MSQ After Level 50

[Kimlin]

I don't think my questions was clear.

A: Experience 1-50, follow MSQ, follow class quest, go to different zones and quest hubs, go to dungeons and sometimes fight a primal.
B: Level 50 experience, watch dialog, fight Primal.

Does the experience go back to A or is it B for the duration of the game?
I can handle cut scenes and the MSQ, I actually enjoy it, I just want there to be more to the game like the original experience.

[Jeeqbit]

A: Experience 1-50, follow MSQ, follow class quest, go to different zones and quest hubs, go to dungeons and sometimes fight a primal.
B: Level 50 experience, watch dialog, fight Primal.

Does the experience go back to A or is it B for the duration of the game?

Oh, yes, there is actually an exact formula they use. You are currently doing the ARR patches, which were mostly trials (most of the dungeons were from blue sidequests then, so you could take a detour and do those).

When you begin the first expansion, each expansion will follow this exact formula:

• MSQ (mostly slowly walking on an adventure through 6 new areas and 2 new city hubs)
• Level 51 Dungeon (sidequest in Heavensward)
• Level 53 Trial
• Level 53 Dungeon
• Level 55 Dungeon
• Level 57 Dungeon
• Level 57 Trial
• Level 59 Dungeon
• Level 60 Dungeon
• Level 60 Trial
• Patch X.1 Dungeon
• Patch X.2 Dungeon
• Patch X.3 Dungeon
• Patch X.3 Trial
• Patch X.4 Dungeon
• Patch X.5 Dungeon

Each expansion's level growth is 10 levels, then the experience gain will barely be anything for the patches. It repeats like that for every expansion, with MSQ between each dungeon/trial obviously. Usually at least one of the dungeons is a sidequest dungeon, until Shadowbringers where they stopped doing side dungeons (except 2 max level ones each expansion). You will notice side features/dungeons by the blue quest symbols.

The level of the second trial of each expansion changes from 77 to 79 in Shadowbringers, and that formula is kept for the following expansions, so that the two "last bosses" are closer together.

The patches for the last two expansions (Endwalker and Dawntrail) have had an MSQ trial more often though, similar to the level 50 patches, instead of being blue sidequests:

• Patch 6.2 Trial
• Patch 6.3 Trial
• Patch 6.4 Trial
• Patch 6.5 Trial
• Patch 7.2 Trial
• Patch 7.3 Trial is expected

But up until then you won't have so many required trials.

[Kimlin]

Thanks, that seems like it will be a lot better paced.. I am about 2/3rds of way done with ARR patches and will then move on to Heavensward.
I am not used to this level of relevance for old expansions/patches in a game. It is an interesting philosophy.

[Iscah]

Thanks, that seems like it will be a lot better paced.. I am about 2/3rds of way done with ARR patches and will then move on to Heavensward.

Make sure you also do the Crystal Tower storyline (starts with "Legacy of Allag") and the hard versions of the first three primals ("A Recurring Problem") because you'll hit a point shortly before reaching Heavensward where you'll be required to do those before you can continue.

Future expansions don't have any mandatory side content like this, but if you enjoy the story then it's recommended to do the major side content as you go through each expansion rather than putting it off. Some of them get significant callbacks later, so while they're not critical to understanding what's going on they can still add some extra context.

[PyurBlue]

Future expansions don't have any mandatory side content like this, but if you enjoy the story then it's recommended to do the major side content as you go through each expansion rather than putting it off. Some of them get significant callbacks later, so while they're not critical to understanding what's going on they can still add some extra context.

I'll also add that the ARR raids, Coils, have story relevance that is more closely linked to the MSQ than later raids. They are difficult content but they can be unsynced if you just want a story clear. Also great for tomes and gear.