Can't Access 3.0 until you complete 2.0-2.55

[EdwinLi]

I'm not surprised this happened so I can't feel much over this when I was partly expecting this as a possible way they will handle Main Scenarios.

People can use FFXI as a example but that is a different game and each of its expansion storyline were separate stories except for 1 expansion if I remember right.

Though the bigger question is if this will be how they handle future expansions since as the game moves forward there becomes a larger gap between Main Scenario for each Expansion between a new character that has to start in 2.0 and burn through the story to reach 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and etc.

[ScarletDawn]

I'm not surprised this happened so I can't feel much over this when I was partly expecting this as a possible way they will handle Main Scenarios.

People can use FFXI as a example but that is a different game and each of its expansion storyline were separate stories except for 1 expansion if I remember right.

Though the bigger question is if this will be how they handle future expansions since as the game moves forward there becomes a larger gap between Main Scenario for each Expansion between a new character that has to start in 2.0 and burn through the story to reach 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and etc.

I would thought they will start adding shortcuts they give a summary of the story so far, but allow players to go on to the new content.

[EdwinLi]

I would thought they will start adding shortcuts they give a summary of the story so far, but allow players to go on to the new content.

Well another way is to add new prologue quest for players that choose to start in 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, or etc era of Main Scenario. Altering a few dialogues to reflect that your character became a adventurer during the 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, or etc era of Main Scenario while making the rest follow mostly the same dialogues.

They can also make 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, or etc era of Main Scenario separate stories like they did with FFXI but have some slight relations to past Main Scenario to show a type of connection between main scenarios and why things are in certain main scenarios.

Though that my best guess if they choose to provide a short cut for later X.X era Main Scenario once they make the game's MSQ very long.

[Exodus-E]

I'm not surprised this happened so I can't feel much over this when I was partly expecting this as a possible way they will handle Main Scenarios.

People can use FFXI as a example but that is a different game and each of its expansion storyline were separate stories except for 1 expansion if I remember right.

Though the bigger question is if this will be how they handle future expansions since as the game moves forward there becomes a larger gap between Main Scenario for each Expansion between a new character that has to start in 2.0 and burn through the story to reach 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and etc.

The only way I'd see them releasing expansions that wouldn't need ARR/Heavensward to be completed beforehand, would be for them to finally allowing us to defeat both, the Garlean Empire and the Ascians (given they're pretty much the major threats the world is facing right now). Permanently.

Until then, I'm not counting on future expansions being "stand-alone" any time soon...

[Reynhart]

People can use FFXI as a example but that is a different game and each of its expansion storyline were separate stories except for 1 expansion if I remember right.

Vanilla main scenario is tied to Zilart, which is tied to Chains Of Promathia. Yet you didn't need to finish Zilart to start CoP, which is...kind of silly.

On the other hand, people don't want to pay $40 to be locked out of content, and not everyone is a diligent forum-goer who finishes all their story quests.

The way I see it, people who haven't done the MSQ...have a lot of things to do before going into Heavensward. As long as they have access to content, it's not a big deal.
And since the MSQ already unlocks lots of content, people will complete it even if they don't care about the story.

[Magis]

People can use FFXI as a example but that is a different game and each of its expansion storyline were separate stories except for 1 expansion if I remember right.

They might just do what FFXI was. First one had that requirement, ones after do not.

I think it's just so the player knows the base game and back story. FFXI's vanilla story while simple, did put in background information behind the three nations and laid the ground work with introducing characters like Zeid, Aldo, and Lion who come back later on. If SE didn't do that with Heavensward, you'd be asking who the hell is Cid when technically you never met him yet.