Thread: 2.55 Main Scenario Requirement.

I can see why some people might prefer the more modular method of, say, FFXI, where each xpac's storyline is self-contained so you can explore it all on its own, without doing previous content first, and jobs aren't gated behind MSQ, etc.

However, I don't think gating things behind the MSQ is as awful as the OP would like to suggest. Everything in the game follows a very linear, vertical path. There is a big focus on the story. You can expect everything in 3.0 to be gated behind MSQ just like it was in 2.0, so if new players find the MSQ in 2.0 tedious, they are STILL going to find it tedious in 3.0, even if they are allowed to magically skip past 2.0. So, it's hard to say you just want the ability to enter Ishgard eliminated. You're asking for a complete overhaul of how the game works. There's just not enough support for that, it would be a huge effort to change all that stuff, goes against current design philosophy, etc. etc. etc.

More to the point, OP talks about some friend of his who FATE-grinded 3 50s, and what, basically hasn't touched the MSQ? WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS GUY DOING WITH HIS TIME!? Because most all content is completely gated out if you refuse to advance the MSQ. I also don't see how someone could like FATE grinding, but then call quests tedious. They don't even do dungeons? I mean... What? The majority of people who play these kinds of games actually like quests/want more of them/wish they could level only with quests, so catering to people who think FATE grinding is like the only content in the game is certainly the 1% of the 1%. Nothing personal, but I don't see a game being designed around that, at least not by a non-Korean studio. There are, however, plenty of Korean grinder MMOs one might check out...

I will give my perspective and I do agree with the OP. This is not a QQ post but I will be leaving the game since I do not have the time to go through the questlines and the entire story just to try out the new jobs in expansion.

I have majority of characters in their 40s and wanted to come back, level one to 50 and then try out the new classes but because they are gated behind the story it's not going to happen. I don't even really know how long it takes to achieve everything required to try the new classes but i don't really care. My playstyle is different and very very casual.

An expansion should be targeted to bring in new players and please the existing players whether those existing are in the endgame or very casual ones that like leveling and jumping from class to class. This expansion will not bring new players since we all know majority come back for the new classes and seeing as how they are gated Square is making a mistake.

Again, this is how I feel and my opinion.

Originally Posted by zx10r

I will give my perspective and I do agree with the OP. This is not a QQ post but I will be leaving the game since I do not have the time to go through the questlines and the entire story just to try out the new jobs in expansion.

I have majority of characters in their 40s and wanted to come back, level one to 50 and then try out the new classes but because they are gated behind the story it's not going to happen. I don't even really know how long it takes to achieve everything required to try the new classes but i don't really care. My playstyle is different and very very casual.

An expansion should be targeted to bring in new players and please the existing players whether those existing are in the endgame or very casual ones that like leveling and jumping from class to class. This expansion will not bring new players since we all know majority come back for the new classes and seeing as how they are gated Square is making a mistake.

Again, this is how I feel and my opinion.

Pleasing the existing players would entail providing monsters that won't be run through in two or three hits. You can't do this if you expect new players to be immediately thrust into the new areas with i50 gear. Forcing the MSQ on new players ensures that people will be AT LEAST i90 going into Heavensward areas.

Originally Posted by morruin

As a recent returnee I think the 6-10 hours mentioned is this thread is rather optimistic.

I have just taken 6 days (not full time obviously) just to clear The Chrysalis - and I benefitted from being a healer and having other (higher iLvL) people in the DF roulette.

A fresh 50/returnee player need to follow the MSQ - and gear up himself by running other content. A dps doing the MSQ after the expansion has launched will have a lot of queue time and less players in the DF (they'll be off flying around Ishgard)

I liked the solution from LoTRO. The MSQ there was split into chapters and you could start a new chapter (tied to expansions in the beginning) without having finished the last one. So your questlog could read something like
Chapter 1.12.5
Chapter 2.9.6
Chapter 3.6.8
and you could go back and finish them when you wanted, without having your progress blocked.

How much time in those 6 days did you spend trying to clear it?

Originally Posted by SDaemon

How much time in those 6 days did you spend trying to clear it?

I succeded at my 12th attempt (2/day), and most of those fell apart after 1 wipe - either people leaving or demading to be kicked. And I'm not counting the ones where the group disbanded before we even got started.

Originally Posted by morruin

As a recent returnee I think the 6-10 hours mentioned is this thread is rather optimistic.

I have just taken 6 days (not full time obviously) just to clear The Chrysalis - and I benefitted from being a healer and having other (higher iLvL) people in the DF roulette.

A fresh 50/returnee player need to follow the MSQ - and gear up himself by running other content. A dps doing the MSQ after the expansion has launched will have a lot of queue time and less players in the DF (they'll be off flying around Ishgard)

I liked the solution from LoTRO. The MSQ there was split into chapters and you could start a new chapter (tied to expansions in the beginning) without having finished the last one. So your questlog could read something like
Chapter 1.12.5
Chapter 2.9.6
Chapter 3.6.8
and you could go back and finish them when you wanted, without having your progress blocked.

I would strongly suggest you join a Free Company if you want help clearing older content. This is an MMORPG and the game expects you to be social and communicate with other players to get things done. If you're in a FC and still can't find help then leave and find another because that's not a good FC.

Comparing the game LOTRO's story content doesn't work either unfortunately. LOTRO had completely separate stories per expansion so you missed nothing by skipping ahead to a future expansion's story. A player entering Ishgard having not completed the 2.x story arc will have no clue at all what is going on because it is a direct continuation of the story with the exact same cast of characters. Not to mention said player would not have access to any of the content unlocked via the 2.x story quests.

This entire game hinges on story completion to unlock access to everything. It is simply not viable to allow players to skip anything because it would result in countless players unable to access specific areas of content.

The MSQ also requires new players doing much more content outside of the MSQ in order to reach Ishgard, which still isn't that bad since the Crystal Tower trio does come with a good storyline, but it does create more of a hindrance when RNG becomes indirectly involved in how soon a new player can get into the newer content because they can't get the drops they need to reach the required ilvl for the next trial/dungeon part of the MSQ.

That being said, I do agree with most of the posts in here in that the MSQ should be a prerequisite for heavensward content for many of the aforementioned reasons. The story is worth looking more into than any other major MMORPGs out there, and understanding the mechanics from trials in content now may go to helping us in figuring out mechanics in heavensward content. I also feel that the lockouts on zones and new jobs also make sense as minor(ish) rewards for going so far in the game.....after all, what normal person enjoys dessert before dinner?

Originally Posted by zx10r

I will give my perspective and I do agree with the OP. This is not a QQ post but I will be leaving the game since I do not have the time to go through the questlines and the entire story just to try out the new jobs in expansion.

I have majority of characters in their 40s and wanted to come back, level one to 50 and then try out the new classes but because they are gated behind the story it's not going to happen. I don't even really know how long it takes to achieve everything required to try the new classes but i don't really care. My playstyle is different and very very casual.

You can learn every class on just one character. Or did you make the same mistake I did and start several characters? I only play two now, but they have both completed 2.55 at last.

Stick with it on your fave character.