Quality of Life Improvements and MSQ Gating for New Players

[Krotoan]

That's not a valid complaint though.More a matter of perception.The Hildebrand quest line is optional but I would highly recommend it to every new player. What I'm suggesting, is making the MSQ 'optional' in a similar manner.

I've enjoyed the story for the most part and I get that this is a story-based game. However, when viewing this as a casual comparing FFXIV against the competition; FFXIV is not an 'accessible' game. Which to me means loss in revenue from new players considering that SE has made it clear this is an MMORPG catered towards casuals.

Lesser new players=lesser revenue to develop new/content for players all caught up on MSQ.And perhaps even more overpriced Mog Station items/phone companion apps to make up for the loss in revenue.

How is "there's nothing to do" invalid though? Some people HAVE done all the content that interests them. Personally I play almost exclusively for the story and glamours. I don't extreme raid and I don't PVP. When I run out of story and have no current glamour goals I play far far less. All are welcome and there is no rush to burn through content because at the end all that awaits you is tiny increments of increasing gearscore. Every major MSQ checkpoint or gate is doable with gear provided in story, there should be no point in the first run through you are lacking. This is a casual game in that it's possible for a "casual" player to keep up with current events, not that it requires very little investment of time at all.

Think of it this way: Skipping grinds = less time playing the game in total = shorter subscriptions and less player investment (people who feel invested feel like they should keep investing)= less consistent funding for the game = less money to make more game.

[TwistedTea]

How is "there's nothing to do" invalid though? Think of it this way: Skipping grinds = less time playing the game in total = shorter subscriptions and less player investment (people who feel invested feel like they should keep investing)= less consistent funding for the game = less money to make more game.

Even if the MSQ was to be made optional, there's so much other content,Beast Tribes, Gold Saucer,player events/RP etc. Hence, I said it's a matter of perception.There's always going to be players complaining that there's nothing to do in any MMORPG.

If tedious grinds have to be implemented in game to slow down player progress,it means existing content is not good enough/needs to be improved to retain subscriptions.

[Krotoan]

Even if the MSQ was to be made optional, there's so much other content,Beast Tribes, Gold Saucer,player events/RP etc. Hence, I said it's a matter of perception.There's always going to be players complaining that there's nothing to do in any MMORPG.

If tedious grinds have to be implemented in game to slow down player progress,it means existing content is not good enough/needs to be improved to retain subscriptions.

Tedious being subjective as well. If you're interested in the story it's anything but, and if you're truly new then every new dungeon and mechanic you're introduced to as well as every locale and monster will be a refreshing change. Beast tribes, gold saucer and almost every other "side" content are heavily gated grinds as well. That's how you make an online MMORPG have longevity. I can't think of one successful MMORPG that doesn't have some sort of time gating in it at all.
If you allow people, they will consume all updates like locusts and ask for more. Someone was likely level capped within days of the games release and possibly story finished even when dungeons were actually difficult at max ilvl. However giving most of the playerbase a reason to login everyday but also slowing them a little so they CAN'T easily blow through all of it in one go. It's not a positive for player freedom, but it's an understandable necessity to keep subscriptions going. Otherwise you've got to try and produce content at the rate people consume it and that is impossible.

To be fair, it's an "invalid" complaint simply because it's worded poorly. They mean to say that there's nothing they want to do. Just like when people look into a pantry packed full of food and exclaim that "there's nothing to eat". This is kind of just me arguing semantics since we know what they mean, but it's always been the kind of thing that irks me when I hear it and I always try to self-correct when I catch myself about to say it.

It also saves time in the long run because if you say "There's nothing to do", someone will invariably show up to ask you if you've literally done everything, listing off all of the content the game has to offer. To which you would probably answer "Oh, I just don't like to do some of those things those things". Nothing TO do =/= Nothing you WANT to do. Checkmate.

Note that I'm not accusing you, Krotoan, of falling into this trap. I'm speaking generally on how I don't think it is a valid complaint when worded like that. You'll have to forgive me for pointlessly arguing semantics. I'm just sitting here bored because I have nothing to d--ooooh I almost walked right into that one.

I cannot blame people for timekilling on forums.. I hate to brag but I'm getting paid to argue right now =]
I get why people usually say "there's nothing to do" and I'll usually respond with suggestions just as you have "have you done....?" but if you've come to a game to experience story and you've experienced all the story, you're not wrong in saying you've exhausted the content you're interested in. It's not invalid as a statement, just not complete.

[TwistedTea]

...Beast tribes, gold saucer and almost every other "side" content are heavily gated grinds as well...Otherwise you've got to try and produce content at the rate people consume it and that is impossible.

Yes, but these types of 'side' content do not bar you from areas, important NPC vendors etc. While I can see,why SE and other companies ,slow player progress, I think any reasonable player knows, there only so much content which can be produced and once they have cleared all the content they want to do, it's their problem what to do next. I guess what rankles is 'artificial' progression blocks to 'endgame' content.

[ElHeggunte]

It's not invalid as a statement, just not complete.

Oh, bravo. I was trying to figure out how to say this in so many words and decided instead to wax poetic for want of something to do. This is a beautifully succinct way of explaining it, thank you.

[ElHeggunte]

How is "there's nothing to do" invalid though? Some people HAVE done all the content that interests them. Personally I play almost exclusively for the story and glamours. I don't extreme raid and I don't PVP. When I run out of story and have no current glamour goals I play far far less.

To be fair, it's an "invalid" complaint simply because it's worded poorly. They mean to say that there's nothing they want to do. Just like when people look into a pantry packed full of food and exclaim that "there's nothing to eat". This is kind of just me arguing semantics since we know what they mean, but it's always been the kind of thing that irks me when I hear it and I always try to self-correct when I catch myself about to say it.

It also saves time in the long run because if you say "There's nothing to do", someone will invariably show up to ask you if you've literally done everything, listing off all of the content the game has to offer. To which you would probably answer "Oh, I just don't like to do some of those things". Nothing you WANT to do =/= Nothing TO do. The dominoes supporting your argument just fell like a house of cards. Checkmate.

Note that I'm not accusing you, Krotoan, of falling into this trap. I'm speaking generally on how I don't think it is a valid complaint when worded like that. You'll have to forgive me for pointlessly arguing semantics. I'm just sitting here bored because I have nothing to d--ooooh I almost walked right into that one.