Suggestion - An Alternate Start [Light, Vague 6.1 Spoilers Included]

[M1SF0RTUNE]

Hey all. First post to the forums, so here we go...

A thought hit me today. I have all these friends I've been introducing to the game yet they have to go through so much content just to get to where I am and I don't have the heart to tell them to pay their way through it because there's so much good story content to explore.

Quite a dilemma, I think.

So it got me thinking about something SWTOR did once upon a time that I think we've reached a point in the MSQ where it could be worth exploring:

An Alternative Start

Imagine if you will, a new adventurer of some repute arriving in Sharlayan, perhaps to become a new member of the Students of Baldesion. They're accomplished, but not around Eorzea per se. But they're one of the many gifted with the Echo, and perhaps a unique variation of it.

This "newfound adventurer," if you will, is seeking fame and fortune and perhaps hearing about a certain treasure hunt. He gets acquainted through a tall elven man bearing a lance who says he knows some people who can help with this treasure hunt. The hijinks will ensue, but now you're asking... where's the Warrior of Light?

That's the unique thing about this adventurer's Echo. They can see into the past of the Warrior of Light and witness their many accomplishments across Eorzea, from the humble beginnings to where they are now. The Warrior of Light is busy for sure tackling many problems and going on many adventurers, but this Newfound Adventurer seeks to follow in the WoL's footsteps and help the world in the same way they did, while also learning what feats they have accomplished.

Through this rather tenuous connection to the WoL, they draw the interest of some of the WoL's major associates and they decide it'd be worth including them on their escapades into Eorzea's next chapter.

So what does this mean mechanically? Read onto the next post (that had to get cut from here due to maximum character size) to find out!

[M1SF0RTUNE]

See, we have a New Game+ system, we have an in-world gift called the Echo that an unknown people around the world possess. Why not combine these two in a narrative way, while also letting new players jump right into new content, a new adventure and a new storyline in the wake of Endwalker?

A new player could start right at level 80, maybe 90 at the start of 6.1. They get a fully unique introduction to the world (perhaps like the old City-State starting zones and their unique stories that merge into the MSQ), a bunch of major mechanics in a narrative use of the Hall of the Novice to get them up to speed with major mechanics by this point in the game, and if they wanted to go back and view the old story, they could use this "Echo" as a way of living out those adventures the WoL went on (if they don't feel like referring to the Unending Codex for that information). This way they can go back and check out old content without having ten tons of it rewritten for this new character coming in post-EW. They could also see themselves playing as the WoL almost in an Assassin's Creed "Animus" style of storytelling, where they essentially are puppeteering the WoL in events that are known to happen no matter what. This could also let the Newfound Adventurer envision themselves as the Warrior of Light whenever this echo happens, allowing them to play as their character or use the canon appearance of the WoL as seen in all the FF14 promotional material and intro cinematics.

Certain story threads can be self-contained stories that the Newfound Adventurer can go on and meet people in (such as certain Class storylines), while other ones are indicated as "WoL Echo Storylines" for specific storylines that can tie into the grander narrative (looking at you Dragoon).

I'd imagine a *lot* of side quests, main story quests, and major storylines would be hidden from the world until you go into some "Echo mode" (similar to New Game+) in order to play content the WoL was definitely present for and people recognize them for, so as to not have any moments where, say, the Newfound Adventurer somehow saved a town of people despite having never been there before).

But that's my pitch, I leave the rest of the conversation to the internet.

What do you think?

[redheadturk]

In a word, no. I have been playing since 3.5, I don't want any new characters I roll to not be the WoL. So, I don't want this.

[M1SF0RTUNE]

In a word, no. I have been playing since 3.5, I don't want any new characters I roll to not be the WoL. So, I don't want this.

I get that concern though, it's a lot of investment to take away from a player becoming the WoL, but if I might propose a counter-argument, isn't it possible a new player progressing through this new storyline could become a new WoL in their own right while hearing legends about the old one and the great feats they've accomplished?

After all, this is the in-lore setup for how the 1.0 players were written and established. Why can't we have something similar at this new point in the story?

[redheadturk]

I get that concern though, it's a lot of investment to take away from a player becoming the WoL, but if I might propose a counter-argument, isn't it possible a new player progressing through this new storyline could become a new WoL in their own right while hearing legends about the old one and the great feats they've accomplished?

After all, this is the in-lore setup for how the 1.0 players were written and established. Why can't we have something similar at this new point in the story?

good idea for new entries to the game.
And for those worried that those who start from S2 won't be WoL.
That was what the new players who started in ARR was like.

That isn't even fully true for 1.0 anymore. If you run the Coils of Bahamut even if you started in 2.0 you were acknowledged as one of the heroes of Cartenau, it's just only Legacy players got the MSQ cutscenes.

[hagare]

That isn't even fully true for 1.0 anymore. If you run the Coils of Bahamut even if you started in 2.0 you were acknowledged as one of the heroes of Cartenau, it's just only Legacy players got the MSQ cutscenes.

Legacy players have different cutscenes than ARR players.
Their "start" is different.
And in the end of prae cutscene if you're legacy, they will have their memories restored and remember you as one of the Warriors of light.
ARR ones don't get that. They are just said to be the warriors of light reborn.

The new journey saga might be a fresh start for new players.
For their own start of the story.
It's a good fresh starting point.
You could be a new adventurer. You could be a vet.
It just works.

If you run the Coils of Bahamut even if you started in 2.0 you were acknowledged as one of the heroes of Cartenau, it's just only Legacy players got the MSQ cutscenes.

Which cutscene is this part of again?
Tbh, I don't really remember.
Besides, being in cartenau is not the same as being one of the warriors of light.

This is actually what was said



https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...=1#post5874863

so instead of a new person, the new character will be continuing the story.
Just from the new journey. I guess that can work.
Now instead of playing the game, we can read about it. YAY. xD
Maybe they should just give them an NG+ of Season 1.
Oh man. WoW flashbacks. To understand this expansion's story, you will need to read this novel. At least 14 will have it in game xD

[Mirhd]

Legacy players have different cutscenes than ARR players.
Their "start" is different.
And in the end of prae cutscene if you're legacy, they will have their memories restored and remember you as one of the Warriors of light.
ARR ones don't get that. They are just said to be the warriors of light reborn.

The new journey saga might be a fresh start for new players.
For their own start of the story.
It's a good fresh starting point.
You could be a new adventurer. You could be a vet.
It just works.


Which cutscene is this part of again?
Tbh, I don't really remember.
Besides, being in cartenau is not the same as being one of the warriors of light.

The legacy scenes are lit just a bonus for 1.0 players. For narrative story purposes, we are the exact same person.

[Rannie]

That isn't even fully true for 1.0 anymore. If you run the Coils of Bahamut even if you started in 2.0 you were acknowledged as one of the heroes of Cartenau, it's just only Legacy players got the MSQ cutscenes.

Are you talking about what Louisoix says?

If you are I've watched that scene as both legacy and someone who was non legacy and he says two completely different things

[hagare]

Are you talking about what Louisoix says?

If you are I've watched that scene as both legacy and someone who was non legacy and he says two completely different things

details please

[Lambadelta]

Given that the story seems to be leaning heavily into established characters and knowledge we have about these characters. I don't think a new starting point like you've suggested would be for the best. Also skipping people to such a high level would leave us with many people at higher level content who have no clue how their jobs/classes work while also confused what is going on with the story.