New player(s) thoughts

[R041]

What was said in those good reviews that attracted you and your friends to the game? A well-written review wouldn't have skipped mentioning that the game is heavily story quest based.

A very large amount of MMO/WoW content creators were toting a much better endgame and MMO experience with gearing and raids, which is exactly what WoW players crave. They typically hype up the story but avoid talking about how it progresses and the extremely dated solo questing systems.

I'm not saying this is this new player's experience with the adverts and content creators - But you don't have to dig too deep to find the exodus hype for better pasture. I think Preach is part to blame to be honest.

[Jojoya]

A very large amount of MMO/WoW content creators were toting a much better endgame and MMO experience with gearing and raids, which is exactly what WoW players crave. They typically hype up the story but avoid talking about how it progresses and the extremely dated solo questing systems.

I'm not saying this is this new player's experience with the adverts and content creators - But you don't have to dig too deep to find the exodus hype for better pasture. I think Preach is part to blame to be honest.

Blizzard is to blame. They gave players a warped idea of what a MMO is and so there's puzzlement when someone used to playing WoW goes to another MMO to find it works very differently because MMOs are more than just raiding and dungeon grinds.

Still, if you're going to a content creator for information you need to pay attention to what information they're sharing. You're usually getting a brief snapshot of a piece of a game instead of an overall review of the whole. As much as I enjoy crafting, you're not going to get me to play another game simply because a content creator says it has a great crafting system. You need to tell me about the rest of the game as well.

Unfortunately, the pool of fellow players will shrink over time as the mandatory story grows longer.

We already know that SE is preparing to shrink the "mandatory" game. That's why the Hydaelyn-Zodiark story was wrapped up in 6.0 instead of 7.0 as originally planned. They wanted to create a new starting point for players new to the game so they weren't staring down hundreds of hours of MSQ to catch up with friends.

Likely the new starting point will be 6.1, with a slightly longer starting sequence than sitting down with Tataru for tea for newly made characters. Expect whatever their plan is to be announced at the FanFests next year.

[PirateRyanG]

Likely the new starting point will be 6.1, with a slightly longer starting sequence than sitting down with Tataru for tea for newly made characters.

This scene is going to be so sad later on in 7.0 when Tataru decides to summon a primal and we have to put her down.

[hagare]

This scene is going to be so sad later on in 7.0 when Tataru decides to summon a primal and we have to put her down.

donchu mean when tataru turns out to be a primal of mercantile summon by Rowena and her legion of merchants and minions

[Espon]

A very large amount of MMO/WoW content creators were toting a much better endgame and MMO experience with gearing and raids, which is exactly what WoW players crave. They typically hype up the story but avoid talking about how it progresses and the extremely dated solo questing systems.

I'm not saying this is this new player's experience with the adverts and content creators - But you don't have to dig too deep to find the exodus hype for better pasture. I think Preach is part to blame to be honest.

Preach seems to understand this game isn't WoW, at least. I've seen so many people come to this game expecting a replacement for WoW and then complain that the game is not more like WoW. This isn't World of Warcraft, it's Final Fantasy XIV. It's a game in a series known for its epic storylines.

[Renalt]

Not all games are for everyone. If looking for some free MMOs to try you should look into City of Heroes Homecoming. It's quite the blast and having a duo with you will make things very enjoyable for you. I also think Dragon's Dogma Online got an online revival so it's a private server in works. I'm not sure if it 100% done or not but you can look it up online. Also WoW private servers are fun. You can get some that stop at certain Expansions...my personal favorite was WotLK so might look into that one.

Good luck to you and your friend.

[UnrealTai]

So, me and some friends decided to start playing this game together after reading good reviews online. But quit after a day of quests, quests, quests, quests. There has got to be a way to streamline these quests to where you can get a good story, but at the same time not grinding endless quests that 99% of people skip the dialog anyway.

Also, the free trial is a joke. it's almost as if SE wants to punish people for playing the free trail and not paying. You can't even invite people to parties. I had to pay a sub just so we could group together. The entire new player experience in this aspect has to be relooked at. (heck if i didn't pay the sub i couldn't even communicate my new player thoughts to SE about this topic on the forums)

Maybe this game just isn't our style of gaming and I'm willing to accept that, just wanted to put in my 2 cents.

