MSQ Needs Further Condensing

[Sauteed]

...?????

I still don't see why you can't do any of what you're suggesting here on your main with the friend. My synced comment was more in reference to how you seemed to want to be on an equal playing field with someone you reccommend the game to, but again, they would be having to go through the MSQ anyway and doing it at the same time keeps you on-pace. In fact, I'd argue you'd be helping them "get to semi relevant content" a lot faster by just using your main than you would by starting up an alt for some reason.



W-

what quests do you think they cut out?

There was this entire chain of Mor Dhona quests that were like "huhhey thanks for helping out but we need another material" and when you handed it in the guy want "huhhey thanks for helping out but we need another material" for like 7 quests at a time. Yeah, that was gigantic filler content and they cut that out. The stuff that actually remains in the game all has to do with actual plot, whether it be plot directly related to the ongoing primal threat or plot dealing with the side story of a character, like Tataru.

Housing isn't "filler" content, it's side content. Filler is something you're forced to go through to artificially pad game time, and I'm gonna be honest, I think they've just about removed every pure filler quest in the game. The ones that remain have a lot more ambiguity as to their filler nature and you could pose a fair argument for them needing to be there.

I don't think you have a very good grip on the MSQ, my dude.

Trust me I'm not your dude, or your friend. No problem admitting I may be mistaken on plot points either (not gonna shy away from saying they're pretty boring plot points either), but the fact remains I'm absolutely of the belief the MSQ needs further pruning.
I got a good enough grip on the MSQ I did it right before they trimmed it with a character, and leveled on specifically after they trimmed it to see what got trimmed. I didn't set a stop watch, I just played some each day after I got off work, and the take away was..
They trimmed out 20 quests and made the Crystal Tower series mandatory. I kind of chuckled about it, I wasn't mad or upset. I was just wondering why they left in so much that could have been taken out as well, and made CT series mandatory. It's ludicrous it took this many years for them to address the length of time between 2.0 and 3.0 and the result was maybe a net gain or 3-5 minutes of a person's time being trimmed off? Maybe more if they insta queued into CT after doing all the cut scene'ing and running around involved with that series. Sure I'm stupid and a failure at being intimately versed with XIV lore, but too much is too much "dude".

Outside of the immediate topic of msq needing further pruning (which I am 100% for), reasons why I won't watch any of cut scenes is the dialogue of most of the characters is just bad. Most of the stuff going on doesn't matter either.. I'm glad a lot of it is there tho, because that is a huge drawing point for a lot of people. But if you can't reasonably see there's a lot of garbage in the way of that stuff people legitimately find interesting, it's not me that needs to get in touch with MSQ plot points or whatever else. I put with having to go through it, on top of various non "intended" gameplay issues like marketboard bots/scammers/lag issues/etc but of all elements within the game design's control a little trimming of the msq would be probably the most beneficial of their time, as well as letting players get a little more area to explore/ do stuff in a little earlier.. not advocating day 1 access to The Lochs or anything like that, but sooner than trudging through all of ARR and a hefty time in Heavensward before they can start getting around a bit more.