Forcing players through MSQ content makes it un fun.

[Kaiser-Ace]

snip

My argument has all the weight it needs. Do the content. That's it. There is no argument. This is Final Fantasy so story is relevant. Until 5.0 is released the idea of skipping content will never be considered by anyone. Do the content, that's it. If you feel like you're being rushed and wasting your time that's your problems not mine, I cleared to lvl 60, to T12 in coil, Bismark EX and the Previous EX 6, all 4 floors of Alexander, AND leveled 4 alt classes to 50 the hard way. You want all that, work for it. My problem is and always has been you want content waved just because you don't want to do it. I didn't want to do ANY quest involving Moogles but an entire MSQ area was moogles. I did it any way so I expect every one else to do no less. End of conversation, bye bye now, see you later. <Ports back to Ishguard>

[AnnietheCat]

"you refuse to listen to his point of view" but like what point of view? That he felt forced to do the msq because he wanted instant gratification of level 30 classes right off the bat? How stupid is that? Wow, Ishgard, and all of the locations and jobs located there, are all locked away because they're heavily religious and xenophobic. It makes so much sense that a brand new bean sprout can just walk in without establishing themselves as an adventurer of value. The story tells you early on that Ishgard left the alliance. Why would you just walk right in like you own the place and pick up level 30 jobs without even playing one of the basic classes to get a handle on combat in this game in the first place? This is a pointless discussion. Anyone who doesn't care about plots and stories is playing the wrong game. if you're upset that SE made it to where you had to pay attention to the work that they put into this(ex. all the pre 3.0 s***), then you're definitely playing the wrong game.

[Cooperal]

Well the statement of that the thread title makes is subjective. So let's get that out the way. And just for safety reasons, let's also remind people that the following are also my opinons.

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.
As it stands, new players can get a 14 day free trial, and by paying the initial £10 (or equivalents) they can get an extra free 30 days, totalling to 44 free days. Now that's not just a fair, but great deal. You won't have this minority of newcomers shovelling money from the get-go because all of their interest is invested in one of the new classes. Instead those people will either diverse their classes first or not play at all, which is great for existing players.

Additionally, the story itself can be largely ignored in terms of dialogue. It guides you to where you should be at that level. It's free help and EXP. It's hard to find a reason to ignore it at any point bar endgame for the simple fact that it's either following you or pointing for you.

Then there's the other thing. Story-locked content has been in the game the entire time, not just just when HW was introduced. It wasn't much of a complaint prior to then. Mounts, dungeons, trials, and all the gear that came with them. And it gave it out in spades. There's already a ton to do before you're even ready for Heavensward.

And then we have presentation. There are many points in MMO history where games have thrived off their slow pace by means of appreciation rather than simple bait. For example, Guild War 2 doesn't have mounts at all for a similar reason to why HW doesn't let you fly immediately. Because you simply won't appreciate the combination of size and detail of the places that the developers have crafted unless you turn over most stones on foot first. And likewise if you had seen how the story of 2.55 rolls out, you would understand how your first steps into Ishgard feel that much more special. Not only does it fit strongly into the story, but it's something you've been working toward and you finally get it. To add to that, Ishgard doesn't offer any pre-endgame utilities that the other cities don't.

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. That could be significant for a student, and I have no doubt that there are a large number of students among the audience.

[ChameleonMS]

Not sure where you get this issue with self-esteem. Ori doesn't come across to me as a person who needs someone to falsely pat his back and tell him how good of a person ...

While I will agree with you that Ori does not come across as a lackey seeking his masters attention for gratification.

I will explain my observation.

... No one is actually forced. It is a Forced 'feeling'....

Not being able to stand up for one self and say, I am going to enjoy this story at my own pace, even if it means "falling behind" his friends, speaks to a lack of independence. Ori, succumbed to the peer pressure, hey we are doing end game now, you need to be here with us too, asap. At which point he blew through the MSQ to get there. Enough of that opinion discussion on player character independence.


The issue at hand, is Square's MSQ locking of content.

And square could have given me the best of both worlds. Letting me play the new content and play with my friends.

With that said. I simply did not enjoy being forced to play it. I have no issue being behind my friend's in level or content. I spent a year at level 48 in 2.0 while my friends were raiding. I enjoyed other aspects of the game at the time. And had no interest in the Raid or end game content at the time.

