The duty finder main quests are getting annoying.

I have a family and a very busy life and the fact that I cannot progress the main story without having to find time to sit down for an hour with no interruptions is getting very annoying.

At the moment I can only progress past a few story quests a day before I get hit with the wall and I have to wait until I get chance to do the duty finder quest.

I actually thought I was past this at least until heavensward started but nope I am now forced to do what was an optional dungeon before.

I am a bit surprised that it takes a full hour to get one of the dungeons done since most of the early ones can be done in about 20 mins or so and the roulettes should keep the queues somewhat down. I believe the only optional dungeon you have to do is Qarn though its been a while so I could be wrong. Regardless, I am afraid you will find there are quite a few dungeons and trials as part of the MSQ. Realistically with an MMO you usually need to be able to sit down for at least an hour or so to really get much out of an MMO.

So basically, you are playing an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) and want to have the actual MMO part there cut off cos you dont have time for it
and instead wish to continue questing on your own like in a Single Player game?

No offense but, instead of asking for the game to be adjusted to you, this is maybe the time you should realize that this Genre isnt suited for your lifestyle then.

If you can't get enough peaceful time to do a dungeon, what are you planning to do when you finish the story? o.O Most story locked end game content is instanced and will take at least as much time as a dungeon.

For now a good solution is to start playing a tank class. Your queues will be instant and since you set the pace you'll be out of any dungeon in under 30 minutes.

Well it does not help that I play dps, and yes Qarn is the dungeon it is telling me to do, I understand it is an mmo and will require multiplayer, but forcing it on a regular basis in order to progress the story is not nice.

At the moment what tends to happen is I will be playing happily then it throws a dungeon at me and its like well thats me till tomorrow while the youngest is at nursery now.

On another note, I cannot fully enjoy the story either as massive story points seem to happen when in a dungeon and the pressure is on to be quick because of other people, I did the last mission and I can tell you apart from killing the bosses I have no idea what was happening.

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Originally Posted by Faliandra

So basically, you are playing an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) and want to have the actual MMO part there cut off cos you dont have time for it
and instead wish to continue questing on your own like in a Single Player game?

No offense but, instead of asking for the game to be adjusted to you, this is maybe the time you should realize that this Genre isnt suited for your lifestyle then.

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I played every single piece of content guild wars had to offer, I have played most of the content ESO has to offer, I have played most of the content Guild wars 2 has to offer just because MMo does not mean you have to slap it in the way of basic story progression, just saying.

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Originally Posted by Reinha

If you can't get enough peaceful time to do a dungeon, what are you planning to do when you finish the story? o.O Most story locked end game content is instanced and will take at least as much time as a dungeon.

For now a good solution is to start playing a tank class. Your queues will be instant and since you set the pace you'll be out of any dungeon in under 30 minutes.

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I am playing for the story I have no intention of grinding dungeons for the sake of it when the story is done.

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Originally Posted by Rik_Ardossia

I played every single piece of content guild wars had to offer, I have played most of the content ESO has to offer, I have played most of the content Guild wars 2 has to offer just because MMo does not mean you have to slap it in the way of basic story progression, just saying.

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i dont know about ESO, but aside from PvP, the Guild Wars story was like 99% soloable due to the henchmen system in place.
PvE-wise,that game had very little to offer and it was far from a typical MMORPG. Also MMO =/= MMORPG .

Just saying.


Also, maybe I like the dungeons throughout the story and do NOT want them to be removed?

I understand where you are comming from, but you do not have to sit around while waiting for the queue. You could do some FATES with your chocobo while you are waiting, you try out other stuff like crafting and gathering. I saw on your profile that you are not in a Free Company (guiild), when a newcomer joined our Free Company we did the story dungeons with her so she would not have to wait so long. Being a DPS class + Duty Finder, 98% of the time means you will be waiting alot longer then the other roles.

My advice is to join a friendly Free Company and ask them to help you out. With Stormblood introducing two more DPS classes, the long Duty Finder queue will become alot worse.

You could always post in Party Finder asking people to come with you unsynced/undersized for a first time clear bonus, that will be extremely quick and you only need one strong persion to blaze through the old dungeons. Or do all of the pre-HW stuff after solo grinding to 60 and run it solo unsynced. But teaming up is part of the game's core design - it's a lot looser than FFXI ever was but you are not ever expected to be able to complete current content alone, and in fact you're actively prevented from it (HW content cannot be done unsynced/undersized). I can only echo everyone else in saying that finding a Free Company to join or at least some relaxed friends to play with will make your life a lot easier.

