The new player experience and how FFXIV fails as an MMO.

[Carin-Eri]

Vrtra's cameo wouldn't have made any sense, though that scene doesn't make any sense anyway.

Somewhat - I mean, the reference to Radz-at-Han wouldn't mean anything to someone who hadn't played Endwalker, and it certainly wouldn't have the same impact as it did on those of us who know who Vrtra is, but otherwise there isn't really anything else in the scene that requires knowledge of the pre-Dawntrail MSQ.

[Altina_Orion]

Somewhat - I mean, the reference to Radz-at-Han wouldn't mean anything to someone who hadn't played Endwalker, and it certainly wouldn't have the same impact as it did on those of us who know who Vrtra is, but otherwise there isn't really anything else in the scene that requires knowledge of the pre-Dawntrail MSQ.

Even so, it doesn't particularly matter. I would imagine SE would give the option to start on ARR or start on DT and wouldn't force the DT route. If you wanted all the context and the story was the primary reason you started, you would naturally start ARR. If you wanted to raid or do other endgame activities and story was secondary, you likely accept that you will miss out on some details.

[Daralii]

Even so, it doesn't particularly matter. I would imagine SE would give the option to start on ARR or start on DT and wouldn't force the DT route. If you wanted all the context and the story was the primary reason you started, you would naturally start ARR. If you wanted to raid or do other endgame activities and story was secondary, you likely accept that you will miss out on some details.

The trend I've seen in a few games now is either an option on character creation or an option after the tutorial, with some having both.