MSQ

[ZedxKayn]

The main issue with the MSQ isn't that it's boring since it's subjective (though I do agree), it's that it's not optional if you want to enjoy the game, and dreadfully lengthy.

[linayar]

The main issue with the MSQ isn't that it's boring since it's subjective (though I do agree), it's that it's not optional if you want to enjoy the game, and dreadfully lengthy.

If being boring is not a problem because that's subjective, being mandatory and lengthy is also not a problem since it's subjective whether or not you had fun doing the MSQ. I enjoyed the game from the start while doing the MSQ.

The devs acknowledged concerns about ARR and they didn't make the MSQ optional, but trimmed it. So the dev has made their position known on this. The MSQ is the game unless they change their mind. If you cannot enjoy the MSQ, you can pay to auto-complete up to a certain part, but the mandatory MSQ will still be there, only you'll be even less likely to enjoy it as you may not know about the story if you auto-complete through its earlier portion.

[ZedxKayn]

If being boring is not a problem because that's subjective, being mandatory and lengthy is also not a problem since it's subjective whether or not you had fun doing the MSQ. I enjoyed the game from the start while doing the MSQ.

The devs acknowledged concerns about ARR and they didn't make the MSQ optional, but trimmed it. So the dev has made their position known on this. The MSQ is the game unless they change their mind. If you cannot enjoy the MSQ, you can pay to auto-complete up to a certain part, but the mandatory MSQ will still be there, only you'll be even less likely to enjoy it as you may not know about the story if you auto-complete through its earlier portion.

What the devs think doesn't make what I say any less true.
Every fun thing being locked behind a lengthy and mandatory MSQ is hurting the new player retention a lot whether fans want to acknowledge it or not.

Also how people "feel" about the MSQ is subjective and personal, but it's long and most importantly mandatory, long in the video game standard but it's not subjective that the majority of the game is gated behind it. It's a theme park MMO ffs.

[Tommara]

What the devs think doesn't make what I say any less true.
Every fun thing being locked behind a lengthy and mandatory MSQ is hurting the new player retention a lot whether fans want to acknowledge it or not.

Also how people "feel" about the MSQ is subjective and personal, but it's long and most importantly mandatory, long in the video game standard but it's not subjective that the majority of the game is gated behind it. It's a theme park MMO ffs.

This.

You've said it much better than I did.

[SturmChurro]

What the devs think doesn't make what I say any less true.
Every fun thing being locked behind a lengthy and mandatory MSQ is hurting the new player retention a lot whether fans want to acknowledge it or not.

Also how people "feel" about the MSQ is subjective and personal, but it's long and most importantly mandatory, long in the video game standard but it's not subjective that the majority of the game is gated behind it. It's a theme park MMO ffs.

I brought up this point years ago, but this is going to be yet another expansion worth of story roadblocking potential players from endgame. Doesn't sound like this problem is going to be alleviated come EW. According to a recent interview, they are looking at EXP, rather than another solution, for now. Imagine come the expansion following EW there is still no 'fix'. People always fall back to "just use a story skip", but I don't think that really fixes the core problem, nor do I think even a free skip is a real solution.

[ReynTime]

I brought up this point years ago, but this is going to be yet another expansion worth of story roadblocking potential players from endgame. Doesn't sound like this problem is going to be alleviated come EW. According to a recent interview, they are looking at EXP, rather than another solution, for now. Imagine come the expansion following EW there is still no 'fix'. People always fall back to "just use a story skip", but I don't think that really fixes the core problem, nor do I think even a free skip is a real solution.

This is a terrible solution IMO.
We reached a point where it's common for completely beginners (I know because I watch beginners' streams on Twitch) to get to lv60+, without trying, before finishing 2.0's storyline. And that makes the non-synced content so trivial they just get bored of the fetch quests faster due nothing outside of the dungeons being engaging in the slightest.
The extra exp helps with alt jobs, but it doesn't help the fetch quest and cutscene bloat problem at all.

[linayar]

It's a theme park MMO ffs.

And the MSQ is the main ride that features these other rides. A theme park MMO doesn't mean you can't have a featured mandatory content, like story and leveling.

The devs have also made their position on housing despite it being a handicap and a horrible system and here we are. Yes they’re the devs, but we’re the players. We’re the one paying for the game and we have a say in what we want(or at least in a perfect world we *should*).

Well, as a player, I certainly think the devs should keep the MSQ mandatory in a perfect world as it's the main reason for most if not all the major contents of the game. Buy the boost if you don't care about it.

The only alternative I support is if they move the timeline forward and new characters start from, say, with 6.1's MSQ in the future, like from 7.0 onward. But with using ARR and HW (and possibly more in the future) as a full free trial, I doubt that's happening.

[ZedxKayn]

And the MSQ is the main ride that features these other rides. A theme park MMO doesn't mean you can't have a featured mandatory content, like story and leveling.

Well, as a player, I certainly think the devs should keep the MSQ mandatory in a perfect world as it's the main reason for most if not all the major contents of the game. Buy the boost if you don't care about it.

The only alternative I support is if they move the timeline forward and new characters start from, say, with 6.1's MSQ in the future, like from 7.0 onward. But with using ARR and HW (and possibly more in the future) as a full free trial, I doubt that's happening.

There wouldn't be anything stopping you from doing the MSQ if it's optional, all it would really do is not force people who aren't interested in it to play it.
Hell none of the content I like is featured in the MSQ, it just unlocks after I reach a certain point.