The state of Role Quests and locking content behind them

[Jojoya]

I don't think it would be possible for that to happen without making several pieces of content mandatory for MSQ, like how it was with crystal tower. Specifically Heavensward trial series and Shadowbringers role quests. Without them, all of those characters are pretty much nobodies, and would not make sense to be in main story.
Of course, they can make them mandatory, but thats gonna make pacing of main story pretty bad.
That said, they can just continue making sidequests for them when it becomes relevant.

They wouldn't need to make more content mandatory. The player already got introduced to most of those characters in the 5.0 MSQ. The NPC who did the player's required role quest could then fill in the background of what occurred after the quest ended. Unukalhai could be introduced as someone who was taken to further one of the Ascians' many plots without getting specific on which plot and where. We already have slight timeline disruptions for things like Coils of Bahamut if the player does those post 3.0 so it wouldn't be anything unusual.

On the other hand, their goal isn't truly aligned our goal. It's just the location that's the common factor. While those of us who completed all the role quests might find it nice to have them intersect the MSQ, unless our goal changes it wouldn't make that much sense narratively for us to encounter them.

[MyakotApelsia]

Unukalhai could be introduced as someone who was taken to further one of the Ascians' many plots without getting specific on which plot and where. We already have slight timeline disruptions for things like Coils of Bahamut if the player does those post 3.0 so it wouldn't be anything unusual.

And what would that introduction achieve, or where would it take place? After mandatory role quest chain completion? And what would be excuse to bring him together with other npcs? "Oh he is from thirteenth so i guess we can send him to them, they will figure it out". Or maybe when he is added into new story stuff? How would that work? It would create no context for character for people that havent done the content in question, and then put *that* piece of content into time bubble, like some other stuff.

The NPC who did the player's required role quest could then fill in the background of what occurred after the quest ended.

How would they fill you in? "So after we did this, i decided to get together with these random people and go ask Cyella some things, wanna tag along?", or something similar? Imo this just creates more illogical jank than it tries to solve

[Jojoya]

And what would that introduction achieve, or where would it take place? After mandatory role quest chain completion? And what would be excuse to bring him together with other npcs? "Oh he is from thirteenth so i guess we can send him to them, they will figure it out". Or maybe when he is added into new story stuff? How would that work? It would create no context for character for people that havent done the content in question, and then put *that* piece of content into time bubble, like some other stuff.



How would they fill you in? "So after we did this, i decided to get together with these random people and go ask Cyella some things, wanna tag along?", or something similar? Imo this just creates more illogical jank than it tries to solve

We tend to get a fair amount of "illogical jank" because not everything can be fit into the MSQ.

Certainly there are ways that it could be done; the question is should it? As I said if you kept reading, at this point there's no reason for them to be included in the MSQ because our goal has no bearing on their goal or vice versa.

Also, anyone who did all the ShB role quests should drop by the Wandering Stair to talk to Unukalhai and Cyella/Cylva.