Possible level/story jumps....really?

[Claymore65]

Personally, I'm all for them adding one.

While I personally enjoy the main story quest experience, not everyone does. There are many players who skip all cut-scenes and just try to rocket through the plot as quickly as they can. Why not just let them skip it entirely? Who exactly is benefiting from uninterested players being forced to wander back to the Waking Sands for the 100th time, only to teleport away and then skip more dialog? To be frank, I don't lose anything from other players not enjoying the story. I do, however, have something to lose from players getting bored and not queuing for high-level group content. If players want to skip most of the leveling/story, I say let them. They'll still have to level their way through Stormblood. Let the player enjoy what they want to enjoy.

As much as I love the MSQ, it's also the bulk of the problem here. There are 346 ARR Main story quests (counting the patch content), in addition to 129 (currently, there will be more) Heavensward Main Story Quests to dig through, before getting into Stormblood. That is like being forced to play through two entire JRPGs worth of content before being allowed to access the game most players are enjoying. If my friend told me "Hey, play this game with me, but first beat two entire games", I probably wouldn't want to join in.To be frank, if we don't nip the issue in the bud, it will grow into a massive barrier for new players. For players interested in the Heavensward classes, it already is. Players don't like being told to play through 50 levels and 346 MSQs using a Job they don't like, just to access one they do. The lifeblood of any MMO is new players, and we need to make sure FFXIV stays accessible.

So, while I personally wouldn't skip the MSQ myself, I think it should be an option for new and/or returning players. If those players just want to dig into Stormblood, let them. Let them enjoy the parts of the game they want to. If they decide, after watching whatever summary cutscene/introduction that they do want to experience the whole story, they can always just go back and build a new character.

[Yeol]

It is up to the player to skip MSQ or not. Giving people a choice is not bad. You can please both parties this way. If you are against it without a valid reason I'll assume is it because you think it is not fair that you had to go through the MSQ and they can simply skip it.

Because reasons like "They don't know how to play their jobs." are weak. They will improve at some point. Everyone was once a newb.

Just to clear something, leveling in this game is not hard at all. So leveling is not the main issue here, it is the MSQ.
Going through ARR + Heavensward might be a turn off to some players and you will find people complaining about how long the route is to reach Stormblood. They might even stop halfway. Unless SE do something about content being locked behind MSQ.

While I personally enjoy the main story quest experience, not everyone does. There are many players who skip all cut-scenes and just try to rocket through the plot as quickly as they can. Why not just let them skip it entirely?

This.

[LadyKairi]

Re: Stormblood, I believe it has been mentioned once or twice that they're trying to avoid locking you out of everything for this expansion.

I know they have said that in regards to new jobs, but I believe they already said completing the HW MSQ is required to access SB, just like the previous expansion. But I think the jobs will be available, because a lot of people were angry that DRK, AST and MCH were locked.

[Xenosan]

My mind just retched:

I like the idea of a leveling potion that come in stages/increments, like one being potion "Jump V2.1-2.3" represents a Jump starting with 2.1 ending in 2.3.

Once used, a new quest is put in your log, related dungeons/trials instantly unlocked in DF, and you have to complete all objectives to finish the quest. A 'sync-up' iLVL for all the dungeons/trials in that particular potion's Quest Objectives, so you don't worry about gear. Completing the quests gives w/e truncated rewards would be for that particular potion's interval, (as well as the jump potion for the next interval?)

but most importantly, once completed, some option in The Unending Journey to watch a synopsis of the MSQ for the interval you just completed in an SE designed comic/slide show. Yes yes. Doesn't need to be even in game, SE can have these slides / eBook accessed from Lodestone or send a link to your email - requiring SE account login to validate, and you can view it online.

A Perfect Works for FFXIV essentially, they already have a lot of art, see it in too few places. Hell publish a hardcopy Perfect Works and sell it for $100 & it comes with 1-2 potions for your account or 2-3 if new account.

Getting carried away now, but it could be a lot sweeter than just .. jump..

[HideoKojima]

1) Remove gating of content.
2) Nono to lvl jumping potion, if they wan to get to max level, they will need to do dungeon/quest/fate/whatever

Things are simple, human mind aren't

[WeekendSoja]

That server is called Gilgamesh

Or...that "data center"...lol

Protect DF activities from "differences in play style"!

Promoting the "break my back - carry" union of players.