a question about the upcoming platoons/squadrins

is it going to be a solo only thing or can you have another person with you?

I think the preview mentions it is a simulation solo game starting out then later you can take them into dungeons in a future patch.

What is simulation? Something like Vermillion or something like ventures or something else?

From my understanding it's like going on a venture with retainers that you get to dress up

My only real question is are they customize-able like Retainers (race/gender/looks/etc)

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Originally Posted by Sandpark

What is simulation? Something like Vermillion or something like ventures or something else?

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When I think of Simulation I think of training exercises used to train for real battle/emergency situations.
but i hope that they allow for people to go in there as a duo or even a trio.

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Originally Posted by MaethusXion

My only real question is are they customize-able like Retainers (race/gender/looks/etc)

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Judging by one of the preview screenshots, races and genders seem to be locked, i dont know about the gear.

Most likely in the beginning it will just be about hiring GC soldiers to make teams and send them out on missions to let them level up.
Later on we'll be able to take some of them with us into dungeons or other things.

I just want to be able to skip DF and take them into dungeons together with my OH. Not caring about the rest...

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Originally Posted by Chessala

I just want to be able to skip DF and take them into dungeons together with my OH. Not caring about the rest...

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That likely won't happen. Or at least not without restrictions. I mean this is still a multiplayer game. We can't have people playing with squadrons instead of socializing.
What I could see is the game requiring you to first clear something with a player party and after that let you do those again with a sqadron.

Bah, I was soo hoping this would not be like the retainer venture system.

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Originally Posted by Balipu

That likely won't happen. Or at least not without restrictions. I mean this is still a multiplayer game. We can't have people playing with squadrons instead of socializing.
What I could see is the game requiring you to first clear something with a player party and after that let you do those again with a sqadron.

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I don't mind having to clear it first with some other people, there are friends for a reason. However, with the amount of times we run the same dungeons over and over, give people something to not be forced into groups constantly. I said it before and I say it again. An MMO that needs to force people to group up with strangers for everything doesn't do it right. What is social about landing in a group of people from another server that doesn't say a word and that you will never see again? Right, nothing at all.

Also, I am not talking about raids for example. Yesterday I attempted a leveling roulette, twice. Both times the people were so bad I rather left than risk losing my sanity. I want to choose who I socialize with and when I do it. I don't play an MMO to be alone constantly but I also don't play it to be bombarded with force grouping for every little thing.

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Originally Posted by Balipu

That likely won't happen. Or at least not without restrictions. I mean this is still a multiplayer game. We can't have people playing with squadrons instead of socializing.
What I could see is the game requiring you to first clear something with a player party and after that let you do those again with a sqadron.

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This is very true but it would reduce the having to wait an hr for duty if you could just queue up with a squadron, but yeah this is a social game so it is probably not mean't for that
Does seem rather pointless though if it's just like a retainer type of thing, unless perhaps they can get us some glam gear? huehue

So I apologize for not understanding as quickly as others but from what everyone is saying is that we will be able to train and build a team of our own. Did they say how many we can end up using? I guess it would be 4, to compensate for whatever roll you fill in. I'd like it to be 8, to maybe play in older raids to practice for myself, but maybe that's too much to ask.

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Originally Posted by Balipu

That likely won't happen. Or at least not without restrictions. I mean this is still a multiplayer game. We can't have people playing with squadrons instead of socializing.
What I could see is the game requiring you to first clear something with a player party and after that let you do those again with a sqadron.

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Just curious, do you think they will leave Roulettes then to keep you in the social loop? Using squadrons to select specific dungeons for you to clear in DF but not roulettes? Didn't they mention them being controlled like a gambit system in XII?

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Originally Posted by Leigaon

So I apologize for not understanding as quickly as others but from what everyone is saying is that we will be able to train and build a team of our own. Did they say how many we can end up using? I guess it would be 4, to compensate for whatever roll you fill in. I'd like it to be 8, to maybe play in older raids to practice for myself, but maybe that's too much to ask.



