SE, please add "No Story Mode" into the game

[Brandr]

You do realize that access to all areas is equal to a skip, right?

It's not.
With free exploration in a "No Story Mode", one could be exploring Yanxia while doing ARR on their own pace.
I think 200hrs of MSQ is too much to ask of any our IRL friends to play just to be able to play with us, while other games that also have a robust MSQ don't gatekeep so much.

[Bonoki]

It's not.
With free exploration in a "No Story Mode", one could be exploring Yanxia while doing ARR on their own pace.
I think 200hrs of MSQ is too much to ask of any our IRL friends to play just to be able to play with us, while other games that also have a robust MSQ don't gatekeep so much.

A "No Story Mode" wouldn't work like that at all if SE actually made one. You can already sort of get this with the paid books on Mog Station. As for current expansion, it would be a "skip" and would also likely be paywalled.

[-Lilia-]

This is irrelevant but I'm the opposite.
I just came back to FFXIV since 2018.
And they have this New Game+ option to start from scratch. But it's not necessarily starting from scratch you have to keep choosing this to play the story.

I want my Legacy character from FFXIV 1.0. With all my glams. To go back to the beginning and erase the whole progress in story.
Is there a feature for this? Not New Game+! I just don't like this at all it's absolutelyyyyyy ABSURD!!
Well. Not really but I'd like it

[Valence]

If anyone really believes that instant access to maximum level endgame would be a means to retain players, they haven't been paying attention to the cyclical nature of active player count. There are enough posters in the forums who declare that they only play for 2-4 weeks of an expansion patch and then go dark (no continuing subscription) for 3 months to dismiss that "advantage".

Yeah those are usually the ones that only play for the msq, actually.
Skippers tend to be more endgame focused usually.

[mixu]

I’d love to keep all my alts current and viable for end game, collecting current gear, glam, maps etc but that’s impossible with how much story there is to slog through. I’m interested enough to do it once and I enjoy doing it on one character but 3 which I attempt (and 3 I don’t) is terrible. Anything your main has unlocked, should automatically be unlockable (ofc optional in case someone doesn’t want to ) on an alt. Events and stuff as well.

[Avoidy]

If you want to skip the story entirely, the only MMORPGs that really support that are Black Desert Online (BDO) and EVE Online. Neither has mandatory story progression or expansion gating, so you can jump straight into whatever content you want.

Some MMOs offer story skips that only let you skip to the start of the current expansion, not directly into endgame.

For alts matching your main’s power, BDO is again the closest fit. It doesn’t use traditional levels, and progression is mostly account‑wide, so new characters can immediately function at the same power level. Lost Ark has something similar with Powerpasses, and EVE Online avoids levels entirely, though you still need to train skills.

If you want a game that pushes you straight into endgame, Lost Ark is built around that idea. Leveling is basically a tutorial, and a Powerpass can skip it completely. Just keep in mind that Lost Ark rushes players into a long‑term gear treadmill.

Albion Online is essentially all endgame. It’s a horizontal gear‑based sandbox where the core loop is gather>craft>lose gear in PvP>replace gear>rinse and repeat. If you don’t enjoy full‑loot PvP, it won’t be a good fit.

For Final XIV this is a "wouldn't it be nice" that directly conflicts with the philosophy and goals of the design and development teams.

Even BDO fell into this BS lately. There are lots of gearpieces you'll want, especially when starting (or at least there were; I haven't played in a year now), that are locked behind main story questlines that essentially boil down to running around and mashing the Interact key for hours. Back when the game first came out, you absolutely could just abandon the story and go do whatever, but now more and more of that game is trying to imitate XIV in that regard. They've even alienated their original fanbase by ditching the open world pvp model and trying to make all these hostile pvp gamers hold hands and sing kumbaya and do really awful group pve, so now BDO's deader than ever.

Back on topic though, I agree with OP. This story has been hot garbage for over a year and I no longer care to give it anymore chances. Rather than have me mash ESC, just let me skip. That said, 7.4 was at least entertaining to me. And that's really all I want at this point, like if you're gonna have a story focused mmo, then just make the story interesting. Otherwise don't force me to engage with it if you're gonna phone it in.

[TheRealDesastr]

....so this should be for all alts. If you've done story on your main, you shouldn't be locked from every piece of content due to not doing story on alts.

Yeah yeah, I bring it up every other post, but I can't just not in this thread.

As for 'story mode' on a main - I have no opinion on that and am entirely neutral. I kinda think everyone should do it at least once, but should have the OPTION to skip on an alt (without spending a ridiculous amount per alt. Or just...not requiring story on alts.)

[TBerry]

....so this should be for all alts. If you've done story on your main, you shouldn't be locked from every piece of content due to not doing story on alts.

Yeah yeah, I bring it up every other post, but I can't just not in this thread.

As for 'story mode' on a main - I have no opinion on that and am entirely neutral. I kinda think everyone should do it at least once, but should have the OPTION to skip on an alt (without spending a ridiculous amount per alt. Or just...not requiring story on alts.)

Yes, there should be a requirement for that.
Current thread is like buying basegame and then demanding acces to Tural because you bought a skip to DT.

Also, 98% of dungeons are tied to MSQ, so you have no right to complain about them "not making sense". That's on you for ignoring context.