Should I be worried about Heavensward as a new player?

[Atrayl]

I keep on reading a lot about how the expansion will require you to complete existing content, which itself I am fine with (I disagree with the decision, but I'm fine with it).

What I'm worried about is that I also keep reading about how it will be more difficult for newer players to complete this content due to the shortage of (experienced?) players available to help. "Good luck finding groups for XYZ when everyone is doing the new content!"

I was just about to pre-order the digital collector's edition, but now I'm not sure. If I'm being set up to run into a brick wall, I'd probably end up quitting, never even getting to see the expansion content.

Is this a legitimate concern? I don't think I will be caught up by the release date, so there's really nothing I can do about it if so. It would be nice to have more (perhaps positive) opinions on the matter, however.

[Lokisama]

I don't think you have to be so worried about this this MMO is the only mmo I have seen that keeps the content still viable via duty roulettes and relic drops so I assume they have plan to keep the old dungeons and such still in the rotation in heavensward and you gotta remember you are not the only one who is planning to join the game in heavensward so there will be plenty of new players to do the older content with you to catch up to the heavensward

[Dererk]

You can get the first part of the story f
Done and levels in about a week.

Also while new players may think that it's unfair in the long run its worth it because rmts won't be able to go to the new areas. In other words the expansion won't profit them.

[Kinseykinz]

SE's done a pretty good job (for the most part) in keeping older content 'worth it' enough for most new players to gain the help/team they need even though the majority of the playerbase is long since past it. Sure, there's a couple things here and there that might be a long wait/people get pushy but overall, it's not hard to queue up via duty finder and get the help you need.

Also, I expect a flood of 'new' players and/or returning players that also will need to catch up so to speak with the expansion. So you should have new folk to play with/new blood.

And we still don't know how leveling of the new jobs will work out yet so there's possibility that just having the new jobs will = more people playing the lower level content.

Basically, I wouldn't give it too much worry, as I feel like it'll mostly play out as it does now with most content totally doable (in a reasonable timeframe) via dutyfinder with just the occasional 'OMG why such a long queue' here and there. And for those, if you ask people/PF it you likely will get takers. But overall, when it comes to MAIN story stuff (which is what would keep you out of the expansion), it's played enough everyday/queued enough that you should be okay and able to get to the expansion at your own reasonable pace.

And for what it's worth: On your FIRST playthough/job...you have a crap ton of sidequests/mainquests to do that = tons of experience. So for the most part, you only need to run the dungeons directly tied to the story...and then, you likely only need to do them once. So it's actually pretty easy to keep up with the level of the missions and keep progressing without needing a lot of outside help. At least for your first job. (sometimes your first 2 if you are wise with how you use your sidequests/mainquests/dungeons to level). So to be honest, you can actually more or less solo your way through the current storyline, level 1-2 roles to 50 and not rely on others very heavily (outside of required dungeons/trials which again, you can DF...and which 'vets' still actively queue for for daily bonuses/lights/alt role exp etc).

Heck, you might even get luckier as all those post 2.0 storyline missions are currently capped at level 50....but we (current players) can't get exp from them as level cap is also 50. A new 'heavensward' player will likely gain exp from all the 2.1+ storyline missions and be 'ahead' in some respects on their main role before they even enter Heavensward. (again this is to be seen).

[Flett117]

You can get the first part of the story f
Done and levels in about a week.

Also while new players may think that it's unfair in the long run its worth it because rmts won't be able to go to the new areas. In other words the expansion won't profit them.

Lets be realistic with a normal persons schedule lol. Takes about 3-4 weeks to hit 50.

[Flett117]

[QUOTE=Atrayl;2930086] What I'm worried about is that I also keep reading about how it will be more difficult for newer players to complete this content due to the shortage of (experienced?) players available to help. "Good luck finding groups for XYZ when everyone is doing the new content!"[QUOTE]

I wouldn't worry to much because a lot of people will be re rolling the new race. You have a lot of vets who have been itching to do something new and the new race is that.

[Kinseykinz]

I wouldn't worry to much because a lot of people will be re rolling the new race. You have a lot of vets who have been itching to do something new and the new race is that.

But unless they are really into roleplaying, you don't need to 'reroll' to be the new race, drink a Fantasia, log out>log back in>re-edit your entire character, and you're set. You can even pay for a name change if you so desire. All your character progression,gear, items,gil, etc is saved though. So the new race won't force many to 'restart'.

[Niwashi]

So the new race won't force many to 'restart'.

It won't force people to re-start if they don't want to, but there are going to be quite a few players who choose to do it that way anyway. So Flett's still right that a lot of people will be re-rolling for it.

[Risvertasashi]

Is this a legitimate concern? I don't think I will be caught up by the release date, so there's really nothing I can do about it if so. It would be nice to have more (perhaps positive) opinions on the matter, however.

AFAIK the only content you need to be "caught up" on is main story. Even if you want to raid, you will be able to go into Alexander without ever having set foot in Coil, for example.

As for the main story, it's pretty much faceroll. A bit time consuming, but not difficult. I wouldn't think you would have any difficulty getting to Ishgard and thus expansion content.

But... how much do you want to play FFXIV overall? If the main story doesn't interest you and there's nothing else in particular you like either... it may not be worth the money.

[AzraelX]

Lets be realistic with a normal persons schedule lol. Takes about 3-4 weeks to hit 50.

Took me 2 months