I want to play the game long term

[ChrysOCE]

Catgirls...

Lalas...

What has Sage being a Miqo got anything to do with anything?

If the story is not really holding your interest, just skip or skim-read the story (note: do not buy a level boost). For the jobs, just try each one, to see if any grab your interest, whether it's aesthetics or actual mechanics. Some of them will play a little differently, depending on which level range you are in. If a job doesnt grab you at level 30, it might grab you at 50. That may be a bit of personal perseverance though.

[DPZ2]

Lalas...

What has Sage being a Miqo got anything to do with anything?

If the story is not really holding your interest, just skip or skim-read the story (note: do not buy a level boost).

There may be a good reason to purchase a single job boost: you gain access to all the level 50+ starting jobs. It's a less expensive way of figuring out if Samurai/Astrologian/Dancer/Gunblade/Reaper/Sage could be the job you'd like to take up in-game. Less expensive in that you'd pick a job you don't find appealing (yet), boost it, and thus gain access to all of those other jobs without having to level through Stormblood/Shadowbringers first. Downside, of course, is that you still have to go through the MSQ.

Story boosts are another option. Boost <i don't care about it> job to 80. Start <level 50/60/70> job quest. Boost story to the same level as the new job. Shadowbringers was pretty fun as a Reaper when I did that on an alt.

Relive the glory days you skipped using NewGame+. There is no XP, but you get to experience all of the angst of HW, all of the frustration Zenos inspires in Stormblood, all of the questioning of morality in Shadowbringers in short chunks of story line. You can also relive job quests that way if you boost, say, Dark Knight to 80 and then relive the 50/60 storylines again.

[ChrysOCE]

There may be a good reason to purchase a single job boost: you gain access to all the level 50+ starting jobs. It's a less expensive way of figuring out if Samurai/Astrologian/Dancer/Gunblade/Reaper/Sage could be the job you'd like to take up in-game. Less expensive in that you'd pick a job you don't find appealing (yet), boost it, and thus gain access to all of those other jobs without having to level through Stormblood/Shadowbringers first. Downside, of course, is that you still have to go through the MSQ.

Story boosts are another option. Boost <i don't care about it> job to 80. Start <level 50/60/70> job quest. Boost story to the same level as the new job. Shadowbringers was pretty fun as a Reaper when I did that on an alt.

Relive the glory days you skipped using NewGame+. There is no XP, but you get to experience all of the angst of HW, all of the frustration Zenos inspires in Stormblood, all of the questioning of morality in Shadowbringers in short chunks of story line. You can also relive job quests that way if you boost, say, Dark Knight to 80 and then relive the 50/60 storylines again.

I just dont think level boosts are a good idea, for new players, in understanding basic mechanics and gameplay (and I know this is also applicable to people who don't level boost, but still...). Maybe if you use it to unlock the job you want? Maybe?

[Reinha]

There may be a good reason to purchase a single job boost: you gain access to all the level 50+ starting jobs.

This is a great point. Many of the older jobs are clunky and boring compared to other jobs of the same role. With a single job boost you can unlock 2 tanks, 2 melees, 2 ranged, 1 caster and 3 healers (10 out of 19 jobs!) without having to do MSQ on a job you don't actually want to play. By boosting a SMN/SCH you also get two jobs leveled up for the price of one.

A newbie would be able to try out a ton of jobs and pick one to do MSQ with, and they would still be learning how to play because the story and all related instances are where the gameplay and mechanics are taught.

[TaleraRistain]

So what about the game makes you want to play it long term? What are the parts that you enjoy or that you're wanting to get to? I think knowing that might help us give you advice on how to proceed.

[Local_Custard]

personally, I have found diving into a lot of side content has extended the game's lifespan for me. It started out as a silly little challenge imposed on me. The challenge is more so patience and it has given me a chance to learn lore I may have otherwise passed up. I would do tribal quests within the expansion I was on and prevent story progression until I completed a list of items that aren't exactly quick to get done (such as when I got all the riding maps for ARR or get every yellow quest done). Now, you do not need to approach it the same way I have for getting side content completed. Maybe you can do silly challenges like only being allowed to do dungeons a certain way (i.e. healers only or solo only or casters only, etc). Maybe being silly can help keep long term interest. However, I would recommend completing the msq first then maybe embarking in weird challenges. Alts also can extend the game's lifespan, especially if they are dedicated to certain things (I have talked to someone who only gardens for multiple FCs on some alts). It might take a while to really find what you want to do in the game. Sometimes taking breaks can also work out, but that is really up to you if you want to do that or not.

[Atelier-Bagur]

Telling you right now. Just skip the whole story and get the reader's digest version of it via youtube videos.

I feel youre the kind of person where the msq isnt what youre interested in and thats totally fine! Either buy the ARR-Shb story skip or log in to do a bit of story prog and focus on unlocking side content thats available to you atm.

People seem to forget that the story immersion and journey is an investment and if youre not sold or at the very least have a slight interest in it then you shouldnt force yourself into continuing to go through the story.

[DPZ2]

Hey everyone I'm still pretty new to this game and coming from WoW dawntrails new job has gotten me excited to play it but I'm struggling to keep my interest while going through msq and the non of the job have been able to keep my interest any suggestions to someone who genuinely wants to play this game to the endgame stuff with raiding pvp crafting glam and etc

"Endgame stuff" comes at level 50 and every ten levels after that. Raiding "at level" can be fun ... especially if you can find a group that wants to play through those 8 and 24 person raids (Party Finder may be helpful). It's good practice for when you get higher level. There are two new jobs every ten levels as well, starting at the beginning of Stormblood.

Crafting is something you can do pretty much through the entire game, as is PvP and glamour. I'd honestly try gathering/crafting at-level while going through the MSQ. If you're good enough at it, there is a load of glamour items available from the Ishgardian Restoration quests/leveling as well as in the books you can purchase with white (and purple) crafting scrip you can get.

When leveling, you can skip the side quests (except for those with an [!], which can add even more things to do) or level up several jobs at once.

Also, don't treat this as a 4-hour per night "job". Play on the days when you don't have anything planned, when you feel like it. If there's any excitement in what you do, play. If you want to try other things, do not be anxious about missing out when you don't play. A good life balance involves friends and Real Life experiences in addition to playing the game. Your subscription is already less expensive than an evening at the movie theater each month. Don't force yourself to play because you are subscribed.

[Minarisweet]

Hey everyone I'm still pretty new to this game and coming from WoW dawntrails new job has gotten me excited to play it but I'm struggling to keep my interest while going through msq and the non of the job have been able to keep my interest any suggestions to someone who genuinely wants to play this game to the endgame stuff with raiding pvp crafting glam and etc

Use lalachievements website and try to go for a high achievement score there its fun and kinda gives a reason to play, just dont expect most people to care tho.