A 6.2 change to Squadrons

With dungeons getting some updates for Duty Support, I still go back periodically to check in with my Squadron as well. Running Sohm Al and The Vault, it seems like the changes now mean that squadron members can finally be targeted by AoEs and mechanics.

Unlike Duty Support NPCs, previously, squad members would be completely ignored by all mechanics. Every stack marker was put on the player, every attack that hit everyone in an AoE would only ever target the player, the chain mechanic at the end of The Vault just outright wouldn't work.

I'm not quite motivated to go back through ARR squad dungeons again to check on those. But, a curious change. Could they be quietly tweaking squadrons to make them more like Duty Support to expand their use?

(lol no, why would they do that)

Oh heck, that's a problem.
I wouldn't want them to change squadron to be more like duty support, but I wish they'd take note of this and make squadrons ignore the new mechanics too. Since all they had was ignoring mechanics and I can't see how it's possible to complete dungeons with a group that doesn't do mechanics but also doesn't ignore them. Did this ultimately kill squadron for 50-60?

As for ARR dungeons they're generally fine. Toto-rak doesn't have much. Copperbell is not a squadron dungeon. Brayflox they get poisoned in, but they can deal with. Stone Vigil is indeed a bit of a problem with the tornados, but they can survive them.
I haven't seen the new version of HW dungeons so not sure what changed.

Oh, nah, they're still absolute beasts capable of shrugging off every attack. Every targeted aoe from the Sohm Al dragons just did pitiful damage to them despite all standing together, so they were taking a lot of hits. In The Vault, they'd be targeted by things like the dimensional slice attack and not even blink. At one point in the final fight, had two of them chained together, looked like little more than a tickle (that one did worry me for a moment).

But yes, things do get slightly more complicated when you get roped into mechanics with them. Naturally, if you get targeted for a stack marker, you gotta run and find a buddy or two, and unlike Duty Support, they're not going to conveniently group up in one location for you. And if you get chained to a squaddie, it's all on you to resolve that one. But, like, that's not so different from your typical player party anyway. =p

Overall, there was no additional trouble or worry, really. It just stood out to me because you never usually see them get picked for targeted aoe or other mechanics. It's kinda nice not having to bait lines/puddles once in a while.

I hope they update squadrons to be able to do all the non-story dungeons, since they are skipping those in the duty support system.

I hope they tweak squadrons.

I think it would be cool if the Grand Company was reworked a bit so that you get the option to recruit 4 NPC squad members pretty soon after joining, as a bit of an incentive for this rare new primal slayer to stick with them.

You would recruit NPCs as you do now, with all sorts of different race, class, and personality combos. They'd level with the MSQ, could be selected as options in the duty support menu, would get different little dialogues depending on personality, and could be glammed at the squad HQ.

Give the whole squad a squad level, sending them out on independent missions levels up that side of them, and combined with increasing your GC rank and unlocking more recruits, would be how you'd get the squadron rewards.

Basically, squads would be extra customization for duty support, with some additional rewards for engaging with it beyond that. I think it would fit well with the streamlining and single player support they're introducing for ARR and earlier expansions.

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Originally Posted by Jandor

I hope they tweak squadrons.

I think it would be cool if the Grand Company was reworked a bit so that you get the option to recruit 4 NPC squad members pretty soon after joining, as a bit of an incentive for this rare new primal slayer to stick with them.

You would recruit NPCs as you do now, with all sorts of different race, class, and personality combos. They'd level with the MSQ, could be selected as options in the duty support menu, would get different little dialogues depending on personality, and could be glammed at the squad HQ.

Give the whole squad a squad level, sending them out on independent missions levels up that side of them, and combined with increasing your GC rank and unlocking more recruits, would be how you'd get the squadron rewards.

Basically, squads would be extra customization for duty support, with some additional rewards for engaging with it beyond that. I think it would fit well with the streamlining and single player support they're introducing for ARR and earlier expansions.

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This is a good idea, and would help with player retention. If the duty support npcs are NPCs the player specifically chose then it would help the thing feel much more personal. I dont think it would be too much work to tie squadrons into DS.

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Originally Posted by Lustre

This is a good idea, and would help with player retention. If the duty support npcs are NPCs the player specifically chose then it would help the thing feel much more personal. I don't think it would be too much work to tie squadrons into DS.

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Could even have little easter egg dialogue where you pop to the GC HQ and chat with them about the last dungeon you ran. Like your own mini-scion team, in your own mini-waking sands.