MSQ

[Tommara]

1) no one said it was perfect

2) they trimmed it because of y'all whiners who can't stop complaining how long it was. Now every patch is so short you can complete them under 4 hours. Maybe 6 if you reaaaaly stretch it out.

You keep saying it's hurting player retention, but I also have seen people skipping to endgame content, only to be bored by it because there's not new savage raid every month, and left the game.

Not saying this problem doesn't happen, but maybe it feels much more prominent since you are the one who has this problem. Most players, especially Japanese players, are satisfied with how ffxiv works, so I doubt they'll change the system. So either pay the skip potion, or play another games that's to your liking.

And to the other dude: "the game barred you from having mmo interaction before spending 20ish hours"

Are you sure about that? Because satasha, the first dungeon which you need to party with other players, is fairly close to the start of the game. And nothing really prevents you from interacting with people in limsa/quicksand/etc.

It's really perplexing why so many people fail to understand that I'm not suggesting that any content be removed at all. I'm only suggesting that the MSQ, particularly the 80 or so ARR, level 50 MSQ, be pared down, not by removing those quests from the game, but rather be moved to side quests. I personally, completed all of them the last time I played, about a year ago. I vividly remembering them being a drudge, and friends that I've played MMO's for a long time, losing interest in the game.

Fast forward a year or so, and it's happening again.

I doubt if you have any real data on what "most players" want. I don't think you really have any idea of how many people quit once they reach the ARR MSQ.

I'm not sure why Japanese players are singled-out, as if their opinion should carry more weight than the rest of us. Lest you think I'm being racist, I was born in Japan, but raised in the US. My mother is Japanese, my father American. The last time I checked, I could be considered a Japanese citizen.

[linayar]

It's really perplexing why so many people fail to understand that I'm not suggesting that any content be removed at all. I'm only suggesting that the MSQ, particularly the 80 or so ARR, level 50 MSQ, be pared down, not by removing those quests from the game, but rather be moved to side quests.

They've already shortened that part of the MSQ. If it's still too long for you, then buy the cheapest ARR boost, because I doubt they're going to remove any more from that part of the MSQ any time soon.

[Enla]

-snip-

No, but SE does and they're not going to tell us anything about it. Primarily because revealing numbers like that isn't a good business move regardless of which way they swing. With that said however if it was truly as monumental a problem as you're making it out to be SE would have changed their formula by now. MSQ being baked into the game's identity or not they're a business. They aren't going to let themselves hemorraghe money in the way you seem to think they are with player retention if they can help it. This is the same company that called the original release of the Tomb Raider remake a 'disappointment' because it /only/ sold four million copies in a three month time-frame instead of the ten they desired. A number which, at the time, only CoD and FIFA were pulling in. If nothing else I can assure you that if they were losing subscribers at the rate you seem to be suggesting that they'd be working their asses off to fix it. Especially given how the original FF14 nearly killed their company /AGAIN/.

Also again, the way the story is written there is no way to make things be put behind 'side quests'. Like, at all. It'd be like taking A Song of Ice and Fire, cutting six chapters out at random, and then telling you to buy supplementary material in order to understand it all. The way the very story is structured would have to change entirely to do what you're requesting. Which absolutely is way more effort AND money than SE would be willing to put in. Especially when the skip potions exist and seem to be selling just fine.

[Tommara]

They've already shortened that part of the MSQ. If it's still too long for you, then buy the cheapest ARR boost, because I doubt they're going to remove any more from that part of the MSQ any time soon.

You missed the part where I said I've already completed them.

[Tommara]

Especially when the skip potions exist and seem to be selling just fine.

Yeah, that's the thing.

I'm not a big fan of pay to win games. But that's not your fault, you're just stating facts.

Edited Note: you have convinced me to cancel, although I have more than 3 weeks left. I know from past experience that if I cancel now, FF14 would not let me play out the the remaining time I've paid for. Or have they fixed that now?

[linayar]

You missed the part where I said I've already completed them.

Then why does it matter to you?

If you're speaking on behalf of someone else, then what I said can go to them. "You" doesn't have to mean you specifically.

you have convinced me to cancel

So, you've been convinced to cancel over something that you've claimed you already completed anyway?

[Tommara]

Then why does it matter to you?

If you're speaking on behalf of someone else, then what I said can go to them. "You" doesn't have to mean you specifically.

So, you've been convinced to cancel over something that you've claimed you already completed anyway?

My friends are more important to me than this game.

[linayar]

My friends are more important to me than this game.

So you can't enjoy this game without your friends or without keeping them as your friends? Fair enough.

Again, though, what I said can apply to them. They can use the boost if they want, even just the cheapest ARR version. Playing another game more suited to them is a valid choice as well.

[Tommara]

So you can't enjoy this game without your friends or without keeping them as your friends? Fair enough.

Again, though, what I said can apply to them. They can use the boost if they want, even just the cheapest ARR version. Playing another game more suited to them is a valid choice as well.

Interesting way you phrased that, which made me realize that despite being in a wonderful FC with a lot of nice people, they really can't help you get through the MSQ, although I know they would in a heartbeat if they could.

That's a seriously bad design flaw in an MMO.

So yeah, I only play MMOs to play with friends, new or old. Having to solo an MMO is an oxymoron.

[linayar]

Interesting way you phrased that, which made me realize that despite being in a wonderful FC with a lot of nice people, they really can't help you get through the MSQ, although I know they would in a heartbeat if they could.

That's a seriously bad design flaw in an MMO.

So yeah, I only play MMOs to play with friends, new or old. Having to solo an MMO is an oxymoron.

People can help get you through the MSQ as there are many dungeons and trials throughout the MSQ. In fact, it's impossible to go through the MSQ playing solo at the intended level.

Are you saying you do not have or cannot make other friends in the game that have gone through the MSQ while still have other friends that play other games?