MSQ Needs Further Condensing

[Reyketi]

Yes. As more expansions and updates arrive, the time it will take to actually get to current relevant content will only get longer and longer. Without them, yes, condensing the previous MSQ, or alleviating this issue in some way or other. I do not think, "just buy a skip" is a good alternative.

100+ hours is an extremely lengthy period of time, to actually play "content" with your friends. I don't care what some people's opinions are on the subject of endgame, or the story. As it stands, it is just too lengthy (even if you skip dialogue), It's a roadblock for new players trying to get into the game. This isn't some complete single-player experience where you can spend 30-50 hours, and you are done. This is an ongoing subscription based mmorpg. There has to be a better way of doing this.

Also. even single-player games notice a dropoff of players when the story is very lengthy, for that matter.

Grind through 100-250 hours of story vs skip all cutscenes, and do quests like a rat in a skinner box, or pay $115

OR

condense the MSQ

:S

Best Wishes

-Reyketi

[Ammokkx]

Grind through 100-250 hours of story vs skip all cutscenes, and do quests like a rat in a skinner box, or pay $115

OR

condense the MSQ

You say this as if "just condense the MSQ" is some kind of simple undertaking itself.

Point me to the stuff that you can condense, go on, I'll wait.

Do you want to cut out helping house Fortemps? Then it makes no real sense anyone in Ishgard takes you seriously, as at that point you're no better than refugees.

Cut out parts of the Azim Steppe storyline? Then the final confrontation where it's an all-out brawl right before turning the full might of the Steppe on Garlemald really doesn't feel like it pays off.

Cut down on post ARR content? They did that, and people are already saying the Crystal Braves storyline is rushed now.

Cut down on the moogle chores? Mate, it's like 4 quests with no cutscenes. Really not that much time saved.

Take out cleaning Master Matoya's room? Kinda loses the whole "Yeah we're leaving this place" vibe they were going for.

Give actual examples instead of just going "condense MSQ" because you're not giving any useful insights into the situation. You're not proposing a solution to your own problem, you're just pretending you are.

[Reyketi]

You say this as if "just condense the MSQ" is some kind of simple undertaking itself.

Point me to the stuff that you can condense, go on, I'll wait.

Give actual examples instead of just going "condense MSQ" because you're not giving any useful insights into the situation. You're not proposing a solution to your own problem, you're just pretending you are.

Try going back, and reading my post.

Possible Solution Proposal


Introduce a new metric: Time-To-Cap (TTC) (Level 1 to max level)

Standardize the time is takes to reach level cap.

Apply this to every expansion that increases the level cap.

Shape the presentation of the MSQ around this time with questing, and cutscenes (perhaps still frames, with narration) bridging the gaps.

Of course, this should be OPTIONAL, thus allowing players to level in the manner of which they choose.

Unabridged, and abridged.

The Unabridged MSQ condensing nothing. The Abridged MSQ always conforming to the standardized TTC.

You're not proposing a solution to your own problem

Actually, considering SE are the ones who condensed the MSQ, I don't think it's "my" problem

Best Wishes

-Reyketi

[Ammokkx]

Try going back, and reading my post.

Sure. Let's do that, keeping in mind I told you to give examples.

Introduce a new metric: Time-To-Cap (TTC) (Level 1 to max level)

Standardize the time is takes to reach level cap.

Apply this to every expansion that increases the level cap.

Shape the presentation of the MSQ around this time with questing, and cutscenes (perhaps still frames, with narration) bridging the gaps.

Shape the presentation of the MSQ around this time with questing and cutscenes like still frames bridging the gap... where?

Do you lose the context of the Azim Steppe? Just say "and then Hien gathered an army."?

Do you just say "And then Alphy and the WoL were two good bois and helped all around Ishgard!"?

Or, hell, what about the whole Doma Vs. Gyr Albania issue we're having? Gyr already feels barebones as all get-out compared to Doma, so do you want to take even more screentime away from it?

What about the three fights with Zenos, do you cut one of them?

This is what I mean. You're not thinking about where to put these "gap bridgers" as you put it, and not only this, but with your proposed "time to cap" idea, then you're running into one more issue:

The story gets even more barebones as each expansion rolls around because now you have to retroactively think about what to skip in the previous expansion.

And sure, you can say

Of course, this should be OPTIONAL, thus allowing players to level in the manner of which they choose.

Unabridged, and abridged.

The Unabridged MSQ condensing nothing. The Abridged MSQ always conforming to the standardized TTC.

but that wouldn't change the fact "abridged MSQ" is an awful experience. I'd be more, far more, in favor of giving everyone a free skip then ever implementing something like this because it is patently obvious you did not, in any way, think through what this would actually look like.

Point to what you can voiceover without losing narrative impact. Tell the devs exactly what they can do to improve the game. Don't just throw an idea at the wall and expect them to figure it out for you.

Also, I hope you like dev time being taken away from the next expansion as they now go back and figure out exactly what's safe to skip and what isn't. I mean, it's easy right? Just do a voiceover with some stills, how hard can it be? All they need to do is recap the story. I'm sure /haurchefant hits just as hard when we get a hot cup of brew in the recap.

[Reyketi]

Shape the presentation of the MSQ around this time with questing and cutscenes like still frames bridging the gap... where?

This can be applied anywhere, to any part of a quest series. It's literally done all the time in media, and it's really cool. There's this really cool site called Youtube where people already do this https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...u-KSnS1em-2ENK

The story gets even more barebones as each expansion rolls around

That's a baseless, and, well, false presupposition. Try thinking abstractly about solutions, instead of just assuming that the MSQ has to be 500 hours long.

but that wouldn't change the fact "abridged MSQ" is an awful experience.

Your opinion is irrelevant, as SE has already implemented an abridged version, and, given the fact that they intend to proceed with this manner of storytelling, will be implementing more revisions, of the such, as time goes on.

Also, I hope you like dev time being taken away from the next expansion as they now go back and figure out exactly what's safe to skip and what isn't.

Oof. That salt.

I really hope that you're conscious of the fact that SE has already condensed the MSQ, and leveling experience prior to my post.

Best Wishes

-Reyketi