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

[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.

[Arixtotle]

What they just need to do is consolidate the story quests. Get rid of the non important ones and have the 2.1-2.55 quests start at lvl 45

[RichardButte]

Wanting to skip through the main story just so you can get to the new jobs and content is like wanting to play FF VII, but wanting to skip to disc two because it's old and you can't be bothered.

No one is talking about skipping through the main story.

People, PLEASE read the OP....

[Luvbunny]

I agree with consolidating story, or they should have make a BETTER story structure in the first place instead of insane fetch quests. But this is one game where you should take your time, enjoy, and do it slowly. As Yoshi has stated many times, he is building this as if you are watching a TV series - 2.0 being one season. Honestly, if you are focusing on main story, it goes by rather fast, it is not that bad at all. I know this since I have to do it THREE times for my main and alts. But you know, a lot of players are impatient bunch, GIMME SOME HOTFUZZ ACTION KILL KILL KILL KILL everything!! NOW NOW NOW.

I have to say this game is not lacking story for sure. Most players go here to play Final Fantasy game and EXPECT a FF treatment on their story and CS. They are NOT looking for "western action game with barely any story and dungeon grinder". The fans all WANT and DEMAND story driven similar to how all past FF offline games works. Even FFXI gated and locked out contents behind main story - they ease up some restriction eventually - but always lock all the good stuffs behind main story.

[TamurilRains]

Wanting to skip through the main story just so you can get to the new jobs and content is like wanting to play FF VII, but wanting to skip to disc two because it's old and you can't be bothered.

Rather its like replying to a thread with an idiotic reply because you can't be bothered to read the OP?

The MSQ needs to be more streamlined and involve MUCH less running back and forth between the same places doing filler tasks for essentially no purpose. Let's say they release another expansion pack down the line which requires having completed the MSQ of HW. This results in you having to do the entire MSQ of the base game as well as that of HW just to access level 60+ content, a new player would be two games behind and most likely in even more deserted zones than we have at this moment in time....forget about them even being able to complete the trials at level 50 unless they are powered through by a FC.

[RichardButte]

But this is one game where you should take your time, enjoy, and do it slowly. As Yoshi has stated many times, he is building this as if you are watching a TV series - 2.0 being one season.

As I said earlier, the issue is that most of the MSQ involves very little actual story but is instead a bunch of busy work that involves little to no actual plotline.

[MasamuneBranford]

I can understand from a story perspective why SE wants us to clear the 2.55 story prior to Heavensward. However - it's ultimately going to hurt them. If you haven't noticed - there haven't been a lot of review in progress stories from critics. Many critics have flat our acknowledged that as a returning player who reviewed the game when it was first released and hit level 50 - they assumed they would be able to access the expansion zones. Should we blame them? What other MMO expansion has ever locked out players who reached the level cap? This is just going to piss off returning players and give the game less exposure from websites who can't conduct a review in progress.

[Luvbunny]

What other MMO expansion has ever locked out players who reached the level cap? This is just going to piss off returning players and give the game less exposure from websites who can't conduct a review in progress.

FFXI is one, and it used to be their main flagship online RPG. The first two expansion for FFXI locked out some areas from players - and Chains of Promathia main story is a nightmare to complete when it was first launched. All of our complaints about FF14 is pale in comparison when you have to deal with FFXI expansion and add ons. FF14 is a walk in the park in comparison, SE went out of their way to spoon feed you and put a comfort blanket on all of us.

FF is not your "totally mainstream Activision - EA - Bethesda" type of games. It caters to specific taste and demographic, and I am ok with that. I can understand trying to bring friends to enjoy the game though. They should treat the main mission as "a break" from the break neck pace of dungeon grinds. What they should do is, log in, complete all the duty roulette, take a break in between those doing 3-6 main missions each session. It will take awhile but its better than trying to do a marathon session of main story. Again, this game is not to be completed in 3 days...

[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.