New Player Experience Sucks! - Impending Expansion Problems

[SerLuke]

So how about these two conditions as proposal for a compromise,

1. by default MSQ stays as it is, by default one needs to go through the MSQ and finish the final MSQ trial to get to end game content, if a player does not want this they have an option described in number 2.

2. There is an NPC that can be talked to that would allow the MSQ to be marked as completed for purposes of unlocking content, the player will have to go through a couple warning screens saying this option will impede their enjoyment of the story in certain quests. This option would also allow them to go through the MSQ at their own pace but like I said some of the cut scenes from endgame content might spoil the story if they aren't skipping cut scenes/

Would this be a fair compromise?

[Melichoir]

So how about these two conditions as proposal for a compromise,

1. by default MSQ stays as it is, by default one needs to go through the MSQ and finish the final MSQ trial to get to end game content, if a player does not want this they have an option described in number 2.

2. There is an NPC that can be talked to that would allow the MSQ to be marked as completed for purposes of unlocking content, the player will have to go through a couple warning screens saying this option will impede their enjoyment of the story in certain quests. This option would also allow them to go through the MSQ at their own pace but like I said some of the cut scenes from endgame content might spoil the story if they aren't skipping cut scenes/

Would this be a fair compromise?

The option would be turning the MSQ into a glorified side quest. At that point, the only reason you have access to anything is based on level alone. Which brings up the other issue : If your lvl 20 and do this, now you have access to all content, but youre still not high enough level to do most of it (you cant queue for Shinryu as a level 20, for example). So players can now not do the MSQ but woulds till be forced to do it more or less if they want to level efficiently (MSQ is about the most efficient leveling process due to its exp values.) So it doesnt solve anything for a new player. Theyre still stuck in low level content andw ill end up doing the MSQ anyways for practical reasons. The place where this becomes useful is in 2.1.

Also, what about if they only want to skip certain MSQ? So they want to play HW MSQ, but nto ARR. Are they allowed to pick any MSQ? Or do they have to go through the steps? If they can choose what they do, can they just do every single quest in reverse order for funsies? How does this separate FFXIV from WoW, where they built in you can skip content as long as your level is high enough.

Furthermore, while on paper this shouldnt be a problem, what I personally forsee is how itll become standard practice rather than an exception. New players will be told by veterans "use hte MSQ skip so you can do end game." I say this because this trend is pretty much in every MMO where the story isnt core. This then shifts the focus on FFXIV away from MSQ to completing current end game content, and trains new players that if they dont like something, just skip it. The game would explicitly be teaching this, and would in the end be reinforced by the community at large over time. This would lead to, as I see it, many of the issues WoW has such as rampant elitism, entitlement, less player cohesion and greater toxicity, as the focus of purpose in the game moves towards End game content.

Just because people ask for something doesnt mean its healthy for hte game. I personally think making the entire MSQ optional (a glorified side quest) would end up hurting the game as over time this would be the go to option for most players, and not a side option for the few who dont care.

[Physic]

The option would be turning the MSQ into a glorified side quest. At that point, the only reason you have access to anything is based on level alone. Which brings up the other issue : If your lvl 20 and do this, now you have access to all content, but youre still not high enough level to do most of it (you cant queue for Shinryu as a level 20, for example). So players can now not do the MSQ but woulds till be forced to do it more or less if they want to level efficiently (MSQ is about the most efficient leveling process due to its exp values.) So it doesnt solve anything for a new player. Theyre still stuck in low level content andw ill end up doing the MSQ anyways for practical reasons. The place where this becomes useful is in 2.1.

Also, what about if they only want to skip certain MSQ? So they want to play HW MSQ, but nto ARR. Are they allowed to pick any MSQ? Or do they have to go through the steps? If they can choose what they do, can they just do every single quest in reverse order for funsies? How does this separate FFXIV from WoW, where they built in you can skip content as long as your level is high enough.

Furthermore, while on paper this shouldnt be a problem, what I personally forsee is how itll become standard practice rather than an exception. New players will be told by veterans "use hte MSQ skip so you can do end game." I say this because this trend is pretty much in every MMO where the story isnt core. This then shifts the focus on FFXIV away from MSQ to completing current end game content, and trains new players that if they dont like something, just skip it. The game would explicitly be teaching this, and would in the end be reinforced by the community at large over time. This would lead to, as I see it, many of the issues WoW has such as rampant elitism, entitlement, less player cohesion and greater toxicity, as the focus of purpose in the game moves towards End game content.

Just because people ask for something doesnt mean its healthy for hte game. I personally think making the entire MSQ optional (a glorified side quest) would end up hurting the game as over time this would be the go to option for most players, and not a side option for the few who dont care.

people will still be able to do it when they want a break from grinding. I honestly think when its not holding them back from content, many more people will take time with it, and do it when they feel like story.

msq is not the most effecient leveling, but it is very good for the the amount of effort it requires.

doing dungeons close to your actual level, potd, etc are better


as far people being forced, no not really. The ones who ignore and grind, will be the ones who didnt want to do msq



as far as skipping, id assume theyd have 6 major points with new game plus.
arr, post arr, heavensward, post heavensward, stormblood, post stormblood.

as to how would it be different than WOW? uhh i dont think what defines how ffxiv is different from wow is content locks.

msq is not preventing elitism, toxicity, entitlement and rushers, its just requiring those people to do msq. There is nothing about msq which changes those things

And how is someone saying use msq skip different than telling some one to skip every dialog and cutscene? They can choose how they prefer to progress, through story, or through adventure, or a mix.

[VirusOnline]

The option would be turning the MSQ into a glorified side quest. At that point, the only reason you have access to anything is based on level alone. Which brings up the other issue : If your lvl 20 and do this, now you have access to all content, but youre still not high enough level to do most of it (you cant queue for Shinryu as a level 20, for example). So players can now not do the MSQ but woulds till be forced to do it more or less if they want to level efficiently (MSQ is about the most efficient leveling process due to its exp values.) So it doesnt solve anything for a new player. Theyre still stuck in low level content andw ill end up doing the MSQ anyways for practical reasons. The place where this becomes useful is in 2.1.

Also, what about if they only want to skip certain MSQ? So they want to play HW MSQ, but nto ARR. Are they allowed to pick any MSQ? Or do they have to go through the steps? If they can choose what they do, can they just do every single quest in reverse order for funsies? How does this separate FFXIV from WoW, where they built in you can skip content as long as your level is high enough.

Furthermore, while on paper this shouldnt be a problem, what I personally forsee is how itll become standard practice rather than an exception. New players will be told by veterans "use hte MSQ skip so you can do end game." I say this because this trend is pretty much in every MMO where the story isnt core. This then shifts the focus on FFXIV away from MSQ to completing current end game content, and trains new players that if they dont like something, just skip it. The game would explicitly be teaching this, and would in the end be reinforced by the community at large over time. This would lead to, as I see it, many of the issues WoW has such as rampant elitism, entitlement, less player cohesion and greater toxicity, as the focus of purpose in the game moves towards End game content.

Just because people ask for something doesnt mean its healthy for hte game. I personally think making the entire MSQ optional (a glorified side quest) would end up hurting the game as over time this would be the go to option for most players, and not a side option for the few who dont care.

What people don't realize is that the MSQ creates not just story, lore, and a guide -> it creates gameplay pacing in all aspects of the game. WoW lacks this immensely and it exactly what separates FFXIV from it. Everything you describe after what I bolded is exactly how WoW fell so low. Replace with 'skip to msq' in FFXIV to 'get your heirloom gear and spam dungeons' in WoW and that's the point we arrive at. Zero guidance, zero pacing.