Main Scenario Restriction Bloodstorm - Very Very Bad idea.

[TarynH]

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?

[Lambdafish]

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?

Also so that I know which players never learned how to play the game and bought their way to endgame, so I can avoid having them in my PF. Jumping potions make sense in WoW, as every new race and class requires the player to essentially start the game again, but in this game you can get your new job on your already existing character, no need for alts.

[Lulu89]

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?

Yep! Bc I'd be one of them ppl saying sry but pass! ^^

[Bourne_Endeavor]

And I've given you my reasons. You choose to ignore them... continuously.

No. I've disagreed with them. There is a difference.

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.

Sigh. You are yet again mischaracterizing what I said. What I specifically outlined is that if this trend continues, the content bloat will only become larger and that it will deter newer players who will instead opt for gears where they aren't gated by hundreds of quests they have no interest in. There is no "crystal ball" here. Publishers have outright acknowledged this as a concern, and many very few sequels in any genre are made where you're required to go through its previous iteration. In fact, FFXIV is the only MMO currently on the market that gates content in this manner.

And you can prove that it was all new players faced with a "daunting" story?

Never said they did. You just cited player numbers that far exceeded what has been analyzed. What we do know is among primary complaints on forums is the lack of accessibility.

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.

FFXI does not gate content behind its story. You are free to explore or participate in its equivalent of raids at your leisure. People who support a jump potion (or have an indifference to its implementation) generally want it because of the aforementioned inaccessibility. Not for leveling, as that doesn't get you anywhere in FFXIV.

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.

Except I didn't. I merely applied your insistence players should play the game "as intended" to another game. A direction comparison in the same genre would be WoW. Funny enough, they don't seem to have any of the issues you've insisted would plague FFXIV.

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.

Based on... your opinion? And I never said now, but in the future. You cannot expect new players to continuously flock to a game where an ever growing mountain awaits them. If you are so gung ho against a jump potion now. What chances in the next expansion?

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.

Too bad. Why do you get to decide how they should feel or view this game or its expansions? Once again, FFXI is a non-equivalent because it didn't prevent you from exploring content at your leisure.

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?)

And yet I could buy Legion right now and start playing it immediately. All that lore, I can completely ignore if I so choose. Therefore, I can treat Legion like a standalone game because it allows me the choice of playing its content at my personally discretion.

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

Buying gil and skipping A Realm Reborn are not the same thing.

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...

No, you don't actually. Even in the Chinese version, you do not earn achievements. It's literally like you... just skipped A Realm Reborn. And you mean that baby gear the game hands to you for free? Once upon a time, people had to earn the ilvl 90 set. I got it gifted to me without lifting a finger. I suppose that's pay to win too, right? After all, you had to work for it. I didn't.

None of that is winning. Funny enough, I wager most people who would actually purchase a jump potion wouldn't even mind being forced to run all the dungeons/trials. That isn't what those people tend to complain about. It's the story they're forced to skip when it doesn't appealing to them.

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!

Because they aren't synonymous. Allowing someone to skip a bunch of fetch quests and joke dungeons they'll otherwise have a friend unsync them through doesn't impact anything. It just makes what they're already doing faster. Some would, others wouldn't. Kind of like how it is now. Some have mentor status yet have no idea how to properly play their job. Just because someone wants to skip story doesn't mean they aren't interested in the gameplay. Fun fact, a lot of people-- even current subs -- find 1-40 leveling a mindless bore. There's a reason even fans of the game tend to say "it gets so much better at level 50!"

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?

Actually, it sounds like you're being increasingly judgmental because they chose to skip the story and you just want to shame them for it. No different than me calling out a healer for refusing to DPS, a tank who pulls small or a DPS who doesn't use their aoes. All of them are playing in a way I dislike, therefore I should get to shame them. Except in that scenario, I'd be a jerk.

Good players generally don't care how you got to max level. They just want you to be good at the game.

[TarynH]

No. I've disagreed with them. There is a difference.

Then why do you keep saying I've given you no reason? I have to give you a reason for you to disagree with one.

Sigh. You are yet again mischaracterizing what I said.

Not at all. I responded to what you said.

Never said they did.

It was implied.

FFXI does not gate content behind its story. You are free to explore or participate in its equivalent of raids at your leisure.

Wrong. It absolutely does. Most end-game content was/is gated behind the story. Dynamis, Limbus, Sky, Sea were among the major end-game content gated behind the story. Certain other content was gated partially by story. Assaults, Nyzul, unlocking various jobs, Escha, etc.

Except I didn't. I merely applied your insistence players should play the game "as intended" to another game.

