Option to unlock content without mandatory MSQ

[SamRF]

As someone who originally came from WoW, I don't think it's a good idea. People who skip available content are usually the most vocal about how the game lacks content because development time is being spent on content outside of their personal narrow focus. It's already a problem here even with MSQ being mandatory (unless a player buys the skip potion for their character). It would be even worse under your idea.

Hmmmm sure, but it's not like the MSQ will be gone. They can always play it whenever they want and thus have a shit ton of content readily available whenever they are ready for it. This way they can for example get into raiding at endgame while going through ARR MSQ at their own pace.

[Novae]

FF14 is the very first MMO I've been emotionally attached too. And it's because if its story. The characters, the music and the aesthetic behind the MSQ is a masterpiece. It IS the heart of FF14. Imagine a new player getting into Amaurot dungeon for the first time without having to do the MSQ before? Hades? Nidhogg?
What's the point?
Playing another soulless MMO? There are legion already.

[Darkpaw]

Would the availability of this option (that isn't toggled on default) drive you away from this game? If yes, I wonder why?

Because it seems to me that your gameplay experience wouldn't really change in any way. You, as well as me would still be doing MSQ to unlock content. I want to emphasize again that I would never use this option myself because I like MSQ and the fact that its a story driven game a lot. I love having the backstory and context for the instances. It's just that I wouldn't mind if others were able to skip all that with an option (which again, isn't toggled on default).

The issue of a toggle version also means one thing, there will be a push from a more hardcore mmo standpoint to skip story just to unlock content to keep up. Thats not fair to those of us who want to experience the story for what it is.

In a sense it’s an open invitation for toxic behavior (which yes is prevalent even in this game, but not nearly as bad as others.) MSQ gating keeps everyone on an equal footing or there abouts.

Also aside from the story skip books, you can also skip cutscenes there are difficulty settings for solo instances, there are plenty of options for people to cruise through story at a quickened pace while not making the gap too crazy for those who take their time with story.

[Darkpaw]

Good point, but they could perhaps make even more profit by broadening their market.

They could become a true WoW competitor for example. There are right now a lot of dissatisfied WoW players who have nowhere to go because MMO market is very underwhelming right now when it comes to non niche (WoW like) MMOs. They could create some new Final Fantasy fans by welcoming those players, who will perhaps after having a good time and having experienced the combat and beautiful instances become interested to do the MSQ and see what's the backstory and context for everything. The average WoW player will not have the patience to go through the whole MSQ while being stuck with very slow combat (because combat only gets interesting and faster at higher levels).

Now that we're talking about WoW, there's probably a good reason why WoW offers free level boost with purchase of an expansion. They want to keep the newest content populated and make the game more appealing to players who get interested in the game after seeing an ad for their newest expansion for example. All that would lead to more profit in the long term because they decided to offer free level boost instead of charging players. They comply to the demand so they can get more expansion sales and thus make more profit.

A true WoW competitor? There’s a bad faith argument if I ever heard one. This game is a WoW competitor and one of the three top games in the mmo market. With ever growing numbers since Shadowbringers released.

And how did it get to be a WoW competitor? By being yet another WoW clone? No. It got to where it is because it decided to do something different. To show that MMOs could be more than just a rush to end game content and constant grind.

To put a story and a fantastic story in the spotlight, to give fans of JRPGs for generations a dream come true. The ability to play a real JRPG game with your friends and with fans from all over the world together without sharing a controller. A game that is first and foremost a true Final Fantasy experience and a MMO second. By challenging the status quo and doing things differently from other MMOs on the market.

You know I believed you when you said you weren’t trolling up until that last post. I thought you wanted actual discussion, but to outright ignore evidence that this game is a top tier mmo by all metrics and a direct competitor with WoW is asinine.

WoW is a legendary game and always will be but it is not some infallible thing. And to discount that there are legitimate competitors for the top mmo spot is not only a disservice to those competitors but also. To WoW and all it has accomplished since it’s inception.

[SamRF]

A true WoW competitor? There’s a bad faith argument if I ever heard one. This game is a WoW competitor and one of the three top games in the mmo market. With ever growing numbers since Shadowbringers released.

And how did it get to be a WoW competitor? By being yet another WoW clone? No. It got to where it is because it decided to do something different. To show that MMOs could be more than just a rush to end game content and constant grind.

To put a story and a fantastic story in the spotlight, to give fans of JRPGs for generations a dream come true. The ability to play a real JRPG game with your friends and with fans from all over the world together without sharing a controller. A game that is first and foremost a true Final Fantasy experience and a MMO second. By challenging the status quo and doing things differently from other MMOs on the market.

You know I believed you when you said you weren’t trolling up until that last post. I thought you wanted actual discussion, but to outright ignore evidence that this game is a top tier mmo by all metrics and a direct competitor with WoW is asinine.

