Here's what I would suggest this game could do to prevent its endgame community to be reduced into oblivion with upcoming expansions.
End the story. Before you pick up your pitchforks, I don't mean that the game should stop being focused around a main story, just that this current storyline we've been through should end by next expansion. Everything from ARR to whatever next expansion will be could be seen as 1 saga, so instead of ending with a cliffhanger, next expansion should then end with a conclusive and satisfying ending to the saga. Expansion after that we start with a whole new saga and a new storyline.
With "new" I mean really new. All new characters and new story, maybe just a few references to the old one here and there but nothing significant. It should be completely standing on its own legs and not require previous story elements to be enjoyed fully. The only thing that should be carried from the old story is the fact that you're a very experienced veteran warrior of light. Offer free level boost to whatever level the next expansion goes or the new saga starts (with purchase of expansion/game).
This way any newcomers who want to can experience the old saga from the beginning, or decide to start latest expansion with the new saga. I'm sure many mmo fans will prefer to start with the most relevant saga and not go through hundreds of hours of graphic novel to reach it. What's great is that you can also do both with newgame+. Start from the new saga with level boost and go progress through the old one sometimes whenever you feel like it with newgame+.
I doubt older content will be be able to stay as relevant for long with just the roulettes, which is frustrating in this game because many of those instances are mandatory for MSQ progression. To remedy this I suggest they add a nerfed solo option for all mandatory MSQ instances. Should be really easy to do by just messing with the numbers.
The way I see it, they have to either go this way or release a whole new MMO soon (either way they will probably release new MMO in foreseeable future), unless you either disagree or have another idea (let me know). The more MSQ keeps stacking up with each expansion, the less new player friendly this game is becoming and I think this will become a problem, if it isn't already.
Continue reading...
End the story. Before you pick up your pitchforks, I don't mean that the game should stop being focused around a main story, just that this current storyline we've been through should end by next expansion. Everything from ARR to whatever next expansion will be could be seen as 1 saga, so instead of ending with a cliffhanger, next expansion should then end with a conclusive and satisfying ending to the saga. Expansion after that we start with a whole new saga and a new storyline.
With "new" I mean really new. All new characters and new story, maybe just a few references to the old one here and there but nothing significant. It should be completely standing on its own legs and not require previous story elements to be enjoyed fully. The only thing that should be carried from the old story is the fact that you're a very experienced veteran warrior of light. Offer free level boost to whatever level the next expansion goes or the new saga starts (with purchase of expansion/game).
This way any newcomers who want to can experience the old saga from the beginning, or decide to start latest expansion with the new saga. I'm sure many mmo fans will prefer to start with the most relevant saga and not go through hundreds of hours of graphic novel to reach it. What's great is that you can also do both with newgame+. Start from the new saga with level boost and go progress through the old one sometimes whenever you feel like it with newgame+.
I doubt older content will be be able to stay as relevant for long with just the roulettes, which is frustrating in this game because many of those instances are mandatory for MSQ progression. To remedy this I suggest they add a nerfed solo option for all mandatory MSQ instances. Should be really easy to do by just messing with the numbers.
The way I see it, they have to either go this way or release a whole new MMO soon (either way they will probably release new MMO in foreseeable future), unless you either disagree or have another idea (let me know). The more MSQ keeps stacking up with each expansion, the less new player friendly this game is becoming and I think this will become a problem, if it isn't already.
Continue reading...