Best way to do the 2.0-2.55 Story to access Ishgard?

[Amberyl]

Yoshi-P said at some point that the rough sketch of 4.0 is finished and will likely not require MSQ completion from ARR and HW.

That would directly contradict his live letter reply regarding the HW gate. Do you have a source?

[Seraphyel]

Hate to break it to you but Astrologian is known as "other white mage" - it plays identical to WHM below 30. If you don't like white mage, you may not like AST all that much either. Yeah, the spells are prettier and have different names, but it really doesn't start to differentiate past level 40+ anyway.

I just like the style more. But I'll see that, thanks!

they should tell you that you actually have to play the game you bought? c.c,,

No, they should explain that the new stuff is locked behind a grind-wall of story quests. I knew that those things are locked but I bet many players don't. The thing is, when you buy something you're supposed to use it after you bought it.
_____

Let's be honest, it's impossible to lock all upcoming expansion packs behind the main scenario. It just won't work. Some players just don't want to do quests at all and I think it's not very clever to lock new content behind a massive amount of boring and dull story quests (I just teleported around the last half hour to tell NPCs stuff, that's no fun at all).

[Nyalia]

Hate to break it to you but Astrologian is known as "other white mage" - it plays identical to WHM below 30. If you don't like white mage, you may not like AST all that much either. Yeah, the spells are prettier and have different names, but it really doesn't start to differentiate past level 40+ anyway.

^ This. I mean, the classes don't play identically, but healers pretty much have the same basic mechanics. Only small things change, like AST has weaker heals but random weak buffs. AST can also switch between a WHM-copy and an SCH-copy. If you don't like SCH or WHM, I don't really understand why you think you'd enjoy AST so much more?

The "new" jobs aren't terribly new. They just look a little different and mix things up a bit for players who've played the other classes to death. AST is very similar to WHM or SCH depending on stance. MCH is just a skin for BRD with a few different tricks but the same exact mechanics. DRK doesn't do much that WAR doesn't already do (except give me migraines from that stupid and ugly aura). I mean, sure, DRK has that MP seesaw, but it's not terribly different than WARs and wrath/abandon.

The new jobs don't have revolutionary new mechanics. Heck, even the other new-ish job, NIN, isn't that different from DRG (basic gameplay-wise - positional melee attack combos, a couple DoTs, and several off-GCD hits and buffs).

This game favors balance over unique basic mechanics. The most unique classes are the ones you have already dismissed as not enjoying - neither BLM nor SMN play like any other class.

Basically:

MCH ~= BRD (ranged DPS, party MP/TP regen at the cost of DPS, stationary cast-stance)

WHM ~= Diur AST (strong heals + regen with minor support) (WHM has more healing, AST has more support)

SCH ~= Noct AST (weaker heals that also create shields with minor support) (SCH fairy buffs ~= AST card buffs)

NIN ~= DRG (~= MNK, but more different than the other two are similar) (melee DPS, positionals, DoTs and off-GCD skills as major damage dealers, buffs that need to be maintained through constant use in combat) (MNK feels different to me than the other two because of stances changing what skills you can use and the need to keep hitting to keep Greased Lightning up, but really, MNK stances ~= combos and Greasted Lightning ~= Huton ~= Blood of the Dragon)

BLM = unique (the drastic MP seesaw mechanics are unique compared to other classes)

SMN = unique (DoTs as primary damage source, pet, flexible and strong off-GCD skills that you can use 3 of every 60 seconds)

WAR ~= DRK (this one is a bit weaker than the others. I'd argue that PLD is different from WAR/DRK, but I currently main PLD and haven't played much DRK, so I can't really say that with any confidence) (tank with temporary resources that are built up and expended, active mitigation, higher DPS)

PLD ~= unique-ish (tank with support skills and passive mitigation, lower DPS)

[Moonleg]

That would directly contradict his live letter reply regarding the HW gate. Do you have a source?

Of course I can't find it now. It is entirely possible I am remembering it wrong, or misattributing forum speculation to actual fact.

[RosaBlanche]

you can rewatch the cutscenes in your inn room, it's all about deciding if its ok to make others wait or not being "that guy".

as for the duty finder, try to make a friend who is lv60 and duo those dungeons with undersized party, should be a piece of cake, especially if you're a healer.

[DPZ2]

Hey there,
Right now I have no Free Company - should I get one just for doing those quests?
)

You should find a Free Company to play with. There are a number of them on every server, and all of the ones I've encountered have been extremely helpful running instance to get me through content, whether it is leveling one of the new jobs or one of the original classes/jobs. A bonus - you get to hang out with some cool people in-game.

The story IS important -- you get a perfect explanation of WHY you got into Ishgard and what you're supposed to do now that you're there. You will need the gear you get from that content when you start out in HW -- the enemies hit MUCH harder than in the 1-50 runup, and take much more damage before they go down. A brand new level 50 has ilevel 55 gear. You'll have ilevel 110 gear at the end of the 2.x Main Story, and will need it in HW!

Take care. See you in Ishgard.

[Colorful]

That would directly contradict his live letter reply regarding the HW gate. Do you have a source?

I'm pretty sure it was from an interview, but yes I remember that too. He said there'd be a way for them to catch up on the story, or something. A recap video perhaps? They're still working that out.

[Amberyl]

Of course I can't find it now. It is entirely possible I am remembering it wrong, or misattributing forum speculation to actual fact.

Not necessarily. They may have something else in mind regarding RMT prior to 4.0 rolling, which will replace the need for a content gate.

[Gramul]

By savoring it.
You don't rush through a book to get to the end. You read a little a day and enjoy the experience.
Duty finder is your friend, and you'll find it's most active around 9am Central and try to find a free company willing to help people advance.

[Naunet]

Yoshi-P said at some point that the rough sketch of 4.0 is finished and will likely not require MSQ completion from ARR and HW.

Thank god. Doesn't change the issues with the current HW gate, but at least they saw reason there.

Not necessarily. They may have something else in mind regarding RMT prior to 4.0 rolling, which will replace the need for a content gate.

The content gate is literally doing nothing to stop RMT.

You don't rush through a book to get to the end. You read a little a day and enjoy the experience.

Again, dislike for the gating doesn't tend to involve wanting to "rush through to the end". For a lot of people it's more like wanting to be able to experience the book in the room that they would feel most comfortable in, but they're not allowed to read the book in their desired room until they've finished reading it in a very uncomfortable, less-desired room. Oh gosh I broke my personal rule against internet analogies. I apologize. More straightforward: People want to experience the game on the class they enjoy. Locking classes away and forcing them to experience the game from an undesired perspective doesn't really help them enjoy it.