What this game should do to increase longevity

[SamRF]

Here's what I would suggest this game could do to prevent its endgame community to be reduced into oblivion with upcoming expansions.

End the story. Before you pick up your pitchforks, I don't mean that the game should stop being focused around a main story, just that this current storyline we've been through should end by next expansion. Everything from ARR to whatever next expansion will be could be seen as 1 saga, so instead of ending with a cliffhanger, next expansion should then end with a conclusive and satisfying ending to the saga. Expansion after that we start with a whole new saga and a new storyline.

With "new" I mean really new (story wise, not progression). All new characters and new story, maybe just a few references to the old one here and there but nothing significant. It should be completely standing on its own legs and not require previous story elements to be enjoyed fully. The only thing that should be carried from the old story is the fact that you're a very experienced veteran warrior of light. Offer free level boost to whatever level the next expansion goes or the new saga starts (with purchase of expansion/game).

This way any newcomers who want to can experience the old saga from the beginning, or decide to start latest expansion with the new saga. I'm sure many mmo fans will prefer to start with the most relevant saga and not go through hundreds of hours of graphic novel to reach it. What's great is that you can also do both with newgame+. Start from the new saga with level boost and go progress through the old one sometimes whenever you feel like it with newgame+.

I doubt older content will be be able to stay as relevant for long with just the roulettes, which is frustrating in this game because many of those instances are mandatory for MSQ progression. To remedy this I suggest they add a nerfed solo option for all mandatory MSQ instances. Should be really easy to do by just messing with the numbers.

The way I see it, they have to either go this way or release a whole new MMO soon (either way they will probably release new MMO in foreseeable future), unless you either disagree or have another idea (let me know). The more MSQ keeps stacking up with each expansion, the less new player friendly this game is becoming and I think this will become a problem, if it isn't already.

edit: With new characters I meant story characters (like alphinaud etc.), not your own character. Your character would remain the same and keep all progression of course.

-------------

edit2:

The endgame community will get less and less newcomers if things go forward the same way. The MSQ is stacking with each expansion, it already takes hundreds of hours to reach endgame. Players at endgame will stop playing for variety of reasons (bored, switching game, dying irl) while there will be less and less new players coming into the endgame because they're stuck in ever increasing MSQ. I'm sure many players don't make it past the MSQ and stop playing (long) before reaching endgame, a few 100 hours is a lot of dedication.

To give an example, I can't imagine the average WoW player who is used to fast combat having the patience to go through those hundreds of hours of MSQ to get the point when combat will start getting faster and more interesting. Hell, they might not even have the patience to reach lvl 50 with how incredibly slow combat is in this game in lower levels. If they use a story boost right now, they won't enjoy or understand latest expansion because they didn't experience past story and character development. This is why I suggest starting a new saga so there's a point you could safely level boost your character to while still being able to enjoy and understand given story.

edit3:

I'd say have 2 or maybe 3 expansions for 1 saga. Give free level boost to the start of each saga. E.g. current saga ends at 6.0 --> 2nd saga starts 6.0 and will end 8.0 --> only give free boost to start of 6.0, even when current expac is 7.0.

Boost to the start of latest saga, not the latest expansion.

[ForteNightshade]

How does this, in any way, increase longevity? FFXIV is not hurting whatsoever when it comes to active subscriptions. In fact, Shadowbringers brought in record numbers. Evidently, new players had no issue going through the "graphic novel." Setting us back to ground zero is far more likely to push players away not invite more. Now they have to re-establish everything yet with the same protagonist and core concept of them being the Warrior of Light. And no, there is precisely zero chance they will even consider a "new" protagonist option. That would royally piss off players.

This game suffers from a lack of longevity in its gameplay content. Story, on the other hand, has seldom been an issue. ARR stands as the whole exception, which is understandable given they had to rush 2.0 out the door. It's also why they're going back and trimming it down come 5.3.

[linay]

I'm fine with starting over only because it might provide opportunity to rework the starting experience, including in terms of classes/jobs (maybe get rid of classes or make them separate jobs in the future) as well as the GC system (it probably undermines frontline).

But that's about it. I think if people want to skip the story/leveling, they can just buy a jump potion.

[LolitaBansheeMeru]

Well I do think some parts of it are getting old I do think We are ready for a new phase of the story with no more scions no more Empire annoyence and just honestly like a fresh content with no ties to the older stuff it was fun but honestly its getting old. the Empire is like we are all gaint losers that cant use magic so we build large robots and fight because the empire is really inferior lol and the scions are like "oh this person in trouble lets help them blah blah "

[SturmChurro]

Heck to the no. If I am starting new it's gonna be a new FF MMORPG not FFXIV. I have thousands of hours on my character. Not gonna happen. If I had to start new, I would just stop playing the game.

[Cyreil]

Once again, I am so glad the developers do not come to these forums.

[LolitaBansheeMeru]

Heck to the no. If I am starting new it's gonna be a new FF MMORPG not FFXIV. I have thousands of hours on my character. Not gonna happen. If I had to start new, I would just stop playing the game.

I think he means start like a new chap of the story with fresh content and characters/enemeys not new start on the character. thats what I took from it anyways so it would be we keep all our level all our expereince all our ic history and move to a new world or content with no old characters/ old enemys.

[SturmChurro]

I think he means start like a new chap of the story with fresh content and characters/enemeys not new start on the character. thats what I took from it anyways so it would be we keep all our level all our expereince all our ic history and move to a new world or content with no old characters/ old enemys.

Yeah, worthless. Why would I want to start new, and relevel all of my classes. They could just release a new chapter with all that stuff, and everyone can join regardless. Starting "new" makes literally no sense. If they wanted everyone at an even footing there are way better alternatives than "starting new".

[LolitaBansheeMeru]

Yeah, worthless. Why would I want to start new, and relevel all of my classes. They could just release a new chapter with all that stuff, and everyone can join regardless. Starting "new" makes literally no sense. If they wanted everyone at an even footing there are way better alternatives than "starting new".

I don't think you are understanding the words so I'll explain it in small words.

so lets say currently are max is 80 lets say we go to a new world no old enemeys and characters we would be TRAVELING THAT WORLD as level 80s lol not level 1s so there would be no releveling just story/enemy wise would be fresh not the character lol

[SturmChurro]

I don't think you are understanding the words so I'll explain it in small words.

so lets say currently are max is 80 lets say we go to a new world no old enemeys and characters we would be TRAVELING THAT WORLD as level 80s lol not level 1s so there would be no releveling just story/enemy wise would be fresh not the character lol

Yeah, what happens to progression? It completely disappears, since I am allowed to join and none of my levels matter? How do skills work, are they all unlocked at level 1 for those players joining? If that is the case then this OP has a non-thread, because Yoshida has been wanting to drop the story for awhile (rather finish this storyline), plus they have said they are going to rework ARR.

Yes that's what I meant. I thought it would be obvious with the suggestion of a free level boost.

So everyone "starts" fresh with one free level boost. So levels do still matter, players just get a free one. What exactly are you suggesting ARR 2? You should have just necroed a thread like someone else. Here I thought someone had an actual idea, not that I actually read the OP admittedly.