I want a challenge as well, but I actually hope that they keep the majority of the main storyline soloable at appropriate levels.


Regardless of what people say, solo doesn't have to equal easy. The fight I most respected in XI was the Maat fight, purely because it was the only instance (back when I played) where you knew for sure that the outcome was based on your own choices or skill. Winning in a group doesn't necessarily mean you as an individual played well, it could just mean that you had players skilled enough to compensate for others shortcomings. We should have things that challenge our individual skill too, to make us better players all around.



In my humble opinion, main storyline would be a perfect fit for that because it by its nature is your character’s “personal” experience in the world around them. Main scenario quest should “train” your character as an individual first then maybe expand into optional group situations every now and then but not be so tied to required constant group content that it becomes so difficult to find people willing to help with “old” content like was my experience in FFXI.



I was a latecomer to an already older FFXI server. When I played it was near impossible to get a group willing to go do “old” content. It was not fun to shout for hours. It was not fun to beg people to come help you finish something no one else cared about. I don’t want to relive that, and I don’t want new players down the road to have to wait (as someone else earlier said) “for the stars to align” just to be able to experience that main storyline. The main storyline shouldn’t have to be abandoned just because you aren’t able to get a full party to come hold your hand.



The main story should be accessible, but not necessarily simple. It should require your time, but not be as reliant on grouping together X-many bodies to go with you for every single thing. I suppose some would say that with the addition of the content finder, their hope is that it would not be as difficult for people to find groups for certain content, and that may be true, but to be honest as more things get added, people will still gravitate towards newer content and be less likely to seek out older content.


The pursuit of any other really decent reward or item in this game will already require a group.. be it dungeon runs, Grand Company group missions, Expansion story lines etc. You aren't going to get that rare Darklight armor piece by soloing a leve... or doing a main story mission. You won't get an Ifrit Bow, or a Moogle Axe by soloing some random mob your level. There is already incentive to party and group up, and there is going to be more and more group content added as time goes on.



My biggest regret with FFXI, was that I was at not able to finish and know the main story. In reality the stars don’t always align, static parties break up, LS’s fall apart, and friends quit the game, its not even a matter of being casual vs a “dedicated” hardcore player, those things still just happen. The main premise story should be something that any player with the desire gets a chance to experience.


I’m all for having some real challenging group centered quest lines rich with story, but let that be some future expansion pack or side adventure that delves deeper into another riveting story. Let the main story be something that any individual who puts their own time in, can experience.