Now square has essentially punished me for taking my time with the story.

The MSQ was originally a progression of story and gear to complete the story. Entering content with the minimum gear requirements always presented some level of difficulty. At each major patch, SE has made it easier to gear catch up to the players ahead, while maintaining the same number of quests to get there. Since, gear advance is so fast now; several of the quests went from some difficulty to trivial time wasters due to over gearing.
Should SE then remove/streamline the quests to match the pace of the over gearing. I would say "No" because it would require a re-write of the story.
Should SE removing the locks behind MSQ and go with only LVL / iLVL locks. I would say "No" because then a story driven MMO would no longer be story driven and the MSQ would just be left in the dust by a significant number of new/returning players.

[Melondra]

The reason why 3.0 Content is blocked off and must have complted prior patches is if you were to attempt 3.0 Content without the knowledge of mechanics up to that point you will have a lot more difficult time in 3.0. Content in 3.0 is a lot more difficult and without the prior knowledge in preve content you would get slaughtered. Here is a example you would not attempt to do Shiva EXE if you didn't learn Shiva Normal mode, that would make no sense. Also the story in 3.0 is tied to 2.0 story line wich also wouldn't make sence if you had not complted previouse story patches.

[Ori]

Not being able to stand up for one self and say, I am going to enjoy this story at my own pace, even if it means "falling behind" his friends, speaks to a lack of independence. Ori, succumbed to the peer pressure

Literally. I just wanted to do the MSQ later. I was not in the mood for story driven content. I was in the mood to level, gear up, try out alternate classes. and then go back to the story at my own pace.

I beat every single one of my friends to end game. Yes. Even though they had already beaten 2.55 months before me. Work got in the way for them. There was absolute zero peer pressure for me to complete anything.

I simply wanted to do certain content and I needed to slog through the MSQ to get to it. It is that simple.

However I do appreciate you explaining your reasoning for getting that impression of me. I just hope this clears it up.

[Ori]

The only proper complaint i see about the locked content is the new jobs.

Could you expand. It seems like you are saying my opinion is not as valid as yours.

although if they werent locked they would have to be taken out of Ishgard which could throw things out of wack.

No. there are many options they could have put in place. 1. Just let people into Ishgard right away. 2. place additional NPCs in the ARR cities.

And they start at lv 30 so even if they werent locked behind reaching 3.0 you still wouldnt be able to start as them

I say bonus. Because right now you have to be 15? to select another class. and when you do you start at level 1. So this feels like a very nice bonus to start a new class at level 30. and it makes perfect sense to need to be 30 to start a class that starts at level 30.

[Martin_Arcainess]

screw it, by this logic let's just skip all CS, all dungeons, make the last trial LV50 and do that because it seems no one gives a moogles ass about the story, dungeons, trials etc post 60 anyway.

[Dererk]

A design choice the devs made.

They did not have to lock them behind the gate. People understand this is a video game and certain things not matching with the story are fine.

How do you explain killing the same bosses in Dungeons again and again.

Belief needs to be suspended for the game to be a game.

How do you explain people grouping with a Dark knight at level 30 if they have not made it to Ishguard yet? If your defense is the new classes do not appear until after Ishgard. Then why are you not complaining that people who have not finished 2.55 yet can group with the new classes?

lol.


Its already stated that wer the main character in the game and all the other people are just there for the ride if a drk is partying with people who have never been to isgard its because their a vet helping rookie adventures. But if a person who hasn't been to isgard sees a drk in their party then their this mysteries swordsman who they know nothing about.

[Ori]

If you were to attempt 3.0 Content without the knowledge of mechanics up to that point you will have a lot more difficult time in 3.0.

I need to learn each boss from scratch. So in my rare case this does not apply.

Content in 3.0 is a lot more difficult and without the prior knowledge in preve content you would get slaughtered.

I find 3.0 extremely easy. So easy I have a bad feeling they are going to make it harder.

Here is a example you would not attempt to do Shiva EXE if you didn't learn Shiva Normal mode, that would make no sense. Also the story in 3.0 is tied to 2.0 story line wich also wouldn't make sence if you had not complted previouse story patches.

I have never done an Extreme. I would probably just watch a few youtube videos if I were to. Just an aspect of the game I do not take part in unless I have to for a drop.