WoW is a legendary game and always will be but it is not some infallible thing. And to discount that there are legitimate competitors for the top mmo spot is not only a disservice to those competitors but also. To WoW and all it has accomplished since it’s inception.

Well you misunderstood what I meant with "true WoW competitor" and I also didn't clarify enough what I meant with it so my bad on that one. Elder Scrolls Online is also considered top 3 but it's not really a WoW competitor how I see it because it attracts a different playerbase than WoW. Players who like WoW won't be attracted to ESO combat and class system I think.

FFXIV seems to me almost a "true WoW competitor" because it's pretty similar in terms of combat. Still quite different but I'm sure players from each game will recognize enough and enjoy combat in both games. The only big difference that doesn't allow FFXIV being an easy and welcome alternative for WoW players is the fact that content is locked behind MSQ barrier.

For that reason I doubt FFXIV will ever surpass WoW in amount of players. Having such dedication towards MSQ however does probably provide much more stable community for FFXIV because of the Final Fantasy fans, so it's for sure a good thing for the game, but I wondered if there could be a compromise that would please both the Final Fantasy fans as well as players like WoW refugees.

Edit: also you should allow me to acknowledge your point and clarify myself before calling me a troll, a matter of respect.

[dangadget]

There is a compromise, and it has been pointed out multiple times.
If a prospective player doesn't really care about the story and just wants to get to endgame, there are methods to do that.
The fact that they are not free is by design

[AngelCheese77]

The only thing I would like to see is not being stuck behind the MSQ in order to go from a starter class to a job (Arcanist to Summoner for example). If you did the necessary starter class quests and are the right level, the choice to change should be available. Everything else, hm ... side content when it comes to opening extra dungeons or raids could be just connected with your level and not the MSQ, such as with Halatali. I don't see the issue with that.

My biggest issue is how fast you can level your new character. If you follow the MSQ and it takes you to an area, I feel there are some players who would stop and do the side quests around the place before moving on with the MSQ. This is good in one sense as it gives more story and context to what is happening around, as well as some gear (like accessories) and other items. The bad thing is, more than likely that player will continously be overleveled for the MSQ and feel stifled that they can't go with a friend to a side dungeon or raid even if they are the right level.

[Xeronia]

As I saw WoW brought up I may as well take this from WoWhead about the next expansion, Shadowlands. If you are a totally new player you will be put in a starting zone from 1-10 to teach you the game and then forced for 40 levels into Battle for Azeroth. That sounds a lot like a semi-forced storyline new players will have to go through to me.

From WoWhead-

New Players:

1-10: Exile's Reach (new newbie zone for all players)
10-50: Battle for Azeroth
50-60: Shadowlands

Experienced Players:

10-50: Any choice of the 8 expansions
50-60: Shadowlands

[LaylaTsarra]

Sorry but not happening and shouldn't. There is by the way lots of content that is optional apart from main story but I suspect you know that already.

[linay]

Would it be feasible to add an option to unlock instances without making it mandatory to do MSQ?

Most MMOs don't have such a (long) main mandatory questline to unlock content and allow players to journey through the game however they like. People who don't care much for story will have a terrible time in FFXIV.

People who still want to unlock stuff through MSQ can continue to do so and unlock content that way. People who don't care for the MSQ can unlock the instances with this option and decide to perhaps do the MSQ another time.

I'm pretty sure this option would open up the game to (quite a lot) of new players who are for example only interested in combat/crafting/instances/raids/art and don't want to experience forced visual novel.

I would personally never use this option because I greatly enjoy the MSQ but I think this game is missing out on a lot of new players because of the MSQ barrier. Even with an MSQ skip they have to go through lots of quests (towards and at endgame) before unlocking content/instances and have to do so again with each patch.

Why would you be for or against this option? What needs to be taken into consideration?

Several reasons why I don't want to support this (even though I don't have issues with how others like to play):

1. My only main form of comparison is WoW, and with the way they make the story optional in that game, I feel like continuity suffers and it's why WoW has no problem with removing story quests because it's all optional anyway (even story quests that were just added in the previous patch). By having mandatory MSQ, I think the writers would be more incentivized to care more about continuity and it's why I'm somewhat nervous about the 5.3 change, hopefully it will be good.

2. If it's optional, there is more pressure to skip it. Just look at raiders who are racing to clear a raid. If it's not optional, there is less pressure (sure you can still rush through it and skip cutscenes, but that's because they're optional, so it still fits my point). It's why cutscenes became mandatory in Praetorium and Castrum Meridianum.

3. Speaking of skipping, again comparing it to WoW, it might make questing harder as you get lost in what quests you need to do if you want to go back. Of course, WoW has more branching quests, so that adds to the complexity.

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Edit:
My response to argument concerning players at endgame who will have no idea about what they're doing and thus worsen DF experience:

Mandatory solo instance won't work since they've gone the route of fail once and immediately try with echo aka "easy" and "very easy" modes. (I wish this forum supports nested quotations.)