Quote Originally Posted by Dfess View Post
I think it's about time we started getting exp boost and ways to skip the story in the game. Not to sound like a broken record or anything but, in WoW I can level to max in like 4 hours. Less if I really focus. It's not like it isn't there for a reason. It's like that so people don't spend all their time doing old content and so that they can catch up to current content. FFXIV isn't getting shorter and this is starting to become an issue. I'm not saying get rid of the story. I'm just saying why not give people the option to skip it if they don't want to do it and just want the new content? If it isn't right now, it will be daunting and very inconvenient for new players to start the game and catch up. I would like my friends to come play this game because it is fun. But, they don't have the time to invest into a story like that without feeling like they aren't getting anything done.

Just my opinion. Love Kair. <3

Edit: "Just buy a story skip" isn't an argument. New people aren't going to just drop $60 on a game to catch up to current content when they just paid $60 for the game. $120 just to play current content? Nah.
A big part of the game and it's experience is built around the MSQ. Unlike WoW, which youre just somebody in the horde/alliance, in FFXIV you are the central hero. So skipping MSQ vast parts doesnt seem to be in line with the game designers intentions. This doesnt mean that theyre not giving shortcuts - Jump Potions are the simplest way for giving people the ability to skip and do offer those, but therye not incentived. They dont want you to just use one like it's nothing, hence the price point.

Instead, youre actually given quite a bit when it comes to leveling. First, MSQ more or less is all you need to do. You wont need to grind dungeons, fates, side quests or many other things. If you follow the MSQ, youll be up to level most of the time. This doesnt include food buffs (all foods give you +3%), fates that give you boosted experience, FC buffs, and leveling items if you buy certain versions of the game or do some quests within game. Furthermore, theyre already going back and trimming down the 2.1-2.55 section of the game to make it more streamlined. This doesnt include any future plans they might implement in regards to speeding up leveling in earlier content.
Point is, there's already a lot going on, and a path that will take you to 80 without much extra effort or grinding.

Conversely, last time I played WoW, intro content was so stupidly over experienced that before I got a chance to get a feel for a spot or get into a quest chain, I was over leveled and was expected to go some place else. I could literally skip past huge parts of the game's story and it wouldnt make a difference. Get all the way to icecrown? Nah, forget that 's'. Youll be out of northrend and into a new xpac by the time you get through the second zone, if that.

The question you should ask yourself is, is the goal to just get to max level or is it to play a story and experience. WoW offers a different thing than FFXIV. Yeah, sometimes I just want to get to max level to see the new sights and sounds nad not care about story. WoW is better for that. If I want a game where there's a story and Im actually a part of it and not a bystandard, FFXIV is better for that.

Not even sure if this is an issue. Maybe this is a bit anecdotal, but when talking with new players, they dont mind the leveling or MSQ (with the exception of the 2.1-2.55 area, but that is already being addressed by the devs).