Quote Originally Posted by SannaR View Post
Only up to the person if they didn't want to do the hardest content. The XI playerbase wouldn't even take a smn who didn't have Alexander back before the PD nerf to events and that's before gear was even thought of. Depending on the job you came as to any event you better look like you were working on getting BiS or were known to have skills or you were seen by most on the server as gimping any group you joined or at least come as a whm. Oh and you better know the current meta or you were again left behind.

Also that's just gear if we go to travel most of the best ways to get around the world requires you to have done a lot if not most of the various storylines. One even makes you have to go through one of the citystates storylines just so you can get a key item that allows you not need two other people to open a door.
But again, the path in which you experienced the game was your own choice.

XI didn't force you to get BIS items. Some groups may have required that, but it was nowhere near a requirement to play the game and do well at your jobs. No different than how certain XIV PF/Static groups require extremely high gear for their groups. It's nowhere near a requirement set by SE, but if you want to play with that group, you'll do what needs to be done.

Options are a fantastic thing to have in an MMO. I don't think anyone here is saying to remove the story, simply make some of it optional.