MSQ Feedback

I really like the puzzles and I think the MSQ have to do more puzzles a lá Wild Arms.
It makes the msq more vivid and I really enjoy it. Would be nice if there are more content like this :)

I agree, it feels like we’re interacting more with the MSQ rather than go to that place or pick something up. This was a fresh of breath air.

I hope this feedback helps or is considered.

MSQ Pacing and Mini-Games
I feel the pacing in Shadowbringers and Endwalker, in terms of the MSQ mini-games, always provided a welcoming addition to the main story. I truly loved that approach.

However, I intensely disliked the one in Dawntrail, primarily from a plot perspective. The initial idea of aiding all the tribes to learn from them sounds cool at first, until you realize the way this entire concept is introduced is incredibly childish compared to the high stakes and mature narrative we've recently experienced.

Specifically, the section involving the Pelupelu people in Urqopacha was truly awful, especially with the trades. That region of the MSQ was draining and too long, and ultimately, I became completely tuned out. It completely failed to teach me anything about that culture, which was supposedly its entire purpose. The same flawed premise goes for the District 9 portion as well.

Lowbrow Humor and Gimmicks
I know lowbrow humor is a gimmick seen in many MMOs like World of Warcraft, but please: no more feces references or at least tune it down a bit. (This isn't a metaphor; there are literally too many feces references in the game like the Great Golden Gobbue, Disciple of the Land, A Likely Prospect, A Sordid Situation quests.) I know WOW has more, but still.

part 1

The story

I understand that not every story decision is going to appease every player, as everyone has their own preferences. However, based on my criticisms of the current trajectory, I feel the narrative needs to return to a more grounded style.

1. Focus on Established Lore
The story needs to become less reliant on futuristic elements like the ones seen in the District 9 portion of Dawntrail. Instead, there should be a greater focus on the Garlemald region, exploring its remaining territory, people, culture, and technological mystery. I feel the novelty of the District 9 setting has actively outshone and diminished the potential for deep, organic exploration of existing lore, like that of the Garlean Empire.

2. Restore the Adventure Guilds
The Adventure Guilds need to be relevant again. They were key to the early game and provided a natural sense of purpose before we were hired by the Scions. I would strongly advocate for more Adventure Guild content, as this framework naturally facilitates the feeling of being a free adventurer.

3. Grant the Player Autonomy
We need less Scions—ideally, no Scions at all—to follow us around. Their main story is complete. Furthermore, we should not have to bring the groups from Dawntrail with us on future missions either. Give the Warrior of Light back their own adventure. I do not want these key groups following us around like baggage once their story arcs are truly over.

I know this is a significant list, but I believe these changes are essential for restoring the fundamental feeling of adventure and player autonomy in the game.

Anyway, it's just my feedback to the game.

part 2

It's crucial to realize that everyone has different tastes and preferences, which is why some people enjoy the story while others don't. I'm in the latter group.

The issue, though, is that completing it is mandatory. If you check the percentage of players who've finished the story, you'll notice it's quite low—less than 10% overall. And that's a problem—it's already too much for new players to handle.

I like the game, and here's what I'd like... Let's imagine: I'd love to have just one big button—"Complete the story"—and then forget about it altogether. :) I'm not a fan of what you've come up with there, and I don't like being forced to make decisions, so I definitely won't regret it. And if I do, I can always start over in NewGame+ mode.

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Originally Posted by Tuchkin

If you check the percentage of players who've finished the story, you'll notice it's quite low—less than 10% overall. And that's a problem—it's already too much for new players to handle.

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If you count all past players, yes. People who have not played for years. Counting them is just a way to try and make the figures support your argument. Counting active players is the only thing that is relevant.

According to Lucky Bancho, 86.36% of active players are in Dawntrail. 63.63% of active players have beat Dawntrail.

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Originally Posted by Tuchkin

I'd love to have just one big button—"Complete the story"—and then forget about it altogether. :) I'm not a fan of what you've come up with there, and I don't like being forced to make decisions, so I definitely won't regret it. And if I do, I can always start over in NewGame+ mode.

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Isn't that what a skip is

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Originally Posted by Jeeqbit

If you count all past players, yes. People who have not played for years. Counting them is just a way to try and make the figures support your argument. Counting active players is the only thing that is relevant.

According to Lucky Bancho, 86.36% of active players are in Dawntrail. 63.63% of active players have beat Dawntrail.

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Still, you can't simply forget about all those who left the game. Some of them maybe just because it didn't "click", others because of bad decisions from the devs - so you may at least take a part of them into account.

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Originally Posted by Azurarok

Isn't that what a skip is

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Yes but we should not be forced to pay $50 for it after already payin $60. $110 entry barrier to just start the game is a little bit too steep, for a game with monthly subscription.
Yoshida talked about starting new players in 6.1, where are these talks?

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Originally Posted by Alicie

Yes but we should not be forced to pay $50 for it after already payin $60. $110 entry barrier to just start the game is a little bit too steep, for a game with monthly subscription.
Yoshida talked about starting new players in 6.1, where are these talks?

