Forcing players through MSQ content makes it un fun.

[Rookie1]

I think the story-locked content is a positive for both the new and veteran end of the spectrum. If HW content was available from the start, it would seem like there was a far greater pay-wall for newcomers.
Then there's the other thing. Story-locked content has been in the game the entire time, not just just when HW was introduced.
If not for the content that lies beyond 50, you quite literally have nothing to do there. It's respectful to newcomers if anything. If they are not sure that they're in it for the long haul, they can just not invest that extra £30 or so.

I liked everything Coopreal said. go back and see the whole post

But aside from content based logic there is also a technical reason I rather like. I've seen lots of MMOs just die when expansions come out. All the players flood into the new area and game systems can't handle it. I feel like stopping people from entering all at once was a good idea.

[Rookie1]

When WoW first introduced Burning Crusade, the players weren't forced to do all of the old content first. If you were lvl 50, a Quest appeared at the gate that started the whole train. ...the Warcraft world had a huge history and storyline IF YOU CARED to involve yourself in it ( I did to an extent). They had lead ins in the major cities that gave you just enough background story to not be lost. you had the CHOICE.

Not really. WoW is a bad example. WoW was great game play wise but I did all the quests that I could find in an area and still had no idea what the story was. Blizzard is great at making games but horrible at telling stories. Thats not to say there isn't a great story. My friend (who still plays WoW) gets the story by going to websites and reading them or from reading books. He doesn't get the story from playing the game.

[Nachtmerrie]

Well I don't mind MSQ, I do mind that trials are part of it. Those should be optional. It is not fun to get stuck on the MSQ because for the last few days in the row you are unable to complete The Limitless Blue (Hard)... queue in, 3 wipes, vote abandon and over and over again since Saturday. I am not going to farm FATES all day long to level up when I could do MSQ.
So yeah whatever the amount of active subs this game had as of yesterday they have 2 subs less (mine and my bf's who I got to this game 2 weeks ago), I really know better ways of wasting my time than looking as Bismarck every day... thanks but no thanks

[Lathander81]

@nachtmerrie You dont have an FC? or friends? One thing I can say about FF14 is the community is one of the best I have seen. I would say get in a FC and get it done.

[ToniRomo]

I have been working my way through it. I had hit 50 and finished the main quest when the game first relaunched. I think all the patched in story will take me 3-4 days to complete. Not too bad. I think some of the filler could really be trimmed out. Also, the 2 quests that required me to do guildhests took around 2.5 hours to do because of queues. I think they should be removed completely since it is useless and boring low level stuff.

I could see how people who bought the game to play with friends would be annoyed by having to do it all though. I think making it optional and then letting the player work through it when they feel like it is a good idea.

[adn]

Yep. Had a buddy who was interested in Heavensward who had quit around when 2.1 dropped... he made it somewhere towards the end of the 2.x patch MSQ grind and then quit because he was sick of it. Felt bad for him.

I recently leveled a fresh alt from 1-60 and got a new perspective on the leveling experience that new players see.

2.x patch MSQ is not that bad the problem is there's SO MUCH of it and it's a really weird contrast to the leveling experience. They need to revisit it and either add a "digest mode" that allows you to skip certain portions, or cut out some of the tedious quests that are completely meaningless to the story. They should leave the option in the game for players who want to do all of it, but for people who just wanna get it over with there should be an option to do so.

[Wadoka]

I can see the disheartening part of two sections of MSQ in particular, because I'm leveling a new alt for RP purposes.

I just hit L30 with my new persona... and I've started thinking "Oh Twelve, I have to grind through the [Company of Heroes] section again... and the [Lead up to Garuda] section again... this is going to suck goobbue balls..."

It's *easy* to get a character to 50... it's a bit time-consuming to get the *story* to 50. If you've already been through it once.

I sure wouldn't mind a "Proceed directly to X" credit chit, for people who've already completed through Praetorium at least once, on their service account.

[dannymayhem]

I just picked up FF14 for the first time maybe a little over a month ago. Going from 1-5 with never playing the game was the easy part. Once I hit 50 though I was still on like level 40 of the MQ. Lvl 54 Bard now and I am just into the 2.2 MQ storyline with 70+ quests to go before I even reach HS quest line

I have really enjoyed my time playing, and getting 1 job to 50 wasnt that bad of a grind if at all a grind. And things slowly unlocking for me has been great and have not felt overwhelmed. But there is a lot, maybe TOO much, small back and forth, rinse repeat, in the MQ right now. I understand the cap was 50 so they had to draw it out but it does suck for new players that want to join a FC when they hit 50 and still have a shit ton to do in just the MQ before they can enjoy the current end content.

I want to get to Ishgard so bad but knowing I have about 70-75 quests before that quest is a bummer. I will be close to 60, maybe even 60, by the time I get to it haha

[Kageru77]

The struggle is real.

The hard work and effort defines your character. It separates this game from others. Hard work is rewarded. The reward is a beautiful expansion. When you see all the players standing in Ishgard, you know every one of them trekked the same struggle to get there. Every mundane quest, every 40+ minute wait for duty finder, and all the plot cutscene. Theres a reasonable expectation that everyone there is good at there job, since they went through everything just like you did.

I don't think its too much of a burden on bean sprouts. With a bit of guidance from friends or fc members, you can hit endgame in a couple of weeks, some could pull it off before the free trial is up. I hope they keep MSQ mandatory. They're taking your financial investment, to build you an emotional investment. Mundane unskippable filler quests and all.

Revel in its glory, or show yourself the door! (generally speaking and not directed at anyone! Just my 2cents)

[Cheraa]

I like the way it is.
I just hit Level 50 some weeks ago, finished the 7th Umbral Era Quests and than took a break to complete the Relic Quest for my ilvl 90 Weapons. Was hell of a fun and than proceeded with the 7th Astral Era Quests. Currently at the End of Patch 2.4 Questline and will start the 2.5 at Wednesday.

Playing from 1-51 currently was the best MMORPG experience I had for the last 6-8 years and I'm sure I will stay a long time in FF 14.