts either solo or duo. Then maybe some of the old ARR raids solo or with a few friends.

Then maybe attempt to clear POTD/HOH solo. After which maybe all the Gold Saucer stuff/levequest/fate achievements/rewards...

Don't make assumptions about my attachment to this game.

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Originally Posted by TwistedTea

Don't see how your statement is relevant.

In fact, because it's an MMORPG, it'd be wise to remove unnecessary gates to content which people can do together.

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There's plenty of content new players can do with others while they're leveling to 50 and experienced players can always level sync to do dungeons and FATEs with them.

It's a story driven game and part of the pre-50 story is starting to take on new significance. Instead of trying to push them into end game faster, wouldn't it be better to encourage them to take their time and enjoy the journey then help them get through the more tedious parts with player assisting player? Just give them a friendly warning that some of the early content isn't the greatest because it was scraped together from 1.0 leftovers but it will be worth it in the long run.

I have yet to meet a player that started by using a jump potion that didn't end up regretting it, even if part of the leveling experience thru 2.3 can get tedious at times.

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Originally Posted by TwistedTea

Investing resources does not equate to quality enjoyable content; see Eureka.

There's a lot to do in this game even without the MSQ or Eureka.Also I'm not against the entirety of the MSQ.

I've done all the sidequests from ARR to SB.

Leveled up 3 healers and 2 DOLs. Plus a few other classes at various levels.

Currently leveling all my crafters. Once I'm done with crafters, it'll be onto farming old Ex primals for mounts either solo or duo. Then maybe some of the old ARR raids solo or with a few friends.

Then maybe attempt to clear POTD/HOH solo. After which maybe all the Gold Saucer stuff/levequest/fate achievements/rewards...

Don't make assumptions about my attachment to this game.

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I've 1 main & 4 alts, all of them had finished the MSQ,you can finish 1-70 MSQ in 1-2 weeks I think.
two of them had maxed all DOW/DOM/DOH/DOL jobs
all DOH/DOL jobs are max level ,by doing supply mission(just hanging out some items to the NPC) and the tribe quest, that's not very fun.

The mounts in Mog station are much cooler than some old ex primal mounts..
the XDS Fenrir, Moogle, Cloud, Odin horse & the whale mounts for example, & the XDS has a speed boost.
The lv50 ex primal drop some horse mounts, their tails are very ugly..I never use them

The old raid dungeons could be fun on first or 2nd try, but they are getting old very fast.
Collecting the old raid gears? you can buy them in the market board, & they are better because they are dyeable.

You won't meet many new friends in this game because it encourages you solo almost everything in this game.

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It's a story driven game and part of the pre-50 story is starting to take on new significance. Instead of trying to push them into end game faster, wouldn't it be better to encourage them to take their time and enjoy the journey then help them get through the more tedious parts with player assisting player? Just give them a friendly warning that some of the early content isn't the greatest because it was scraped together from 1.0 leftovers but it will be worth it in the long run.

I have yet to meet a player that started by using a jump potion that didn't end up regretting it, even if part of the leveling experience thru 2.3 can get tedious at times.

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I took my time with reading dialogue and not skipping cutscenes. So I'm all for new players who want to do the same. However, the number of posts here and on Reddit about new players getting burned out by MSQ,especially ARR MSQ is not something we should ignore either or try to brush away with, "It'll get better in HW, we promise!" Players assisting new players through the tedious bits is a community solution to game design choices.

The fact that some players regretted not doing the MSQ is not an excuse for gating out players who are interested in other things that a normal MMORPG offers.

They've already been streamlining the MSQ. Take it a few steps further with 6.0 and try not to gate everything behind MSQ.

In the meantime, when 5.0 launches why not give new players a free MSQ skip option to the start of 5.0 with a recap movie?

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Originally Posted by TwistedTea

In the meantime, when 5.0 launches why not give new players a a free MSQ skip option to the start of 5.0 with a recap movie?

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Again I ask, why are you so concerned about new players? 4.0 launches with limited access to jump potions and it was still beyond crowded, we barely could play the first couple days. New players aren’t little fragile babies that need to be coddled or cherished. They can eithe buy a potion or not buy one, it’s pretty simple.

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Originally Posted by ShanXiv

I've 1 main & 4 alts, all of them had finished the MSQ,you can finish 1-70 MSQ in 1-2 weeks I think.
two of them had maxed all DOW/DOM/DOH/DOL jobs...by doing supply mission(just hanging out some items to the NPC) and the tribe quest, that's not very fun....

