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

[Voltyblast]

It's understandable that story in this game is important and that some people are concerned about keeping it integral. But at the same time, let's not forget that this is also an MMO: story alone is not enough to carry the game and it should be built around the gameplay first in order to accomodate all tastes.

Heck, even some single player RPGs are built around gameplay first so that even if the story is forgettable, you still get a good game to play!

Ishgard has no reason to open up? Make one: we didn't need to reach the original ninja's place (Doma was it?) to get their class because it had a good reason behind it and it was also a story that I liked to follow, and I'm sure they could've made up something for the new jobs as well.

Is it necessary to view the story of 2.0 to fully understand 3.0 story? Make us want it, maybe with some unique rewards (and maybe put some more voice acting?) but without actually forcing us to do it just to reach the expansion: making it an option might actually make some players genuinely interested to follow it all, and if they don't care they still got their game to play and their jobs to get.

[ToniRomo]

I recently came back. I cleared all the original 2.0 story, but did not play any of the patches. I am trying to catch up to play with friends, but all the story line quests just have me porting around for boring conversations with NPCs. I am losing interest.

[micropanther7]

I don't know how much the MSQ has changed right now because I'm not currently playing the expansion, but I'm pretty sure there are dozens of ways to improve the MSQ to new players.

I mean, I had Chrysalis as a trial once and even with people full 130 we wiped at least 5 times. I can't imagine those new players with half the gear, and half the knowledge in tactics...

I'm stuck at this trial as well, I don't mind having to run dungeons for the MSQ, I'm having to use the DF (no FC, long story, else I'd have gone with them), but it's really frustrating when people struggle with certain aspects. Like not stacking for heals, not using defensive cooldowns etc, I fluffed up as well a fair few times myself on not soaking meteors (is the healer supposed to do that? just wondering.... ) just have to keep trying I guess! *sighs*

[CosmicOwl]

I'm stuck at this trial as well, I don't mind having to run dungeons for the MSQ, I'm having to use the DF (no FC, long story, else I'd have gone with them), but it's really frustrating when people struggle with certain aspects. Like not stacking for heals, not using defensive cooldowns etc, I fluffed up as well a fair few times myself on not soaking meteors (is the healer supposed to do that? just wondering.... ) just have to keep trying I guess! *sighs*

I knocked out The Chrysalis this past weekend on my marathon to unlocking HW content. It wasn't too bad, and I ran it as a DRG at like i70 or i80...

To answer your question, from the video I watched and my run both tanks should soak up the meteors, while DPS prepare to burn down The Rift. I didn't read, see, or hear about healers taking that on- best of luck on your impending clear!

[FoxyAreku]

I don't see a point in lowering the quests from 1 to 50, as lowering them would reduce the amount of XP you get and people would just have to grind anyway. >_>

The problem is the entire level 50 storyline imo, that's what should be cut down.

[Aylin]

I recently came back. I cleared all the original 2.0 story, but did not play any of the patches. I am trying to catch up to play with friends, but all the story line quests just have me porting around for boring conversations with NPCs. I am losing interest.

I have no problem running through old quests to catch up with story line. Its just so... tedious. I had to pick up at Moggle Mog when I came back last week, and it feels like it's a lifetime to get caught up.

Aside, trying to get all this expeditiously has made me really dislike Minifilia. Chica needs to get off her rear and do something, instead of sending the freaking Warrior of Light on fetch quests while she sits in Mor Dhona contemplating her navel. But that's a rant for another day...

[odintius]

I've soaked a couple as healer it situational really, generally during this phase before we get sucked in, I stick close to a tank that way I can pop quick cast, divine seal, media II and put regens on tanks, also if need be a benediction to quickly get one back up if to low to take another shot quickly. Tanks should know what to do to lessen the damage for there part if not using those said abilities there not doing it right.

[Atrayl]

I finished the final pre-expansion MSQ Wednesday night before early access. If I didn't make it, I was going to cancel my account and finally get around to playing The Witcher 3 instead.

SE almost lost my subscription, and for what? The only answer at this point is arrogance. The arrogance that your story is amazing and that everyone needs to see it. This can also be seen with the current terribleness of FATE experience rewards. "We can't have people grinding FATEs, they've got to see this story!"

I do not like Final Fantasy. I'm sorry, but I do not. I like MMOs. I do not like Warcraft, Warhammer, or whatever story RIFT had. I do like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and I'm a middle-of-the-road Elder Scrolls fan. I've played all of these games for the game. It's nice when I like the story, but it shouldn't be a requirement.

[RichardButte]

I hope it is somewhat helpful? :\

It certainly is.

Every additional person who chimes in will help SE to understand that they really ought to fix this.

It's costing them subs, and I thought it might've just been isolated to my friends but that's clearly not the case now. If just this small of a sample has this many people complaining of similar issues, then this is a bigger issue that definitely needs to be addressed.

[KisaiTenshi]

I finished the final pre-expansion MSQ Wednesday night before early access. If I didn't make it, I was going to cancel my account and finally get around to playing The Witcher 3 instead.

SE almost lost my subscription, and for what? The only answer at this point is arrogance. The arrogance that your story is amazing and that everyone needs to see it. This can also be seen with the current terribleness of FATE experience rewards. "We can't have people grinding FATEs, they've got to see this story!"

I do not like Final Fantasy. I'm sorry, but I do not. I like MMOs. I do not like Warcraft, Warhammer, or whatever story RIFT had. I do like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and I'm a middle-of-the-road Elder Scrolls fan. I've played all of these games for the game. It's nice when I like the story, but it shouldn't be a requirement.

You are playing the wrong game then.

Here's a counter argument:
I play games for the story, and hope the gameplay is constructive in achieving that story.

Early CRPG's (Eg Wizardry and Ultima) were super-light on story, but the story was there. This is what Final Fantasy's game mechanics originate from. The Ultima games were extremely open-ended in that you could pretty much forget the story was there, but you can't finish the game without actually hitting all the storyline flags.

The story is a requirement. If you think the story is bad, then you are wasting your time playing this game. The other games you mentioned, Star Wars, LOTR, and TESO have their own storyline requirements as well. But overall, the grungy ugly Western MMO's aren't worth playing for people who like the Asian style MMORPG's.

FFXIV is the only MMORPG that reasonably has elements of everything I like in MMORPG's. The only thing I find it's not great at is it's lack of "open-world"-ness. There has not been a FF game, or any MMORPG really that has been open world enough to enjoy exploring beyond just unlocking the map.

"Minecraft" moved the goal posts on what it means to have an open-ended exploreable world, but THAT game has ZERO story. Algorithm-determined landscapes, no plate-tectonics, no vulcanism, no hydrology, no ancient ruins. Just a random seed determines what the world looks like. I find that concept incredibly boring, but this is what you are asking for when you want a game with no story.