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Originally Posted by Faliandra

So basically, you are playing an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) and want to have the actual MMO part there cut off cos you dont have time for it
and instead wish to continue questing on your own like in a Single Player game?

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Interactions with others is strongly encouraged, but not always a requirement in a MMO.

ESO story is very weak and content is dull due to the lack of story and abilities. ESO feels like a single player game with sidequests that have no real value.

And GW2, well their recent changes ran off alot of players. If you seriously need to get through a dungeon that is under lvl 50 you can either level a tank or healer. Ask someone to speed run you through it. Or wait the time, you already have the queue priority so it should be under an hour depending on your data server.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news (to you), but you will never be done with dungeons as a part of the story.

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Originally Posted by Arrius

Interactions with others is strongly encouraged, but not always a requirement in a MMO.

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yeah, because of the rather recent influx of players into MMORPGS, who dont understand the point of MMORPGs.
Because of their attitude, MMORPGs keep turning into washed-out, casualized games requiring less and less interaction with other people.

It's not the point of an MMORPG. Period.

Well if you hate it with the ARR and HW story parts if I was you I would quit before you get to stormblood.

I will surspect that SE will force you into dungoens during the SB story.

I plan to level RDM on alt while waiting for dungoen queues on main. but then again now we can queue with chocobo out I could easly just do leves on main while waiting for queues to pop

If lifestyle is a concern, might I suggest that you level a tanking job to handle instances such as these? That's what my sister did - she has a three-year-old daughter and works full time as a university professor, so has very little time to play the game. While she mains BLM, she leveled DRK for occasions when she'd like to do a dungeon but just doesn't have an hour to spare. Switch to DRK, queue up, BAM!, gets in immediately and wraps the dungeon up in 20 min.

When you have more free time available, use your preferred DPS job. But when in a time crunch, switch to tank and get 'er dun fast.

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Originally Posted by Rik_Ardossia

Well it does not help that I play dps, and yes Qarn is the dungeon it is telling me to do, I understand it is an mmo and will require multiplayer, but forcing it on a regular basis in order to progress the story is not nice.

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*has an aneurysm*

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On another note, I cannot fully enjoy the story either as massive story points seem to happen when in a dungeon and the pressure is on to be quick because of other people, I did the last mission and I can tell you apart from killing the bosses I have no idea what was happening.

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You'll be glad to know that doesn't happen anymore outside of the core ARR 1-50 missions due to similar feedback. Most cutscenes and story events occur outside dungeons now since most people hated how long story cutscenes were implemented in dungeons previously.

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Originally Posted by LineageRazor

If lifestyle is a concern, might I suggest that you level a tanking job to handle instances such as these?

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While I know the suggestion was well-intended, I wish people would stop telling others to level up tanking jobs just for the shorter queues... This is how we end up with whiny tanks who drop from any dungeon or instance they realize will take longer than 15 minutes, or get fussy and demand to be kicked when the party doesn't do exactly what they want. Not saying your sister is like this at all, but people who level tanking classes without actually, you know, liking to tank can make Duty Finder a miserable experience.

As for the OP, I'll just echo everyone else's sentiments. You aren't utilizing all of the features (Free Company, Party Finder, maybe even Novice Network?, etc.) that the game gives you to reduce your wait times, so you really shouldn't be complaining about the amount of time it takes to get into these dungeons. I understand you want to play just for the story and would likely prefer to play solo, but you will have a much, much more positive experience if you find a bustling Free Company that will happily get you through these dungeons at the pace you would like to go, when you want to do them.

You should pick up FFXV. It's not a MMO and has a pretty good story. MMO's are time sinks. So uh... good luck :)

I'm not sure about an hour of uninterrupted time, I'm not aware of any MSQ or other dungeon/trial that typically takes as long as an hour any more. That said there are a few dungeons and trials that can take a while and any wipe will add to the time. Even so, an hour isn't really that much time to book, and for an MMORPG with cooperative play, it's no less than you should expect to invest in multi-player content. FFXIV already caters heavily to solo players - almost to a fault - so I wouldn't expect significant changes in the future to the balance of MSQ and dungeon/trial length.