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I don't actually think 1-70 MSQ is feasible for a brand new player. More like about a month or 2. Also for side content, there's stuff like the Hildibrand quests. I enjoyed parts of Hildy ARR quests more than many of the post-Castrum quests. Game devs have plenty of choices when it comes to making enjoyable content.

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You won't meet many new friends in this game because it encourages you solo almost everything in this game.

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While I'm inclined to agree with this,since I've already stated that the MSQ is mostly a solo experience, I think this also depends on the individual player. I've made friends by randomly emoting at people or sending them a tell that their glam is super awesome!

It would be nice if they added more tools to facilitate communication.

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Originally Posted by bass9020

They can eithe buy a potion or not buy one, it’s pretty simple.

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Okay, got it. You're going to keep defending SE double dipping because of their game design choices when they could easily give a free skip potion/option. Also, you don't see a problem with purchasing skip potions to get to end-game content, that people might want to get into even if they are not into the story, like with other MMORPGs.

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Originally Posted by bass9020

Again I ask, why are you so concerned about new players? 4.0 launches with limited access to jump potions and it was still beyond crowded, we barely could play the first couple days. New players aren’t little fragile babies that need to be coddled or cherished. They can eithe buy a potion or not buy one, it’s pretty simple.

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I think because he knew 95% players had quit...
I hope there are more new players too! so the server is more lively(welcome to Aegis lol...)

but the issues is not the MSQ, it's the formula...
the contents in this game lack the longevity,

If a guy is so impatient, he wants to skip everything,
or if a guy he is a serious player, he wants some serious designed content, but the contents are so shallow & irrelevant,
will you expect him to play the game for a long time?

Basically you want SE to give out a few thousand worth of € for skip potions, to people who will quit the game because they have no idea how mechanics work & no idea how to play their job. Its so easy to spot people who used a skip potion and its a pain to play with them because they decided to go the Lazy path and ruin other peoples experience that way, I Rather help a newbie through all the old content so he learns the game, instead of him joining me in the end-game content and wiping us / Being deadweight.

I dont want to be rude but this thread is the same as ''Nerf Shinryu normal mode plx!'' because im 100% certain that most people having issues with the fight are people who used jump potions.


1. Pay for your Boost and SUPPORT SE that way.
2. Do the MSQ like most of us had.
3. Dont play the game.
TBH its your pick, but if people dont have the stamina to catch up with content they should reconsider if the MMORPG genre is even a thing for them.

The option is there if people want it, they can just buy the potion, I've never understood the whole idea of skipping to the end right away but if that's you're desire as a player they've got an option for that, however can you name a game that gives a free option to skip right to the new stuff? WoW often throws in one boost with it's expansion but you still had to pre-order so I guess SE could do the same but it dose raise the question. if you're willing to buy the expansion only if it comes with a boost to skip everything, why didn't you just buy the boost now and skip everything? Why would these new players only be interested then but not now? and only if it comes with a free skip that they still were willing to buy the expac to a game they previously didn't want to play?

I've never understood the concept of buying a game, only to skip 90% of its content.

The end gsme isnt that great, and gor me, its certainly not the best part of the game.

I joined a few months after stormblood, and spent the first year behind everyone else, catching up at my own pace, enjoying the game and the story, and thanks to roulettes and my FC I never felt excluded from anything.
That year was far more enjoyable than the end game grind, and I still prefer to hit up old content i never got around to doing, like Hildebrand and just now catching up with Eureka, than grinding current raids for tombstones.

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Originally Posted by ShanXiv

I think because he knew 95% players had quit...
I hope there are more new players too! so the server is more lively(welcome to Aegis lol...)

but the issues is not the MSQ, it's the formula...
the contents in this game lack the longevity,

If a guy is so impatient, he wants to skip everything,
or if a guy he is a serious player, he wants some serious designed content, but the contents are so shallow & irrelevant,
will you expect him to play the game for a long time?

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Aegis is on Elemental so i cant say much about that, but on Aether Balmung is the reason why servers are ''dead'', SE is already giving out a good opportunity with the new Server split incomming and World visit, Louisoix is also a dead wasteland on Chaos which will probably fix itself with the new players coming in 5.0 & the world visit system. Keep in mind that also a lot of players will transfer world to stay with their static or friends once the split will happen, which will live up more empty worlds because bigger ones will be locked.

I do agree that some content is very Shallow (Eureka lul) but most of the MSQ quests are not irrelevant. because the game still pushes you towards trials and dungeons on a decent pace and makes you learn the game step by step. I would love if they cut out the Quests between expansion like ARR - HW 100 sidequests, but that aint going to happen because its too much work. FF XIV Endgame is not nearly as good as everyone thinks and you will probably quit the game because you notice that. there wont even be endgame on 5.0 for a while because SE doesnt release Savages on release date, so you probably going to have to deal with 1-2 EX Primae which is not even endgame.

