Quote Originally Posted by Bourne_Endeavor View Post
Why. Why does it matter to you what other people do? That has been my only argument-- one you have continuously failed to address.
And I've given you my reasons. You choose to ignore them... continuously.

Are people expected to then slog through even more content they may not be interested in; that is upwards of nearly a decade old?
A decade old? We're just now coming up on the 2nd expansion, and you're treating FFXIV like it is a dying game. Please share the crystal ball you're gazing at. They haven't even clarified that 4.0 will be the same as 3.0. It's still months away.

Thousands have also quit.
And you can prove that it was all new players faced with a "daunting" story?

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."
I never played WoW. I played FFXI though, and it NEVER got a jumping potion. They made it easier to progress, but never tossed a pay-to-win item out there to jump to level 99. It might be a dwindling game, but it is also the best reference for another FF game. FFXIV might take some aspects from WoW, but it is still a FF game at it's core. FF games are held to a higher standard with their story-driven narratives. Something I, along with many others, appreciate, and one the developers have tried to honor.

Let's revisit this topic in 15 years, and I'll see how I feel about the jumping potion then.

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.
And FFXI was no different. Maybe you didn't have to experience the entire story, but it still kept adding quests as it grew. Still... people played it all from day one. Comparing an MMORPG to a SPRPG is moot. So is equating an expansion to DLC, or a sequel. The simple fact is that an expansion is neither. It is an addition to the existing core game.

Some companies handle it differently than others, and I can accept that. But this game does not, and should not have to fall in line with every MMORPG out on the market. It is still being ranked as the 2nd best MMORPG out there, despite your "sinking ship" scenario. Clearly it is doing something right.

Some people want to treat each expansion like a brand new game.
And I would fault them for that. It is not a brand new game. Neither were the multiple expansions to FFXI. They added more story, but did not change the game into a new IP.

Legion is not considered a new game. You have said it yourself, I believe, that it has 15 years of lore behind it. Where did all that lore come from? Not Legion itself. It came from the 15 years prior to it. (Also, wasn't WoW released in 2004?)

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.
So you're alright with them throwing several hundred dollars at gil as well?

All the Chinese version does is essentially treat the current expansion (Heavensward) like its the base game.
The Chinese market, and demand on games is vastly different from our own. Not to mention, again, that this is not a new game, and should not be treated as such.

The fact you don't actually win anything? You 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.
You won every single dungeon and fight from level 1-50. You won the privilege of entering Ishgard without a struggle. You won the so-called "baby gear" that is normally farmed, or obtained in other ways. And if we're talking about doing this at the release of Stormblood, you won the privilege of advancing to new content without lifting a finger. (Except the one used to type in your CC information.) And that's all you get...

Why not just sell a potion that unlocks everything? So they can pick and choose the content they want to play. After all, it is their money. Nevermind the thousands/millions paying for the same game, and having to deal with the influx of these day one savants. Who I'm sure watched every video, and read every guide to play to the best of their ability. I mean, it's not like they're lazy and skip content... oh wait!

If they add a jumping potion, I'd like it to come with a few conditions. I'd like that player to have a title that cannot be changed, and an obnoxious symbol by their name. Like a coin, or a dollar sign to carry with them throughout the entire game. I'd like it to be perfectly obvious who these people are, for two reasons.

1. So we know precisely the number of people who "needed" this leg up. (So this conversation never happens again.)
2. So people can decide whether or not they wish to associate with these people.

Sounds fair right?