As a new player that really likes this game ...

[Moonlite]

snip

Isn't the MSQ enough to stand on its own? Separate from dungeons and adding new CS to areas as you get to them. I am not saying MSQ should be removed. I just want the option to play in a more open style. Imagine if you couldn't get mogmail unless you have done every mogmail quest and then they add more to it. Or a game where we all admit maybe it has some plot holes and cliches add a few more in and let more people be happy.

I think you're being a little too judgy. It's not exactly a good thing- even for the sake of the plot- to lock your players out of content (Like a major city) for a really long time in an MMO, that shit just wouldn't fly and would only piss off more people than it would make the few like you who NEED the lockout happy.

Yet they did it with 3.0 and 4.0 content and the player base defends it. I do believe the whole issue is that SE chooses to lock players out of content because of MSQ. Also other MMO's have this thing called phasing. Maybe if SE wants us to put such blind devotion in the MSQ they should learn to use it.

[Paladinleeds]

Isn't the MSQ enough to stand on its own? Separate from dungeons and adding new CS to areas as you get to them. I am not saying MSQ should be removed. I just want the option to play in a more open style. Imagine if you couldn't get mogmail unless you have done every mogmail quest and then they add more to it. Or a game where we all admit maybe it has some plot holes and cliches add a few more in and let more people be happy.

In this game? I don't think so. Final Fantasy has a deep entrenched history of doing what I said, even in its predeccesor MMO XI (as far as I know). At this point, it's to be expected. However, what you are suggesting, will push MSQ into the background, akin to WoW's system (which makes the story feel empty as I mentioned and actually pushed me away from the game). The dungeons all play a role in the story. Castrum Abania, Ala Mhigo, all have a deep relationship with the MSQ. If you did them without the MSQ, they would feel like just another dungeon. There wouldn't be an understanding of why this is being done, which is important in the Final Fantasy franchise. Everything has a lore-wise point, even if convoluted and it doesn't seem like it does, including instanced duty (something WoW doesn't do for duty). I can understand the request, and can sympathise with it, but I don't think it's the right decision for this game.

As for mog mail, I highly doubt they'll do that. Lorewise Moogles already do the delivery stuff. But the Postmoogle quests just have you help deliver certain stuff. But if the story tied deeply into it as to why the mog mail function couldn't be used until you beat it all, then yeah, I'd get it, and I'd not mind the decision. Final Fantasy attracts people interested in the lore and the story, because of how deeply driven it is in the game. Your suggestion would push the MSQ to the background and runs the risk of making it like most other MMOs out there, just with a Final Fantasy coat of paint. The story being so intrinsically linked to progress in this game is one of this game's unique selling points. People like you might not like that, and that's okay, but at the same time it means maybe this isn't the game for you. And that's also OK. SE do this locking as a design decision, to help give more world impact in their story. And in my eyes, it works. It gives the dungeons more depth and reason to exist.

Now, the story skip potion I agree is a cashgrab. Why not just offer the option of marking the story up to Stormblood start as complete as an option with the potion? But, when a player follows the story, they'll see how intrinsically linked dungeons etc are to the quests. Their presence is covered in the overarching MSQ lore (for MSQ dungeons at least). Phasing... wouldn't really work in my eyes.

[Zarabeth]

I like games with story, and oh boy do I like FF games. But this is an mmorpg, it cant sustain itself just with story, or else sub count will just plummet until next patch.

This just happens to be a very story based mmorpg. That's not going to change. If that's not something you like this just isn't the game for you. Nothing wrong with that, but there's also nothing wrong with people who enjoy this type of game.

[Snow_Princess]

Because a lot of this community really does like the Final Fantasy lore. A lot of us have played most of the FF games. This is not a WoW clone and those who want that aren't going to find it here.

you do not need to block access. The quests can be easily be side quests, or at least a lot of busy MSQ quests made into side quests. SE made a big mistake in making the MSQ blocking, and FFXI does not even do it this badly (it blocks different stuff in parallel, it would be like being able to do SB because your 61 without doing HW quests) So I am shocked why people are shocked when people come to this game and complaining about it, it is unexpected and bad game design. (In the sense it is appealing to a small group of people, it can be more streamlined to appeal to more people, more money, etc...)