Just curious, do you think they will leave Roulettes then to keep you in the social loop? Using squadrons to select specific dungeons for you to clear in DF but not roulettes? Didn't they mention them being controlled like a gambit system in XII?

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Dunno. I'm just theory crafting. It definitely won't replace DF as that would be suicide but it won't be a reskin of Retainer ventures either cause that would be pointless.

Speaking of DF. I still need to find people for unsyched final coil. Funny how clearing Mhach is easier, huh?

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Originally Posted by Maero

This is very true but it would reduce the having to wait an hr for duty if you could just queue up with a squadron, but yeah this is a social game so it is probably not mean't for that
Does seem rather pointless though if it's just like a retainer type of thing, unless perhaps they can get us some glam gear? huehue

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A system already exists to prevent 100 percent solo orientation. Just do the same concept as allowances. Say you get X amount of uses per hour or week, if you exhaust your uses. You let it build up like leve allowances. This cost would only apply when doing content designed for party play. Things like some MSQ, Endgame Dungeons, Endgame raids, things of that nature.

From the wording in the Live Letter Digest it sounds less like they are making it (in whatever future patch they add the stuff) so you can do current dungeons with a NPC squadron and more like it will be it's own separate set of things to do.

I am thinking guild heist or early ARR dungeons. Or SE will make new dungeons for platoons for you to do

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Originally Posted by MaethusXion

My only real question is are they customize-able like Retainers (race/gender/looks/etc)

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I think it will be like retainers and story companion during 1.x
Fixed gender/race/appearances/job, but many different types to choose.

https://youtu.be/-X7KZ-aOVyY?t=222
https://youtu.be/MEFovSNMotI?t=484

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Originally Posted by Derio

I am thinking guild heist or early ARR dungeons. Or SE will make new dungeons for platoons for you to do

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Grand Company instances we will do for Grand Company story missions, my guess

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Originally Posted by Derio

I am thinking guild heist or early ARR dungeons. Or SE will make new dungeons for platoons for you to do

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Or possibly sections from those dungeons.

On one hand "adding content which you can enjoy by bringing your squadron to dungeons" can be read as the content is the systems that let you bring squadrons to currently available dungeons, or as content that uses dungeon areas in a way that is unique to the Squadron system (the MSQ has done this, sending you into dungeon areas without it being the actual dungeon).

I'm hesitant to think it will replace grouping with others in the DF...but on the other hand, part of the strong "encouragement" to use the duty finder and thus run dungeons is to help players get through required group content at a reasonable pace, which is something a Squadron could help with...

But on the other other hand, leading your own group of GC NPCs is the kind of thing that feels like it will require a higher rank in the GC, which requires running later dungeons and higher levels and being past significant sections of ARR in particular already.

So I think the current signs point it to being it's own branch of content for solo players that gives rewards that make it worth it for those solo players.

Sergeants lead squads and Lts or Captains lead platoons. Unless they are giving us 30+ subordinates, we uave plenty rank for these squads.

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Originally Posted by Sandpark

What is simulation? Something like Vermillion or something like ventures or something else?

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If they had any sense, they'd make Platoons function like a TRPG, so essentially Final Fantasy Tactics... I'd have loved some TRPG style assaults on Garlean Castrums with this, would have been interesting, it nothing else... Instead I imagine we're getting Retainer Ventures II... I mean, both are really somewhat questionable in an MMO, but a TRPG mini game would at least have been entertaining and fun to participate in... Venture type content (which we also saw with Free Company Airships) is just dull tripe...

Given how Airship Exploration turned out to be Airship Ventures I'm keeping my expectations low.
With the way they've worded it about adding content to do with your squadron overtime I'm predicting the initial offering to just be venture-esque missions to level them up likely similar in format to the Propositions/Errands you could send generic soldiers on in Final Fantasy Tactics.

I'm hoping I'm wrong but I won't assume we're getting anything more in 3.4 until we see footage of a player character leading their squad in an event of some sort. I remember being disappointed by Chocobo Training back in the day because I assumed we were getting training minigames when they were just cutscenes.

