Main Scenario Restriction Bloodstorm - Very Very Bad idea.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

If ppl were able to skip do you think the quality of the DF would improve, stay the same, or become worse?

Initially, it would probably be a cluster fuck because even all of us won't necessarily have a grasp on all the new content added in Stormblood. Within a month or so, however, things will even out. People genuinely interested in the game will ask other players questions or happily take advice if they mess up. Those who don't will eventually move on to the next "hyped" game when they inevitably find groups kicking them or merely get bored. Overall, I doubt we'd notice much of a change, though it could actually improve if people stick around. Keep in mind, new players are far more likely to poke at things like the raid finder since they're not used things as most of us are.

Another reason I support jumping players ahead if they so wish is I don't want to be forced back into old content. It's nice XIV keeps things relevant long past its release, but do you (generalizing) really want to go back and do them all over again? Stuff like Wondrous Tales will continuously be developed because certain instances need to have a consistent flux of players otherwise those new players will be waiting in 40-60 minute queues. Sometimes, you have to let old content die off to focus on current things.

[Mindylou]

agree with op, a horrible idea..the team are so backwards and confused, its sad.

[TarynH]

Why is someone who doesn't care about the story lazy?

Again, this is not the discussion here. The OP clearly wants anyone to be able to skip ALL content, and go directly to current end-game raids/dungeons. That is super lazy, and has nothing to do with whether someone likes the story or not. They just hate waiting in lines.

Why should the devs just hand over end-game content to someone on day one? Without them having to go through any course of action to unlock anything. You might as well just give someone all jobs level 70, unlock all dungeons/raids from day one, and let them "enjoy the game."

Bonuses could include having a supply of readily available resources to craft high end gear. All gathering/crafting books unlocked. Flying chocobo at level 1. All aetherytes unlocked. No gates anywhere, with ability to wander into areas yet unlocked. I mean, as long as we're getting ridiculous right?

[Theodric]

If ppl were able to skip do you think the quality of the DF would improve, stay the same, or become worse?

Worse. Much worse. WoW is a prime example - quite a few people are completely new to the game, purchase a level boost to reach end game immediately and then have very little clue as to what, exactly, they're meant to be doing.

[Belhi]

They do actually have a way to get around needing it to be starting at 60. The Vanu Vanu and Vath quests scale to you 50-60. They can simply arrange it so the first new zone is all scaled quests from 50 to whatever level the intent is to have for the next.

What? So one zone takes you from 50 to say 62?

To be honest, many would still need to unlock HW simply to do Job quests.

[silentwindfr]

simple answer? worst idea ever. how they will understand who are the character they meet? new player must'nt look at what they will have later, and focus on all they have instead to only focus on the smallest part of the game.
plus i will be blunt, you are leader of fc and can't help them to do dungeon in unsync? what take like 10 minute at worst for do most dungeon level 50-? seriously? what the point of your fc if you can't help new player to catch up?

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Again, this is not the discussion here. The OP clearly wants anyone to be able to skip ALL content, and go directly to current end-game raids/dungeons. That is super lazy, and has nothing to do with whether someone likes the story or not. They just hate waiting in lines.

Why should the devs just hand over end-game content to someone on day one? Without them having to go through any course of action to unlock anything. You might as well just give someone all jobs level 70, unlock all dungeons/raids from day one, and let them "enjoy the game."

Bonuses could include having a supply of readily available resources to craft high end gear. All gathering/crafting books unlocked. Flying chocobo at level 1. All aetherytes unlocked. No gates anywhere, with ability to wander into areas yet unlocked. I mean, as long as we're getting ridiculous right?

The OP cited 60, meaning people would still have to level all throughout Stormblood. The only content unlocked is stuff released beforehand. Essentially, the expansion would be like a new game. You aren't handing them everyone on a silver platter, you're allowing them the option to not have 300+ quests gating them from what they actually want to play. To use myself as an example. I've never been particularly interested in WoW. The art design always through me off and MMOs weren't my thing until recently. Now Legion caught my interest. And if I were to actually pick it up, it's Legion I want to play. All the expansions prior? Yeah. I don't really care about them. Maybe I'd go back on a new character and poke around after I'm done exploring Legion, but it's not what caught my interest. If WoW didn't have a level skip option and required me to play through every piece of content they've released. I wouldn't even consider playing it. Why? Because I'm not interested in all their lore. Maybe I want to play with some friends. I also just don't want to dedicate that kind of time to another MMO. Now I do love story, but WoW would be my side game. So I'd largely be playing it for raids, dungeons and etc.

And let's think ahead. Three years from now a third expansion will be released. Are we now going to expect new players to go through three full numbered cycles? It will not happen. Without new players, Square has only further incentive to add cash shop items since they have to make up that sub money somehow. Way I look at it, if someone wants to skip ahead to Stormblood. It doesn't hurt me. They aren't going to have an advantage going into Savage. In fact, it may even be harder for them. That option though is nice to have.

[EusisLandale]

What? So one zone takes you from 50 to say 62?

To be honest, many would still need to unlock HW simply to do Job quests.

Yeah, they could do it fairly easily.
As for skills, I'm not too worried there. PotD has shown they can just give us the skills at level, and they're talking about changing up stuff about skills anyway.
I've not leveled all the Jobs just yet so I'm not really sure how many would necessarily need the Heavensward Job stories, but from what I have seen it shouldn't really be that hard to just have the Heavensward and Stormblood stories disconnected.

[silentwindfr]

snips

question: FF14 is a game based on it story first, was always and will be always.... how the new player that did jump directly to 60 will understand why they fight? or for who they fight? who are the scion? who are the ascian? what is a primal? who is the empire? and stuff like this.... if they skip all the story quest that explain this? how they will feel involved into stormblood if they know nothing about the world where it happend?

[Rhaja]

question: FF14 is a game based on it story first, was always and will be always.... how the new player that did jump directly to 60 will understand why they fight? or for who they fight? who are the scion? who are the ascian? what is a primal? who is the empire? and stuff like this.... if they skip all the story quest that explain this? how they will feel involved into stormblood if they know nothing about the world where it happend?

One majestically word.

Cinematics.

Then if they want to actually experience everything later, they can make an alt.