Hot Take: The MSQ grind is too long and its harmful to expanding friend groups.

[Theodric]

Again, MMO's attract a lot of different types of players and the gatekeeping about how the game is 'supposed' to be played is becoming rather jarring, especially recently.

I myself wouldn't be able to bring myself to play a game if I didn't care about the story to at least some extent, though I'm happy to recognise that things are different for other groups of players.

There's also people who used to like the story but no longer care as much as they once did due to some of the decisions made by the writers in recent years.

Ultimately, MMO's are designed to appeal to a broad variety of players - which means that not everybody playing FFXIV places a high value on the MSQ's. To them, they're a chore - but that doesn't mean there aren't elements of the game that they'll stick around for and enjoy.

[DBriggs304]

It's a little difficult to fast track the story any more than when that's basically what this game is centered around. This is well known.

Play the game.
Use the exp trinkets
Or boost your toon.

The MSQ doesn't need to be changed beyond that. There was a time (even in that other MMO) before boosts that you HAD to play the content and all expansions in or derbefore you caught up.

We dealth with it and did it or we didn't.

[DBriggs304]

Let me try that again with actual English...

It's a little difficult to fast track the story any more than what they've done already when that's basically what this game is centered around. This is well known.

Play the game.
Use the exp trinkets
Or boost your toon.

The MSQ doesn't need to be changed beyond that. There was a time (even in that other MMO) before boosts that you HAD to play the content and all expansions in order before you caught up.

We dealt with it and did it or we didn't.

[GeminiReed]

So what if I can't participate in dog farms today. I'll be able to do that later. Because a good FC or a group of good friends would be able to coordinate some time to help me get the dogs I want when I'm at the appropriate level and story progression to do so. It may not be the first day I'm ready to do it, but I know it will happen.

Finding a good FC is like dating. You're more likely to find somebody abusive or neglectful than your soul-mate. The guild I was part of in a different game that I could suggest dog-farm equivalent activities was abusive. Others guilds I've been in were there just to raid or RP. I've had similar luck with XIV FC's.

Maybe you're the type of person that can charm people at will but that's something I struggle with. The few people I'm close with are very whim oriented. Consequently if there's an opportunity now I'd better be able to take advantage of it because who know when the next chance will come around.

[SturmChurro]

How about instead of spending 200-300 hours doing the MSQ, that may be a slog for many players, especially those who are there to play endgame with friends, they (SE) make the new player experience better? By encouraging the usage of a skip, there isn't a huge incentive to "fix" any issues there may be with the new player experience. They have to play hundreds of hours of content they may not be interested in just to get to the part they actually wanted to play.

[TaleraRistain]

How about instead of spending 200-300 hours doing the MSQ, that may be a slog for many players, especially those who are there to play endgame with friends, they (SE) make the new player experience better? By encouraging the usage of a skip, there isn't a huge incentive to "fix" any issues there may be with the new player experience. They have to play hundreds of hours of content they may not be interested in just to get to the part they actually wanted to play.

And?

SE chooses to offer skips only at a premium. They have experience in other MMOs. I'm sure Yoshi-P is well aware of what catering to the mentality that the endgame is all that matters will do to a game. Vyrerus made some good points on page 5 about why this is a faulty mentality even among those who prefer to just raid.

[hydralus]

How short do you think they'd need to make the fast-track in order for people to choose that over buying a boost/skip? 100 hours? 80? 20?

[MistakeNot]

How about instead of spending 200-300 hours doing the MSQ, that may be a slog for many players, especially those who are there to play endgame with friends, they (SE) make the new player experience better? By encouraging the usage of a skip, there isn't a huge incentive to "fix" any issues there may be with the new player experience. They have to play hundreds of hours of content they may not be interested in just to get to the part they actually wanted to play.

You mean those who want to skip most of the game to get to the last 1% of the game? To be honest, I don't care about them and wouldn't miss them if they didn't stay around. Why bother with players who are not interested in playing the game?

No game can be designed for everyone, and it is stupid to try.

[DBriggs304]

How about instead of spending 200-300 hours doing the MSQ, that may be a slog for many players, especially those who are there to play endgame with friends, they (SE) make the new player experience better? By encouraging the usage of a skip, there isn't a huge incentive to "fix" any issues there may be with the new player experience. They have to play hundreds of hours of content they may not be interested in just to get to the part they actually wanted to play.

There isn't anything to fix. That's what the skip/boost is for. Otherwise, play the game. If they aren't interested in doing that, then they just aren't interested in a game like this.

[Karthunk]

Honestly... if you aren't interested in the story this game has nothing for you. Nothing that you are doing will make sense if you skip the story. The story is amazing after ARR.