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

[LittleArrow]

This is a real problem. I've always complained about how terrible the dialogue has been from 1.0 - 2.0. I would literally read three full chat bubbles and could summarize it in one or two sentences. There comes a point where "flavor" text steps over the line into "pure wordy nonsense." I've had friends literally give up playing this game b/c they couldn't stand all the running / reading / bloated number of needless menus they encounter in the first 10mins of the game. I know that sounds extreme, but just letting the devs know what they're up against in customers they're losing.

[PocketFox]

To those accusing us of wanting to rush through the game: please go back and read our posts again. All of them. It has nothing to do with wanting to rush to max level and gear out in three days. It has to do with looking at the slog between hitting 50 and being able to actually do the content everyone else is doing, and deciding it isn't worth it. You've made it abundantly clear that you're happy to see the backs of those people, but what about those of us who love this game and want to share it with our friends? Heck, what about the vitality and longevity of the game? MMOs want and need to expand their playerbases, and they can't do that if new players are faced with a years-old wall between themselves and what is actually current. There needs to be a compromise between preserving story and expediting catch-up.

[Luvbunny]

The attitude of "UR NOT HARDCOAR ENUF!!!111!" is a cancerous wart on the butt of gaming (MMO or otherwise) and has no place in modern MMOs.

OK what you fail to understand is, I will be more than happy to skip all those CS and MSQ when you already have one main character - I have 3, the amount of repeat I have to do is a big turn off, I could not agree more. To do FF14 2.0-2.55 three times is actually not that bad compared to what's coming in 3.0. The original is short, a few clicks, teleport, maybe a few duty finder, done. This new one.... my god, it is beyond horrendous. Basically everything you hate about MSQ magnified three times longer and more tedious...

But if we get rid of all those "tedious" quests, then there is not much of the game itself. It's true for 2.55 and as well as 3.0, so many fetch quests... Which is ok if you are taking it slow and mixing it up with a few levequest, crafting, gathering, duty roulette, guildhest and maybe a few main mission a day. But trying to ram all those MSQ in a short amount of time, yeah, might as well quit. There are plenty of threads already complaining about the way 3.0 quests and fetch hide and seek. I would guess your friend will join this chorus the minute they realize they have to do the same boring fetch quest, again, but across a huge areas (back and forth) with no flying ability given to them ASAP.

This is why I don't understand the big deal, if they shorten all 2.55 editions, a lot of players will complaint that they are being cheated on and given a sub par content. I do agree that the best solution would be taking a good chunk of fluffs and put them as side quests, trimming the fat but still keep the content intact (good for leveling your alt classes).

Again, they should have let everyone who owns the expansion pack to access Ishgard with only finishing 2.0 MSQ, and let these new players or returnee try the three new jobs ASAP - but gate the rest of the expansion until they finish the 2.55 MSQ. This will appease them, while they try new jobs and doing MSQ a bit here and there, at the same time, it gives them something to look forward to. The way it is now, you are stuck, neither side win, and a lot of pissed of players.

[ZenesisX]

All of the fetch quest need to be optional especially those that do not move the story forward in any meaningful way. Collecting tea leaves will not help save the world. Nor will meeting a npc in person just to have them say "must needs" in a sentence then be told to go back to another npc so that they can somehow say it too. Square Enix "must needs" figure this out so that new players aren't pushed away by lousy trivial work.

[Akulious]

Having leveled up a character to 30ish a year or so ago and having done a brand new character this past week up to 30 (almost 2 classes up to 30 w00t w00t) I have to say the main storyline gives an absolute ridiculous amount of EXP now. Part of the second class almost at the same level is I had to start splitting which class to do the main story with as it was getting bonkers for how much higher in levels I was getting compared to where I should be.

I'll put it this way: I didn't get my grand company/chocobo until level 25. That's crazy.

[3Jane]

When a new person starts the game you honestly think the first thing going through their head is omg I want to be level 60 and raiding with my best buddies tonight? .........etc

Yes, this.

[RubyShoes]

......Cannot start machinist,dark knight, or astrologian off the bat is going to cause you to cancel your sub? Dont make me laugh. Its like saying that omg it took me 30 levels to finally become a scholar but my friends will quit because they cannot be scholars off the bat.

I dont know of anyone in my near 180 friend list over the last 2 years who quit because they could not become the job they wanted for the first 30 levels. This is a rpg MMO and I am damned tired of people who get bored of wow for a few months come over here and try to change things and ruin it for the long term people. The full story line is good for a healthy and developing playerbase. Give people instant gratification and they will be bored quickly because of the theme park constantly gearing up and strengthening up mechanics this game adheres too. If you want things cut for you then go play another game...............

You couldn't be more right!

[cougarel]

No . It's not a great idea what you're proposing. Look at wow as an example or other mmorpgs out there. The game is simple as you can get , but you need to use your brain to play which I find it enjoyable . Being a new player myself I really don't see the point in complaining about not being able to play a certain new class or not being practically teleported to the new zones . Every player has to have class progression, otherwise it's pointless and you will get wipe because people don't really know their class.The mechanics so far from my point of view are not that hard and very easy to understand after 2-3 wipes .This is a mmorpg which means you need to have patience and interact with people and make an effort to understand the game in full, not bits and parts. My 2 cents.

[OnizukaBR]

Cannot start machinist,dark knight, or astrologian off the bat is going to cause you to cancel your sub? Its like saying that omg it took me 30 levels to finally become a scholar but my friends will quit because they cannot be scholars off the bat.

People never complained like this because even if you can't be a Paladin off the bat you can be a gladiator (same weapon and skills) and than at 30 you become a paladin, people understand this.But now someone need to play a class they don't like, level until 50 do a lot of quest then go back to 30 to finally play a class they enjoy. See the difference?
If you could play a archer and at level 30 get MCH job instead of BRD no one would complain. I have a friend that really wanted play DRK and was waiting for it but now he don't want to level some class he doesn't like and do a lot of things before really starting the game ( for him ), he got to 35 and couldn't play anymore because he only like the DRK.

[KisaiTenshi]

I would like to know how she knows that every person playing this game does so because they want a month-long ride through the story.

This is a Final Fantasy game. This is also an MMORPG that is, by design meant for plenty of different players with different goals. This game never has nor never will be JUST for the story huggers. There is also no right or wrong way to play as it has been designed for story huggers, hardcore raiders, crafters, and gatherers such as myself.

You can tell me there are plenty of people who do not like raiding. I can counter that by saying that there are also plenty of people such as myself who could give two craps about the story and would rather make their own characters story through RP and do activities with their friends in dungeons, raids, and RP.

If all you want is story, then it is YOU KisaiTenshi who is playing the wrong game in my opinion. I suggest trying FF7 or FF6 if you care about the story and nothing else.

In my view, my characters story, his life, is made through his daily activities and actions that he himself decides, not what SE or anyone else says. What kills this story the most is that everyone is a special snowflake, and that to me ruins immersion more them making your own story as you go along.

Nay, I'm playing the right game because it has a story, and nearly every character has a meaningful presence, and every job has it's own story. The OP said they just skipped absolutely everything the NPC's said and cutscenes and didn't care one bit for the story. That's why they are playing the wrong game.

IMO, anyone who comes into FFXIV, skips all the storyline bits, and then complains when there is more story, is playing the wrong game. It's like having a militant vegan at a BBQ. All they complain about is how people are depraved for eating meat instead of just socializing like a normal person.