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

[Raist]

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Heavenward is XIV's Zilart, with a touch of CoP though. And no, Shadow lord was not the equivalent of Ifrit...it is the equivalent of the Empress's a... Oops almost spoiled it. Hitting Rank 6 was the equivalent of completing 2.55...it was completing the then current main story arc in place at the time the FIRST expansion was released.

And yes, it is a valid example and comparison to use for a precedent. XIV has obscenely close ties to XI...in design, form, function...on down to who created it, who runs/supports updates it (our community team is even the same crew)--as well as a vast number of players.

And thanks for acknowledging the difference in effort/commitment between the two. Even though on paper the path looks shorter in XI, it demanded more of the player than XIV...something that seems to not be considered in these debates. Completing MSQ ARR to 2.55 really doesn't require much effort with all tweaks in place now. It wasn't too complicated before either, but now the XP and gear progression are both fast-tracked and with the existing 50+ incentivised to run roulettes (made 1.2 mill exp with minimal effort and <5 or at worst 10 minute queues...on BLM), story progression is enhanced as well.