I'm Starting to Understand

[Dohmi-Zeiva]

To each their own, but I personally hate when the story ends. Waiting for more MSQ is paiiiiin.

[PercibelTheren]

I find it wild that someone would dislike Heavensward, but different strokes for different folks, I guess. If you're not enyjoing the story but want to stick around, getting the story skip is reasonable.

[CStrife912]

I mean this isn't wow or eso or gw2 where the content is sort of outside of their stories...like don't get me wrong there is a story to them, but with 14 the story is like the key integrated factor. If you don't like the story now why would you like it later or when more content comes out your having to skip story to play the content that looked appealing. I understand some people are happy to play and skip everything but when its so ingrained in this games very being I find it hard to understand how there is enjoyment in that. Its like watching game of thrones and just watching all the dragon bits because that's the appealing bit for you...probably not a great example but eh.

[kcj]

I'm truthfully of two minds about it. I want to actually go through the MSQ on one character, no matter how much of a slog it might seem. But at the same time, I don't want to spend a month just getting to endgame content.

So...dilemma.

[Themarvin]

if am starting a new character and already know the story? or starting an alternative subscription?

[LianaThorne]

I mean this isn't wow or eso or gw2 where the content is sort of outside of their stories...like don't get me wrong there is a story to them, but with 14 the story is like the key integrated factor. If you don't like the story now why would you like it later or when more content comes out your having to skip story to play the content that looked appealing. I understand some people are happy to play and skip everything but when its so ingrained in this games very being I find it hard to understand how there is enjoyment in that. Its like watching game of thrones and just watching all the dragon bits because that's the appealing bit for you...probably not a great example but eh.

Because there's ultimately more to the game than just the story, and knowing the story does not provide anything more than lore knowledge.

You don't need to know the backstory of the dungeon to get through it and enjoy the combat/music/etc.

You don't need to know the story behind the crafting relics in order to make them and be satisfied with the achievement.

You don't need to watch the entire Manderville storyline and know the fine details to be able to make all the EW weapon relics you want.

I can go on with more examples. My point is that all that the story does is provide lore and information to those that want it and feel its necessary. Will I watch MSQ? If it catches my interest then sure. Otherwise I haven't watched any other EW cutscenes for IS, Panda, ARs, etc. I don't really feel I've missed anything either judging by the threads in here.

[Dzian]

That's kinda the point tho isn't it? A good story is often told over many chapters and books.

It's not the games fault that you joined when already 5 books are released and now you read through all of them in one session. While we others had years and years to do that.

A good story also stays on point a lot.

The MSQ has a terrible habit of swinging off on some random tangent. (Admittedly later expansions do stay on point a bit more) one minute your slaying a god, the next your sqishing some bugs ruining a random farmers crops and wondering what the hell does this have to do with the plot..

Or its like reading one Harry Potter chapter 1 of Harry Potter but not being allowed to read chapter 2 until you've read 100 pages of a telephone directory. Then you can read chapter 2. Read another pages of a telephone directory to access chapter 3.

It creates that never ending feeling because you're always wondering when your going to get back to the plot and move forwards...

Rather than having 10-15 random filler quests between chapters or plot points the game should just finish a plot point and be like you can continue at level x.

[MistakeNot]

I'm truthfully of two minds about it. I want to actually go through the MSQ on one character, no matter how much of a slog it might seem. But at the same time, I don't want to spend a month just getting to endgame content.

So...dilemma.

Endgame content isn't any more fun than midgame content. Only difference is what level it is for. So don't bother hurrying to reach it. Endgame isn't where the fun starts, it is where the grind starts.

[Kaurhz]

I'm truthfully of two minds about it. I want to actually go through the MSQ on one character, no matter how much of a slog it might seem. But at the same time, I don't want to spend a month just getting to endgame content.

So...dilemma.

One thing that might help - Is not necessarily doing the story in a single slog, but rather get to that stage of the story where you have completed an expansion, and then see what said expansion offers.

E.g., complete HW and maybe spend a little time unlocking the alliance raids and the 8-man raids, in addition to working on crafters and gatherers once you have gotten that far in the story. Depending on what you actually enjoy or would enjoy, this might be something you end up doing regardless, so always good to spend it breaking up the monotony.

Perhaps once you've finished Stormblood, you could do the same as with Heavensward, but also look into the optional and side content, there's content in Stormblood that people still do very actively, even once finishing the entire story. The exact same would apply to Shadowbringers as well.

I wouldn't recommend feeling like you have to complete the story one after another. Try to break up the monotony, experience the side content for yourself etc.,

That would be my recommendation anyway.

[TaleraRistain]

Heavensward could be a bit of a slog at times. But like others have said, the story is very ingrained in the experience. What are your points of displeasure with it? Are you trying to get through that story to get to some specific piece of content? Or do you just think the story is slow or not staying focused enough?