Difficulty of story content.

[MSQIsTooHard]

Is it just me or is the MSQ too hard this time around?

I've been stuck on this stupid quest where you have to follow a NPC without getting caught, and it's seriously getting frustrating. I've already failed 10 times, and I've had to stop playing for now. I got pretty close once, but then the NPC went to a place with literally no hiding spots and I failed at the very end, and now I have to start over from the beginning.

It's just not fun anymore. Actually it was never fun in the first place. I hated every single time they gave me this type of quest in Endwalker and I'm dreading having to go through more of this in Dawntrail. I have anxiety and PTSD from former abuse when it comes to these types of interactions, and I wish there was a way to opt out of these sorts of quests.

I get that some challenges are necessary, but this just feels way too much for a casual player like me. Does anyone else feel like the MSQ is too hard, and does anyone actually enjoy content like this? Maybe I'm in the minority, but I can't imagine anyone liking these follow-a-npc quests.

[PorxiesRCute]

There are no places with literally no hiding spots. There's always a tree or rock you can stand behind and they telegraph their intent to turn around for a few seconds ahead of time.

Which duty is it, and where are you failing? If you take a screenshot someone can probably give you tips.

[17cupsofcoffee]

I've been stuck on this stupid quest where you have to follow a NPC without getting caught, and it's seriously getting frustrating. I've already failed 10 times, and I've had to stop playing for now. I got pretty close once, but then the NPC went to a place with literally no hiding spots and I failed at the very end, and now I have to start over from the beginning.

My advice for these quests is: stay way, way further away from the NPC than you think you need to. You should only be moving out of a hiding place when you are sure you have a safe path to another hiding place, not because you think the NPC is getting too far away. You're massively more likely to fail by overshooting the last hiding place and getting caught in the open than you are by letting the NPC move out of range.

As a general rule, if this circle fades in:



You're probably following them too closely.

Also, make sure you are making use of the other visual cue they added in Dawntrail - if you can see this marker around the NPC, they are 100% guaranteed to spot you if they decide to turn around:



As soon as the NPC stops moving and starts having speech bubbles pop up above their head, you should double check for that marker and adjust your position accordingly - this removed a lot of the "I thought I was hidden but a pixel of my character wasn't behind the tree" frustration I had in the EW tailing quests.

[Mlem]

My main suggestion is to not overthink it. If it's an obvious hiding spot, it probably is. If there's not much to hide behind, probably don't have to go there until the NPC is way past. Every turnaround spot is scripted. It also helps to be moving faster. The stealthiest you can possibly be is while riding a motorcycle, idling behind rocks and trees each time they turn around.

As for it not being fun to begin with, 100% agree. It's incredibly silly. FFXIV is never going to be a stealth game.

[Volfe]

Literally a bait post, check the name before posting

[NegativeS]

Honestly I found these quests so easy I was challenging myself as to how long I could get away with hugging the danger circle. My problem with them is that they're long and boring. DT desperately needs more combat quests.

[Jojoya]

Literally a bait post, check the name before posting

Bait or not, the OP did have one good point.

The follow quests are annoying, not fun. They're really not adding anything to the game.

[Yrusiel]

oh so you only enjoy Fedex quests ?

[R1V3N]

No one likes following npc quests.

Having said that.

They are not hard lol just boring af

[Jojoya]

One thing I do and I forgot to mention is that I cheat by mounting up when that's an option. It makes it much easier to quickly get behind an object to block line of sight when the NPC pauses.

Also, you don't have to be right up against the object. You just need it between you and the NPC so their line of sight is blocked.