Originally Posted by
Giantbane
No, they're just unlucky and that's their way of expressing it. It was an idiot statement. You may as well tell me the sky is blue and then get confused why I thought it was not terribly appropriate.
More to the point, it doesn't have to be guaranteed, but why create a system where you may NEVER win when you don't have to. Sure it's astronomically unlikely for that to happen, but it IS a possibility and it can happen. Why would you leave that in for a player to experience?
If you're going to have pure RNG systems, particularly for this type of thing where you basically have no input other than "press button", it's good to at least establish a floor. Be it 5, 16, or however many fails seems like too many, put a bottom on it that can't be crossed.
The other problem is that this system is built on top of the other massive RNG fest of spiritbinding where you also have something like a 50% fail rate (elemental and primary stat materia i'm looking at you). Which is further compounded by the fact that the stats themselves aren't really equal, some (det) are much better than others (skill speed).