Naoki Yoshida's Comment in Regard to Jump Potions/Boost Potions

[Roth_Trailfinder]

I like this! So, when I am told that I should go to work from Monday to Friday, it actually means, that I can stay home on Fridays? I've learned something new today!

Monday through Friday? Lol

[Niskie]

Finalized Changes to the Feature upon the Release of Stormblood

As I stated previously, the specifications mentioned above are for the potions in the Chinese and Korean versions of the game. We've decided that the potions will change in following ways for the Chinese and Korean versions upon the launch of Stormblood.

The story jumping potion will become the “Adventuring Records of Heavensward.” (we are currently discussing whether or not to keep "Adventuring Records of A Realm Reborn").
Upon using the “Adventuring Records of Heavensward,” the player character will have completed the main quest up to the final quest in patch 3.5 part 2, as well as accepting the initial main quest for Stormblood.

Hope this helps!

[Ayirez]

Between the yays and nays one cannot simply say which method is correct. I've read quite a few of the comments in this thread and will compile a few thoughts into this post.

Skill Disparity
A common fear is that players who buy into the skip will lack the experience to play properly. While this fear may be somewhat negated by a large amount of players using these tools being veterans making alts or friends of veterans who will then instructing them, there should still be a safeguard to prevent a lack of skill from holding the player base back (for instance making dungeons too easy for the assumed skippers).

The easiest way to accomplish this is simply to create a more in-depth tutorial than what the Hall of the Novice currently provides, one which players must pass before using the skip potions. However this will create more work for SE, work I'm unsure they'd be willing to undertake. In the end the skill disparity from lack of player experience may just be something everyone will have to learn to live with. IF SE starts placating to new/inexperienced players deep into the third expansion content they should be aware of the backlash they will experience.

Cash Grab
Many players are of the belief that this is a shameless cash grab on the part of SE. On one hand it is indeed yet another way to nick a quick buck from the userbase, while on the other it is a very realistic way to allow players to catch up to their friends and indeed other players. As the world grows one must remember that the lands of eld will become barren and lack much player interaction, so this is a very convenient way for others to actually feel the mmo experience of watching five bots rush key quest mobs before their very eyes.

2500Yen is currently ~21.5USD, ~29CAD, ~20.5Euro, or ~29.7AUD (apologies if your native currency is not included). If you take into account that buying the story potion alone leaves you with an immense grind on your hands regardless, these two potions will almost always be bought together. This means a purchase almost that of buying the expansion twice over would be in order. Indeed, it is quite a steep price to pay for the convenience, one that SE can't realistically justify. A better pricing would be closer to that of a phantasia for the story skip potion and a server transfer for the level skip potion. Simply put, SE has been rather greedy with their cash shop of late, but you cannot expect them to discontinue a popular and successful trend.

Denigration of Hard Work
A few players seem to be mistaken in how the level skip potion works, so to clarify, it seems the level skip potion works only on one class. If a player were to try to 'power level' their character's combat classes using level skip potions at their current price it would cost them well over 300USD to do so, therefore anyone that does would either be rich or right out of their minds. Our hard work leveling our classes legit was not wasted.

Last Time on Final Fantasy
Another concern is over the quality of story retelling. While it is indeed currently an option to go to an inn and rewatch cutscenes from the game it is a very disjointed experience if one were to try to relive the story of ARR or HW. There is only one viable solution to this problem, and that is to create an overarching movie with actual flow to it, similar to what came with ARR's collector's edition, which would be viewable from the inn for all players.


To Summarize
All in all, through the positives and negatives, skip potions are indeed a trend in long running games. Adding them to FFXIV bears risks but great rewards, it is up to SE to listen to us in the user base or burn many bridges once more like the great terror that was 1.0

Thanks for reading.

[sublimeandetc]

I feel that the first section sums up the needs perfectly, and you all have obviously considered any expected pros and cons. As someone who has leveled every crafter and gatherer to 60, as well as multiple battle jobs to 60, and all jobs at least 20-50... I think this is a GREAT IDEA. People will still have to learn the job playing from 60-70. Anyone seeking to truly master their class will likely have active discussion, seek out guides, and practice rotations anyhow. The concern with players not having an appropriate skill level is honestly a non-issue. There are already players of various skill levels, and this would be the same whether or not this is implemented.

This is a great way to allow everyone to experience the game, and veterans can play with new friends without dedicating multiple days of playtime purely to getting them through early game content. Please implement this in NA with the launch of Stormblood and include a job jump potion with the purchase like WoW!

[sublimeandetc]

How about we post productive comments with solutions? They made a massive post with a great solution the vast majority would enjoy. If you're going to claim their solution is wrong, then you need to provide one yourself.

[sublimeandetc]

RIP FFXIV

Good luck SE, I will not buy the expansion now.

...why? Is giving new players a shorter path to 60 really that terrible? Level cap is when the real game just gets started.

[sublimeandetc]

How much development time do you really think it would take for SE to remove flags from older content?

...

Imo, they should simply make it so that if you walk up to the gates of Ishgard, and try to enter into Heavenward content, you are greeted with a brief warning that tells you that skipping ARR MSQ will result in spoilers, do you wish to proceed?: Y/N

They've already shown they have the capability to do this because that's exactly what these potions do. They alter your content flags to let you proceed with that content. That these items are on the mogstation is purely for profit.

You say that like there's something wrong with a business seeking a profit. They make a great game, and this is an extremely useful item for various reasons and people. It is something tons of people want, and does not negatively impact you at all. This is also common practice in the MMO market.

[sublimeandetc]

This will mess with crafting classes, nobody will be buying the low tier gear when leveling :/

It's not like every player will be using these on every job... This will be a negligible concern.

[Ayirez]

How about we post productive comments with solutions? They made a massive post with a great solution the vast majority would enjoy. If you're going to claim their solution is wrong, then you need to provide one yourself.

The purpose of my post was to compile thoughts and concerns, not to come up with the solutions. Ultimately the company will do what they want regardless of what any of us say, and while I did in fact offer a point or two that they could improve on (if you read the whole post) it is irrelevant unless they truly do desire to put the community first before business.

I also never said I personally was against Skip Potions. I understand their benefits and support the idea, I personally however think there needs to be better story recap and perhaps a lower cost to skip the story at least. 20 - 25 dollars is a steep price to pay immediately after buying a ~50 dollar game, not to mention you'd have to do it twice for both pots to catch up to your friends, while on top of that the game then has a monthly subscription. A business is a business, but money gouging is also what it is. Perhaps you're better off than others, but I can't think of any friends of mine that would drop 100+ dollars on an expansion and skip potions to come play FFXIV with me, so the main purpose of the potions falls flat right out the door. These potions appeal far more to Veterans making alts than new players.

[Clethoria]

Over 141 pages of people yelling the same things and arguing in circles.

Sasuga NA forums.