That said, several people have mentioned things that would help you greatly. The first of them is to find a group of friends or a Free Company that is new player friendly and work with them to clear such content with minimal Q time and decent coaching through content to avoid wipes. Party finder could work as well as long as you find a few like minded players who are a) good sports and b) patient enough to run content while sync'd.

I think the initial suggestion of a Free Company is probably your best bet, along with building a small group of friends in-game who play roughly similar hours to you. Free Company recruitment in FFXIV is something of a joke, so it may not be as easy as you think to find the right group. There are some that invite randomly - solely to build numbers. There are some who shout advertisements for their FC and IMHO come across like low rent gil sellers. and there are myriad FCs open for recruitment who do not actively pester people to join them. These FCs are probably your best bet to find a good fit. Unfortunately, they are not easy to scout out.

Are you a member of your server's Novice Network? It is a chat channel for newbies, returnees and mentors. At least on Sagatanas if you ask for help with a dungeon there are usually a volunteer or three. If you would like to join ask anyone with a mentor/crown icon for an invite.

I try my hardest to understand people that describe themselves as "solo players" in MMORPGs, but I always struggle. I understand time constraints as I've dealt with them before in the past, but the truth is, the game is intended for you to play with more people than yourself. I think the dungeons, especially the cutscenes at the end, add so much to the main story. Not only that, but I don't remember the queues for those particular dungeons being that bad. I'll echo @Laerune 's sentiment from earlier in the thread and suggest you join a Free Company to help you through those dungeons if you want to speed them up even more.

edit: also seconding Novice Network, ask in /shout in Limsa Lominsa or somewhere populated for an invite if you aren't already a part of the channel.

I can definitely understand the frustration, and I think we've all been there in the epic queue times, especially when it's required and you just want to progress. But even though it works against the player sometimes, I think the way FFXIV works it has an overall benefit. Because the dungeons are required for the story, and the story is how you unlock game features, it means everybody is in the same boat and has to do them. Nobody is just coasting to max level without having touched instanced group content. By the time you reach endgame, you'll have had tons of experience playing your role in a party, and will have experienced every dungeon.

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Originally Posted by Rik_Ardossia

I am playing for the story I have no intention of grinding dungeons for the sake of it when the story is done.

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Every dungeon has it's own tale to tell.

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Originally Posted by Rik_Ardossia

I have a family and a very busy life and the fact that I cannot progress the main story without having to find time to sit down for an hour with no interruptions is getting very annoying.

At the moment I can only progress past a few story quests a day before I get hit with the wall and I have to wait until I get chance to do the duty finder quest.

I actually thought I was past this at least until heavensward started but nope I am now forced to do what was an optional dungeon before.

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Qarn at your level is optional. However, it does become an MSQ instance later on. I'd also get used to running dungeons, as they and trials continue to be the gate keepers to progressing content. Even in Heavensward, each area has a dungeon and/or trial that prevents further MSQ progress until you clear them.

I understand queue times can be bothersome, but running dungeons are pretty rewarding, and there is nothing written in stone that says you have to progress through the game at a certain speed. If you are trying to catch up with buddies or FC mates, perhaps ask them to come along? If you can get a tank to come, your queue will be instant. Even if only a healer, it will still shorten your queue.

Just try to enjoy your journey. It ends when you reach your destination.

Dungeons are pretty much a staple of MMORPGs though..

Do Palace of the Dead.

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Originally Posted by Rik_Ardossia

I have a family and a very busy life and the fact that I cannot progress the main story without having to find time to sit down for an hour with no interruptions is getting very annoying.

At the moment I can only progress past a few story quests a day before I get hit with the wall and I have to wait until I get chance to do the duty finder quest.

I actually thought I was past this at least until heavensward started but nope I am now forced to do what was an optional dungeon before.

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You could always do what I do: Skip the cutscenes (assuming you're not doing this already). That'll save you a lot of time. It's like the explanation of the quest takes longer than the actual execution of it at times. If you need to see them for whatever reason, you can always view them at your inn room (I think). As far as duties go. . . . Can't really help you much there. Take up tanking for the shorter queues maybe?

This isn't a single player game.