Playing a game as intended, has nothing to do with what you said. ME3 is intended (programmed) to be picked up without ME1 or ME2 being played. You can also use a save file from those games to personalize your ME3 game. However, it is intended to stand alone. FFXIV: ARR is intended (programmed) to be played starting at level 1 and proceeding into Heavensward, which is a continuation of the events from ARR. HW is not intended (programmed) to start the character off in Ishgard.

I think it is well-established that you want to skip ARR. I get that. However, when I say that I prefer people to play the game as intended, I mean it in the sense of play it how it's programmed. In other words, I didn't make the rules. Get over it. I'm not forcing anyone to play it any differently than anyone else. In fact, I'm not forcing anyone to play it at all. I simply have the opinion that it should retain it's integrity, and remain as is, possibly with less bloat, but definitely not skip story.

Based on... your opinion?

Based on many review sites that rate MMORPGs. FFXIV is usually right under your baby WoW, which also happens to have about 10 years on it.

Too bad. Why do you get to decide how they should feel or view this game or its expansions?

I don't. I said I fault anyone who views the expansions as stand-alone games. The same as I would fault anyone thinking one chapter out of a book is a stand-alone story.

And yet I could buy Legion right now and start playing it immediately.

Don't tease me.

Buying gil and skipping A Realm Reborn are not the same thing.

Wasn't my question.

No, you don't actually. Even in the Chinese version, you do not earn achievements.

The achievements don't bother me.

None of that is winning. Funny enough, I wager most people who would actually purchase a jump potion wouldn't even mind being forced to run all the dungeons/trials. That isn't what those people tend to complain about. It's the story they're forced to skip when it doesn't appealing to them.

I think they would. One of the major complaints is DF wait times. The story can be spammed through rather quickly. It's the dungeons that slow it down. The story is soloable for the most part, but the dungeons are not, unless you have someone willing to burn through them.

Because they aren't synonymous. Allowing someone to skip a bunch of fetch quests and joke dungeons they'll otherwise have a friend unsync them through doesn't impact anything.

Wait... I thought you said they wouldn't mind doing those dungeons.

Actually, it sounds like you're being increasingly judgmental because they chose to skip the story and you just want to shame them for it. No different than me calling out a healer for refusing to DPS, a tank who pulls small or a DPS who doesn't use their aoes. All of them are playing in a way I dislike, therefore I should get to shame them. Except in that scenario, I'd be a jerk.

Coming from the person becoming increasingly judgmental. What I said was in jest. I've never shamed, or called out someone in game, because I don't like their play style. If a healer doesn't DPS, I don't care. That's usually my job. I'm not that uptight, that I criticize a healer for wanting to heal. I don't secretly parse people, then tell them how worthless they are at the end of a run. (Had a nice person do that after my first A12 run, despite beating it the first attempt.)

You have this assumption that I'm some mean person, that forces people to play my way. All I'm asking is that everyone play the game from the same starting point. That's not really "my" way, but rather the "fair" way, for everyone.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Then why do you keep saying I've given you no reason? I have to give you a reason for you to disagree with one?

You cherry pick what better suits your argument or completely mischaracterize what I've said.

Wrong. It absolutely does. Most end-game content was/is gated behind the story. Dynamis, Limbus, Sky, Sea were among the major end-game content gated behind the story. Certain other content was gated partially by story. Assaults, Nyzul, unlocking various jobs, Escha, etc.

Not in the same manner FFXIV does. Regardless, FFXI is a fifteen year old game. Trends and audiences change.

Playing a game as intended, has nothing to do with what you said. ME3 is intended (programmed) to be picked up without ME1 or ME2 being played. You can also use a save file from those games to personalize your ME3 game. However, it is intended to stand alone. FFXIV: ARR is intended (programmed) to be played starting at level 1 and proceeding into Heavensward, which is a continuation of the events from ARR. HW is not intended (programmed) to start the character off in Ishgard.

That doesn't mean it can never be changed. If we're being entirely rigid on intention, the devs generally want you to play through the story. If you're skipping cutscenes, then you technically aren't "playing the game as intended." Personal interpretation is merely that: personal.

I think it is well-established that you want to skip ARR. I get that. However, when I say that I prefer people to play the game as intended, I mean it in the sense of play it how it's programmed. In other words, I didn't make the rules. Get over it. I'm not forcing anyone to play it any differently than anyone else. In fact, I'm not forcing anyone to play it at all. I simply have the opinion that it should retain it's integrity, and remain as is, possibly with less bloat, but definitely not skip story.

Only if you failed to read my posts. I specifically cited having read and watch every cutscene. In fact, I've done so twice. I also wouldn't have any interest purchasing a jump potion. Because I support the idea, doesn't inherently mean I dislike the story. That is you once again making presumptions.

And I have the opinion the "integrity of the game" is ascribing a personal attachment to something nebulous. Evidently, we disagree. So as you so eloquently put, get over it.

