New Player Experience Sucks! - Impending Expansion Problems

[Squigley]

Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal. We've also had some complainers in-FC, but most our sprouts actually liked the MSQ and some regularly comment on awesome story moments when they get to them. But then we have no numbers, so who knows what the actual attrition rate is, or what kind of people it filters out.

But does the mandatory story bring in any players or make people stay who would have otherwise quit? We know for a fact that it makes people quit, it would be very interesting to have some data about possible positive effects on player retention.

[Lersayil]

But does the mandatory story bring in any players or make people stay who would have otherwise quit? We know for a fact that it makes people quit, it would be very interesting to have some data about possible positive effects on player retention.

Some numerical data would be nice, yeah. I can attest that the MSQ is in a very large part of the reason I am staying, and while I believe that being forced to do it has some added value / effect it also might be subjective. Without numbers its hard to objectively argue for either side.

And while we know that it burns out some new people, its more of a question if it burns out a sufficiently high number that its worth a the work put in to unhook from progression (and how many - if any - pro MSQ lock people it would lose the game).

[Squigley]

I can attest that the MSQ is in a very large part of the reason I am staying, and while I believe that being forced to do it has some added value / effect it also might be subjective.

Hmm! Now that you mentioned it, I remembered that I do have one friend who has actually quit other MMO's because of too much freedom. However, he did play FFXIV to level cap and MSQ end. He needs the game to tell him "Now do this" or he gets overwhelmed by possibilities, doesn't know what to do and gives up. For example Black Desert Online was too much for him. He liked the game but he quit because the game didn't make him move from one activity to another and set goals for him. So forcing the MSQ does have some positives to it even though I don't personally like the forcing at all.

[Physic]

Hmm! Now that you mentioned it, I remembered that I do have one friend who has actually quit other MMO's because of too much freedom. However, he did play FFXIV to level cap and MSQ end. He needs the game to tell him "Now do this" or he gets overwhelmed by possibilities, doesn't know what to do and gives up. For example Black Desert Online was too much for him. He liked the game but he quit because the game didn't make him move from one activity to another and set goals for him. So forcing the MSQ does have some positives to it even though I don't personally like the forcing at all.

thats why my suggestion is not to change the basic setting, and have this content unlock and msq selection be something the player has to actively seek to do, like interacting with a specific npc/item/menu whatever.