When are we as player going to demand from SE a better MSQ experience

[Slayer25c]

100% agree with this. This is probably one of the main barriers that stops most people from continuing to play the game. A lot of new players, especially people that are new to Final Fantasy, are not going to sit through hundreds of hours of cutscenes and walls of text. And is not a problem only to ARR. As good as HW story is the gameplay in the MSQ is lacking. I hear FFXIV players tell new players that "it gets better after you reach HW". Does it really get better? I mean the story does but the MSQ gameplay remains the same.

After Shadowrbringers it got a little better, but I think that was mainly because they introduced the bicolor gemstones to fates and it kind of broke the monotony a little bit. Regardless, I don't think they will ever spend resources on overhauling the MSQ from previous expansions, but on ARR since is technically the new player experience they definitely should.

And I don't think we should sacrifice current content so they can work on ARR. The player count has grown significantly and so has their revenue, so they should be able to manage both. Besides is not a pressing need to it can be done slowly over the course of the next couple of years.

You playing ff for the story that what ff is known for it story I understand arr is boring but u should know what u getting yourself into before u play this game it has alot cs and writing that is for every jrpg out there.

[BakoolJaJa]

You playing ff for the story that what ff is known for it story I understand arr is boring but u should know what u getting yourself into before u play this game it has alot cs and writing that is for every jrpg out there.

Nonsense. FF is not known for being some sort of visual novel series. FF games have a focus on story, yes, but the question is how said story is presented. And it's disingenuous to claim that other FF games lack gameplay. We went from turn based combat focused games with party management to mixed combat systems, to action combat focus, to something like FF7 Rebirth that is more minigame than story. FFXIV is really the odd one out in how 90% of the game is clicking through meaningless, repetitive dialogue and waiting out cutscenes that have 10 NPCs slowly nodding one by one and then slowly walking off the scene... one by one. Sorry, but no other FF game does anything like this.

The only one that maybe got closeish is ironically FF16. Because despite the flashy action combat, CBU3 still has some sort of issues figuring out how to put any real substance behind the cool stuff. So you yawn your way through all the glowy screen explosions and have to manage anger issues when the game constantly kills bosses for you once they reach 25% hp, because everything good must be a cutscene or something? But even ignoring FF16 issues (that I personally had, subjective and all, I'm not here to attack anyone's favorite game), at least there the combat still makes up more than 4% of the entire game.

Whereas FF14 sometimes feels like they are trying to copy the worst games gacha market has to offer. Yapfest on top of yapfest, constant repetition of what was said a minute ago, stupidly lengthy explanations of the most simplistic of concepts, etc. We could only dream of CBU3 taking a look at other FF games and copying some gameplay from them.

[RubyNights]

Nonsense. FF is not known for being some sort of visual novel series. FF games have a focus on story, yes, but the question is how said story is presented. And it's disingenuous to claim that other FF games lack gameplay. We went from turn based combat focused games with party management to mixed combat systems, to action combat focus, to something like FF7 Rebirth that is more minigame than story. FFXIV is really the odd one out in how 90% of the game is clicking through meaningless, repetitive dialogue and waiting out cutscenes that have 10 NPCs slowly nodding one by one and then slowly walking off the scene... one by one. Sorry, but no other FF game does anything like this.

The only one that maybe got closeish is ironically FF16. Because despite the flashy action combat, CBU3 still has some sort of issues figuring out how to put any real substance behind the cool stuff. So you yawn your way through all the glowy screen explosions and have to manage anger issues when the game constantly kills bosses for you once they reach 25% hp, because everything good must be a cutscene or something? But even ignoring FF16 issues (that I personally had, subjective and all, I'm not here to attack anyone's favorite game), at least there the combat still makes up more than 4% of the entire game.

Whereas FF14 sometimes feels like they are trying to copy the worst games gacha market has to offer. Yapfest on top of yapfest, constant repetition of what was said a minute ago, stupidly lengthy explanations of the most simplistic of concepts, etc. We could only dream of CBU3 taking a look at other FF games and copying some gameplay from them.

EXACTLY.

Most golden age FF games started off by putting the player directly in the action. They didn't start off with mountains of text, mundane cutscenes, and lore exposition. They began at a critical moment as a way of getting you a taste of the gameplay while hooking you into the story and the world. FF7 started you off blowing up the Mako Reactor. Dawntrail starts off by giving you a history lesson on the journey of the Dawnservant.

