A serious discussion about abridging the story quest 1-50 (discouraging new players)

[Qaaliaa]

As someone who plays on an RP server and RP's extensively, I'd like to not have to do the MSQ on alts. I did it once, I know what the story is. I don't feel the need to do it again to bring an alt to Ishgard.

[Isondre]

As someone who plays on an RP server and RP's extensively, I'd like to not have to do the MSQ on alts. I did it once, I know what the story is. I don't feel the need to do it again to bring an alt to Ishgard.

Oh my god, this. Please just let me get to 50 if I've already completed the MSQ once. I know, I know, "Why do you need a second character." But I'm a roleplayer. Alts are my playstyle, I like having a skinny Elezen thaumaturge and a beefy Roe warrior, not one character that does everything.

Please don't punish me this much for the way I like to play the game.

[Reinha]

When it comes to potential new players being turned off by all the story, I'd say it's not always a bad thing. There are a lot of things in this game that can turn people away. I will give some examples. New player A tries game, doesn't like the lengthy global cooldown but likes the armory/class system. New player B doesn't like how everything is supposed to be done by the same character because he is an altaholic. He does like the story though, and enjoys being rewarded for doing it. New player C finds the story boring and can't stand the idea of 100+ hours of it, but she loves the housing neighborhoods. New player D finds it really stupid that housing is limited and expensive, but enjoys the crafting system. New player E hates how much effort you have to put into gearing up gathering and crafting classes but likes battle classes and the strategic nature of combat that the long GCD brings. Which of them is more valuable than the other and would catering to them possibly piss off existing customers?

Sure the main scenario could be trimmed a little but they would have to be extremely careful not to shift the foundation of the game too much. This is and must stay a game where story comes first and gameplay after. Otherwise some of the current players could become unhappy. Sandbox MMOs where everything is freely accessible may sound nice in theory (freedom yay!) but some people really like the on-rails themepark experience that this game offers. "Being forced to do something" is not automatically bad design, especially if the game has had it since the beginning. It just means it attracts a different crowd than other MMOs.

Personally I prefer the themepark experience of FFXIV after playing Warlords of Draenor, where everything is optional. No attunements, no "forced" quests and the rewards for reputation, dungeons, world bosses and pve currency were not worth the effort. There was stuff to do if I'm perfectly honest, but the rewards did not encourage doing them. All because players complained about being "forced" to do things. It became a game of raid or die of boredom, designed for lazy players who want to access their favorite activity without putting any effort into other things. Funnily enough even the raiders started to leave when they realized their friends list was becoming inactive and new raid team members were hard to find. FFXIV still holds on to the RPG element and it's so refreshing after the bland experience I had in WoW.

Please just let me get to 50 if I've already completed the MSQ once. I know, I know, "Why do you need a second character." But I'm a roleplayer. Alts are my playstyle, I like having a skinny Elezen thaumaturge and a beefy Roe warrior, not one character that does everything.

Please don't punish me this much for the way I like to play the game.

It's not a punishment. What's the point of playing alts if you don't actually want to play them? If you are a roleplayer, surely you understand that each character must have their own story and character development. They must do heroic deeds and get to know their allies the same way as every other warrior of light. Someone who just shows up and claims to have done it all is just a fake. There's even a storyline about that in La Noscea. Even if they trim the story at some point, there isn't any point in giving alts a free pass when they aren't necessary to experience all aspects of the game.

What changes from the "pro-story" person's perspective if they remove the story restrictions from content? You can still do the story content.

The restricted content is story content. If the restriction is lifted, it becomes standalone content with a mild link to the story. The main scenario rewards you with not only the story but also access to items, abilities (flying), mounts (magitek, chocobo), titles and content (dungeons). Being rewarded is a part of what I like about the experience. Removing the reward would make it less enjoyable for me.

Given that SE is a business and businesses need to make money, yes, actually, it IS a bad thing.

And we're not talking about completely overhauling the entire game, here. We're talking about altering content that was designed to be playtime-padding filler so it doesn't serve as a barrier to entry so boring that players quit in the middle of it.

I was mainly commenting on the idea of removing story requirements from content. Making money and bringing in new customers are important, but that shouldn't be done at the expense of existing customers. Besides, no one knows how long those new players would stay subbed if the restrictions were to be lifted. My guess is not very long because they wouldn't have enough patience for end game if quests are too much for them. You may not be talking about overhauling the game, but there was a suggestion in this thread, that story should be entirely optional. That is a very big overhaul to the game and not everyone would like it.

[3Jane]

When it comes to potential new players being turned off by all the story, I'd say it's not always a..............etc

Very well put