Allow MSQ Fast Track To Latest Expansion

[MomoOG]

I have friends who would be interested in coming back for the new expansion but will not because they are so far behind on the MSQ that it would take quit a grind to catch back up. I really think this is a oversight in the expansion process of this game compared to other MMORPGs. A new expansion is bringing people back because they are interested in the content of that expansion but instead they get stuck in dead ghost towns of previous content and once they finally catch up everyone is in the new expansion content is done with it.

Yes I get that FF14 has a stronger emphasis on story compared to a lot of MMORPGs. I know someone without fail will show up in this thread and make a hyperbolic statement like "well if you don't like story content you should be playing a different MMO". However, even the biggest story enthusiasts have to agree that there is a large amount of filler dialogue crap that is not memorable and doesn't serve any purpose but to waste time.

In addition, the simple reality is that some people play MMORPGs for different reasons and some are not just that crazy about story content. It will not hurt your story loving experience if someone else wants to have a more abridged version to catch up to current content.

I think either the old story content needs to have a large amount of its fat trimmed off or they need to allow people to just skip a lot of it with a summary of events.

[Hitsuzen]

I think I read somewhere that Stormblood won't be gated by finishing the heavensward story

[Powercow]

I think I read somewhere that Stormblood won't be gated by finishing the heavensward story

Completion of Heavensward is required before entering the Stormblood areas. However, RDM and SAM will be available to anyone at level 50, presumably after finishing Praetorium (when most level 50 stuff unlocks.)

And they will (most likely, it's still not 100% official but I'd be shocked if they didn't) add a Story Jump potion that allows you to skip the MSQ through Heavensward, but it will not be available for Stormblood's launch. It's unknown if such a potion will even be available before the *next* expansion.

[Belhi]

I have friends who would be interested in coming back for the new expansion but will not because they are so far behind on the MSQ that it would take quit a grind to catch back up. I really think this is a oversight in the expansion process of this game compared to other MMORPGs. A new expansion is bringing people back because they are interested in the content of that expansion but instead they get stuck in dead ghost towns of previous content and once they finally catch up everyone is in the new expansion content is done with it.

I personally have no issue with this as long as the people which skip forward understand they aren't going to understand what is going on or any important nuance. For example, if they are wondering why they are hanging out with someone called Lyse who they don't know or what the hell happened to the other scions or why they are going to Ala Mhigo, that is on them. As long as they don't mess with the story I am playing.

They are already looking at adding a story jumping and level jumping potion. It just won't be coming at launch.

Yes I get that FF14 has a stronger emphasis on story compared to a lot of MMORPGs. I know someone without fail will show up in this thread and make a hyperbolic statement like "well if you don't like story content you should be playing a different MMO". However, even the biggest story enthusiasts have to agree that there is a large amount of filler dialogue crap that is not memorable and doesn't serve any purpose but to waste time.

This isn't entirely untrue but it is amazing how much information people dismiss as 'filler dialogue crap' and then complain later that they don't understand why something is the way it is when it was explained earlier in that dialog. That 'filler dialogue crap' is often fleshing out lore, establishing immersion and world building. There is also the fact there is very little of that in HW's MSQ so there wouldn't be much to trim.

In addition, the simple reality is that some people play MMORPGs for different reasons and some are not just that crazy about story content. It will not hurt your story loving experience if someone else wants to have a more abridged version to catch up to current content.

I think either the old story content needs to have a large amount of its fat trimmed off or they need to allow people to just skip a lot of it with a summary of events.

Again if they are happy to skip the story and accept that there are things that might confuse them. There is a lot that goes on and a lot of relationships that get build. That is pretty hard to abridge. As for a summary... I wouldn't be opposed to one but its pretty tricky to easily summarise without still missing details that might lead to confusion later and it means time they spend doing that instead of making us existing players content. The closest we get without resources getting taken away from development for existing players is the journal in the inn where you can rewatch cutscenes.

Still, for those who don't care about the story we will probably have a story skip potion at some point in 4.x. That's the earliest we will see it. They are not going to rush something like that for launch.

[Lexia]

Unless your friends only play like one day a week they could come back now and easily have the MSQ finished by the time SB launches.

[thegreatonemal]

Just get the person playing the game now and get them through it there's no rule that says they have to wait till June 20th to start playing.

[Tsubaki75]

I have friends who would be interested in coming back for the new expansion but will not because they are so far behind on the MSQ that it would take quit a grind to catch back up.

We may be getting jump potions and we may not be so I wouldn't count on it, truthfully though while it is a grind to get caught up it's not as bad as when we went through story. You can easily get caught up playing casually in a couple of weeks and they would only need to get to around i250 to be able to start the stormblood story at a comfortable pace. Since you mentioned that there was more than 1 of them you are at least 1 person short of a light party assuming you don't all main dps so waiting in df won't be as bad either. Mabye if they started back up in the beginning of June they can be ready for the expansion

[Gumbercules]

I guess if people are ok with missing out on story and "why" things are happening its ok. Just do not for the love of god don't mess with the story for the rest of us. XD Legion leveling zones design really turned me off to the idea of no "chapter" based lore XD. Though it mighta had more to do with it being designed around getting ppl to level cap asap (would on average be 8-12 hours of gameplay/lore) Then again I am a wrath of the lich king fanboi :P and the lore for that was incredible, you had the overarching story at all times while you trips through individual zones also had their story to tell. (and you didn't hiccup and were done with it)

[Lambdafish]

Why isn't your friend coming back now? They will be at current content long before stormblood comes out. Story content is never outdated content, for your friend who has never done it, it is the current content, and honestly they aren't missing much in the endgame right now.

Think of it like a TV series, your friend has a lot to catch up on, but they shouldn't skip seasons just to get where everyone else is because that makes no sense.

Having said that, I'm not so attached to your friends experience to deny them skipping, so long as it has no implication on mine

[Vhailor]

Yes I get that FF14 has a stronger emphasis on story compared to a lot of MMORPGs. I know someone without fail will show up in this thread and make a hyperbolic statement like "well if you don't like story content you should be playing a different MMO". However, even the biggest story enthusiasts have to agree that there is a large amount of filler dialogue crap that is not memorable and doesn't serve any purpose but to waste time.

A percentage of it is 'filler dialogue crap', but most of it isn't. The main issue in my mind isn't that FFXIV emphasizes its story; FFXI did the same thing. The problem is that SE made the rather stupid decision to chain storylines together, rather than creating parallel storylines. While there are certain advantages to longer, linked storylines, they are a very poor choice for MMOs, as we're seeing now.

Also, seriously, for players less interested in the narrative component of an MMO, there are vastly better options than FFXIV on the market.

Unless your friends only play like one day a week they could come back now and easily have the MSQ finished by the time SB launches.

Depends what point they're starting from. If they finished, say, 3.0, and are trying to push through 3.x, yeah, I'd agree. If they're starting from the end of 2.0, it's quite a grind, patience-wise as much as anything else. And if they're wanting to start a fresh character to ease back into things (which is what I did in January), finishing by the time SB releases would almost surely trigger burnout.