Game feedback from player with 30 + years game experience, on trial atm.

[KaelOfTarq]

1st post here. I'm really enjoying my time currently but a few things are holding me back. First: The MSQ should not be forced. Should not have it required to be able to craft. People can't make a craft only toon. Must do combat to unlock wherever it tells us. Gating is bad, imo. If I want a simple fish aquarium I must grind MSQ til I get to 50 I was told then buy a place that accepts them. Really? Second: If I get a quest at level 26, do it, I should not have game tell me my level isnt high enough to turn in. Really? I hadn't changed role either. Third: No VOIP in game? Asking for help on PS4 over over again isnt fun. I'm undecided if i'll sub. I really like crafting but forced MSQ isnt fun for me. Thanks for reading.

[Enkidoh]

Welcome to Eorzea! (as belated as that sounds)

Unfortunately, FFXIV is a heavily story-based game, in keeping with the FF series in general, so playing through the main story quests are needed to unlock other content (the original version FFXIV 1.0 actually allowed you to start the game as, and play through the story, as crafting and gathering classes as well, but it was too difficult to balance story content around so SE changed it with ARR). Everything in the game is explained by the story for it's reason to exist, even how you craft (did you know you're not actually making things with your hands but using a form of magic called synthesis that uses aether in crystals to change raw materials into the finished item? That's just one small example), and that even crafting classes have storylines they play through that are connected to the world in general and greater events happening around you (and that your character plays a big part in). And especially later in the game, there are some story-specific areas especially set up for crafters so the story is still well worth undertaking even if crafting is your preference or speciality instead of violence.

There are story skips available though for purchase from the Mogstation which is an option if you do decide to subscribe, which are for that purpose, although they're not that cheap, and only are available to the start of the present expansion story (Endwalker in this case). Seperate to that are level skips for classes too (that skip you ahead to the previous expansion's level cap, level 80 currently), which would also help you out.

Housing is very much a problem due to lack of availability, but an alternative is an apartment that are usually more easier to purchase and access.

As for having to be a specific class or role to turn in a quest, this was a change made because players were exploiting it to quickly level classes they had no interest in playing - story quests specifically require a certain minimum level to undertake and complete - so there is no way around this sadly.

Finally voice chat is not available natively due to the game being cross-platform (PC, Mac, PS4 and PS5) SE doesn't want players on one platform to be disadvantaged by another - most players use Discord or another third party chat program anyway which is the usual alternative. Sadly this is something I do not see them changing.

Either way, I hope you continue in the game as the start isn't representative of the game later on, and you are missing out on an amazing experience - if you do sub there are crafting-specific guilds (called 'Free Companies' or FCs here) which could help you out considerably (the free trial version is limited alas), so that is definetely reccomended if you do decide to bite the bullet.

Needless to say, don't despair Craftsman of Light! Keep forging ahead, and you will find reward in your crafting journey!

[Silverbane]

1st post here. I'm really enjoying my time currently but a few things are holding me back. First: The MSQ should not be forced. Should not have it required to be able to craft. People can't make a craft only toon.

While you do have to do a combat class's level 10 class quest IIRC to unlock crafting classes, and you do have to get to a certain point in the MSQ to get to the other two cities that have crafting guilds if you want all the crafting classes (and you do!), other than that, you don't have to progress in the MSQ beyond that to craft.
I've had characters with every crafting class above 70 who were doing level 28 MS quests at the time.

Also note that on one of my alts I have every crafter to 80 and find it quite easy to do all the crafts at that level, even though I haven't done any of the crafter class quests higher than level 15, some of which are in areas gated by the MSQ. You have to do the class quests to get Manipulation at L65, but as I'm not at endgame crafting yet on that character, I don't seem to need it, and perhaps I never will.

For reference, another character of mine has every crafter and gatherer to 90 and has done all the class quests, so I'm aware of the difference between doing and not doing them, and so far, short of endgame crafting or expert recipes, it ain't much.

However:

• Crafting without having a retainer is tough, and that is gated by the MSQ.
• Also, your ability to gather resources is gated by access to the regions they are found or sold in, and that is always gated by the MSQ, so unless you progress in the MSQ, you're stuck buying high-level mats off the marketboard -- which can still lead to profitable crafting, BTW.

[KaelOfTarq]

Thanks for your friendly reply, Enkidoh. I'm disheartened FF14 doesn't champion accessibilities for all people. I have a learning disability so reading to learn is very hard and slow. The MSQ forces me to read almost all times, making it hard to play for long periods. I craft, fish to get a break from the reading. But the MSQ is still there, still something thats hard. I'm not paying for a jump. The gating shouldn't be there in first place imo. VOIP needs to be all consoles, pc and mac together. Having no voice at all isnt the answer imo. Game is hard, people should have voice in game by default. 3rd party for consoles isnt the answer imo. Thanks again for the friendly response.

[KaelOfTarq]

Thanks for your friendly reply, Enkidoh. I'm disheartened FF14 doesn't champion accessibilities for all people. I have a learning disability so reading to learn is very hard and slow. The MSQ forces me to read almost all times, making it hard to play for long periods. I craft, fish to get a break from the reading. But the MSQ is still there, still something thats hard. I'm not paying for a jump. The gating shouldn't be there in first place imo. VOIP needs to be all consoles, pc and mac together. Having no voice at all isnt the answer imo. Game is hard, people should have voice in game by default. 3rd party for consoles isnt the answer imo. Thanks again for the friendly response.

Decided not to subscribe due to the above. The forced MSQ isnt going away, sadly, so I've decided not to feed FF14. Safe travels all, wish you the best.