Thread: Please change 2.1 - 2.55 story and don't add a level potion or let people skip story

I don't know what they might want to do about the 2.1 - 2.55 MSQ, as it is long and getting dated. At least they removed that little bit that required guildhests a while back. 3.0-3.X seems like there's a lot less bloat, but that doesn't make it much shorter I don't think. Many of the people saying that 2.1 - 2.55 MSQ including a bunch of useless, tedious filler quests is the problem are only half right. That's sure to turn off people that are interested in the story and on board with going through all of it. There's also a large number of people that don't care about the story, or at least not enough to want to keep going through more and more MSQ to get to the new content.

Unless they want to go back and change entrance into Ishgard, I think we just have to deal with how that plays out. For 4.0, however, I would urge them to do things differently. Treat it like most MMOs do with regards to getting to a new area. It's there and you can access it if you have the expansion pack. Sure the content might not be worthwhile to a low level character, but you can get there and once you get to the right level you can unlock some things and take on regular quests, leves, etc.

Feel free to require the previous story completion to access the new story though, just don't lock EVRYTHING behind it. Allow players with the Stormblood to take a break from ARR/HW story, tackle some new content, and then return to the old story. Really at least allowing people to pick up one of the fancy new jobs, ideally without even ARR completion, will seriously alleviate a lot of issues. Then, at least people who have to continue through the story but on a job that everyone else just got access to as well can feel like they're not way behind because they're leveling one of the new jobs right alongside veteran players.

EDIT: It can be a tricky balance whichever way they go. I play a bit of GW2 and it was very strange that the story is continuous like it is here, but they treat the expansion as though it is not and lock several utility skills behind the first EP quest/ mission. Having not finished everything before the expansion, but wanting to unlock the ability to earn skills/ masteries (through exp that's otherwise wasted) I had to do that first mission and then go back and do the previous 25 or so missions. It wasn't terrible, but it was very strange to see the 'triumphant and surprising return' of some character that had not yet gone missing as far as I was concerned.

I agree that a decent amount of pruning would make the 2.1-2.55 slog significantly better. There are key points during those quests where it feels like needless filler, compared to providing characterization or character development. For example, hanging out with the Scions and dealing with their Sylph imposters was fun. As was delving into the coffers of the Crystal Braves, or dealing with Ul'Dah politics. Delivering earrings for F'lhaminn or gathering herbs for Minfilia's tea...less so. ARRs story wasn't really much better, including the infamous Company of Heroes. When you literally parody NPCs wasting your time with meaningless side quests (Trachtotum was actually pretty funny in that regard), it's not great to have a larger group of NPCs unironically waste your time immediately afterwards. Imagine if it was instead just "Hey, before we can help you, we need Brayflox's help. Go save her village!" That would have been much more satisfying...but I digress.

I feel like Heavensward generally achieved a much better balance, with the more "filler" side quests typically establishing characters well (for example introducing us to the dutiful Artoiriel and the lax Emmanellain), or fit the story better (establishing a camp with Ysale, Alphinaux, and Estinien). In general, even the side quests did a better job establishing the world, with many chaining together to form little sub-plots, such as a Mi'Quote's search for a chocobo hunting partner, or the tragic tale of a little thief girl in the Brume. Even then though, all of those were side quests, and the Main Quest generally did a much better job of organically sending you across the new zones. To be frank, while I was often irritated with 2.0s plot (especially Minfilia's insistence to come back to talk about something in a short cut-scene only to send me half-way across the world immediately after), 3.0s plot was significantly more satisfying, both in terms of pacing and content.

That said, I feel like regardless of the existence of a "story-skip potion" or whatever, some pruning would be extremely helpful. At the very least, I'd suggest they keep the new Jobs accessible without completing the story. I'd personally be completely fine with the MSQ for the next expansion requiring the MSQ completion for the new story, but I feel like players should have an opportunity to try out the new jobs if they'd like to.

I agree that there are so many tedious quests in 2.1-2.55, but I felt they explained WHY it was necessary "Please get Minfilia's adopted mother to come home so that she will no longer cling to the Nostalgia of Ul'Dah." - "Please help to ease the transition of the Scions to Mor Dhona by ingratiating yourself to the citizens with these petty quests." - "Be our face to welcome the Doman refugees to Mor Dhona and help them get settled." It may have been tedious and annoying, but it had a purpose. People that don't actually read the text wouldn't actually see why it was significant though and just be annoyed. It is rather poor execution, but it does have meaning in the greater scheme of things. I do think that some streamlining would be nice though... like really... it was just meant to extend playable content on the story quests, but running around to get F'llahminn's earring fixed and make her perfume to go see Minfilia... but it does establish that the former dancer is still quite vain, so where do you draw the line?

Originally Posted by Lulu89

"Bloodstorm" what's that? Did 5.0 already get leaked? -Norleas
5.0? Umm that is 4.0 and it was not leaked...

Psst, 4.0 is Stormblood, not Bloodstorm.

People are missing the point, IMO.

Being opposed to the "jump" potion is not about experiencing the story.

It's about not populating Ala Mhigo with level 60 people who bought a potion and have NO IDEA how to play the game, no nothing about their rotation which is quite complex, and have no way of easing themselves into the difficulty level of endgame content.

Do you guys remember getting a DRK player in Haukke Manor right after HW dropped and you could tell they had never tanked a day before in your life and how awful those runs were? Imagine that except way, way more frequent to the point of every run, every roulette is SUPER slow because nobody has ANY idea what they're doing.

That's the point. Not the story. Gameplay. Experience. That's the point.

I've posted my compromise in several other threads, may as well post it here.

2.0 and 3.0 content are absolutely mandatory as intended, due to the leveling and the learning curve. 2.x and 3.x are optional. Options are 1) see an abdriged story summary and have everything added to your DF but get no loot, tomes, experience or rewards or 2) Experience everything as intended and get the original rewards associated. Basically it's a trade off, longer time to GET to new areas, shorter time for leveling and gearing. Incentivize the story as intended, but don't force it.