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It is a little steep yes, but that wasn't the point. The option exists already, and if they have a problem with how it works currently that should be what they should be requesting instead of saying things others enjoy shouldn't exist at all for their convenience.

On an other note. If they would introduce a new villain or a organization. I would suggested that if we're going to face the final boss. It would be nice to keep the main patch of an expansion to be know and let us fight them in the end, while in post MSQ, we could try figuring out who or what gave the big bad the power to face us as a trial. Like the what if scenario on the feed back channel, where Wuk Lamat instead asking us to support her in the contest, but to help investigating strange events. And in the post MSQ, they can slowly build up to Alexandria in the post MSQ that would lead toward the next expansion.

What we missed in dawntrail is the build up of Alexandria and Endless Sphene. If they had keep with Tural and the 9th in a future expansion, it would have been a bit better.

Yes pls more of this! It was not braided like other story quests.(Reffering to the puzzle in msq)

I like the little side puzzles!
What I dont like, is having story skips be available from the get go as suggested by some folks earlier in this thread. Why the heck do you pick up a story driven game just to skip its main feature?
In my opinion, story and job skips shouldnt even exist!
FC mates of mine that have skipped SUCK at their jobs, and then also regret skipping and so they go back and replay the MSQ on alts or NG+. Just don't bloody skip to begin with! But I digress.

Back to the puzzles. I honestly want to see more of this! I also want to see MORE SCIONS not less (particularily the ones we left back in the Rising Stones - Hoary, Coultenet, and the others). I also want to play as other characters for off-screen stuff also. Don't tell me about it, let me experience it! I loved that aspect in Shadowbringers and Endwalker. I've seen it only a few times in Dawntrail, and I loved it and want more of that back!

I liked the puzzle sort of segment even if the whole time I was also kind of wondering why I couldn't just blast the door down, and it was kind of weird how the need for investigation kind of got negated as they figured it all out anyway

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Originally Posted by Vespar

I like the little side puzzles!
What I dont like, is having story skips be available from the get go as suggested by some folks earlier in this thread. Why the heck do you pick up a story driven game just to skip its main feature?
In my opinion, story and job skips shouldnt even exist!
FC mates of mine that have skipped SUCK at their jobs, and then also regret skipping and so they go back and replay the MSQ on alts or NG+. Just don't bloody skip to begin with! But I digress.

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People are here for different things, be it the story, class gameplay, raids, or rp/gposing, etc. Sometimes it's really specific, which means anything else is just a roadblock they have to get through to do the activity they want to do.
That said, they shouldn't have every roadblock removed, especially if it comes at the expense of other players' enjoyment.

Chances are some of your FC mates wouldn't have started or gotten far if they didn't have the option to skip. If it got them to go back and play from the beginning that's good on them imo.

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Originally Posted by Alicie

Yes but we should not be forced to pay $50 for it after already payin $60. $110 entry barrier to just start the game is a little bit too steep, for a game with monthly subscription.
Yoshida talked about starting new players in 6.1, where are these talks?

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The way they do it is very predatory as well IMO. I've already known several new players who purchase the story skip, only to find that they're character is still stuck at low levels with no way to level them up quickly! It's resulted in several of them quitting the game, one starting over from scratch on a new character having wasted their money and then quitting after, and one to purchase the job skip after only to get frustrated and bored and quit. It's not a good look and it's losing them new players.

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Originally Posted by SKAshe

The way they do it is very predatory as well IMO. I've already known several new players who purchase the story skip, only to find that they're character is still stuck at low levels with no way to level them up quickly! It's resulted in several of them quitting the game, one starting over from scratch on a new character having wasted their money and then quitting after, and one to purchase the job skip after only to get frustrated and bored and quit. It's not a good look and it's losing them new players.

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I would also like to add that story skip it doesn't include all the blue quests. Materia melding/desynth/etc all have to still be unlocked. IIRC, if you don't know to go unlock the Four Lords quests as an example, you'd have to do that on your own too. So bunches of people story skipping might not even be aware of a large portion of content if they are just rouletting to end game. All that to say, I definitely think the story skip could be improved to make them a bit more complete, especially at its price point. Sure, all of those are optional skills/quests, but when you play the game organically it's easier to be guided to all of those quests as you play.

Can I tell you how to make it cohesive? No. I just know as someone that story skipped on alts, it was extra leg work and I could easily see it being confusing to someone just trying to get to the end. Maybe that's the price they pay for that, not sure. Either way like most things with this game, it could be improved.

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Originally Posted by BlazeRenegade

The story

2. Restore the Adventure Guilds
The Adventure Guilds need to be relevant again. They were key to the early game and provided a natural sense of purpose before we were hired by the Scions. I would strongly advocate for more Adventure Guild content, as this framework naturally facilitates the feeling of being a free adventurer.

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I like the idea of having classic adventure guilds back, not the grand companies, just the local guilds.

They could offer dailies, levequests, buy and sell items, etc.

You could also have random city defense special events, similar to red alerts on the moon. Crafters and gatherers would do their thing to support the defense or the DoW jobs can go hold the lines. There would also be consequences if the defense failed.

Pick your favorite fantasy anime and they have a good idea of the guilds. All you have to do is copy and paste.