Raiding is becoming less and less optional

[MrThinker]

Assuming they're opting for cohesion, it'll probably take place after the 1-50 MSQ and before the patch content.

I think the recent digest for the Last Live Letter actually answers this to a degree. For new Players going through the story, once they finish the quests in 2.55, they will get a notification to complete the Crystal Tower story if they have not already. It was not specified if players would be blocked from entering Heavensward, or that block would be in place for only 5.3 quests, but with the way it is worded I believe it is in fact the latter.

Before you begin the Patch 5.3 main scenario quests, you’ll need to have completed the Crystal Tower quest series and “My Little Chocobo” quest. With the Crystal Tower series’ relevance to the main scenario, we decided to make it a requirement.

Players will be notified of these progression requirements at certain points during the main scenario. For instance, if you recently started FFXIV and are progressing through A Realm Reborn, a popup asking you to complete the Crystal Tower quests will be displayed before you begin the Heavensward main scenario.

[Iscah]

I think the recent digest for the Last Live Letter actually answers this to a degree. For new Players going through the story, once they finish the quests in 2.55, they will get a notification to complete the Crystal Tower story if they have not already. It was not specified if players would be blocked from entering Heavensward, or that block would be in place for only 5.3 quests, but with the way it is worded I believe it is in fact the latter.

If that's the case then I suspect the updated 2.X quests might highlight the start of the quest line, a bit like more recently they've made a point of things like the Four Lords and Sorrow of Werlyt quests within MSQ. It could be as simple as "that man over there is giving you odd looks; maybe he wants to talk to you."

[Lambdafish]

It could be as simple as "that man over there is giving you odd looks; maybe he wants to talk to you."

Its actually even more fitting than that. If I were the devs, I would have crystal tower require the player to be on 2.1 (the same as four lords and sorrows of werlyt requiring 4.1 and 5.1). As part of the 2.1 MSQ the scions relocate from the waking sands to the rising stones, theres no reason why that subplot can't link briefly with the CT quest in mor dhona

[Iscah]

Its actually even more fitting than that. If I were the devs, I would have crystal tower require the player to be on 2.1 (the same as four lords and sorrows of werlyt requiring 4.1 and 5.1). As part of the 2.1 MSQ the scions relocate from the waking sands to the rising stones, theres no reason why that subplot can't link briefly with the CT quest in mor dhona

Depends whether they're going to tweak the start of the CT quests alongside the MSQ. Currently it starts with the "Outlandish Man" (who is totally not Nero in a paper-thin disguise) loitering around the plaza who tips you off about the expedition - apparently with the hope that you'll do all the hard work of breaking in there for him.

[Lambdafish]

Depends whether they're going to tweak the start of the CT quests alongside the MSQ. Currently it starts with the "Outlandish Man" (who is totally not Nero in a paper-thin disguise) loitering around the plaza who tips you off about the expedition - apparently with the hope that you'll do all the hard work of breaking in there for him.

Perhaps you can have "outlandish man" have a brief cameo in the MSQ, he does appear in the post-credit scene after all.