This game is awesome... wish I’d tried it years ago

[Dmoloth]

After ARR they've toned down the use of cut-scenes like they did in the last parts of ARR. They still use them frequently but no where near as bad and typically with a warning ahead of time to tell you to set aside the time for it before it starts playing them.

I’m pretty sure that I was out of combat (in a scene) longer that I was in combat during that last raid... then there was at least 15-20 more minutes of video after the raid ended. It was very cool, but after a while it was starting to wear thin. Ultimately worth it though.

[Iscah]

I’m pretty sure that I was out of combat (in a scene) longer that I was in combat during that last raid... then there was at least 15-20 more minutes of video after the raid ended. It was very cool, but after a while it was starting to wear thin. Ultimately worth it though.

Keep in mind that this is a JRPG as much as it's an MMO. I haven't played other MMOs to know how they normally handle things, but 15-20 minutes of cutscenes (or equivalent conversation) at the end of a game - after defeating the final boss and before the credits roll - is perfectly normal to me.

This is, essentially, an entire series of games. Now that you've cleared ARR, you'll be working through a series of patches that build up to another finale - with a warning that there are long cutscenes incoming - before you reach Heavensward. At the end of that game, again you'll get credits and another series of patch stories, building up to a second climax partway through (it's essentially the real ending to HW, after some things are left unfinished at the point when the credits roll) and then lead in to Stormblood. And again between Stormblood and Shadowbringers.

At each of these layers of patch cycles, you'll notice that a lot of new sidequests become available once you clear a main game's finale and credits. Some of them unlock single dungeons, others are entire story arcs which - while not required to progress the main story - sometimes feed back into it or at least get referenced later on. (Side note if you haven't already noticed: any quests with a blue 'plus' marker on the icon will unlock some kind of game content or feature.)

At this point you'll be able to pick up the quest "Legacy of Allag" in Mor Dhona, which leads to the Crystal Tower alliance raids - make sure you do that, because it becomes important for understanding some things later in the story.

[Penthea]

At this point you'll be able to pick up the quest "Legacy of Allag" in Mor Dhona, which leads to the Crystal Tower alliance raids - make sure you do that, because it becomes important for understanding some things later in the story.

For anyone who enjoys the story I cannot stress how important it is to do these quests. Later on in the story the events from there are essential for understanding some extremely important plot points.

I'm glad you're enjoying the game OP

[Dmoloth]

For anyone who enjoys the story I cannot stress how important it is to do these quests. Later on in the story the events from there are essential for understanding some extremely important plot points.

I'm glad you're enjoying the game OP

I made it to this point tonight. Ran the quest chain and opened up access to the alliance raid.

I doubt I will do the raid but I have access should I get the chance.

Thanks for the info!

[Iscah]

I made it to this point tonight. Ran the quest chain and opened up access to the alliance raid.

I doubt I will do the raid but I have access should I get the chance.

Thanks for the info!

If you're thinking "raid" means it will be difficult, it isn't.

It's essentially a 24-man dungeon, and people run it daily - just sign up, and you'll get in.

Once you've got the second raid unlocked, it'll open up a daily roulette, so queues fill easily.

[Penthea]

I made it to this point tonight. Ran the quest chain and opened up access to the alliance raid.

I doubt I will do the raid but I have access should I get the chance.

Thanks for the info!

If the idea of it being in a raid scares you, don't worry. Those raids are not difficult to do.

You get put into a group of 24 players, which are divided into three teams of 8. Usually the three teams will act independently, so it really is like those trials you have done already, but instead there's three teams of 8 instead of just one team. The main difference really is the experience of exploring an actual zone, instead of just having one boss room. If you can do trials okay, you will have no issue getting used to 24 man alliance raids.

[Packetdancer]

Ah yes, the praetorium. For more experienced players it's an opportunity to open up whichever your preferred streaming service is tab back in every 10 minutes to do the next thing.

I often view it as an opportunity to work on my improv stand-up comedy in party chat.

(Opinions on whether this is a good thing or a bad one may differ.)

I made it to this point tonight. Ran the quest chain and opened up access to the alliance raid.

I doubt I will do the raid but I have access should I get the chance.

(Bolding mine.) You really, really should do the three Crystal Tower alliance raids. They're worth it for the storyline, and the story isn't just excellent lore about Allag; there's things you learn during it which are relevant to the main story later. If the reason you wouldn't run it is that you're concerned about not getting the raid right:

1. Don't worry. 90% of the people will be massively overgeared; I don't think I've actually seen a wipe in the Crystal Tower raids in ages.
2. If you mention in chat that you're new to them, there'll usually be someone helpful willing to explain the mechanics.
3. If you're still super self-conscious about it, try to find higher-level friends or FC members who are willing to run it with you. That can be fun anyway since they can explain the mechanics that aren't going to happen because people just blow through the fights. My FC did this for me when I came back and finally moved on past ARR last year, and I've now done the same for sprouts who've joined since then.
4. If all else fails, put up a party finder mentioning you're a sprout going through them for the first time, and that you're hoping for a party who can give you guidance. You might be surprised and find folks are fairly willing to help.

[Frizze]

I’m pretty sure that I was out of combat (in a scene) longer that I was in combat during that last raid... then there was at least 15-20 more minutes of video after the raid ended. It was very cool, but after a while it was starting to wear thin. Ultimately worth it though.

The Praetorium instance(and to a lesser extent, Castrum Meridinum before it) are infamous for the number and length of the mid-instance cutscenes. Rest assured, this was a lesson that the devs learned from and you really dont run into it much going forward. Most instances from that point on will have an opening scene(usually just a quick flythrough), and a boss appearance scene, plus a super short victory dance scene. The longer story bits are usually taken care of before you join the instance, and after you leave.

As the others have mentioned the CT raids already, ill mention another. If you care, the Coils raid series offers a lot of interesting lore and really helps explain the calamity from a couple of angles. Now unlike the Tower raids that you can just que up for using the duty finder, the Coil raids were the hardest fights in the game at the time and took dedicated groups to clear back when they were relevant. These days they are mostly completed in unsynced groups made via the party finder tool. They do have a lot of cutscenes, but if you make a party specifically for it you shouldnt have trouble finding people willing to sit back and let you watch the scenes(helping new players through runs gets veterans a bonus, and 13 coil instances means 13 bonuses if they help you through the whole thing).

[Averax]

I’m pretty sure that I was out of combat (in a scene) longer that I was in combat during that last raid... then there was at least 15-20 more minutes of video after the raid ended. It was very cool, but after a while it was starting to wear thin. Ultimately worth it though.

Ah yes, the praetorium. For more experienced players it's an opportunity to open up whichever your preferred streaming service is tab back in every 10 minutes to do the next thing.