Square you need to streamline the main story

[Skyrior]

Not really sure how this talk of a "jump potion" is going to help anything? We can already jump in the game, we don't need to jump any higher.

[Dasaed]

Not really sure how this talk of a "jump potion" is going to help anything? We can already jump in the game, we don't need to jump any higher.

Try a little harder next time, that one was pretty bad.

[Berethos]

Where and what do you really think can be trimmed? I see this a lot "Much/most/large percentage of the MSQ can be trimmed or cut without much work."

Outside of obvious suggestions, like the Tataru bit where you help her check out other professions (it exists for pacing as a calm before the storm moment, but it is technically filler as you essentially end up where you started), I've yet to see anyone present any suggestion for what parts of the story can be trimmed or cut without it impacting other places in the story...especially anything that is voiced, as not only is that not a cheap to re-do, many of the voice actors from the 2.x series no longer voice those characters meaning either you can't cut anything that impacts a voice cutscene (even if it isn't directly referenced, there are frequently comments that make less sense if other content isn't there) or they'd have to re-voice everything that character did. Things like the Company of Heroes...once you start cutting bits then it basically doesn't make sense at all so either all of it would have to be cut or completely rewritten.

True, there are bits and pieces - you could trim out the hide and seek with the kids (it's world building, as it subtly tells you about the state of the lives of Domans - they live in fear but the adults try and hide it from the kids - but it's not strictly necessary) or the helping the old man who can't stand the smell of chocobo a means of riding with the caravan via a perfume laced cloth mask (the oft-mentioned "chocobo sniffing" in case anyone forgot is actually a world building moment to indicate just how unusual the Domans find these creatures, but again is not strictly necessary). Maybe trim down the setting up of Revenant's Toll and the Rising Stones (the rest of 2.1, Minfilia's adoptive mother and the Moogle primal, require reworking other sections of the story)

You could teleport players to/close to their next quest objective the way they do several times in the 3.5 series to reduce travel time.

You could have the experience gaps eliminated so that the MSQ is always there and you're always ready to do the next part.

But even all that will not reduce the MSQ by an appreciable amount without extensive reworking...

To which I always have another question - why should the developers waste their time reworking and removing content for those who don't really care about it in the first place?

Why not advocate for dungeon/raid/trail/region content to be ungated from the MSQ instead? Sure, immersion for those who don't follow the MSQ takes a hit (do they care about that in the first place) but the devs don't have to do nearly the amount of reworking and can instead focus on future content. Like the jump potions, is a one and done style change to the game, only without the cost factor for the players.

Trying to have the "best" of both worlds - a required MSQ that everyone must follow but shortened for players coming through that just want to get to the end - ends up with the worst of any of the available options.

[Amelia_Pond_Behemoth]

Where and what do you really think can be trimmed? I see this a lot "Much/most/large percentage of the MSQ can be trimmed or cut without much work."

Outside of obvious suggestions, like the Tataru bit where you help her check out other professions (it exists for pacing as a calm before the storm moment, but it is technically filler as you essentially end up where you started)

I disagree. This sets up an early scene in Heavensward where Alphinaud and Tataru are put on trial. To prove their innocence, they opt for a trial by combat. Alphinaud chooses to represent himself. Tataru, however, is incapable of combat, so asks for a champion to fight in her stead. But who's gonna step up? No one volunteers, but then in bursts the Warrior of Light. Tataru and Alphinaud both knowingly smile because they know what the Warrior of Light is capable of.

[Lexia]

I have been doing the MSQ and stuff on my alt and it really not that bad, most new players will still enjoy the content even if there tad too much filler only ones that are going to have a fit over it are the ones that want "end game" only content or the people that leveling ton of alts and get tired of doing the same content over and for those people there is the skip potions.

[Ama_Hamada]

I have been doing the MSQ and stuff on my alt and it really not that bad, most new players will still enjoy the content even if there tad too much filler only ones that are going to have a fit over it are the ones that want "end game" only content or the people that leveling ton of alts and get tired of doing the same content over and for those people there is the skip potions.

"I been doing MSQ stuff on my alt"
Have you hit the 50 ones? Those are not enjoyable at all, they just drag on and on, almost ragequit over it. Those 50 quests are so tedious they should not be gate blocking anything. Being not able to progress with my job quests because I am stuck on 50 MSQ is/was beyond pointless. Blocking me from HW because of all these pointless go here go there filler was aggravating.

[Lexia]

"I been doing MSQ stuff on my alt"
Have you hit the 50 ones? Those are not enjoyable at all, they just drag on and on, almost ragequit over it. Those 50 quests are so tedious they should not be gate blocking anything. Being not able to progress with my job quests because I am stuck on 50 MSQ is/was beyond pointless. Blocking me from HW because of all these pointless go here go there filler was aggravating.

My alt is already 60 and into the lvl 59 HW portion of the MSQ.

[Berethos]

Blocking me from HW because of all these pointless go here go there filler was aggravating.

"Pointless."

Ya'll keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

[Moonlite]

"Pointless."

Ya'll keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

without force, meaning, or relevance

If they find the MSQ that is loved by so many to have no relevance on their gameplay, force to move them, or meaning into why they pay a sub. I think they understand very well.

To the OP. The game has either been designed in a way where they have issues fixing stuff. Which has been evident by other issues. Two they have a financial gain from selling you an item. Three the player base if not large has a very vocal group that thinks MSQ should trump any other enjoyment other players might have.

[Berethos]

If they find the MSQ that is loved by so many to have no relevance on their gameplay, force to move them, or meaning into why they pay a sub. I think they understand very well.

That's not their meaning.

They describe it as "pointless" because, for them, the best way to argue that the story should be shortened and content removed is to suggest that there is no reason for the "extraneous" stuff to exist in the first place, that it can be removed and nothing would change.

Considering how little of that actually fits that description of the MSQ? Yes, I don't think it means what they think it means (also, I wanted to quote Princess Bride in a place where it actually worked to do so...it's the little things in life).