Based on many review sites that rate MMORPGs. FFXIV is usually right under your baby WoW, which also happens to have about 10 years on it.

There you go making assumptions again. I've never played WoW. I only cited it because it directly refutes your argument of RMT madness and proved their jump potion equivalent wound up being successful. God forbid I don't agree FFXIV should be played in such and such a way. Obviously, I must be a WoW player who hates the story.

I don't. I said I fault anyone who views the expansions as stand-alone games. The same as I would fault anyone thinking one chapter out of a book is a stand-alone story.

Good for you. Unfortunately, your opinion isn't the end all, be all.

Don't tease me.

Oh no. Somebody disagrees with me on the Internet. They should just go away.

Wasn't my question.

Just another false equivalent. You do those a lot.

The achievements don't bother me.

That wasn't my point.

I think they would. One of the major complaints is DF wait times. The story can be spammed through rather quickly. It's the dungeons that slow it down. The story is soloable for the most part, but the dungeons are not, unless you have someone willing to burn through them.

What concern of it is yours? For them, spamming hundreds of quests is still tedious.

Wait... I thought you said they wouldn't mind doing those dungeons.

Had nothing to do with what I said, again. You continuously try to equate wanting to skip to the beginning of Heavenward with being gifted Best in Slot gear. They aren't the same thing.

Coming from the person becoming increasingly judgmental. What I said was in jest. I've never shamed, or called out someone in game, because I don't like their play style. If a healer doesn't DPS, I don't care. That's usually my job. I'm not that uptight, that I criticize a healer for wanting to heal. I don't secretly parse people, then tell them how worthless they are at the end of a run. (Had a nice person do that after my first A12 run, despite beating it the first attempt.)

Because I disagreed with you? Heaven help us all. Apparently, my supporting, or simply not caring one way or another because a jump potion is somehow judgmental. Is it because I don't feel the same way you do about the game's "integrity." I'm not the one who advocated shaming people who opted to purchase something because I didn't like it. How convenient that's only a "joke" now though.

You have this assumption that I'm some mean person, that forces people to play my way. All I'm asking is that everyone play the game from the same starting point. That's not really "my" way, but rather the "fair" way, for everyone.

No. Frankly, I don't have any opinion of you. We merely disagreed on a forum. Don't think much else of it. And that "fair" way remains, your subjective, opinion.

[TarynH]

Regardless, FFXI is a fifteen year old game. Trends and audiences change. I've never played WoW. I only cited it because it directly refutes your argument of RMT madness and proved their jump potion equivalent wound up being successful.

Since I'm already making assumptions, I'm going to assume you never played FFXI. Because you seem to know very little about it.

I'm also going to assume you never read any of the WoW forums complaining how toxic the community has become since the addition of jumping potions.

Also, I'm going to assume that you know very little about WoW's RMT situation, and how for years they could not get rid of them. Still can't. But it's all okay now, because you can buy gold directly from Blizzard, in the form of a token. Right off of their cash shop. They made RMT legal, to compete with them.

Apparently, my supporting, or simply not caring one way or another because a jump potion is somehow judgmental.

Actually, I would base that on your interaction with others. Not on the fact you want the jumping potion. But there I go again, making assumptions that your harmful rhetoric and spite towards others is somehow judgmental. Maybe I should instead assume that's just you being friendly?

But if you really don't care about all of this... why are you defending your position so vehemently?

And before you ask the same of me, I'll say I actually care about the game I play. I've heard "the game is dying" bs from the start of FFXI: CoP. Still alive. Maybe not kickin', but definitely still around. It's going to be very hard to convince me so early in, that FFXIV is going down your arbitrary "road to doom."

But I digress. I'm tired. I'm bored of the discussion, as it's circling around into the same tired "what do you care?" nonsense. If it will make you feel better, I'll even say you win.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Since I'm already making assumptions, I'm going to assume you never played FFXI. Because you seem to know very little about it.

I'm also going to assume you never read any of the WoW forums complaining how toxic the community has become since the addition of jumping potions.

Also, I'm going to assume that you know very little about WoW's RMT situation, and how for years they could not get rid of them. Still can't. But it's all okay now, because you can buy gold directly from Blizzard, in the form of a token. Right off of their cash shop. They made RMT legal, to compete with them.

I did play it, albeit not for long. Didn't particularly like it, though not for story reasons.

WoW has several million players. By simple statistics, they will have a much larger "toxic" portion of their community. People have complained about that long before a jump potion were added.

Actually, I know a WoW GM personally. No MMO will ever get rid of RMTs because of how they operate. They ban a handful and new bots are made. A game with WoW's population and popularity will inevitably attract more.

