Main Scenario Restriction Bloodstorm - Very Very Bad idea.

[Niwashi]

Why do some people think that you have to be lvl 60 to play or enjoy the expansion...I honestly think that s a bad precedent that they started with HW...any expansion should be fully accessible to anyone willing to purchase it. The expansion should have content for all levels not just level cap.

It's certainly valid to have the bulk of the new content be at level cap, but I agree that it shouldn't be all of it. For a game that involves leveling multiple classes, it's pretty short on leveling content, and an expansion provides a great excuse for adding more. They could put in a few new side stories that span the 20's through 40's (but not 50, there's too much of a glut of content there already). Unlock the new jobs at 30 or better yet start them as level 1, unlockable at 10, the same as other classes. That would provide plenty for new players even without a new race (which was the only thing for new players with the last expansion).

MSQ obviously. :P

That's a valid reason for locking the continuation of the MSQ (and everything that goes along with that, from dungeons to regions), but not for locking everything.

[Dzian]

The Main Scenario wouldn't be half as bad if they simply cut the chaff from it. something like 45 quests between titan and garuda for example and what? maybe 4 of those are actually connected to the core plot. the rest are junk.

That's what puts a few of my friends off. by the time they've done all the junk they've forgotten whats going on in the actual plot.

It's also a big part of why I don't level a second character, not so much doing the story. just thought of doing all the junk that comes between the story's plot points.

[Zari]

I think all they need to do is trim down the ARR post 2.0 storyline fluff quests a bit, because there are far too many pointless fetch quests there.
And also make the new Stormblood jobs available before getting to the expansion story. And POSSIBLY doing that whole skipping HW story thing with a "here is what happened" review afterwards for people who only care about getting to endgame asap, though those types of people probably wouldnt stick for long in this game ANYWAYS.
It is a bit too late to do that for the Heavensward jobs but doesn't mean they can't do it for future ones.

[Morningstar1337]

That's a valid reason for locking the continuation of the MSQ (and everything that goes along with that, from dungeons to regions), but not for locking everything.

I should clarify. I agree that it shouldn't be a reason to lock everything, but as Welsper mentioned, it was ingraned into the collective consiousness that Leveling is nothing more than a boring tedious slog. And that everything not at the Level cap would be similar. I feel that they should do new Leveling dungeons in future expansions to help people catch up to the Level cap. Or maybe when they do Standalong xpacs start from 50 and then work you way up while simultaneously offer content in parallel for those that hit the current cap.

Such an expansion would be similar to what we have now. say the level cap was 110 there could be 2 different storyliens for Level 100 players to reach 110 and a separate story line assessable for Level 50 players to reach 60-70 (for those that don't have Heavensward, Stormblood or 5.0, or for Leveling alts). Two parallel MSQs. With Dungeons, Zones, quests, and even Raids accommodating them. And both updating over time with new dungeons and gear and such. Of couse such an endeavor woulod require more people that what the devs would have after 5.0 or even what they have now. But two Parallel "endgames" would be interesting to work with IMO

BTW it was a little late, but they did add the palace of the Dead content that does not need a Level 60 to access (or the expansions beyond the last 10 floors)

[CGMidlander]

They could accelerate leveling speed considerably to help remedy the issue IMO. The ability to unsync stuff trivialises story instances, so that is fine I think.

As for stuff that can be removed, I think unlocking aether currents could be removed. It's annoying to run around the HW areas without flying. The errands in 2.x can be toned down too. (Like the quest that had you pick up scion corpses, the soldier morale chores in Northern Thanalan, picking up armor scales for that Doman guy...etc.)

[KikodeYusaku]

I do recall them making a statement that the new areas will be accessible without completing the former story, but not the content that comes with it. Was that just me or did they say that... I don't quite remember.
However, I think it's totally reasonable to require the preceeding storyline and content be completed before progressing to the new expansion. If Square was to simply throw people right into a level 60 character that starts off on the first quest of the new expansion, that would open up a totally new set of problems.
They likely wouldn't be familiar with the game, the abilities that come with the jobs, content "etiquette", as well as having no clue what occured in the prior story. All of those things would frustrate other players as well, and could result in some rather abusive behavior from veteran players who aren't willing to let the newer players learn in their new content, giving newbies a bitter experience right from the get-go.

