Yoshi P - Your next live letter, DT msq and the damage to the brand

[angienessyo]

We are running in a circle.
You are talking as a current old player that enjoy all part of the game.
We are talking about those who only play for the MSQ (which is a LOT), and the new player, for a game that is known for it's story before everything else (like it or not, just or unjust, it's the case).

Wherever you look at, social media, website, content creator, this is the worst reviewed expansion ever and mostly because of the MSQ which is divisive. It's okay to tell new player "don't worry after ARR it's okay" and "yeah so you have another ARR after but well let's hope what come next will be okay".
I'm sure Dawntrail will be disappointing on the long term for SE, and we are in a period in video game industry where it isn't good when you disappoint expectancy, and the Final Fantasy series, XVI or Rebirth both already disappointed SE.

All that is speculating obviously, and I hope I'm wrong, but the video game industry situation is depressing, so I'm pessimistic about a lot of things.

I think people that only play the game for MSQ are really missing out. I also think people that skip all the cut scenes are missing out. For me it's a little weird that the community really hates when people are cut scene skippers but skipping out on the game's actual content is cool. The content is so much of the actual game. (and I'm not saying casual players have to go do Ultimate or Savage, there's other content for people of all skill levels)

I'm of the belief you shouldn't only judge an expansion based on its story, because the story is only a small part of what you'll be doing throughout an expansion's lifespan. If I spend 30 hours doing MSQ but 500+ hours raiding, doing the new Eureka/Bozja, leveling jobs, running dungeons, running the new deep dungeon, etc. which do you think is going to influence how I feel about the expansion more? My current 2 favorite expansions are Stormblood and Shadowbringers, and my feelings on their stories are actually a very small part of what made those two expansions great to me. Those two expansions were amazing because I thoroughly enjoyed my time actually playing them and doing their content. (I will not be ranking DT until I've experienced all its future content)

Also I have a lot of friends that play the game, both old and new players. Within my friend group most opinions on the MSQ ranged from "I loved it" to "it was alright". I actually don't personally know anyone that HATED it. Like, I didn't even know people hated it until I came to the official forums. I take what people say on the forums with a grain of salt because there's often really wild opinions on here and people will overblow how big a problem is. That and the internet has a major problem with people not being able to voice their opinions without a lot of hyperbole. Like, people can dislike things without it being the worst thing ever and a catastrophic hit to Square Enix and Yoshi P's reputation or whatever.

[Zackneifein]

I think people that only play the game for MSQ are really missing out. I also think people that skip all the cut scenes are missing out. For me it's a little weird that the community really hates when people are cut scene skippers but skipping out on the game's actual content is cool. The content is so much of the actual game. (and I'm not saying casual players have to go do Ultimate or Savage, there's other content for people of all skill levels)

I'm of the belief you shouldn't only judge an expansion based on its story, because the story is only a small part of what you'll be doing throughout an expansion's lifespan. If I spend 30 hours doing MSQ but 500+ hours raiding, doing the new Eureka/Bozja, leveling jobs, running dungeons, running the new deep dungeon, etc. which do you think is going to influence how I feel about the expansion more? My current 2 favorite expansions are Stormblood and Shadowbringers, and my feelings on their stories are actually a very small part of what made those two expansions great to me. Those two expansions were amazing because I thoroughly enjoyed my time actually playing them and doing their content. (I will not be ranking DT until I've experienced all its future content)

Also I have a lot of friends that play the game, both old and new players. Within my friend group most opinions on the MSQ ranged from "I loved it" to "it was alright". I actually don't personally know anyone that HATED it. Like, I didn't even know people hated it until I came to the official forums. I take what people say on the forums with a grain of salt because there's often really wild opinions on here and people will overblow how big a problem is. That and the internet has a major problem with people not being able to voice their opinions without a lot of hyperbole. Like, people can dislike things without it being the worst thing ever and a catastrophic hit to Square Enix and Yoshi P's reputation or whatever.

I can agree with most of that, even if I think that without the MSQ, as an MMORPG FFXIV would be far too bland to exist.

But like I said, liking it or not or finding it unjust doesn't change that FFXIV is the "JRPG with somme MMO elements in it" in the mind of most of peoples, even more for those who don't play it. A little like SWTOR was the "KOTOR with some MMO in it".
And a divisive view in what is considered the "must" of a game is a problem for attracting new players or retaining those who play only for it.

[Voidmage]

snipped for text limit

You are correct with people missing out on stuff if they focus only on a few things.
You are also correct that an expansion shouldn't be rated only on it's story. That's actually not what most here do.
People only give the story the most focus and a heavier weight in reviewing the expansion.

I also loved Eureka, Bozja, Ishgard restoration and other things.
The story for me is just the most improtant thing with all it's characters and lore. I always liked reading books and playing story heavy games and so I criticize it if it is not up to what I expect from the writers of ff14.
For me the story was a 2/10, absolutely devestating but the rest of the game is good so I give it a 6 to 6.5/10. Because that one thing has more weight for me and from all the discussions right now it seems there is quite a number of others who whould weight the reception mostly on the story side.
From what i have seen. Most here in those threads more or less also tend to that score +/-1

There is hyperbole in the criticism yes and insulting messages.
That thread title is pretty overblown but on the other side much of the pro arguments are also overblown or straight up insulting.