New Player Experience Sucks! - Impending Expansion Problems

[Melichoir]

We need a movie cut of this thread lol. I've strongly disagreed quite a few times. I've never made Iscah's points so add that to why I think "no it's not solved". At this point beyond making my own thread detailing a new start not sure I can do much on the subject anymore, it's all circles.

I've already said it isn't. For many reasons, including the fact I actively don't like skip potions because they don't give enough points of attachment. I don't think 0 is helpful and I don't think 100 hours is required, which is why I started to use movie cut since I was imagining a new start option to the game that is about 2 hours long (that gets you the basics of the game and some back story of who you are and what you're doing).

You and your 'movies'. Gawd!

Joking aside though, More cutscenes may help alleviate the issue. But you have to be careful with that as well. People are playing a game, and if theyre watching pre-rendered cut scenes to often rather than playing the game, thatll also cause issues. You can easily see people saying "I bought this game to play, not watch cutscenes!"

Its been a while but was the player anymore then just a random adventurer till ifrit?

We were kind of a nobody when the game starts out. That's the point though. You have humble beginnings, but an extraordinary gift. You over time grow into the WoL role, being central to the events in the story. Youre seen on average being on the same footing as many faction leaders (youre there during negotiations, the faction leaders listen to you and your opinions, rely on your expertise, and treat you as an equal). The game doesnt treat you as a foot soldier.

This isnt like WoW where you forever remain the faceless soldier. Again, in wow youre a hero, where in FFXIV youre the hero

[DPZ2]

... which is why I started to use movie cut since I was imagining a new start option to the game that is about 2 hours long (that gets you the basics of the game and some back story of who you are and what you're doing).

After which, you are ... where?

It takes 50 levels for you to become recognized as [the] Warrior of Light. Are you going to dump all that in 2 hours and move to Heavensward?

It takes another 10 levels to resolve the DragonSong Wars, are you going to dump that into the same 2 hours and start out in StormBlood?

It takes another 10 levels to work through the Garlemald situation, are you going to dump that into the same 2 hours and start out with ShadowBringers?

Do you want to run through levels 1-50 and then, at the credits to 2.0, incorporate "highlights" of the next parts of 2.x you're intent on skipping in interests of time?

Better to run a skip/jump potion and be done with it, since you're going to miss all of that potential story anyway.

[Ronduwil]

I am new to FFXIV, and I have to say that I love the New Player Experience so far. To me, all content feels "relevant" right now. I started experiencing the content I paid for on day one, so I don't know why your friend's experience is any different. Are you sure that your friend is actually frustrated, or are you projecting your own frustrations onto him? Relax and let him enjoy the game. He'll get to your level someday. The reason I am playing this game now is because WoW wholeheartedly embraced what you're proposing and rendered their entire game irrelevant with the exception of the latest content drop. That does not make for a compelling gameplay experience. I like working my character up gradually and building a lasting legacy. I don't want FFXIV to go the way of WoW where every piece of gear and crafting material feels like a disposable piece of garbage that will be chucked into the scrap bin sometime in the next three months. For me, this entire game feels relevant right now. I hope they keep it that way.

[van_arn]

I am new to FFXIV, and I have to say that I love the New Player Experience so far. To me, all content feels "relevant" right now. I started experiencing the content I paid for on day one, so I don't know why your friend's experience is any different. Are you sure that your friend is actually frustrated, or are you projecting your own frustrations onto him? Relax and let him enjoy the game. He'll get to your level someday. The reason I am playing this game now is because WoW wholeheartedly embraced what you're proposing and rendered their entire game irrelevant with the exception of the latest content drop. That does not make for a compelling gameplay experience. I like working my character up gradually and building a lasting legacy. I don't want FFXIV to go the way of WoW where every piece of gear and crafting material feels like a disposable piece of garbage that will be chucked into the scrap bin sometime in the next three months. For me, this entire game feels relevant right now. I hope they keep it that way.

My sweet summer child. You don't have a single job, or a class above 21.

You haven't seen the winter.

[DPZ2]

My sweet summer child. You don't have a single job, or a class above 21.

You haven't seen the winter.

You sound a bit, um, jaded after 8 years of this game.

You've had your fun, now it's time to spoil it for others ...

[Ronduwil]

My sweet summer child. You don't have a single job, or a class above 21.

You haven't seen the winter.

We are talking about the New Player Experience, right? In what world is there a level minimum to be classified as a new player? I don't get the point you're trying to make. Why do I need to be a veteran player to gain insight on the new player experience? If anything, it's the other way around.

[Vahlnir]

We are talking about the New Player Experience, right? In what world is there a level minimum to be classified as a new player? I don't get the point you're trying to make. Why do I need to be a veteran player to gain insight on the new player experience? If anything, it's the other way around.

Yeah, I don't think levels should dictate who can be considered a new player or not, especially with the existence of jump potions and story skips. Time and experience through various pieces of content is usually a better gauge of player experience.

[van_arn]

Yeah, I don't think levels should dictate who can be considered a new player or not, especially with the existence of jump potions and story skips. Time and experience through various pieces of content is usually a better gauge of player experience.

Levels aren't the issue. It's the combination of time, lack of progress through the msq, and lack of a job stone that tells me they really haven't had enough time with the game to appreciate how much the msq blocks, not to mention how long it is. Not to mention the sameness of the fedexing.

I'm glad this individual sprout is enjoying themselves. I've seen too many of them sour in 2.x, often going into potd to try to 60 everything before burning themselves out.

Perhaps it will happen to this sprout, perhaps not. I've only seen it happen enough to be cynical when someone's on a story high on their first 20.

Six game phases away from the present day. Soon to be seven.

[Skivvy]

We are talking about the New Player Experience, right? In what world is there a level minimum to be classified as a new player? I don't get the point you're trying to make. Why do I need to be a veteran player to gain insight on the new player experience? If anything, it's the other way around.

It tends to be difficult to see flaws in a game when you are new and in your honeymoon period. This isn't to say you will suddenly despise the game when you reach endgame, or that you may take the side of those in this thread who feel the forced 100% completion is not a good idea, you may very well love it for years to come.

One thing in your original comment that may have spawned Van's initial remark:

I don't want FFXIV to go the way of WoW where every piece of gear and crafting material feels like a disposable piece of garbage that will be chucked into the scrap bin sometime in the next three months.

With XIV, your gear may last 5-6 months. New patches bring higher ilvls, and then most of what you have will become obsolete outside of glamour.

[Ronduwil]

With XIV, your gear may last 5-6 months. New patches bring higher ilvls, and then most of what you have will become obsolete outside of glamour.

Fair enough, but that comment was in response to the OP's comment about "relevant" content. As you just mentioned, once you hit the endgame, relevant content becomes disposable. I don't think that rushing new players to that point is going to be good for the game's longevity. WoW lost 8% of its playerbase last quarter for a reason.

As a new player, everything feels like relevant. I'm enjoying that experience. I'm in no hurry to get to max level and lose all sense of progression. Right now, I'm having fun leveling all my crafts, clearing my target log, and taking on different classes. I don't think my experience would be improved by boosting my character through the game at an ungodly rate the way WoW does. In fact, I found WoW to be much more fun before it succumbed to that style of play.