[ReiShiame]

IMO, what they could do at least is not locking anything behind MSQ for alt characters you create. If you patiently did all the questing starting from level 1 on one character, that should be sufficient, right? Make thing locked behind MSQ progress account-wide, not character wide. It's frustrating as hell when you're in love with your alts and want to do end game on them to do all the useless running around over and over again.

[Alleo]

But leveling alts is your own decision right? I mean you can be every job on one character so if you level up a alt for any reasons than its not SE fault since you are not forced to do that. (I have two alts myself btw.) In the end I am just not sure if its really that easy and fast to just trim down the MQS of 2.x, especially since they need to put those quests a sidequests into the game, since not everyone wants to miss out parts of the story. Is this really worth it for SE? I mean they take half a year/year for one glamour outfit..I am just not sure if they shouldnt just spent the time to make new content. At the other hand if this is a decision between having to relocate some quests as sidequests or having a jump potion I would definitely choose the first option..Introducing jump potions into the cash shop is just another line that they shouldn't cross imo and I am not sure if this wouldn't set up a new way to get even more money from us..

[Neophyte]

But leveling alts is your own decision right? I mean you can be every job on one character so if you level up a alt for any reasons than its not SE fault since you are not forced to do that.

Well, to skip the MSQ with an alternate character by buying an optional thing in the mogry store would be my decision as well, or not? At least we can come to terms,
that it's not your decision if I want to do that.

And that's the big question in this thread: Why is it your concern anyway.
Since it got proven in this thread that most of FF players are of such kind that they will demand
1) more and more intersting stories,
2) availability of stories, if they're to hard to be cleared by many people,
3) availability of Story/dialogue choices and "impact" of optional things (like the coil Thing with Alisea), etc...
4) intersting tales
5) exciting fiction/fantasy
6) did I say stories? Good Stories!!!

Those demands for story will always be there (as long as this is called Final Fantasy), so SE won't scrap the quality or ammount of stories, why should they? Because they get additional $$$ from people skipping something they did 3 years ago?

That's like saying they put less effort in raid mechanics, because people today are actually skipping those of 3 years ago with ilvl, echo and unsynch. No, they're still concerned about listening to feedback from the actual raid community and coil being unsynched (i.e. the actual "raiding" being "skipable") didn't affect current raid design.
People being able to skip every old extreme primal, but being able to jump right into Sephiroth/Sophia ex or to do Niddhog Ex without any other ex content done, is pretty much the same and has no negative effects on their design as well.

At the other hand if this is a decision between having to relocate some quests as sidequests or having a jump potion I would definitely choose the first option..Introducing jump potions into the cash shop is just another line that they shouldn't cross imo and I am not sure if this wouldn't set up a new way to get even more money from us..

So far SE hasn't seen any money (except subbing) from me, so right now they haven't a single "way to get even more money from [me]". I don't mind if there is a single one, as long as it caters to my needs and I don't feel urged to buy it because otherwise it'd affect my capabilities to play this game, regulary and in a negative way.

There are hundred thousand different (imaginary) lines for hundred of thousands of people... and tbh it's quite more reasonable to pay 10$ for skipping 120+ hours of "story" that you've already seen once (and don't want to go through again) and to be able to use your payed sub time more the way you like, than to pay 2,5$ for a pack of colours.
Like more reasonable times 10000.

Do I open a thread now, about the stupidness of paying money for specific colours, which can bought for gil on the marketboard in the game?!
As far as we know (and until now I have no reason to disbelief) the cash shop payed the server move to europe. I couldn't care less what people are actually buying, unless it undoubtly interferes with long term game quality and player numbers ant the money gets reinvested to further improve the actual game.