When FF8 had a train setpiece, it made it interactive. When Dawntrail does it, it's just a cutscene! It being FF is not an excuse. CBU3 needs to learn to rely less on cutscenes.

[ThorneDynasty]

EXACTLY.

Most golden age FF games started off by putting the player directly in the action. They didn't start off with mountains of text, mundane cutscenes, and lore exposition. They began at a critical moment as a way of getting you a taste of the gameplay while hooking you into the story and the world. FF7 started you off blowing up the Mako Reactor. Dawntrail starts off by giving you a history lesson on the journey of the Dawnservant.

When FF8 had a train setpiece, it made it interactive. When Dawntrail does it, it's just a cutscene! It being FF is not an excuse. CBU3 needs to learn to rely less on cutscenes.

As much criticism as FFVIII receives (most of it deserved) the set-piece action in that game is incredible.

[RubyNights]

Yeah, VIII isn't even my favorite but it was interactive! lol

[Honalee]

FF7 started you off blowing up the Mako Reactor. Dawntrail starts off by giving you a history lesson on the journey of the Dawnservant. When FF8 had a train setpiece, it made it interactive. When Dawntrail does it, it's just a cutscene! It being FF is not an excuse.

When I was watching this cutscene, I thought the exact same thing. What a huge waste. This could have been such a cool interactive gameplay quest. This quest and others similar to it, could be implemented into the game in such a way that they could end up being used as dailies after. We ABSOLUTELY need more "gameplay" quests in the MSQ.

I hope Dawntrail brings this need to light finally.

[ovIm]

When I was watching this cutscene, I thought the exact same thing. What a huge waste. This could have been such a cool interactive gameplay quest. This quest and others similar to it, could be implemented into the game in such a way that they could end up being used as dailies after. We ABSOLUTELY need more "gameplay" quests in the MSQ.

I hope Dawntrail brings this need to light finally.

Don't say that too loud! People are still complaining about "in from the cold" or the "this is Thancred" instance. Hells, people were malding over pre-nerf "Steps of Faith" being a bit of a challenge and requiring both cooperation, coordination and actually engaging with the mechanics of the instance.

Can't have gameplay potentially bar people from progressing, that is a big no no for this game - if people quit the game, they will never experience the story, so getting to the story needs to be as easy and straightforward as possible. Which is why some solo instances can be cleared without pressing a single button.

Its a shame, really.

[Volgia]

I prefer this discussion over the Dawntrail story hate, like if you want a good parse of how bad the MSQ is , try replaying it. It's a drag to go through. You might pause at story moments you liked, but 90% of it is just fluff and padding.

8.0 can have a universally acclaimed story like Shadowbringers but if we keep this up I might as well watch it on youtube without having to pay 15$ a month.

[Honalee]

Don't say that too loud! People are still complaining about "in from the cold" or the "this is Thancred" instance. Hells, people were malding over pre-nerf "Steps of Faith" being a bit of a challenge and requiring both cooperation, coordination and actually engaging with the mechanics of the instance.

Can't have gameplay potentially bar people from progressing, that is a big no no for this game - if people quit the game, they will never experience the story, so getting to the story needs to be as easy and straightforward as possible. Which is why some solo instances can be cleared without pressing a single button.

Its a shame, really.

Man, "In from the cold" was such a memorable quest and entire storyline for that... Truly one of the best ever in this game... And yes, we need more "gameplay" quests like this... And others where the player has to "do" or "fight" stuff...

And "This is Thancred" I was thinking of this exact one also... Like why isn't there anything at all like this in Dawntrail? Honestly they could have added HOURS of extra content to Dawntrail just by adding some engaging gameplay quests... We need more of this stuff, much more, not less.

[Mawlzy]

Man, "In from the cold" was such a memorable quest and entire storyline for that... Truly one of the best ever in this game... And yes, we need more "gameplay" quests like this... And others where the player has to "do" or "fight" stuff...

And "This is Thancred" I was thinking of this exact one also... Like why isn't there anything at all like this in Dawntrail? Honestly they could have added HOURS of extra content to Dawntrail just by adding some engaging gameplay quests... We need more of this stuff, much more, not less.

Memorable, but also incredibly polarizing. Some maintain it is a gripping duty, full of tension and excitement, and the best in the game. Others regard it as completely implausible from a plot point of view, tedious, poorly explained, and the most unpleasant experience they had in MSQ.

That kind of polarized reaction to required content means SE is unlikely to repeat it. Consequently, those who enjoy such instances would do better to lobby for them as optional content.