[suggestion] expand the class quest system

[Abriael]

I don't see the logic in this. There is no need to have the class quests so close during the early ranks, especially 1-24. The leveling process is so fast as-is that it is more reasonable to set the majority of class quests to the higher end of the scale where leveling takes longer. 20, 25, 30, (34, 38, 42, (44, 46, 48)) sounds like a more reasonable progression.

The problem with that is that for the first 20 levels people have no idea of who they are, what is their profession in the world? Why they are even pursuing that profession? Did it drop it on their head? It's been evidenced quite well by this massively article.

I don't agree with this. First of all, when the economy is stagnant currency is not going to be considered worthwhile. This is something they will address, and these are the first steps to stimulate the economy [important]. Secondly, the quests in this game are not considered the same as the quests in any other game. They are not used as a means to progress (even if you can get SP from the mobs). This game is not the same as any other game, even if there are similarities. That should be emphasized. Also, its not hard to make guild marks matter.

Even if they stimulate the economy, the gil rewards will always be rather much a pittance. The fact that Final Fantasy XIV is "different" from other MMORPGs doesn't mean it doesn't need alternate ways of progressing. Character progression should always be offered in as many flavors and means as possible, allowing people to rank up in as many ways as possible.
Why is that? Because the more and varied means of leveling there are, the less tedious the leveling process is. In a game, Tedious = bad.

[Betelgeuzah]

The problem with that is that for the first 20 levels people have no idea of who they are, what is their profession in the world? Why they are even pursuing that profession? Did it drop it on their head? It's been evidenced quite well by this massively article.

Huh? People play those classes because the classes appeal to them. Why are they pursuing those professions? I'm sure they know why, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it in the first place. Lore is not the defining factor for choosing a class, it is the supporting factor. The job lore in XI opened up only after lvl42 (50+ really), and somehow we all ended up picking a job we liked and leveling it. Afterwards the lore attached us to the job even more, but it was never the decisive factor in picking up a job or not. Leveling to 20 in this game doesn't take more than few hours in the first place.

With your suggestion the problem is that at first we have an abundance of quests that we may end up even skipping since leveling is so fast, and later on the quests are nowhere to be seen for many ranks at time (while leveling takes longer and longer). Where exactly is the sense in that? Consistency is important, instead of putting most of the content in the low and high end while having nothing to do in-between.

Even if they stimulate the economy, the gil rewards will always be rather much a pittance. The fact that Final Fantasy XIV is "different" from other MMORPGs doesn't mean it doesn't need alternate ways of progressing. Character progression should always be offered in as many flavors and means as possible, allowing people to rank up in as many ways as possible.

Quests are not "alternate ways of progressing (=leveling)". That doesn't mean there won't be any. It means that quests aren't. Character progression does not translate to only "getting levels" either. There are many ways to progress your character- by becoming richer, by getting better equipment, by getting more skills, by getting titles, by clearing the story missions, by getting an airship pass, or chocobo licence, et cetera.

Why is that? Because the more and varied means of leveling there are, the less tedious the leveling process is. In a game, Tedious = bad.

And why can not leveling be just one aspect of raising your character, instead of making it so everything you do in-game is tailored for only that purpose? Variety is the spice of life, not just in the objectives you do but in the rewards as well. Not everything in the game must be designed specifically for one single purpose- leveling. By doing other tasks that reward you with other ways to progress your character, the actual leveling process becomes more fun as well. Even if you are doing one/two tasks for leveling up, that's irrelevant as long as those two activities are not the only thing you ever do.

[Abriael]

With your suggestion the problem is that at first we have an abundance of quests that we may end up even skipping since leveling is so fast, and later on the quests are nowhere to be seen for many ranks at time (while leveling takes longer and longer). Where exactly is the sense in that? Consistency is important, instead of putting most of the content in the low and high end while having nothing to do in-between.

Actually I'm advocating a rather regular distribution of the quests, instead of having very little to do for the first levels and everything focused in the mid-to-high ones. It's also a matter how hooking new players to the game. If all a new player has to do is grind guildleves he may become bored before he gets to the good part.

Quests are not "alternate ways of progressing (=leveling)". That doesn't mean there won't be any. It means that quests aren't.

And why exactly they shouldn't be?
There's absolutely no reason for them not to contribute *any* to the character leveling, especially considerig that it's a market standard that people have come to expect from MMORPGs, and that is in no way detrimental to other systems.