Game needs to be more newcomer friendly, but NOT with level-boosts

[Terin]

I love me some Final Fantasy XIV. I've not played it much, for other reasons, but I definitely think super highly of the game. However, there are definitely very real issues with the game not being particularly welcoming to newcomers, and while it's not overwhelming *now*, I think the team is right to be concerned about 4.0 and beyond.

Still, I think a level-boost is simply the *wrong* approach. The story is absolutely one of the strongest points of the game, and while it's a little bit uneventful early on, it's important to have that understanding to provide context for later story developments.

So, I'd like to propose a couple of alternatives, which I think would make the game more welcoming and appealing to newcomers, without making a jarring shift of *skipping* content.

- Make all new Classes/Jobs playable from the start

Listen, I know there are players who don't like this idea, and there are merits to the current system, but frankly, it doesn't matter. New classes/jobs are a huge selling point for new players, and the current system completely undermines this. I bought Final Fantasy XI several years ago, along with several expansions, because I loved the idea of playing the Blue Mage. When I couldn't, I gave the game about three hours before getting bored, and never touched the game again. If someone is super excited to play a Dark Knight, or something else, I *guarantee* they don't want want to put in 60+ hours just to experience it.

Perhaps add low-level "Class" counterparts to new Jobs (ie. "Squire" as a precursor to Dark Knight). Either add trainers to the existing cities, or consider adding a new starting-area with access to the new Classes/Jobs (all the stories converge around level 15, anyways, so it would only be a new *starting* experience, perhaps having you interact with a different Scion initially).

- Speed up the Main Scenario

I think the Main Scenario is hugely important, not to mention *satisfying*. The issue is simply that it takes a lot time, and there's a *lot* of filler-content. I would remove as much filler as possible, and maybe incorporate some fast-travel mechanics (ie. when completing a MS [Main Scenario] quest, having an option to instantly travel to the turn-in NPC). No need to completely gut it or anything, but just speed things along a bit.

Anyways, these are just my personal suggestions, but I think they would both serve the game well in the long-run.

[Morningstar1337]

I feel that SE would be unwilling to ads new Classes for the following reasons

• The Cross-Class System. They seem to be trying to move away from this and adding new classes might undermine that (even ROG got skills other classes can use, just not Jobs). In addition Getting Jobs via a class requires one class at 30 and another at 15.
• Tedium: Which incidentally might be the reason they are considering this in the first place. Even if long quests aren't a factor people still need to do ugh, Toto-Rak at least once if they are to be Level 30 or else spend a lot of time Fate/leve grinding.

In addition, consider that the Starting areas are capitals, which make it a bit difficult to ad new cities without massive retcons (including add new Scions), or making Ishgard available from the start (which would still need retcons, as well as rebalancing the Central Highlands part of the North Shroud)



As far as story, they are already pruning out the fluff quests from the MSQ

[Khanscott]

There are some quests that could stand to be cut from the MSQ without screwing with the lore. Make them sidequests; problem solved. However, my gripe is simply all the walking from A to B to A to C to OVER 9000! Heck, simply having a insta-Chocoporter in West Thanalan to the Scion's clubhouse would be a God send as it would leave the lore intact while making the player's life easier.

[NolLacnala]

insta-Chocoporter in West Thanalan to the Scion's clubhouse

The boat in Limsa next to the ACN guild goes directly to Vesper Bay

-Frontload more skills. Give every DPS class an AoE by 15. Give every tank a threat stance by 15. Give everyone some oGCDs by 30. Etc. Nothing makes you want to drop out more than spamming two DoTs and a weak nuke on every. single. mob.

Impulse Drive spam until level 26 is the highlight of DRG

[AlphaFox]

There are some quests that could stand to be cut from the MSQ without screwing with the lore. Make them sidequests; problem solved. However, my gripe is simply all the walking from A to B to A to C to OVER 9000! Heck, simply having a insta-Chocoporter in West Thanalan to the Scion's clubhouse would be a God send as it would leave the lore intact while making the player's life easier.

The one thing I constantly asked myself during the MSQ when I was starting out is what is the point of a linkshell if your going to force me to come ALL the way back to base to tell me all of 2 lines of text? Couldn't you just tell me to go see someone or investigate rather than wasting my time and money walking all the way back?

[FunkyBunch]

The one thing I constantly asked myself during the MSQ when I was starting out is what is the point of a linkshell if your going to force me to come ALL the way back to base to tell me all of 2 lines of text? Couldn't you just tell me to go see someone or investigate rather than wasting my time and money walking all the way back?

Put an Aetherite in Vesper Bay, 99% of the problem solved.

[Ersilon]

This is a really silly thing to say. This is a GAME. I can't think of a single GAME where I can choose my class where I'm forced to play through the entirety of the old content just to get to the class(es) I want to play.

No, that is a really silly thing to say. Nice self-defeating argument, by the way.

Put an Aetherite in Vesper Bay, 99% of the problem solved.

AlphaFox was referencing the quests where you actually have to go back to Vesper Bay just to hear something they could have easily stated over the story linkshell. It's like your boss calling you on your phone and telling you to come to his office so he can tell you what he wants you to do rather than simply tellin you over the phone.

[bass9020]

Put an Aetherite in Vesper Bay, 99% of the problem solved.

Limsas boat takes you straight to Vespar Bay. I know one extra click is too hard for people.

[FunkyBunch]

Limsas boat takes you straight to Vespar Bay. I know one extra click is too hard for people.

It's not one extra click. And I never would have known that there's a boat that goes from Limsa to Vesper Bay. After getting two chars to 60 I had zero clue there was a ferry there.

Even your way,
It's tele to Limsa (one click)
Aethernet to Fishers Guild (three clicks)
Walk to Ferry
Vesper Bay (two clicks)

Instead of just Teleport. (one click).
Your way is 600% more clicks. Plus walking time than teleporting.

[NaesakiAshwell]

Put an Aetherite in Vesper Bay, 99% of the problem solved.

There is currently an in-game reason for why there isn't one to be fair but its still SE being complete and utter trolls.

The reason being the Scions didn't want to pay the rent/cost for it since the proceeds would be going to Lolorito, so as his own troll he built a statue of himself in place of were the crystal would have stood.