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Originally Posted by Tenryuu-Kai

Basically you want SE to give out a few thousand worth of € for skip potions...

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As the skip potion is a digital product created by SE, the value of it might be 0.

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to people who will quit the game because they have no idea how mechanics work & no idea how to play their job. Its so easy to spot people who used a skip potion and its a pain to play with them because they decided to go the Lazy path and ruin other peoples experience that way, I Rather help a newbie through all the old content so he learns the game, instead of him joining me in the end-game content and wiping us / Being deadweight.

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That's how the game handles teaching players class skils/mechanics and mechanics in general. Also, we don't get our full level 70 kit,well until 70. So at max level, people have to re-learn their classes anyway. There was another thread about creating an advanced Hall of the Novice for the following content and similar stuff:

1. Hall of Ex Primals
2. Hall of the Raider

If a player is unable to clear these solo, they don't get to enter ex primals/savage raids etc.

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1. Pay for your Boost and SUPPORT SE that way.

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Because SE is a small indie company...

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2. Do the MSQ like most of us had.

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We suffered, so should you!

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3. Dont play the game.

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Brilliant!

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...if the MMORPG genre is even a thing for them.

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Only on the FFXIV forums, have I seen people defending something like the current MSQ which is a mostly solo experience, as being conducive to an MMORPG.

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Originally Posted by BlitzAceRush

The option is there if people want it, they can just buy the potion, I've never understood the whole idea of skipping to the end right away but if that's you're desire as a player they've got an option for that, however can you name a game that gives a free option to skip right to the new stuff? WoW often throws in one boost with it's expansion but you still had to pre-order so I guess SE could do the same but it dose raise the question. if you're willing to buy the expansion only if it comes with a boost to skip everything, why didn't you just buy the boost now and skip everything? Why would these new players only be interested then but not now? and only if it comes with a free skip that they still were willing to buy the expac to a game they previously didn't want to play?

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It's not very hard to understand....
like classic games, pop music, movies & some good stuff in the golden era, they are so good & they don't fade over time.
but classic stuff is very hard to make, it requires time & talented directors & developers.
New players come & try this game, because the hype & the graphics are pretty,
after some time,they found that this game is just so so, then leave, maybe 1/20 of them will stay,
so there's a constant need for new players to fill the gap

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Originally Posted by Seraphor

I've never understood the concept of buying a game, only to skip 90% of its content.

The end gsme isnt that great, and gor me, its certainly not the best part of the game.

I joined a few months after stormblood, and spent the first year behind everyone else, catching up at my own pace, enjoying the game and the story, and thanks to roulettes and my FC I never felt excluded from anything.
That year was far more enjoyable than the end game grind, and I still prefer to hit up old content i never got around to doing, like Hildebrand and just now catching up with Eureka, than grinding current raids for tombstones.

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You hit the sweet spot there, i started mid sb and i basically hit level 70 1 month after Sigamscape got relased, The endgame was Hella fun because i had to CATCH UP and there was actual ENDGAME content, but at the start of 5.0 there WONT be any end-game content for multiple weeks or months. so a jump potion would be Really wasted if you could Enjoy the earlier content before that. The community in this game is great and i had a awesome FC which never made me feel excluded. (They even showed me stuff like diadem which i probably would have never touched without them or if i was capped already.)

Many people even missed out the Alexander Raid tier which is just amazing to go back and just Sync it, Sigmascape was hella fun too. you miss most of the good and Fun content if you skip at the start of 5.0 and im pretty sure most people will just quit after hiting lvl 80 with 5.0 release because they realize FF doesnt offer any kind of endgame for a while after Expansion launch.

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Originally Posted by bass9020

Again I ask, why are you so concerned about new players?

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Because retaining players is essential for the health of the game. We need new players, it's as simple as that and if new players come in hyped for the new expansion and find it locked behind a tedious slog through the MSQ, they won't stay.

I'm story driven, but I have several friends who couldn't care less about the story. They are loving end-game but getting there was not fun for them. ARR MSQ has problems with filler (I've 2 alts and even I balked at the Titan questline third time round). Castrum and Prae are still providing a horrible experience for many newbies.

Skip potions are a good solution because they don't spoil the story experience for those of us who enjoy it. If we want to run around gathering tea-leaves etc. while a major threat looms and talk to every minor NPC along the way, we still can.
I love the story, I made my alts specifically to experience it again, but that's me. I don't see any benefit in forcing the entire, unedited MSQ on people who don't play for the story and feel frustrated at how it is gating them from content they enjoy.