Forcing us to the entire story quest to unlock the new classes is just bad business

[Gemma]

snip.

What part of the jobs are tied to Ishgard & therefor the Main story do people not get through their head?

If people want the jobs that badly then blow through all the cutscenes by skipping them, cause why would you care anyways you just want to play that special job right?

Like most people in this thread have said but most just ignore or don't get it, it is directly tied to the Lore, it would not make sense for you to be a Dark Knight or a Astrologian but yet you didn't have to work your way to Ishgard.

Not like it takes that long to beat the story if you have a weekend to spend doing it.
I just think it funny how most people want things on day one or "I'm done! I quit! Bad game design!"
So you want to be bored in a month & quit again?
Its only been a week people, maybe if you spent time actually doing the Main Story instead of coming on here you would have the story done and be in Ishgard by now.

That's right let's keep the player base that keeps the lights on and gives them the ability to continue making content out.

How do the people that only come back every 6+ months help keep this game afloat verses the people that don't hop from game to game and actually pay consistently?

"My money is better then yours!"

Actually we all keep the game going, casual and hardcore alike. Don't act like casuals alone pay for the games content & upkeep.

[Symbiant]

WOW but their business model has kept them thriving over the years...and Squares business model on the other hand.....

WOW is bleeding subs. It kept them in place for a while... why it did I have no idea. I personally did not like the game. http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/...iber-drop-ever

Subs are increasing on FFIXV. So I assume until they start to decline they will not change a thing.

[shinros]

I am for at least stream lining the MSQ so they are quicker to get through, meaning, taking out all the unimportant filler. The MSQ in its current form will keep players new and returning from joining FFXIV which is honestly bad business. An MMO needs a constant cycling player base to keep the game full and healthy. However, if the game begins to just lose players without any new coming in, you risk losing money and resources.

I understand people think the story is very important because it's a FF game. I get it. However, I think you can keep the importance of the story while cutting off the fat and making the process of getting through the MSQ a lot quicker for people to get to the newer content. There can always be compromise.

I am in full agreement with this the amount of filler fetch quests in 2.x is pretty bad in my opinion. Case example Tataru:Hey get me some tea! Me: Wha? Why? Tataru: Just get the tea we gotta pad out the main quest somehow! Heavensward is much more better all the filler is side quests as it should be.

SE should trim the fat on the main quests.

[DeadRiser]

I'll be honest, it's better if you finish everything with the classes/jobs you have.

I'm not saying they are "OMGTOOHARDTOPLAY" but the new jobs require a different and little more complicated way of playing a job in this game.

Dark Knight requires a lot of MP managament and understanding when is the best time to use darkside and dark arts.
Machinist requires a lot of resource management and I'm sure there's more (not so familiar but I hear odd things about them).
Astrologian requires a lot of understanding your cards, their buffs, royal roaded buffs, managing mp, etc.

I think requiring you to play main story and a lot of the content on the vanilla jobs is a good thing. Let's you be prepared for these different jobs.
Not only that, but they are tied to Ishgard. A place you can not get to unless you complete the story and understand why.

[Raist]

Not sure how people are using "this is a Final Fantasy game!!!" as an excuse. Sure, it's an FF title, but it's an MMO. Having played FFXI I wouldn't have expected them to suddenly change their tune on content gating with XIV.


Final Fantasticks XI, all content was separate.

Did not have to do base city missions to access Zilart content.
Did not have to do Zilart to access Promethia content.
Did not have to do Promethia to get to Whitegate and start the Aht Urghan arc.
...and so on until the end of time.

Since they've already created and ran a successful MMO with almost no heavily gated content, and since 99% of other MMOs also separate their lengthy "story" quest lines or, indeed, make them completely optional, I don't see why any new player wouldn't assume the same of FFXIV.

I've completed all the MSQs and I always made sure to be caught up so this issue has never really affected me but it's hard not to see the flaw in this design. I would be very hesitant to recommend XIV to someone brand new at this point in the games life unless they were looking for a traditional console style RPG game without the Massively Multiplayer Online bit because, frankly, that's basically what XIV is until the story is done.

You actually had to be rank 6 in your starter nation to start RotZ--as in Shadow Lord fight (remember how that tied into DRK's back story? Oh wait...you had to complete most of WotG to fully appreciate it's back story...).

