Question for the Devs; will Heavensward include a new STARTER City-State?

[Morningstar1337]

Completely, 100% wrong; EVERY expansion for WoW, up until now, has included new low-level content, as well. In TBC, it was 1-20 starter-areas, in Wrath it was the new Death Knight starter-area, Cataclysm completely revamped the world and questing-experience, and Pandaria added a brand new starter-area, as well.

Everyone already gets the Main Scenario quest to visit all three cities, that could simply be the point that you're told that Ishgard is no longer safe for adventurers, or that the southern nations need aid. It wouldn't really affect much of anything, other than needing a zone or two dedicated to lower-level questing, before sending you back to the 2.0 content.

I'm pretty sure that the new zones will have low, mid and High level mobs, somethign ain to Central Shroud and the areas where the beast tribes are

The lone exceptions will probably the the Coerthas central highlands, ironically

[Tiggy]

Completely, 100% wrong; EVERY expansion for WoW, up until now, has included new low-level content, as well. In TBC, it was 1-20 starter-areas, in Wrath it was the new Death Knight starter-area, Cataclysm completely revamped the world and questing-experience, and Pandaria added a brand new starter-area, as well.

FFXIV has a much tighter story line experience from level 1 to 50. Specifically Ishgard is blocked off and the main story for each town has to introduce you to the Scions. Even if they did add a new starting area they would somehow have to reconcile that it didn't exist during that story. This isn't WoW where story elements were practically plug and play. Square strives for good lore and continuity. That must be taken into account.

*edit* saw this on reddit and thought it was relevant. An interview with Yoshi-p by Massively. http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11...rs-and-post-f/

In it they say...

Is there a reason why new players cannot start as a Rogue? Will this restriction be changed in the future as new classes and jobs become available?

Final Fantasy XIV places a heavy emphasis on the story, and with the addition of new elements such as this, we would've had to change a lot of the introduction sequences, so we decided that it would not be available right from the start.

So for the same reason I don't think a new starter city will happen.

[Nutz]

There's no reason that they'd add a bunch of new low level content. Ishgard as a starting city would have to be written in a very creative way to tie into the current story line as quickly as possible and not be logically absurd. I really don't see how it could be done without rewriting/ voicing/ animating a lot of the 2.0 story to accommodate adventurers from a completely closed off city which itself plays a part in the story but refuses to supply much aid (or open their borders). It will be odd enough that new players will probably be able to experience that story line while simultaneously having access to the city, though maybe SE will actually keep it locked until you progress far enough.

[LeCard]

The reason they won't have a new starter city:
you can complete everything in this game and see the entire game from 1 character. That's right, 1 character is all you /NEED/ to see everything in this game. They even made the initial story for each starting city only slightly different(maybe play 3 character to 15 pick your favorite and go). To add another starting city that would require an clearly unique story would mean that they would expect battle hardened vets to make a new character so they can see this new content.

Not enough?
the level 15-20 first 3 party instance dungeons is all about the city states and they would need to create a whole new set of starter dungeons or some crazy explanation for how you got dragged into these problems.

The rest of 2.0 story is just more of the smash this new starting city into lore so we can have it be a starting city.

Odds are they will lock players out until x level or x mission in story is complete.

[Numenor1379]

I think the bigger question is where will new players start on the storyline? Will they have to go through all of 2.0's story quests before being able to start anything in Ishgard?

If they DO have to go through all the MSQ missions we've already done it's going to take a LONG time before someone who bought the game for 3.0 gets to what they wanted to play. Add to that, all the lv50 quests you get after Praetorium are going to have to give EXP as the levelcap won't be 50 any longer.

If they DON'T have to going through the MSQ missions, then how are they going to gain access to current content as the majority of that is walled behind the 2.0 MSQ progression.

[Nutz]

I think the bigger question is where will new players start on the storyline? Will they have to go through all of 2.0's story quests before being able to start anything in Ishgard?

It's kind of odd and not the way MMO story lines usually work, but I think it will be the case that any new story quests in 3.0 will directly follow and require the completion of the MSQs from 2.5. Ishgard opening its borders seems like it will be part of the story and it might be the case with access to other areas as well. That is interesting though about the multitude of level 50 quests we've completed since we hit 50. If they all grant experience points once the level cap has been increased then those alone should take you a very long way. However, I could see them unlocking the level cap via the first main scenario quest in 3.0 or something, such that you actually are stuck at 50 until you complete all of the quests through 2.5.

[Sylve]

how are they going to gain access to current content as the majority of that is walled behind the 2.0 MSQ progression.

The easiest way is to give the MSQs i80 rewards, enough that you can Duty Find the Trials and Dungeons to get through.
Something tells me that the "low Level DR" will expand into "low Level Trials" as well, this would allow level capped players to assist in the story progression of new 3.0 players rather seamlessly, in much the way they do right now for new people leveling.

[NefarioCall]

I think the bigger question is where will new players start on the storyline? Will they have to go through all of 2.0's story quests before being able to start anything in Ishgard?

This. I would think SE/Yoshi would want for new players to not be deterred by the massive string of 2.0 MSQs. That has been the design philosophy all along. Please everyone and keep stress levels down. I don't know how it would make sense though. If they do wall the expansion behind the 2.0 MSQs, it would contradict this philosophy, but also allow them a little more creative freedom with the system complexities, since there would be no 'new' or 'inexperienced' players in the areas.

Perhaps the city itself and SOME of the content will be walled.
But many open areas and quests for some contents that are started and completed in those open areas, can be accessed without going through the 2.0 MSQs. A sort of compromise.

[EdwinLi]

Ishgard will be the 4th city-state but....

We don't know how many new Jobs will be in 3.0 since they only said there will be new Jobs but they never mentioned specific amount of new Jobs there will be.

Dark Knight is a new Job but it is a Stand Alone Jobs which is a new set of Jobs designed to function without a Class. Players can unlock Stand Alone Jobs, like Dark knight, any time they want but these Stand Alone Jobs will not be starter Jobs and will require players to go out and find the location of these Stand Alone Job Trainers.

[Duelle]

I still want my snow-covered/scottish highlands housing area from doing enough nice things for Ishgard...