(06-02-2015, 03:40 PM)Gegenji Wrote: I don't think anyone here is implying that a newcomer should be able to just skip to level 30 or skip having to go through the plot to see the new areas and such. It's just that walling so much off behind the plot is frustrating. Having to do that slog would be so much easier if you got to enjoy at least a few bits of the new content along the way.
Think of it:
1.) New player comes in, makes an Au Ra because dragon/demon person! Neat!
2.) Player levels a class to 30/40, likely through doing the MSQ and get a feel for the role.
3.) They travel to Coerthas Central Highlands and wow! There's a guy who will teach me how to shoot guns! Au Ra Machinist! Kickin'!
4.) Au Ra Machinist continues through the MSQ and catches up to 2.55
5.) Au Ra Machinist heads into Heavensward.
Not every step is the same length, but giving SOME taste of what you already paid money for along the way isn't that bad of a thing, is it? Who would be hurt by it? After all, those who prepped beforehand wouldn't even need to level a class to 30/40 - they have one! And since they already caught up to the MSQ, then can hop right into Heavensward.
Or work on leveling their new jobs with all the others who picked up their new jobs... and those getting to 30/40 so they can be those super-cool jobs too.
Content stays (relatively) fresh, everyone wins.
This. So much this.
Benefits of opening new jobs at 30
1. New players feel included and not cheated if they purchased the game for the new classes/content.Â
2. Returning players don't feel as if they are going to have to play catch up for weeks in order to enjoy the things that brought them back to begin with.Â
3. Old content would get more returning, veteran players who level the Au Ra race as the new jobs on an alt rather than sacrificing an existing character on the Fantasia alter.
4. Queue times would be shorter in MSQ trials/dungeons since everyone would be experiencing old content anew.Â
5. Veteran players and new players alike would gain the necessary experience with their new Job and still get the exp from the MSQ along the way.Â
Cons of opening the jobs at 30?.....
Not really sure there are any. You could meet the job giver in Coerthas when you are sent there by the MSQ. No lore is breached, nothing needs to be rewritten. No one feels cheated, left out, behind, frustrated etc. As you said, everyone wins.Â
Unfortunately they are going with the 'but guys we made it easier to slog through all that old crap' approach and it is likely to stay that way. Most veteran players will simply fantasia an existing character to become an Au Ra rather than make a new one (why square gives me 8 slots and then wages a private war on alts, I'll never understand) and new players will just have to work through all the old stuff to catch up, hopefully not losing interest since they are playing a class they don't want the entire time. Entering Ishgard requires context. The story line requires context. I don't think anyone is going to be up in arms about immersion if we let people have great swords, guns and tarot cards. You telling me no blacksmith in the whole of Eorzea ever looked at a one handed sword and went 'huh...what if I made this bigger...what if you needed *gasp* two hands? GENIUS!'.