MSQ Needs Further Condensing

[SturmChurro]

Asinine. There are plenty of people that skip to the current era, find out the story is actually pretty cool, and go back and catch up storywise.

Furthermore, when 2.0 launched the length of the MSQ was reasonable. It's now pretty much eight times longer, and it's slated to increase to nine when the new expansion drops.

That is too long to expect a new player to sit through before they get to the "good part." And yes, gameplay-wise, it takes that long to get to content that isn't nerfed intentionally or unintentionally by class changes over the years or too-generous stat sync.

It's extremely easy to lose perspective on just how long the MSQ is if you've kept up with it for a while. I don't say we should just dump people at the endgame, but there needs to be a way onboard players faster so they get to the "real" game within 30-40 hours that isn't a lazy copout of just skipping players with a potion.

A trilogy of books with an amazing ending isn't an amazing trilogy if most people can't suffer through to the end. The same concept applies to the MSQ, even though this is an MMO. Story is story, and a well-told story cannot be a well-told story if it overstays its welcome.

Abridgment for new players is mandatory with a story this long. Keep the full-length scenario in New Game+.

Yes. As more expansions and updates arrive, the time it will take to actually get to current relevant content will only get longer and longer. Without them, yes, condensing the previous MSQ, or alleviating this issue in some way or other. I do not think, "just buy a skip" is a good alternative.

100+ hours is an extremely lengthy period of time, to actually play "content" with your friends. I don't care what some people's opinions are on the subject of endgame, or the story. As it stands, it is just too lengthy (even if you skip dialogue), It's a roadblock for new players trying to get into the game. This isn't some complete single-player experience where you can spend 30-50 hours, and you are done. This is an ongoing subscription based mmorpg. There has to be a better way of doing this.

Also. even single-player games notice a dropoff of players when the story is very lengthy, for that matter.

[Reyketi]

Yes. As more expansions and updates arrive, the time it will take to actually get to current relevant content will only get longer and longer. Without them, yes, condensing the previous MSQ, or alleviating this issue in some way or other. I do not think, "just buy a skip" is a good alternative.

100+ hours is an extremely lengthy period of time, to actually play "content" with your friends. I don't care what some people's opinions are on the subject of endgame, or the story. As it stands, it is just too lengthy (even if you skip dialogue), It's a roadblock for new players trying to get into the game. This isn't some complete single-player experience where you can spend 30-50 hours, and you are done. This is an ongoing subscription based mmorpg. There has to be a better way of doing this.

Also. even single-player games notice a dropoff of players when the story is very lengthy, for that matter.

Grind through 100-250 hours of story vs skip all cutscenes, and do quests like a rat in a skinner box, or pay $115

OR

condense the MSQ

:S

Best Wishes

-Reyketi

[Ammokkx]

Grind through 100-250 hours of story vs skip all cutscenes, and do quests like a rat in a skinner box, or pay $115

OR

condense the MSQ

You say this as if "just condense the MSQ" is some kind of simple undertaking itself.

Point me to the stuff that you can condense, go on, I'll wait.

Do you want to cut out helping house Fortemps? Then it makes no real sense anyone in Ishgard takes you seriously, as at that point you're no better than refugees.

Cut out parts of the Azim Steppe storyline? Then the final confrontation where it's an all-out brawl right before turning the full might of the Steppe on Garlemald really doesn't feel like it pays off.

Cut down on post ARR content? They did that, and people are already saying the Crystal Braves storyline is rushed now.

Cut down on the moogle chores? Mate, it's like 4 quests with no cutscenes. Really not that much time saved.

Take out cleaning Master Matoya's room? Kinda loses the whole "Yeah we're leaving this place" vibe they were going for.

Give actual examples instead of just going "condense MSQ" because you're not giving any useful insights into the situation. You're not proposing a solution to your own problem, you're just pretending you are.

[Reyketi]

You say this as if "just condense the MSQ" is some kind of simple undertaking itself.

Point me to the stuff that you can condense, go on, I'll wait.

Give actual examples instead of just going "condense MSQ" because you're not giving any useful insights into the situation. You're not proposing a solution to your own problem, you're just pretending you are.

Try going back, and reading my post.

Possible Solution Proposal


Introduce a new metric: Time-To-Cap (TTC) (Level 1 to max level)

Standardize the time is takes to reach level cap.

