Island Sanctuaries - End Game Only

[Skivvy]

If they're trying to save server space and avoid causing massive problems, gating behind MSQ is a good way to avoid a Raubahn EX or Pipin Savage moment again. As of the current census, there are 1,054,495 endgame characters, and doesn't include how many are alts. There are a total of 27,286,890 characters across all worlds, and doesn't include how many are alts or F2P. It's going to be much easier on them to make this so you have to be at the current endgame than allow people prior to that to have one, and will make it easier on the servers. From that perspective, this is a pretty good idea on their part to alleviate problems in advance on server space that may arise.

Saw the edit after I posted (my post took too long to type..lol). :X

I suppose that could be a consideration, but again, they could have picked other requirements to help alleviate server stress. I think the purchase of EW should be required as that alone would cut out all the free-trial players (sorry, guys!), a great majority of alts, and others who aren't quite sold on the game yet. On top of that, they could require ARR or even HW completion and maybe some GC ranks for fun. Maybe have it cost a few million gil (like a small house). I imagine that would be a less-favorable option, but that would deter and/or delay people from purchasing right away. I feel there were a lot of options left on the table and they instead went for the most punishing route. :X

[RyuDragnier]

Saw the edit after I posted (my post took too long to type..lol). :X

I suppose that could be a consideration, but again, they could have picked other requirements to help alleviate server stress. I think the purchase of EW should be required as that alone would cut out all the free-trial players (sorry, guys!), a great majority of alts, and others who aren't quite sold on the game yet. On top of that, they could require ARR or even HW completion and maybe some GC ranks for fun. Maybe have it cost a few million gil (like a small house). I imagine that would be a less-favorable option, but that would deter and/or delay people from purchasing right away. I feel there were a lot of options left on the table and they instead went for the most punishing route. :X

There's also another reason I just thought of. It's something to keep endgame players going during content droughts. We have new raids, the new 4 man dungeons, the new story, the new trial and EX, but we'll eventually have run out of things to do. Island Sanctuary then becomes something to fall back on and waste time doing. Depending on how well they set it up, it may be something that can keep people occupied for a LONG time.