I notice a lot of people are saying maybe it's just not for you, and thats.... horrible to suggest. The story for me is the weakest reason to play..... And I've been playing 11 years. I skip all of it.
It's totally "not" 90% of the game. Not even close.

If it was me personally just starting?

I'd buy the story skip on mog station all the way through. Along with at least 1 80 char. (Just so you can go unlock whatever you want when you want, for your lower level classes, or jump straight into being a Ninja, instead of waiting to hit 30, etc etc)
"Then" start playing. Back at level 1 on something. As if it never happened, and the story never existed. This will make it 100% sandbox mode however, so note that the story grants tons of XP. However, you can fate & dungeon grind almost as fast so its not a big deal, and ideally, you get to pick what you wanna do instead of being forced to do a or b in story mode.

There "is" a newgame + mode "just" to replay the story, so you're not 100% SOL if you decide it was a bad idea later on. You can pick which chapters to do in them as well. And quit/resume anytime


I am also one of those story skippers. I really dislike it's presentation in XIV overall. (But loved FFX XV stories etc)
I'm all for story but the A to B method for stories isn't for me. The story is "supposed" to be awesome but I will not entertain a story with so much filler and A to B stuff in it, no matter how good it is.
There "IS" tons for you to do for years though, even if you buy the story skip, TRUST ME (See join date)


You can do things as you level from 1 after buying the skip.... Like going to Shiva Extreme and "not" making the duty uncapped. Do things legit with level caps etc. Most people are on the fence if they dislike the story presentation until the Extreme trial fights. From there on it's like 1000 things to discover. If you do that then I also highly suggest at 70, you go to Bozja. It's the currently seen as the most fun thing to do from a new player stand point. Dont get me started on Palace of the dead coop or Housing, heck, housing activities alone can run you with things to do for months. Super in depth. The new private island sanctuary, another few weeks, but it just came out, so sure to have more to do later.

If you dislike story that much in XIV like me, or its presentation rather, that's what I would be doing, its hella fun.

[IDontPetLalas]

I notice a lot of people are saying maybe it's just not for you, and thats.... horrible to suggest. The story for me is the weakest reason to play..... And I've been playing 11 years. I skip all of it.
It's totally "not" 90% of the game. Not even close.

snip

I am also one of those story skippers. I really dislike it's presentation in XIV overall. (But loved FFX XV stories etc)
I'm all for story but the A to B method for stories isn't for me. The story is "supposed" to be awesome but I will not entertain a story with so much filler and A to B stuff in it, no matter how good it is.
There "IS" tons for you to do for years though, even if you buy the story skip, TRUST ME (See join date)


You can do things as you level from 1 after buying the skip.... Like going to Shiva Extreme and "not" making the duty uncapped. Do things legit with level caps etc. Most people are on the fence if they dislike the story presentation until the Extreme trial fights. From there on it's like 1000 things to discover. If you do that then I also highly suggest at 70, you go to Bozja. It's the currently seen as the most fun thing to do from a new player stand point. Dont get me started on Palace of the dead coop or Housing, heck, housing activities alone can run you with things to do for months. Super in depth. The new private island sanctuary, another few weeks, but it just came out, so sure to have more to do later.

If you dislike story that much in XIV like me, or its presentation rather, that's what I would be doing, its hella fun.

As you say there's a lot to do in this game, the first reflex (ideally) shouldn't be to say "this game may not be for you". Interestingly, I detest many of the things that you state "the most fun thing new players like", i have never levelled any alt in Bozja and never understood anyone who preferred to level there- but as you say some people do, similarly I'm not a fan of POTD however there are people who are justifiably proud of their achievements , as well as people who enjoy levelling and the rewards from there.

Not to mention the people who really invest into crafting or fishing or many other activities.

[Cach]

I notice a lot of people are saying maybe it's just not for you, and that's horrible to suggest.

I agree with most of your post, as I've always said that fans do ff14 a disservice just focusing on the story... because the underlying game can be pretty cool, just sayin'
I however think that suggesting new players to PAY for skips is pretty brutal, tbh. Those things are not cheap.

I'm a proponent of things being locked by level, not by MSQ progress. Open those activities up earlier. visit that town, get those tomestones, buy that gear.