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

[Luvbunny]

FF14 is a Final Fantasy games first. If you ever play any of the offline FF games, most are littered with mundane quests and side quests that encourage exploration (and to showcase how dumb the npcs are) - mostly are contents that add "hours of gameplay". It is a story driven game, so be ready to deal with it. It is no different than Dragon Age or Skyrim, where you do a bunch of quests - kill X enemies, go fetch me my stuffs cuz I am too lazy to do it, BAM 100 hours of "gameplay". Honestly if you want a game that lets you get into the action with very little story, you can play Destiny - ignore the non existent story and dive in straight into the action.

[Titor]

FF14 is a Final Fantasy games first.

I have to disagree here. If it was meant to be a final fantasy game first, why even make it an mmo? The story can be told
Just fine as a single player platform. Why network it? So much time and effort for a game focused on single player content is...
Odd.

I believe this is an MMO first, or should be. The MSQ is, largely, sp content. If it was meant to be a sp game first, keep it sp.

This game offers serious competition to other mmos. Now is a prime
Time to get new mmo players. However if content remains gated behind 100+ hours of sp quests, this game will be dead to new players by the end of 3.0

[Eisen-Zorn]

I believe this is an MMO first, or should be. The MSQ is, largely, sp content. If it was meant to be a sp game first, keep it sp.

This game offers serious competition to other mmos. Now is a prime
Time to get new mmo players. However if content remains gated behind 100+ hours of sp quests, this game will be dead to new players by the end of 3.0

This, like FFXI, is a main flagship title in the Final Fantasy series. The story is just as paramount as it is in the other games. Just because you can play with other people doesn't mean they care any less about the story content. They want people to enjoy the most alluring aspect of a Final Fantasy game, which is the story. This game isn't for grinders who want to just ignore the story and min/max their gear.

[Luvbunny]

I have to disagree here. If it was meant to be a final fantasy game first, why even make it an mmo? The story can be told
Just fine as a single player platform. Why network it? So much time and effort for a game focused on single player content is...

Think of it as offline RPG with some online component. Your daily duty roulette provide "matchmaking features" for your dungeons grind and activity. Your main story, quests, levequest, gathering and crafting are focused for the "antisocial" person - or player who just want to log in for 30-60 minutes, turn in their daily crafting allowance. Most of the leveling are a mix between quest + dungeons grind, you can do FATE and Levequest only if you are that antisocial. I love what they do, catering heavily to casual gamers and giving people OPTIONS - this game respect my time.

[Titor]

Think of it as offline RPG with some online component.

It would be nice to have an option to do a condensed story or the full story. Keep the full story there for the option for those playing it for the RPG aspects, but make it easier for those playing it for an MMO aspect.
I personally play for the MMO aspect, I care quite little about the full story, it is way too long to me, and I skipped most of the cutscenes. Nevertheless, the value of my sub vs someone who is playing just for the story is exactly the same. It would be nice to have options. You want the story? Go for it! Enjoy it! You want the RPG/Raids/PvP/Endgame? Go for it! Get there however you want (Grind, quest, whatever) and have fun.