Quote Originally Posted by Iscah View Post
Partly it would be a matter of not having to update old dialogue, but it also brings its own sort of logic to how optional stories affect - and fit into - the overall timeline. (Though one that makes it regrettably hard to bring things like the Warring Triad back into MSQ without a plot-halting "complete this quest chain first" progression lock.)
If the Warring Triad ever becomes required they'd probably make it so you have to complete it in order to continue the HW story. If it was me and I had to make it required I'd make each part of the Triad required at the end of the patch story it was introduced in so new players would have time to gear up inbetween as well.

Meanwhile for players who already completed the story past that point but hadn't done the Triad would be unable to start the next xpac (or patch if it was made required earlier than that) until they complete it, with plenty of warning ahead of time similar to how the Crystal Tower has been given plenty of notice it will be conisdered important (though not required as it seems so far). Does run into the "complete this quest chain first" block there but thats why players are given notice well before they'd be locked out of doing more MSQ.