Actually, I would base that on your interaction with others. Not on the fact you want the jumping potion. But there I go again, making assumptions that your harmful rhetoric and spite towards others is somehow judgmental. Maybe I should instead assume that's just you being friendly?

But if you really don't care about all of this... why are you defending your position so vehemently?

And before you ask the same of me, I'll say I actually care about the game I play. I've heard "the game is dying" bs from the start of FFXI: CoP. Still alive. Maybe not kickin', but definitely still around. It's going to be very hard to convince me so early in, that FFXIV is going down your arbitrary "road to doom."

But I digress. I'm tired. I'm bored of the discussion, as it's circling around into the same tired "what do you care?" nonsense. If it will make you feel better, I'll even say you win.

My interactions have been to disagree with you and call old content irrelevant. You apparently took umbrage to it. If you deem words on a forum where I, at no point, uttered so much as curse word to any one person, "harmful". Well, perhaps Tumblr can relate. Disagreeing with someone is not spiteful or malicious.

Because it's a forum and I'll reply to whomever responses if I feel like it? I'm simply arguing the other side. And I never once said FFXIV was dying nor did I even imply it. I said if content is continuously gated by an ever growing quest requirement. It will deter new players. You're inferring what hasn't been said.

Do whatever you fancy. It doesn't matter to me.

[Reynhart]

FFXI does not gate content behind its story.

Not true for most zones in CoP, nor Dynamis, nor Dreamworld, nor Sky, nor Sea, nor Salvage, nor Limbus...so, lots of raids, in fact.

New players are important. But, when your new players would rather skip your content than play it, that says something about the quality of player joining your game as well as the quality of your content.

The fun part is that those who claim that gating is a problem are not new players. The only complain I saw from new players is having to level a job to 50 (or even 60) to even unlock the one job they want to play. And that is a valid concern. Especially since, like in HW, jobs have acually very little connection to the city you unlock them.
They could have put AST, DRK and MCH out of Ishgard without any real issue.

[Neophyte]

Lets do some stats. I leveled my Alt last week from 0-60 with cutscene skipping in 5 ingame days. Thats up to 3.4 and a12 down. I still have the leaf. Huge help was NN and friends doing unsync content to skip throughduties.So fir the love of god thats 150 hrs. In the end if you dont enjoy the journey why play the game. The fact there are solo duties in MSQ that serve as a wake up call that you need to get better yourself its a huge win for me. I will agree 2.X-2.55 needs some fat trimming and MSQ up to lvl50 need some exp boosts. The 46-49 leveling was a pain in the ass and i had to stop doing MSQ to level. I hit though HW being lvl52. And only had to grind exp at 58 and 59.

That is with skipping every cutscene, knowing every little aspect of the game, friends who help you clear the dungeons faster (or get faster queues if not tank).
It's not like most people start with a lot of friends into this game.

My alternate (WAR) is right before Brayflox Longstop @ about 20h playtime.
Make this 60h+ for my actual first character (ARC) to reach that point (maybe alone 10h for not using the right shortcuts to reach Lower La Noscea or the scion hideout next to Horizon, lol).

__________

But, way more important: Player skill doesn't correlate with time spent in MSQ, it correlates with time spent in end level content and dedication.
So saying player skill will drop (lol, as if the skill of the majority can even drop further) is pretty far-fetched.
I know people who only joined to play with friends in end-game and they got carried through all the MSQ. Did they learn that much, while getting carried? No.
They're still not worse than many others who did the MSQ on their own and currently they're even doing savage. So, maybe that problem is just made up and is not backed up by any proof? Just sayin'..

And even... maybe they fuck up in their first level 60 dungeon?! So what. People fuck them up right now, too. And they did all the MSQ!!! How come...?
Simple: It's not like you need 100h of training to just get how this game works. And it's not like 100h of playing a below lvl. 50 class helps you much on endgame rotation or in-depth understanding of your skills and synergy effects with other classes.
To be on par with a no-Ex/Savage-content doing player in regards of "what does that mark mean (e.g. stack, avoid, etc.)" or "What should I do here?" you need a few hours in ex dungeons, else you're just not that good, are not paying attention or you simply don't care. And playing all the MSQ would'nt help you.

How often in actual current content do people think: "Wow, that person is bad. I wonder if he played enough MSQ to get good? Or maybe someone did carry him trough 2.x and that's why he's so bad."
Never. Because it's absolutly far-fetched to connect lack of player skill with him not doing enough hours of level-up and fetch quests. Or because he did Brayflox/Stone Virgil not a single time, instead of a friggin' single time (since right now, besides clearing a dungeon once, it's not needed to do it more often).

________

The MSQ of the base game is one thing. But there is and never will be any succesful MMORPG which demands you to play every published X-Pac (in the right order) to enjoy the newest X-Pac.

Never.

Ever.