MSQ After Level 50

I played back around 2022 and got to level 50. The game was fun, I liked the MSQ and how it felt like an actual Final Fantasy game. The whole leveling experience was fun and engaging. I played WoW for since 2007 so FF14 is a nice change of pace. I really like that there is a story.

That being said. I came back last week to see how the game is passed level 50. I really want to get to the end game and do some raiding. So far it has been like watching a really slow movie. I am trying to get through the ARR end game story and it is literally moving from one location to another and watching dialog. Then I get a 5 minute fight with a Primal. Then back into the dialog. I have spent a few hours so far just doing this. It doesn't ever feel like I am playing a game. It is really like I am watching a video.

Is it going to be like this until I hit level 100? The 1-50 experience was fun, this is not.

No, it's not going to stay like that. Post ARR is famously an absolute slog, but it gets much better again as soon as you get to Heavensward.

That is great news, thank you.

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Originally Posted by Kimlin

I really want to get to the end game and do some raiding.

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In that case, you have 5 expansions (of similar length to ARR) and each of their 5 patch stories. Each expansion is designed as if it's a "whole new game" (in the developers' words). But it's one giant, continuous story.

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So far it has been like watching a really slow movie.

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It's a story-driven game, so be prepared for more of that. That is how this game is. If you can't endure lots and lots of cutscenes for the MSQ and to unlock every single game feature, dungeon, trial, raid, then you'll struggle even at the end of the game when new patches release.

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I am trying to get through the ARR end game story and it is literally moving from one location to another and watching dialog.

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This is common in ARR and in patches (and patches are what you are doing, these used to be max level quests). While inside an expansion, you often stick to one area mostly and "walk through the land gradually", but once the expansion's story is done, they often teleport you around to different locations for the patches and that's what you're experiencing. It's worse in ARR itself because the story is divided between 3 city states that are quite far apart.

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Then I get a 5 minute fight with a Primal.

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Generally, these stories are the build up and context for these fights. They will usually be a solo instance, a 10-minute trial or a 20-minute dungeon (but they may be faster in some cases, due to gear increases and how the gear syncs in it).

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Is it going to be like this until I hit level 100?

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Yes, although the fight designs will be different. Most people would say the fights themselves get cooler, but it depends what sort of fight design you prefer ultimately, since that changes over time.

They do add more voice acting later but there are always parts that are unvoiced, and almost all sidequests in the game are unvoiced. They did also learn things from the level 50 quests, since the game was new then and they were throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks, so they did try to make it less painful to do quests, but ultimately it's still "going around and talking to people", so the only way to enjoy it is to soak it in and imagine yourself in the story they are trying to tell.

I don't think my questions was clear.

A: Experience 1-50, follow MSQ, follow class quest, go to different zones and quest hubs, go to dungeons and sometimes fight a primal.
B: Level 50 experience, watch dialog, fight Primal.

Does the experience go back to A or is it B for the duration of the game?
I can handle cut scenes and the MSQ, I actually enjoy it, I just want there to be more to the game like the original experience.

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Originally Posted by Kimlin

A: Experience 1-50, follow MSQ, follow class quest, go to different zones and quest hubs, go to dungeons and sometimes fight a primal.
B: Level 50 experience, watch dialog, fight Primal.

Does the experience go back to A or is it B for the duration of the game?

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Oh, yes, there is actually an exact formula they use. You are currently doing the ARR patches, which were mostly trials (most of the dungeons were from blue sidequests then, so you could take a detour and do those).

When you begin the first expansion, each expansion will follow this exact formula:

• MSQ (mostly slowly walking on an adventure through 6 new areas and 2 new city hubs)
• Level 51 Dungeon (sidequest in Heavensward)
• Level 53 Trial
• Level 53 Dungeon
• Level 55 Dungeon
• Level 57 Dungeon
• Level 57 Trial
• Level 59 Dungeon
• Level 60 Dungeon
• Level 60 Trial
• Patch X.1 Dungeon
• Patch X.2 Dungeon
• Patch X.3 Dungeon
• Patch X.3 Trial
• Patch X.4 Dungeon
• Patch X.5 Dungeon

Each expansion's level growth is 10 levels, then the experience gain will barely be anything for the patches. It repeats like that for every expansion, with MSQ between each dungeon/trial obviously. Usually at least one of the dungeons is a sidequest dungeon, until Shadowbringers where they stopped doing side dungeons (except 2 max level ones each expansion). You will notice side features/dungeons by the blue quest symbols.

The level of the second trial of each expansion changes from 77 to 79 in Shadowbringers, and that formula is kept for the following expansions, so that the two "last bosses" are closer together.

The patches for the last two expansions (Endwalker and Dawntrail) have had an MSQ trial more often though, similar to the level 50 patches, instead of being blue sidequests:

• Patch 6.2 Trial
• Patch 6.3 Trial
• Patch 6.4 Trial
• Patch 6.5 Trial
• Patch 7.2 Trial
• Patch 7.3 Trial is expected

But up until then you won't have so many required trials.

you'll go back to A.... Then B when you change expansion.

A is the base of the extension itself, B are the patch that link the A of the actual expansion to the A of the next expansion.

What you're doing right now are the ARR patch (B) that link to the start (A) of Heavensward.

Thanks, that seems like it will be a lot better paced.. I am about 2/3rds of way done with ARR patches and will then move on to Heavensward.
I am not used to this level of relevance for old expansions/patches in a game. It is an interesting philosophy.

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Originally Posted by Kimlin

Thanks, that seems like it will be a lot better paced.. I am about 2/3rds of way done with ARR patches and will then move on to Heavensward.

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Make sure you also do the Crystal Tower storyline (starts with "Legacy of Allag") and the hard versions of the first three primals ("A Recurring Problem") because you'll hit a point shortly before reaching Heavensward where you'll be required to do those before you can continue.

Future expansions don't have any mandatory side content like this, but if you enjoy the story then it's recommended to do the major side content as you go through each expansion rather than putting it off. Some of them get significant callbacks later, so while they're not critical to understanding what's going on they can still add some extra context.

Do the Crystal Tower raids and all the great post-ARR dungeons to break up the MSQ "slog." Doing those made post-ARR one of my fave times playing this game.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

Future expansions don't have any mandatory side content like this, but if you enjoy the story then it's recommended to do the major side content as you go through each expansion rather than putting it off. Some of them get significant callbacks later, so while they're not critical to understanding what's going on they can still add some extra context.

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I'll also add that the ARR raids, Coils, have story relevance that is more closely linked to the MSQ than later raids. They are difficult content but they can be unsynced if you just want a story clear. Also great for tomes and gear.