If I'm understanding it right, it's less about not wanting to do group stuff, but more that the group stuff is intermixed with the solo making it hard to plan game time for and can end up stuck waiting for a specific time period to be able to continue.

ie:
Player has 3hrs of free time, but is on rugrat duty, so can be interrupted at any time during that 3hrs and doesn't want to be 'that guy' in the dungeon that afks on ppl spontaneously, so wont do dungeons unless it's a guaranteed 'interruption free' time period.
So player sits down to play some msq, goes along happily for 20mins, then a dungeon blocks further progress.
He still has over 2.5hrs of free time he wants to spend, but can't do dungeon(out of courtesy) and cant continue msq, so is stuck until the next interruption free period comes along.

At least that's how I'm reading the issue.

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Originally Posted by Rik_Ardossia

I have a family and a very busy life and the fact that I cannot progress the main story without having to find time to sit down for an hour with no interruptions ..

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I think you are not the only one with busy life, but if your one is so busy to the point you never can get one hour for yourself, it maybe you have other priorities to sort out, very much higher than playing a game.

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Originally Posted by Rik_Ardossia

I have a family and a very busy life and the fact that I cannot progress the main story without having to find time to sit down for an hour with no interruptions is getting very annoying.

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You should consider doing what my brother does. He sticks to mobile and browser based games. He used to be bigger into PC gaming before having children. But after, he just doesn't have the time. Until the crotch goblins are 18, an MMORPG like FFXIV isn't possible.

MMORPG's aren't simple games. They're social communities and hobbies. I'd recommend Final Fantasy Record Keeper, that's my go to when I can't be at my PC for whatever reason.

You know what? OP is right, tied main story content to dungeons/trials is not the best idea with current DD que times. Going to be even more fun next expansion with 2 extra popular jobs!

Or pick up a healing class. Still fast queue and less stressfull than tank. It can be a relaxing job.

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Originally Posted by AreciaRhi

You should pick up FFXV. It's not a MMO and has a pretty good story. MMO's are time sinks. So uh... good luck :)

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Already destroyed ffxv cant wait for a pc version now.

Anyway I was probably just in a grumpy mood when I posted, although I still think the main story should not be tied to dungeons.

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Originally Posted by Kaethra

You should consider doing what my brother does. He sticks to mobile and browser based games. He used to be bigger into PC gaming before having children. But after, he just doesn't have the time. Until the crotch goblins are 18, an MMORPG like FFXIV isn't possible.

MMORPG's aren't simple games. They're social communities and hobbies. I'd recommend Final Fantasy Record Keeper, that's my go to when I can't be at my PC for whatever reason.

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No need mobile and browser games, I have a high end gaming pc for a reason, mainly a mix of this eso and bf1 at the moment, eso and bf1 I can go afk a moment to do stuff :)

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Originally Posted by Faliandra

So basically, you are playing an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) and want to have the actual MMO part there cut off cos you dont have time for it
and instead wish to continue questing on your own like in a Single Player game?

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I really wouldn't call 4, 8 or even 24 players massively multiplayer. Another defining feature for the MMO(RPG) genre is a large persistent world where the player interaction occurs. Dungeons put a small amount of people in an instanced zone which is completely disconnected from other players (excluding chat) and ceases to exist after completion. I started my MMORPG career with Eve Online, after that these dungeon crawlers felt... Well... Not MMO. For comparison, Guild Wars 1 was not an MMO but a coop-RPG according to the devs themselves. FFXIV is getting more and more closer to that with the almost dead open world.

I'm sorry, that was nitpicking but if someone says dungeons make an MMO an MMO, it just triggers me :)

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@OP

I know how you feel, I've stopped playing several MMO's because of forced instanced dungeons. When I have time to play, I want to get stuff done instead of sitting in queue hoping for a dungeon pop. Finding a nice guild with active and helpful members will make things much easier, that way you can do the dungeons in less than half an hour because you don't have to wait for others. Assuming there's enough people online, of course.

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Originally Posted by Squigley

I really wouldn't call 4, 8 or even 24 players massively multiplayer.

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I would. And its because of how many people are required to make those 4, 8, or 24 man dungeons run within 5-20 minutes of queuing for them.

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Originally Posted by Squigley

I really wouldn't call 4, 8 or even 24 players massively multiplayer.

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I'm with Squigley here. While dungeons are multiplayer, they are most certainly NOT massively multiplayer. That term refers to having hundreds or thousands of other players around you can interact with, not three or seven other players. As with most MMOs (so far as I'm familiar with), the massively multiplayer aspect of the game only exists in the open world. Breaking off into a small team that's cut off from those other players isn't it.