As a new player that really likes this game ...

[SaitoHikari]

The post-ARR/pre-HW phase needs to be redesigned, straight up. It is probably THE single biggest barrier of entry to this game right now, which is bad considering it's something that's actually about halfway into the game. I brought over an entire group of like a dozen people from a previous MMO I played, and only about 2 people made it past that phase. Everyone else straight up quit after that point, because they didn't believe me when I said it'd get better afterwards.

I frequent the more mainstream gaming websites a lot, and whenever someone mentions they tried to get into FFXIV but quit, the reason is ALWAYS either the Titan arc, zerg rush Castrum Meridanum/Praetorium, or the Lv. 50 ARR main story quests. The devs essentially acting as if the story jump potions are a solution is unbelievably bad PR.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

I frequent the more mainstream gaming websites a lot, and whenever someone mentions they tried to get into FFXIV but quit, the reason is ALWAYS either the Titan arc, zerg rush Castrum Meridanum/Praetorium, or the Lv. 50 ARR main story quests. The devs essentially acting as if the story jump potions are a solution is unbelievably bad PR.

This is precisely why the jump potion should have been bundled with Stormblood. Just make it ARR's, thus leaving Heavensward the starting ground for players disinterested by the story. Granted, I suppose the concern is that may kill off ARR content, but how long can they really expect it to last? I certainly don't want to go back to Copperbell or Titan after level 80-90.