Main Scenario Restriction Bloodstorm - Very Very Bad idea.

[LineageRazor]

That's the vision of a veteran player. When you're a fresh level 20, Ifrit can be challenging, when you're level 32, drops from Brayflox's Longstop are meaningful, when you're level 50, Titan Hard mode is challenging.
Doing each dungeon for the first time is way more "meaningful" in experiencing a new MMO than buying the latest gear after running the same high level dungeon for the thousandth time.

Actually, it's the "vision" of a Mentor, who has listened to countless newbies complain about how long it takes them to get through the Main Scenario, and just when they'll finally reach Heavensward. I tell them to buck up, enjoy the story for what it is, and to enjoy the journey, and that endgame will still be there waiting for them when they arrive. This isn't MY opinion I'm spouting, but the opinion of countless players new to the game. (Though, to be fair, many of those newbies would be satisfied if they could only unlock the new jobs without leveling a job they're not interested in playing to 50 and slogging through two hundred quests before they can touch it. I sympathize with them on this point very much.)

And, sadly, you may be looking at the older content through something of a nostalgia filter. While it's true that some of the early instances WERE challenging for players back in the day, that's because the majority of the party were also fresh and new. Your average newbie when challenging this new content will be going at it with three veterans, likely able to trio the content with little or no assistance from the newbie - even if the newbie is a vital tank or healer role. And that's to say nothing of the content that's been outright nerfed to make it easier, such as the Demon Wall in Amdapor Keep.

I'm not in favor of "story skip" potions, or whatever - but I AM in favor of giving newer players endgame activities to look forward to that do NOT depend on Main Scenario completion. They can participate in these activities while they tackle the MSQ at their leisure - and for folks who simply don't ever want to bother with MSQ, it gives them a reason to keep playing, as well.

[Terribad]

They can participate in these activities while they tackle the MSQ at their leisure - and for folks who simply don't ever want to bother with MSQ, it gives them a reason to keep playing, as well.

I don't understand why this was never an option. Especially since this isn't a single player RPG. If I want to grind out mobs to 60 and then go do quests, why can't I? Being forced to do quests turned a lot of people I know off this game.

"B-b-but it's a rpg! You guys just don't like rpgs!" It's also a MMO and those are usually played a bit differently.

[Blood-Aki]

I don't understand why this was never an option. Especially since this isn't a single player RPG. If I want to grind out mobs to 60 and then go do quests, why can't I? Being forced to do quests turned a lot of people I know off this game.

"B-b-but it's a rpg! You guys just don't like rpgs!" It's also a MMO and those are usually played a bit differently.

This isn't a game of instant gratification, for the most part at least, People really shouldn't play a game that revolves around a STORY if they never want to bother with it. There are other games out that that don't require you to do a story or any actual work and just get straight to the game, like sports games. SE can't just cater to the extreamely lazy just so they have a "reason to keep playing" in fact those type of players are the ones that just cap out on gear shortly after a patch, and then unsub till next patch.

[Dragon_Sanders]

I doubt if it is the LV50 MSQs makes Minfilia a most unwelcome NPC, thus Yoshida had to send her to another world...Oh, see what they've done to poor Thancred, look at his gloomy face! Is it necessary to let him know Minfilia just took him as a "father", after losing her already? (Wait, you are getting off the point!

[Terribad]

This isn't a game of instant gratification, for the most part at least, People really shouldn't play a game that revolves around a STORY if they never want to bother with it. There are other games out that that don't require you to do a story or any actual work and just get straight to the game, like sports games. SE can't just cater to the extreamely lazy just so they have a "reason to keep playing" in fact those type of players are the ones that just cap out on gear shortly after a patch, and then unsub till next patch.

Who said anything about instant gratification when I literally said "if I want to grind to 60 on mobs". That's not instant....

ALL mmos revolve around story, ALL mmos have a story and design content around said story. Only this one forces you to do it, mmos don't behave the same way single player rpgs do.

This game is extremely single player. A good chunk of the story quests you can't even do with someone else because it's instanced content. They need to move away from this design and make it more like an actual mmo.

[Blood-Aki]

Who said anything about instant gratification when I literally said "if I want to grind to 60 on mobs". That's not instant....

ALL mmos revolve around story, ALL mmos have a story and design content around said story. Only this one forces you to do it, mmos don't behave the same way single player rpgs do.

