Questions about the xpac--new payer

[Niwashi]

It seems like there will be some gearing up required, and this will take some time--perhaps more time than there is before June 23!

If I don't get to level 50 before the xpac is released, will there be people running this older content to group with?

You could maybe level and gear all the way in 20 days (if you play nearly nonstop), but trying to complete the story in that time would essentially be throwing away the entire Realm Reborn game, as you'd have to skip all the storytelling.

There's nothing special about when Heavensward releases except that those people who have already finished everything currently available will get a bunch of new stuff. If you haven't finished what's currently available, then it's new as well so far as your game is concerned. Play the part that you're at. When you reach its conclusion that should lead you towards Ishgard, that's when to get the expansion. Don't worry about Heavensward until then unless you want to switch to playing an Au Ra.

I could maybe see someone who doesn't like quests or stories and plays MMOs exclusively for the end-game raids wanting to race ahead to get to the end where most of the raiding is taking place, but that really doesn't sound like you.

As for getting enough people to complete the required group content, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just like we now get level 50 players running the level 15 dungeons (level-synced down to where that's feasible), after Heavensward comes out we're going to have level 60 players running the level 50 ones. SE puts in plenty of rewards and incentives to make sure people still keep playing all the required group content. In addition to that, there will always be new players, players starting new characters, or leveling up additional classes/jobs. And, since the expansion is a separate purchase, there will be people who don't get it and continue playing A Realm Reborn by itself without Heavensward. (I personally will fall into the "players starting new characters" part of that, since I'd rather start over with a new alt in order to play an Au Ra than have to change who any of my current characters are.)

[Velisra]

Hello and welcome to the game here is a handy tip for forum posting you can bypass the character limit by editing your post.

Olyver, I owe you a belated thank you for the tip and for the welcome!

You shouldn't have a problem accessing the content you need when HW drops as there are a lot of people who are in the same boat. Plus there are people like me who are trying to get alt characters through the story. Glad you're having fun with the game!

Good to hear, and thanks!

You could maybe level and gear all the way in 20 days (if you play nearly nonstop), but trying to complete the story in that time would essentially be throwing away the entire Realm Reborn game, as you'd have to skip all the storytelling.

There's nothing special about when Heavensward releases except that those people who have already finished everything currently available will get a bunch of new stuff. If you haven't finished what's currently available, then it's new as well so far as your game is concerned. Play the part that you're at. When you reach its conclusion that should lead you towards Ishgard, that's when to get the expansion. Don't worry about Heavensward until then unless you want to switch to playing an Au Ra.

I could maybe see someone who doesn't like quests or stories and plays MMOs exclusively for the end-game raids wanting to race ahead to get to the end where most of the raiding is taking place, but that really doesn't sound like you.

As for getting enough people to complete the required group content, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Just like we now get level 50 players running the level 15 dungeons (level-synced down to where that's feasible), after Heavensward comes out we're going to have level 60 players running the level 50 ones. SE puts in plenty of rewards and incentives to make sure people still keep playing all the required group content. In addition to that, there will always be new players, players starting new characters, or leveling up additional classes/jobs. And, since the expansion is a separate purchase, there will be people who don't get it and continue playing A Realm Reborn by itself without Heavensward. (I personally will fall into the "players starting new characters" part of that, since I'd rather start over with a new alt in order to play an Au Ra than have to change who any of my current characters are.)

Thank you for all of this Niwashi. You have me pegged correctly--I love storyline and questing, exploring and collecting, so I definitely don't want to feel that I have to rush through it. I appreciate your help!

I think I might go ahead and preorder the xpac though, just because of the extra stuff you get if you do that. I'll have to look at it all again.

Thanks heaps to all of you!