Main Scenario Restriction Bloodstorm - Very Very Bad idea.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

You imply it with every post on this thread. You persist with the same argument. "It should not matter to others if someone wants to skip the story." Over and over you have said this. Anyone who mentions the story, you deliberately go out of your way to shove this argument in their face. Saying the story doesn't matter, and that end-game and dungeons are the real content.

Maybe to you. But the story does matter to those other people, or they wouldn't be saying it. Honestly, I don't care if you skip the story; legitimately. I care about the integrity of the game, and have said this. A pay-to-win/skip system will absolutely destroy the integrity of the game....

Why. Why does it matter to you what other people do? That has been my only argument-- one you have continuously failed to address. I, actually, dutifully read and watch every scene because I do happen to enjoy the story. But if someone else wants to skip ahead, I couldn't care less. Their decision to skip the story, be it through pressing esc or buying an expensive cash shop matters not to my, personal, enjoyment of the game. They don't impact me nor my experiences. I am not "shoving" my opinions. This is a discussion forum. I'm merely offering an opposing view you simply dislike. Welcome to Internet. People are going to disagree with your preferences. That doesn't instantly make your position absolute.

You are essentially taking a personal offense because other people may opt to play the game differently. How does someone skipping ahead "destroy the integrity of the game"? You'll never even know they did unless they tell you. Regardless, you do realize Square Enix is a business-- with investors who don't give a hoot about anything beyond profit.

I don't think its wrong nor have I ever stated as much. I simply don't care if someone else doesn't want to start at level one and slog through 500 quests. What I do care about is accessibility because an MMO without a constant influx of new players will inevitably decline in subs. What happens after Stormblood or the expansion thereafter. Are people expected to then slog through even more content they may not be interested in; that is upwards of nearly a decade old? They won't. And once that starts to happen, Square Enix isn't simply going to shrug off financial loss. No, they'll push that back onto us via exclusive cash shop content.

Thousands have also quit. A rather comprehensive, albeit unofficial analysis, put FFXIV's active character total at roughly 800,000 back in January. That number has dropped to 500,000 as of August.

You reference one roleplayer you know, as being the end all of this discussion. Why does it matter so much that a roleplayer skips ahead? Why should it concern the entire player base that one person out of millions, wants to go play their non-WoL role in the new city, but doesn't want to play the "boring" story? Do I care that they're there? No. Do I care if they change the fundamental core of a game I enjoy for this small minority? Yes.

Please stop putting words in my mouth. I referenced her as simply an example. I never once said she represented anything more than that. I've already cited why. You need new players. You aren't accounting for those "millions" being existing players who, therefore, won't feel the same bloat as someone new faced with a mountain of quests they aren't interested in. I've repeatedly cited WoW-- specially asking if the same number of people would have purchased Legion if they were told "by the way, you have fifteen years worth of old content to go before we let you play Legion."

MMOs do not function the same as games in other genres. Unlike any other Final Fantasy, FFXIV's quest number will only become larger as the years trickle by. It's the equivalent of say, BioWare forcing people to have completed save file of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 before they can play Mass Effect 3.

Some people want to treat each expansion like a brand new game.

Why should a new player have an advantage over someone that busted their ass to get through the MSQ? You keep saying that it is not an "advantage," but then bring up the Chinese version. Did you also know that with the Chinese version they can pay to level up their jobs? They get gil and other items as well. Do you not see something fundamentally wrong with this type of system?

Because it isn't one. Gear resets faster than my cats run after seeing their own shadow. Come Stormblood, we will all be put on the exact same playing field. You, I, someone named Deliverance not Digiorno, will all basically be reset. Those of us who have scripture and melded crafting gear would actually have an advantage still, seeing most of that will last a good few levels into the patch.

Yes, I'm aware. I do not care. If they want to throw several hundred dollars to level jobs. Go right ahead. It doesn't impact me or how I play. Because FFXIV's content necessitates learning the fights, they have no greater advantage. Someone who used a jump potion isn't going to step into Savage and get a World First clear on their first attempt. They won't even have the gear for the first primal.

All the Chinese version does is essentially treat the current expansion (Heavensward) like its the base game. You are given the barest of minimum gear, a little gil and that's it. Meanwhile, I can level up to 50 in a day-- a few if I'm not doing another silly 10+ hour grind. I'll also make more in ten minutes crafting than they were given. And! It didn't cost me any real world money. I wish them well in their "advantage."

Like I said, even just one single little thing (a jumping potion) can set a precedent for the cash shop. What stops it from turning into the Chinese pay-to-win model?

The fact you don't actually win anything? You're placed at the very beginning of Heavensward in baby gear. You just don't have to do A Realm Reborn. That is literally all you get since everything else means nothing. There is no precedent to set because this jump potion only serves that one purpose.