Apply this to every expansion that increases the level cap.

Shape the presentation of the MSQ around this time with questing, and cutscenes (perhaps still frames, with narration) bridging the gaps.

Of course, this should be OPTIONAL, thus allowing players to level in the manner of which they choose.

Unabridged, and abridged.

The Unabridged MSQ condensing nothing. The Abridged MSQ always conforming to the standardized TTC.

You're not proposing a solution to your own problem

Actually, considering SE are the ones who condensed the MSQ, I don't think it's "my" problem

Best Wishes

-Reyketi

[Ammokkx]

Try going back, and reading my post.

Sure. Let's do that, keeping in mind I told you to give examples.

Introduce a new metric: Time-To-Cap (TTC) (Level 1 to max level)

Standardize the time is takes to reach level cap.

Apply this to every expansion that increases the level cap.

Shape the presentation of the MSQ around this time with questing, and cutscenes (perhaps still frames, with narration) bridging the gaps.

Shape the presentation of the MSQ around this time with questing and cutscenes like still frames bridging the gap... where?

Do you lose the context of the Azim Steppe? Just say "and then Hien gathered an army."?

Do you just say "And then Alphy and the WoL were two good bois and helped all around Ishgard!"?

Or, hell, what about the whole Doma Vs. Gyr Albania issue we're having? Gyr already feels barebones as all get-out compared to Doma, so do you want to take even more screentime away from it?

What about the three fights with Zenos, do you cut one of them?

This is what I mean. You're not thinking about where to put these "gap bridgers" as you put it, and not only this, but with your proposed "time to cap" idea, then you're running into one more issue:

The story gets even more barebones as each expansion rolls around because now you have to retroactively think about what to skip in the previous expansion.

And sure, you can say

Of course, this should be OPTIONAL, thus allowing players to level in the manner of which they choose.

Unabridged, and abridged.

The Unabridged MSQ condensing nothing. The Abridged MSQ always conforming to the standardized TTC.

but that wouldn't change the fact "abridged MSQ" is an awful experience. I'd be more, far more, in favor of giving everyone a free skip then ever implementing something like this because it is patently obvious you did not, in any way, think through what this would actually look like.

Point to what you can voiceover without losing narrative impact. Tell the devs exactly what they can do to improve the game. Don't just throw an idea at the wall and expect them to figure it out for you.

Also, I hope you like dev time being taken away from the next expansion as they now go back and figure out exactly what's safe to skip and what isn't. I mean, it's easy right? Just do a voiceover with some stills, how hard can it be? All they need to do is recap the story. I'm sure /haurchefant hits just as hard when we get a hot cup of brew in the recap.

[Reyketi]

Shape the presentation of the MSQ around this time with questing and cutscenes like still frames bridging the gap... where?

This can be applied anywhere, to any part of a quest series. It's literally done all the time in media, and it's really cool. There's this really cool site called Youtube where people already do this https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...u-KSnS1em-2ENK

The story gets even more barebones as each expansion rolls around

That's a baseless, and, well, false presupposition. Try thinking abstractly about solutions, instead of just assuming that the MSQ has to be 500 hours long.

but that wouldn't change the fact "abridged MSQ" is an awful experience.

Your opinion is irrelevant, as SE has already implemented an abridged version, and, given the fact that they intend to proceed with this manner of storytelling, will be implementing more revisions, of the such, as time goes on.

Also, I hope you like dev time being taken away from the next expansion as they now go back and figure out exactly what's safe to skip and what isn't.

Oof. That salt.

I really hope that you're conscious of the fact that SE has already condensed the MSQ, and leveling experience prior to my post.

Best Wishes

-Reyketi

[MsMisato]

Yes. As more expansions and updates arrive, the time it will take to actually get to current relevant content will only get longer and longer. Without them, yes, condensing the previous MSQ, or alleviating this issue in some way or other. I do not think, "just buy a skip" is a good alternative.

100+ hours is an extremely lengthy period of time, to actually play "content" with your friends. I don't care what some people's opinions are on the subject of endgame, or the story. As it stands, it is just too lengthy (even if you skip dialogue), It's a roadblock for new players trying to get into the game. This isn't some complete single-player experience where you can spend 30-50 hours, and you are done. This is an ongoing subscription based mmorpg. There has to be a better way of doing this.