This game is extremely single player. A good chunk of the story quests you can't even do with someone else because it's instanced content. They need to move away from this design and make it more like an actual mmo.

Why wouldn't it force you to, that is what it SHOULD do, why on earth should everyone have access to everything the moment they are plopped in the game, yea just throw a fresh character in HW area, with no idea why they are there, this is an RPG, you SHOULD be required to deal with a story, otherwise, why are you here?

I wouldn't start playing street fighter because i want to go through story mode and master it, i play it if i want to FIGHT others, because it's a FIGHTING game. just like RPGs, MMO or not, are STORY drivin games, You just have to deal with it. if you don't like stories that much, then these type of games are not for you.

[Reynhart]

Actually, it's the "vision" of a Mentor, who has listened to countless newbies complain about how long it takes them to get through the Main Scenario, and just when they'll finally reach Heavensward. I tell them to buck up, enjoy the story for what it is, and to enjoy the journey, and that endgame will still be there waiting for them when they arrive. This isn't MY opinion I'm spouting, but the opinion of countless players new to the game. (Though, to be fair, many of those newbies would be satisfied if they could only unlock the new jobs without leveling a job they're not interested in playing to 50 and slogging through two hundred quests before they can touch it. I sympathize with them on this point very much.)

Frankly, if it's because they want to play with the new jobs, I'll understand. If it's not...why ? Why are they in such a hurry to do Heavensward ? Yes, the story is better, but, without the event in ARR, you'll basically have no connection with it, and the content is nothing to praise of.

3.x dungeons are bland, unchallenging, and, for most of them, shorter, even if it's the first time you do them.
And, endgame activities are not the most interesting too, it's just mind-numbing grind over and over to keep us waiting for the next patch, especially in this game where the same formula might continue for years.

I don't understand why this was never an option. Especially since this isn't a single player RPG. If I want to grind out mobs to 60 and then go do quests, why can't I? Being forced to do quests turned a lot of people I know off this game.

You can grind on mobs, it's called FATEs. But the level is just not the only requirement and it's jutified by the lore.

[kaptainpancake69]

The main story needs to be rebalanced for newer players, less teleporting fetch quests, more cutscenes instead of endless dialogue, maybe more voice acting done. Make the experience better, but keep it mandatory. The issue is ARR MQS is pretty mediocre, and not very engaging, and Heavensward has so much filler fetch quets were you just teleport around and waste your time.

[Chalbee]

Problem with this discussion is that we're trying to talk about several different aspects of gameplay and balance them. People obviously have different concerns and priorities, but it's not an all-or-nothing discussion.

-Availability of jobs (HW gated 3 of them behind MSQ)
-Availability of raids/dungeons (locked behind both level and MSQ progression)
-Availability of zones (some locked behind MSQ progression)
-"Missing out" on the story/connection(s) with the characters
-The volume of the MSQ

It is possible to make some of the content accessible without MSQ gates while keeping some of it locked behind progress benchmarks for a condensed version of the MSQ. It would be absurd to let brand new players into a12, but it's perfectly reasonable to let new players try ALL of the classes/jobs early on instead of leveling a class to 50 and then falling in love with an entirely new job they have to re-level from 30.

[Terribad]

Why wouldn't it force you to, that is what it SHOULD do

It should? According to who? How many MMOs are out there that FORCES you to do story quests? Even the biggest MMO in history doesn't force you to do story quest. So if we're going off the other games on the market, uh, no it shouldn't. Not to mention why does it even matter if a player doesn't want to do story quests? When the ones that don't care for the story, don't pay attention to it. As long as a sub get's paid who cares?

just like RPGs, MMO or not, are STORY drivin games

Again, all mmos have story and all mmos design content and bosses around said story. Only this one forces you to do it, which probably has something to do with the high number of accounts created but the low sub number. >.> And you keep arguing this "instant gratification" mess, I don't know if you can't read or if you just like arguing points no one made. My point is MSQs should not be FORCED if someone wants to GRIND to 60, let them.

You can grind on mobs, it's called FATEs. But the level is just not the only requirement and it's jutified by the lore.

Fates are not mob grinding, it's not the same as getting a party, going to x spot and grinding mobs without having to wait for one to pop. Just face it, not everyone that plays an MMO (which is what this is) gives a crap about lore.