XI's content releases were not "seperate"--parrallel past certain points in the main story maybe, but not seperate. All the other content you mentioned was also gated as well. Most everything in XI was gated behind something---any combination of 1 or more things would deny you access: reputation, nation rank, level, job, imperial standing, allied standing, mission/quest track, time of day (real life or in-game), season (real life or in-game), weather, moon phase... May be more. Those are just things off the top of my head.

Gating is far more common than I think some if you may realize. At least they were up front with Heavensward. Not like there wasn't any disclosure/disclaimer out there telling people they needed to progress to a certain point in the main story for access.

[Tuathaa]

How do the people that only come back every 6+ months help keep this game afloat verses the people that don't hop from game to game and actually pay consistently?

"My money is better then yours!"

Actually we all keep the game going, casual and hardcore alike. Don't act like casuals alone pay for the games content & upkeep.

Casuals you know the ones that are playing just to play and hang out maybe craft maybe socialize or rp out number the "hardcore" .
That is true for any mmo and you are kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

[AdamFyi]

These quests don't teach new players how to play and arguing that they do seems a little silly, doesn't it?

Interestingly, the first quest you listed out there unlocks Brayflox Longstop; infamous for being ruthless to newcomers because of the huge difficulty spike as compared to the previous dungeon, Haukke Manor. This is one of the first few dungeons that slaps you across the face if you're not putting in the effort or are unwilling to learn how to play your class decently or at least the bare minimum.

In terms of story, however, you're doing favours for the dude who requested it to gather some intel about how they had defeated Titan. He just doesn't want to give it to you until you do as he says. Hence, fetch quests.

Edit:

That's right let's keep the player base that keeps the lights on and gives them the ability to continue making content out.

Don't flatter yourself there. You too, Death. Both of you need to chill. By no means does the game ever force you to rush through the game. Casual players who do not have the time will eventually reach that point if you give them the time. Same as all the newcomers to the game. Grumbling about it isn't going to help. Time is better spent actually doing something, rather than complain about it and making absolutely no progress.

[Jahaudant]

You actually had to be rank 6 in your starter nation to start RotZ--as in Shadow Lord fight (remember that laied the foundation fir DRk?). XI's content releases were not "seperate"--parrallel past certain points ofin the main story maybe, but not seperate. All the other content you mentioned was also gated as well. Most everything in XI was gated behind something---any combination of 1 or more things would deny you access: reputation, nation rank, level, job, imperial standing, allied standing, mission/quest track, time of day (real life or in-game), season (real life or in-game), weather, moon phase... May be more. Those are just things off the top of my head.

Gating is far more common than I think some if you may realize. At least they were up front with Heavenward.

Lightly gated. A new player coming in to XI for the Aht Urgan release wouldn't be so heavily walled off. Yes, there was the Rank 6 requirement for Zilart. A very light gate in comparison to what we see in XIV which will presumably only continue to get heavier and heavier as they pile on more MSQs.

There is no requirement to fully complete the previous expansions main quest line in order to start the current expansions content and your examples of gating are frankly ridiculous. Level requirements are bread and butter for MMOs, nobody comes in to that type of game expecting to do end game raids or, in fact, anything before reaching the adequate level. It's a core concept and part of the genre. Be serious. Reputation was never a requirement to access important content in either XI or XIV. Time of day, season, weather, moon phase, currency? Not sure if you are kidding. This isn't gating.

[Wigett]

I disagree with the OP, this is a story driven MMO. there are plenty of others which allow quick paths and less emersion so go play one of those games, I am perfectly fine with how they have implemented the MSQ and the new classes.

[Darus]

Can see why people are complaining.... but... it doesn't seem to be all that hard. My FC has tons of the "never on" types, and they seem to be now hitting Ishgard. Sure, it's gated, but if you can't work for that, then, well, MMOs might not be your thing. They're time investing games. Yes, the new classes are only in the expansion, but it's a reward for getting that far, just like end game content. As the game gets further ahead, it gets easier and faster to progress, so it's not so bad.

And people starting just now don't HAVE to wait on the next update like current players, they get it as soon as they finish the last content! They have an expansion and 5 major patches of content sitting there for them. win-win