MSQ

[Tommara]

There are some important story elements in it, but a lot of it is filler that the devs promised between expansions.

For new and returning players, it's a serious drag which has caused me to leave the game several times now, the worst of which is was at the end of ARR (I paid for Shadowbringers before it was released, but have yet to play it). Heavensward was fine, Stormblood not nearly as bad as ARR, but, well...let's just say I spent my day playing No Man's Sky (where building your own custom house is not savage, and actually serves a useful purpose. OK, so gardening is useful in both games. But in No Man's Sky, I didn't have to spend any time clicking on a sign, the cost was trivial, and I got to actually build my own house exactly how I wanted - although the textures aren't so great).

My suggestion: Move what is not important story elements from the MSQ into Side Quests. Don't gate the MSQ behind group dungeons unless necessary but by all means, gate the group dungeons by some other means, just not the MSQ.

[VelKallor]

Having done MSQ at least three times, twice pre and once post patch changes, i found the ARR setup well paced and enjoyable. What you dismiss as "filler" has important elements that cant and should not be skipped as unimportant sidequests

The leadup to Heavensward, the missions prior to Stormblood are essential for the integrity of the entire experience, the msq prior to Shadowbringers should not be missed under any circumstances as it is essential for the storyline

Curious: What do you see as "filler'?

[LianaThorne]

ARR's post story was also much worse. They cut out a bunch of quests to make it shorter around half a year ago now maybe?

Also this isn't NMS and will never be the same game as NMS in terms of how they do housing. Could it be improved? Obviously. But it will also never be NMS' build system/"land claiming" system and trying to compare the two is kind of a head scratch moment.

[Ilenya]

My suggestion: Move what is not important story elements from the MSQ into Side Quests. Don't gate the MSQ behind group dungeons unless necessary but by all means, gate the group dungeons by some other means, just not the MSQ.

I'm curious what you define as "not necessary" in regards to the dungeons done in the story.

[Seraphor]

So remove the story and turn the game into a housing sim? Am I getting that right?

[Tommara]

Having done MSQ at least three times, twice pre and once post patch changes, i found the ARR setup well paced and enjoyable. What you dismiss as "filler" has important elements that cant and should not be skipped as unimportant sidequests

The leadup to Heavensward, the missions prior to Stormblood are essential for the integrity of the entire experience, the msq prior to Shadowbringers should not be missed under any circumstances as it is essential for the storyline

Curious: What do you see as "filler'?

80 quests before you can play Heavensward. Some are interesting story, most could be moved to side quests.

[Tommara]

ARR's post story was also much worse. They cut out a bunch of quests to make it shorter around half a year ago now maybe?

Also this isn't NMS and will never be the same game as NMS in terms of how they do housing. Could it be improved? Obviously. But it will also never be NMS' build system/"land claiming" system and trying to compare the two is kind of a head scratch moment.

I'm playing NMS because FF14 isn't as much fun at the moment.

[Tommara]

So remove the story and turn the game into a housing sim? Am I getting that right?

Well, you obviously haven't played No Man's Sky if you think it's a housing sim.

[Seraphor]

Well, you obviously haven't played No Man's Sky if you think it's a housing sim.

Maybe because this isn't No Man's Sky, this is Final Fantasy XIV.
If you want to play No Man's Sky, play No Man's Sky.

[Tommara]

I'm curious what you define as "not necessary" in regards to the dungeons done in the story.

Ya know, when I sign up for the MSQ roulette, all I get is two 8 main raids? Despite the whole plethora of MSQ groups I've done?