"In from the Cold" Scenario, any way to skip it?

[Jojoya]

This is the only RP duty that I've truly enjoyed since they were introduced in Stormblood.

-I was given a narrative reason why the character I was playing could not be my character as I created it and have played it for years.

-I was given a narrative explanation for why the normally bulky toolkit for the job was narrowed down to just a few actions. I was given more to do that just spam press 2-4 buttons when they came off colldown and then spam press the remaining button when there was nothing else to do. I had to explore. I had to find things needed to survive.

-I wasn't having to play "pretend I'm a prominent NPC". For once, the duty didn't come with a predictable victory condition. The stakes were high and my character was responsible for the outcome - not a plot armored NPC.


All that said, I wish they'd stop adding the RP duties as part of MSQ and allow us to stick to playing our character. If they want to put them in as optional side content for those players who like pretending to be one of the NPCs, great. That's not why I'm here. I'm here to play a character of my design, not a stock character that's the same for every other player. If I wanted to play a stock character that I had no say in, I'd go play a game that uses those as the player characters.

Every time you take me away from my character, you're breaking my immersion in the game and story because you've changed the rules on how to play. That interruption detracts from the experience.

I've been thinking for the past week why I haven't enjoyed this expansion as much as Shadowbringers despite another great story, more great music, more great zone art, etc. It's because game mechanics were constantly disrupting my immersion. Need to play a character that is not my character. Need a wall of text to explain who you're playing. Need a wall of text to explain escort quests for every escort quest. Need a wall of text to explain follow quests every time there's a follow quest. Need a wall of text to explain you're about to enter into a long string of cutscenes and combat that need sufficient uninterrupted time (those last warnings are at least useful).

We're the Warrior of Light. What we need to do shouldn't be getting interrupted by all those things at this stage in the story. We should be getting straight to business because we've got years of experience behind us now.

[xenahawk]

yeah honestly this one annoyed me because there was no direction of where to go and no matter where i went i was met with the dreaded red dots, but after lots of running around, back and forth i did manage figuring it out on my own. my only issue is they should either have made the board smaller or given direction of what needed to be done. it is manageable to do blindly as lots of us have done it and i feel as though that it added the feeling of frustration trying to get back in time to help your buddies.

[FFWinner]

It's literally a get over it situation. You can quit the game if you're unhappy.

[Bsrking5]

The only part i didnt like was the last bit with you crawling. The rest of it was fairly easy. I wish there was a harder version of it, heck most of the msq solo instances i wish were actually harder.

SE needs to add a hard version of the MSQ.

[Lexis]

I guess this is one of those 'you either love it or hate it' things. Personnally, I regard that duty as my all-time favorite in FFXIV. The disorientation from the lack of clear directions, the realization your character is weak and can't just blast through everything as they normally would, the time limit adding an extra layer of pressure, the fear and anxiety of what failure could entail, it all came together perfectly for me.

I do wish they'd given us a more complex toolkit to play with rather than 2 simplistic CDs and mashing 1 until your opponent dies, but otherwise that duty really hit me in a way no other duties did.

I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea though.

[Jin-]

So far the best part of the expansion to me. No issues completing it first time.

[CoffeeBuns]

So far the best part of the expansion to me. No issues completing it first time.

I loved it as well.

[Denji]

I have limited time to play and all my friends are ahead of me in MSQ so I thought I'd stay up a little later than usual, log in and enjoy the game.

Instead I was treated to a single-player stealth mission that most people in the thread have noted adds nothing to the plot and then got disconnected right when I was about to finish.

So instead of a relaxing night playing with friends I got to enjoy two queues and to do the same mission twice. To say I'm displeased would be an understatement.

[LaughingBanana]

At least it is not as bad as looking for random people in a big ass yellow search area....

[juicybug]

Why? might I ask.

I thought it was fun, but I like games where you have to plan and think a bit (Hitman and sneak missions in warframe are some top favs)
I got sorely punished for pulling mobs- and it really puts into perspective how durable the WoL is compared to normal people.
The only thing I genuinely did not like was the choice of music for this sequence. It was very dynasty warriors sounding. I hated hearing it.