There is no warning whatso ever of the massive gating fact other then NOW being a hint that you can buy skip it. So now some will feel they do the blocking for cash shop exploitation.

[Zarabeth]

What has that got to do with being able to do other stuff outside the lock of MSQ? Were you locked out of any zones in 2.0 because of MSQ? And no one said the MSQ had to be removed. You know it can exsist and still let other players play in a style they more enjoy. People can already pay to skip it. What the hell is the difference if you can do X dungeon or zone because of lore.

I have finished all the FF games up to 13 and it is nothing to be proud of. It has not me appreciate literature or art more. The way they portray jrpg in Mahoujin Guru Guru is exactly how most FF series feel. The push back is the MSQ protectionist society can't see its a little silly and would be more enjoyable if it wasn't shoved down some players throats.

I replied to you because you were putting down those who actually like the game and enjoy the story and lore. It certainly doesn't make us bad people just because we like something you don't. No idea where you're getting all this other stuff.

[Jybril]

FFXIV is not a hardcore pve game. It never has been as far as I can tell. FFXIV is as casual as casual gets and if you're expecting that to change you're going to be woefully disappointed.

Could FFXIV do with a few more quality of life features? Sure. But it doesn't need to be WoW 2.0. FFXIV is not a "raid or die" game. It is not an "endgame is all that matters" game. It is not just another in a string of WoW clones with the same type of priorities and development.

The entire point of FFXIV is the Main Story. That's why its mandatory. Could the 100 quest leadup from ARR to HW be pruned? Sure, no one will argue that its got way too much filler in it. But there's a reason FFXIV lacks the "hardcore pve community wow has"... and that reason is this game is not WoW and it will never be WoW and it will never live up to your expectations if you're looking for another WoW.

I find it hard to believe that the main thing of XIV is the story. If that's so, why is there a skip-all potion?
People to play catch up?
People to not drudge through boring fetch quest that was 2.0?...SE being greedy? Lol.
Sure, this is a Final Fantasy game, but content and replayabilty must come first. The story should not.
Why? Because this is a MMO, something has to keep the majority here, and that's new and fun stuff in the game.
Game has been the same for nearly 4 years and the boring patterns follows each patch.
I might get a lot of backlash and hate here but again, this is a MMO. I'm not 100% here for the story
and I am a fan of the FF series, but for me (FOR ME) this has to be one of the worst FF stories I have ever read.
And don't come to me talking about FF13 (I know everyone hates the hell out that game lol), this is my opinion and for the record FF13:LR is the worst.

I just think people should calm down about the OP because he does makes some points. I know nothing
of WoW or FFXI or anything like that and I know a lot of people enjoy the story here and that's great! But again,
I think they need to work on content and do much more
than the same things that have been doing. It's wearing people down, and people are getting bored quicker and quicker
by the patch. Just fyi, leveling to max is where the fun ends...I already maxed 3 jobs and I'm sad I'm done because end-game
is not all that great.

[Snow_Princess]

I find it hard to believe that the main thing of XIV is the story. If that's so, why is there a skip-all potion?
People to play catch up?
People to not drudge through boring fetch quest that was 2.0?...SE being greedy? Lol.Sure, this is a Final Fantasy game, but content and replayabilty must come first. The story should not.
Why? Because this is a MMO, something has to keep the majority here, and that's new and fun stuff in the game.
Game has been the same for nearly 4 years and the boring patterns follows each patch.
I might get a lot of backlash and hate here but again, this is a MMO. I'm not 100% here for the story
and I am a fan of the FF series, but for me (FOR ME) this has to be one of the worst FF stories I have ever read.
And don't come to me talking about FF13 (I know everyone hates the hell out that game lol), this is my opinion and for the record FF13:LR is the worst.

I just think people should calm down about the OP because he does makes some points. I know nothing
of WoW or FFXI or anything like that and I know a lot of people enjoy the story here and that's great! But again,
I think they need to work on content and do much more
than the same things that have been doing. It's wearing people down, and people are getting bored quicker and quicker
by the patch. Just fyi, leveling to max is where the fun ends...I already maxed 3 jobs and I'm sad I'm done because end-game
is not all that great.