Also. even single-player games notice a dropoff of players when the story is very lengthy, for that matter.

You do realize Yoshi has answered this question in an interview a couple months back. They are not cutting down/making it optional for free regarding the MSQ as it would be removing a core feature of the FF franchise. This is a Final Fantasy game first and foremost and it has always been about the story everything else like the 8 and 24 man raids are secondary. This is one of the reason why the trail was expanding out to HW and probably after 6.0 drops it will be expanded out to StB. So players don't spend a lot of money playing catch up and can do it at their leisure. One of the big reason it takes people so long is people flip flopping between jobs. If players truly want to miss out on the core, then there is the msq skip pot they can purchase as he pointed out.

[SturmChurro]

You do realize Yoshi has answered this question in an interview a couple months back. They are not cutting down/making it optional for free regarding the MSQ as it would be removing a core feature of the FF franchise. This is a Final Fantasy game first and foremost and it has always been about the story everything else like the 8 and 24 man raids are secondary. This is one of the reason why the trail was expanding out to HW and probably after 6.0 drops it will be expanded out to StB. So players don't spend a lot of money playing catch up and can do it at their leisure. One of the big reason it takes people so long is people flip flopping between jobs. If players truly want to miss out on the core, then there is the msq skip pot they can purchase as he pointed out.

I have never once thought their stupid skips wouldn't lead to the current expansion, but I hope they realize they are losing players who don't want to spend centuries doing the MSQ to play with their friends (or just do more relevant content), or pay the 25 bucks or whatever ON TOP of what they may have paid for the game itself, and the expansion. Shortsighted, in my opinion. Definitely panders to a base though.

[DPZ2]

I hope they realize they are losing players who don't want to spend centuries doing the MSQ to play with their friends (or just do more relevant content), or pay the 25 bucks or whatever ON TOP of what they may have paid for the game itself, and the expansion. Shortsighted, in my opinion. Definitely panders to a base though.

How shall I put this?

Perhaps the number of players who stay for the story greatly outweighs the number of players who might stop because the story is too long? Perhaps the company has metrics that you cannot see beyond a wild guess based on gut feelings? Perhaps the core audience for the game enjoys going through each MSQ?

And maybe, just maybe, it doesn't really take 'centuries' to go through the MSQ to max level on a single job and more players enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

You can say "I don't like it, and I'm quitting because it's too long". Anecdotally, you can say "I invited 10 friends to play the free trial, and they all lost interest around level 40".

I wouldn't recommend this game to a friend solely based on current content. Many of my friends prefer table-top RPGs when we want to play together.

[SturmChurro]

How shall I put this?

Perhaps the number of players who stay for the story greatly outweighs the number of players who might stop because the story is too long? Perhaps the company has metrics that you cannot see beyond a wild guess based on gut feelings? Perhaps the core audience for the game enjoys going through each MSQ?

And maybe, just maybe, it doesn't really take 'centuries' to go through the MSQ to max level on a single job and more players enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

You can say "I don't like it, and I'm quitting because it's too long". Anecdotally, you can say "I invited 10 friends to play the free trial, and they all lost interest around level 40".

I wouldn't recommend this game to a friend solely based on current content. Many of my friends prefer table-top RPGs when we want to play together.

I agree. SE may really just prefer to cater to a base rather than a potential larger audience, and continue to go down the safe formulaic heaven that is their patch cycle. Considering everything they do outside that formula the community seems to largely DISLIKE, it makes sense. Why not just cater to this base? When they will staunchly defend whatever is handed to them. no criticism, little feedback. Requiring players to spend... what was it.. two weeks, or 24 hours just to get through ARR alone (which is supposedly a short amount of time, lol), or be given the gracious opportunity of spending $25 for a story skip, if they want to get to endgame - Rather where more of the game actually opens up, not JUST endgame content.

Specifically catering to that base certainly makes sense with all the trash fan service they seem to be packing into their plotlines as of late. "G'raha Tia at your service", and the awful gaia/ryne story arc. I'm tired of this teenage trash, I wish they would get back to actual plotlines. I'd rather see more of cartoon villian Zenos than suffer through G'raha Tia - I hope Zenos cuts him in half.

As they say, "this game just isn't for them", amirite?