Thread: 2.55 Main Scenario Requirement.

So many people are so quick to claim that it is not a balance and smooth leveling issue, but when I look at the numbers they look like this:

Levels 1 to 49: Approximately 1.4% story quests per level on average.

Level 50: Approximately 30% story quests.

Tell me again how this is not a balance issue? I like the story, but even I can see an issue with having the bulk of the story quests crammed into one level. You want people to do the story? Fine, but they need to spread it out more over a few more levels. Everything at 50 is a problem when the expansion comes out and the level cap is 60.

Im confused why people are assuming you cant do ANY heavensward content without finishing 2.55. The way I understand it is you cant do the heavenwards main story without doing 2.55. Thats not including access to some new zones and tons of sidequests that are unrelated to main story. This is not new either, I've played several MMO expansions that let you access new areas through a small sidequest or an intro quest but obviously cannot progress in the main story if you havent reached a certain requirement. FFXI had done this with RoZ, CoP, and ToAU. I could go unlock blue mage, as a newer character without completing main story even though the quest is in an expansion area.

Originally Posted by Rendecrow

Ok, so what about new players a month from now? You didnt really think that through, did you?

Fine lets do this give the option of having new players start at level 50 and not have to do the 2.0 main story.
BUT they can't do any of the old 2.0 content that means no primals ex primals Coil achievements anything relating to a 2.0 story quest or dungeon. Then we will sit back and watch the chaos unfold because the really new players won't have any idea what they doing. Then we will realize that the requirement is a good idea because bots will be flooding in as level 50 black mages.

Originally Posted by Rendecrow

Well that's just a dumb comment. If you have read any of this thread I think I made it very clear that the 2.0 story is fine and that the issue is the pacing of 2.55 as a LOT is crammed into level 50.

Oh ok so the gap ok sorry but I still don't see that big a deal with it.

Originally Posted by Rendecrow

So many people are so quick to claim that it is not a balance and smooth leveling issue, but when I look at the numbers they look like this:

Levels 1 to 49: Approximately 1.4% story quests per level on average.

Level 50: Approximately 30% story quests.

Tell me again how this is not a balance issue? I like the story, but even I can see an issue with having the bulk of the story quests crammed into one level. You want people to do the story? Fine, but they need to spread it out more over a few more levels. Everything at 50 is a problem when the expansion comes out and the level cap is 60.

Your probably going to see the same story quest density post 50 anyway. 1 level will effectively count as 5 past 50 as far as story goes. They are basically talking about 50 to 60 taking roughly the same length of time that 1 to 50 took.

Lets not kid ourselves. The post 50 content will be gated by story progression in exactly the same way as the pre 50 content was. Even if players could go straight to Ishgard they will be able to do little beyond FATE grinding. Likely they wouldn't even have access to flying. This is how the entire game has been structured from level 1.

Add to that there is no simple way you can set things up so players can transition between 2.0's end story and 3.0's beginning without there being massive amounts that make no sense.

Your making this sound like its a far more torturous process than it actually is. I had a new player in my free company that cleared the entire patch story in two days and that was with dps queues and starting the relic quest at the same time. The only issue I can possibly see is one of gear and I suspect that can easily be solved through MS quest rewards giving upgrades or lowering the numbers on the patch dungeons so such a high ilvl isn't required.

Originally Posted by MilesSaintboroguh

Square pretty much said you won't have access to Ishgard until you cleared all of 2.0. From a logical standpoint, it makes no sense for the player who hasn't progressed in 2.0's story to be allowed into a city or areas that is still closed off to them in their current story.

And ishgard is not the only zone to be added, and you dont know where the new job quests will be placed. There is precedent for this already. There will most likely be areas you can simply walk into without ANY requirement.

Im not implying it will be different but you guys dont know for sure either is the point. I agree you cant enter Ishgard right off, but nothing is saying the rest of the expansion is gated, Im guessing its some dungeons, MSQ, Ishgard. Just like some dungeons are gated behind 2.0 story and some are simply side quests.

Gating the entire expansion behind 2.55 is just bad business (people buying the game based on heavensward, then not being able to play it) and I dont believe SE will do it. New players will want to try out Au Ra and the jobs as well. Getting to 30 is much easier then 50 and all MSQ.

So if you can start the game as an Au Ra then its safe to assume not every bit of content is gated behind 2.55