I would like some type of GC related content created for this. I am against taking them into leveling/story dungeons.

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Originally Posted by Istaru

I would like some type of GC related content created for this. I am against taking them into leveling/story dungeons.

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Something like Hamlet Defense would have been nice... I'd prefer that to be open world, similar to Besieged like it was seemingly intended to be, but I think you could have a lot of fun with Platoons there too...

I'd actually really like a situation where you can lead them into battle, f*ck up and get them killed... Would add some weight to failure that current content just doesn't have... Hamlet Defense style battle with your Platoon against the Ixali? Would be fun. They summon Garuda? Epic. Fail mechanics and she starts tempering your guys, forcing you to put them down? Shame the modern gamers can't handle that kinda punishment... Everyone is a winner! No Game Over screens here! Why have a challenge to overcome when the game can just play itself! Grand Company Ventures, please look forward to it!

I think the only piece of current content I perhaps want these for is Diadem... That sh*t might actually be tolerable with a squadron of DPS at my beck and call...

I still think it will be a mix of 1.0 story companion and GC story missions. Yoshidda also already said that they will add story to the GC again, so the next rank ups will be not just done with gathering seals

Or something like Valkyrie Chronicles can also be nice ^^

This really doesn't sound all that great if they are a worse system than the retainers...Do they at least have personalities and not locked into job and roles? (as in, LNCs are ONLY miqote and elezen, GLA, only hyur and roes, etc.)

What will the currency be.

GC seals?
Ventures?
Leve Allowances?

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Originally Posted by Nalien

Something like Hamlet Defense would have been nice... I'd prefer that to be open world, similar to Besieged like it was seemingly intended to be, but I think you could have a lot of fun with Platoons there too...

I'd actually really like a situation where you can lead them into battle, f*ck up and get them killed... Would add some weight to failure that current content just doesn't have... Hamlet Defense style battle with your Platoon against the Ixali? Would be fun. They summon Garuda? Epic. Fail mechanics and she starts tempering your guys, forcing you to put them down? Shame the modern gamers can't handle that kinda punishment... Everyone is a winner! No Game Over screens here! Why have a challenge to overcome when the game can just play itself! Grand Company Ventures, please look forward to it!

I think the only piece of current content I perhaps want these for is Diadem... That sh*t might actually be tolerable with a squadron of DPS at my beck and call...

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I would be very happy to see the return of Hamlet Defense. They could make it that more than one person and their platoon can enter at once as well.

Having your squad die would be appropriate since they don't have Echo.

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Originally Posted by Istaru

Having your squad die would be appropriate since they don't have Echo.

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It'd have me grow attached to them even if their characterization is the same or weaker than Retainers... It'd also be an amazing way to support the narrative through gameplay... NPCs can tell me Garuda is a big deal, and that tempering is a serious issue all they like, but until I actually see it happening, it's just not believable... Having your Echoless squad fall against Garuda would support the narrative in such a way that cutscenes and dialog just cannot hope to emulate...

Even if they just give us a Retainer Venture style system with this, so long as it's more involved and there's a chance for failure, I'll probably enjoy it more... If I just keep sending them off on missions, they should get tired, and that should result in them falling in battle... I should be punished for being a bad leader, I should have to recruit a new member and train them up from scratch... I really don't want to lead an elite squadron that absolutely never faces any hardships and are functionally immortal... I'm just not going to grow attached to those kinds of characters and I'm just not going to care when I send the off on these things... Give me a failure state and I might begin caring...

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Originally Posted by Istaru

Having your squad die would be appropriate since they don't have Echo.

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Neither do our Chocobos.

I hope they can't die to be honest. I always reset my game if I had a unit die in Tactics. >.>

Well good luck reloading a save in an MMO.

I doubt death will occur but I wouldn't mind a "recovery" timer if a unit falls in battle making you more mindful of who you send out and the difficulty of said areas.