To preemptive draw such a line:
Gear progress buying is such a thing, because it negativly affects persons thinking "That person didn't deserve to get that item in my opinion". It's not about judging such a mindset, but it exists in reality and those people pay money for that game or play this game also because of the gear "competition".

But nobody cares about story progress in a way like "That Person didn't deserve to get that far in my opinion", there is no real competition.
There are people paying for the story, who won't skip. There are people not caring for the story (a second time), who will skip.
The urge on somebody who does the story and doesn't want to skip/pay money is quite small. Also the part you skip is framed (only once about 120h of early game, ~1-2 runs of every MSQ dungeon, ~8(?) trials) and only the beginning (so you don't stop here, you only get "endgame/regular game" started sooner). You might reduce the overall playerbase playtime by 120h per skipping players, but you also might only shift that time towards endgame.
On the other side with gear prog buying: The urge on somebody who don't want to skip or pay for gearing is pretty big, because ilvl competition (higher average ilvl = higher demanded ilvl for PF groups on average) and elitism crap. Also the part you skip is unframed (possible every major patch about hundreds of hours of dungeons, trials, weekly/dailies for several months). You're definetly reducing overall playerbase playtime and you familarize people to buy such things regularly.

To make another example:
I can imagine certain people complaining about a specific person who got carried through everything and got a lot of savage (or savage level) loot by buying it. Just look at complains regarding ilvl 210 Diadem BiS gear and that wasn't even with pay-2-win, it was only time-2-win. Imagine the shit storm when they had been able to be purchased by MogStore (with chosen stats).
On the other hand: I can't imagine certain people complaining about (or even noticing) a specific person who got carried through all the story. Only like "Oh, that Person is so bad, he must have skipped everything so far." But you think that about regular players from nowadays, too, anyway... with additional mandatory training grounds this can be alleviated.

[Neophyte]

I do recall them making a statement that the new areas will be accessible without completing the former story, but not the content that comes with it. Was that just me or did they say that... I don't quite remember.However, I think it's totally reasonable to require the preceeding storyline and content be completed before progressing to the new expansion. If Square was to simply throw people right into a level 60 character that starts off on the first quest of the new expansion, that would open up a totally new set of problems.
They likely wouldn't be familiar with the game, the abilities that come with the jobs, content "etiquette", as well as having no clue what occured in the prior story. All of those things would frustrate other players as well, and could result in some rather abusive behavior from veteran players who aren't willing to let the newer players learn in their new content, giving newbies a bitter experience right from the get-go.

Why should someone new to MMORPGS ("etiquette", which is not different to other MMORPGs or net etiquette in general) buy a skip potion?
Why should someone "who wants to have a clue what occured in the prior story" buy a skip potion?
Why should someone jump right into difficult content, if there are measures to prevent them from being "too" inexperienced before joining such a thing... heck, SE has ilvl requirements, lvl requirements and MSQ requirements all over the place, they actually implemented the Hall of Novice in the MSQ, but with a skip potion for MSQ ARR they would just say "Screw it, join into every content now you want, even those that are to difficult!"
Why should people get frustrated about someone "who has no clue about the story" anyway? I don't know anthing about the story progress, if someone skipped specific cutscenes, skipped the actual "difficult" dungeons of ARR (which are all optional: Quarn, Cutters, Dzemael, Aurum Vale) or got carried by someone in unsynch through everything. Why don't I know? Because I don't care. There is no one caring.

Speaking of my own experience: Why should someone new to this game or new to MMORPGs in general even look into the cash shop within their first weeks?!?!?!
I sure did not. Why should I? I was new to this game and already having paid 40€ + subs is enough, don't you think? And now I should pay even more to skip something I don't know anything about?

"Oh, Final Fantasy 14 sounds like an interesting game." [customer brwosing the cash shop, instead of, well, playing the game right away] "Oh, there I can pay 10€ to jump right at the end of the game. Sounds very compelling, I MUST BUY THAT!!!"
You really think that could become common? Really? Really really?