Completely agree, there is nothing wrong with liking the story, that is not the point. The point is, that it should not be gating content. if you want to craft and gather and JUST DO THAT ( I did this for most of 2.0, then I started to level a second chr for battle only) only to see my main to get gated out of content because of MSQ gating. I should have a right to chop at cedar trees without having to read how the writers wrote themselves in a corner because they wanted give a lore excuse why players can't go somewhere yet that is visible.

This is my first chr, my true main:


My alt:



this happened because of the gating, I wanted a split battle chr and crafter because of inventory issues but the F*** MSQ gating stopped me of that goal. So you know what? if they are going to force us to MSQ and try force us in playing one chr they better give us inventory and correct game content that goes with it. (like change the 450/ week gating for all jobs) Game eats too much time between MSQ gating (making it hard to have alts) and lack of space.

[Nicodemus_Mercy]

I find it hard to believe that the main thing of XIV is the story. If that's so, why is there a skip-all potion?
People to play catch up?
People to not drudge through boring fetch quest that was 2.0?...SE being greedy? Lol.
Sure, this is a Final Fantasy game, but content and replayabilty must come first. The story should not.
Why? Because this is a MMO, something has to keep the majority here, and that's new and fun stuff in the game.
Game has been the same for nearly 4 years and the boring patterns follows each patch.
I might get a lot of backlash and hate here but again, this is a MMO. I'm not 100% here for the story
and I am a fan of the FF series, but for me (FOR ME) this has to be one of the worst FF stories I have ever read.
And don't come to me talking about FF13, this is my opinion and for the record FF13:LR is the worst.

I just think people should calm down about the OP because he does makes some points. I know nothing
of WoW or FFXI or anything like that and I know a lot of people enjoy the story here and that's great! But again,
I think they need to work on content and do much more
than the same things that have been doing. It's wearing people down, and people are getting bored quicker and quicker
by the patch. Just fyi, leveling to max is where the fun ends...I already maxed 3 jobs and I'm sad I'm done because end-game
is not all that great.

The leveup potion thing is a recent addition added solely to help facilitate new people being able to jump ahead to play with friends. It wasn't the best way to facilitate that in my opinion but it was a quick and easy (and less costly in development time/money) way to do so.

The story is the backbone of FFXIV. Paying to skip the story is paying to skip the game and paying to skip the game and then complaining you have nothing to do is stupid.

Completely agree, there is nothing wrong with liking the story, that is not the point. The point is, that it should not be gating content. if you want to craft and gather and JUST DO THAT ( I did this for most of 2.0, then I started to level a second chr for battle only) only to see my main to get gated out of content because of MSQ gating. I should have a right to chop at cedar trees without having to read how the writers wrote themselves in a corner because they wanted give a lore excuse why players can't go somewhere yet that is visible.

The story IS the primary content. The stuff gated by the story is just additional content.

[Moonlite]

I replied to you because you were putting down those who actually like the game and enjoy the story and lore. It certainly doesn't make us bad people just because we like something you don't. No idea where you're getting all this other stuff.

I only told the truth that a section of the player base does not care about how others enjoy to play the game if lore is involved. Some how it would ruin your game play if a player could go to ishgard at level 1. Never did I say remove MSQ, just the gates.

The story is the backbone of FFXIV. Paying to skip the story is paying to skip the game and paying to skip the game and then complaining you have nothing to do is stupid.


The story IS the primary content. The stuff gated by the story is just additional content.

Who complained about not having anything to do? The story is primary content? Serious, no seriously??(that is actually how i would ask you in real life with a shocked look on my face) I can not consider something primary with such a low ratio of game play. You and probably most of the posters in this thread haven't done a MSQ in weeks if not longer. Yet you have logged in and played. If the MSQ was primary it would eclipse other content in game play. The only way it does is the fact that the other game play is gated behind it. Half the defenders probably wouldn't even do the MSQ if they could open all other content some other way.

[Dameron]

OP sure seems to dislike the game an awful lot for supposedly really liking the game.

Either way, I suppose it comes down to this. Do you want easily accessible raiding with not very demanding gameplay and don't really care much about the story? Play WoW.

Do you want an interesting story and demanding gameplay, but can live with the fact that the raiding is locked behind the story? Play FFXIV.