Please update the Squadron system.

How can this feature be in the game so long and they haven't updated it at all? The AI is horrible. The tanks can't get aggro unless you tell them to engage every single enemy once which seems to take their AI 5 seconds to register the commands, the healers are terrible and won't even raise dead allies, they all stand in aoe's without a care in the world unless you tell them to disengage. My god, they even have skills from 2.0. You guys remember PLD's Flash?

I have not tried the Trust system, but it sounds leagues better than the Squadron system. Please update it. It's a nightmare to use. I understand it's old content, but that's no reason to leave it in such a sorry state when there are new people coming into the game all the time and they may want to use them for leveling other jobs. Going through 10 runs just to get the Squat and Push-up emotes is one of the most grueling experiences I have ever had in this game.

They did update it, its called the Trust system.

I'd like them to be expanded to 70... Once you have the full set on Kindergartners all levelled up to 60 it's a bit of a dead end.

https://i.gyazo.com/bc8b02bff1e47212...b8eb44c3c7.png

Taking them to 70 would then let you move into trusts immediately.

Only use Marauder, Archer(s) and Conjurer for dungeons, all of them on pure offense. Micromanage them a little for certain dungeons (e.g. Bad Breath in Aurum Vale), and they'll clear faster than your average DF group.

I use Marauder and they miss everyone when they Overpower so their enmity is useless. GLA and ARC are still leveling and can't do the current dungeon I need and my CNJ is level 60 already and they always leave me on deaths door when I'm tanking. I usually play healer when using this system because I can't trust the CNJ in the first place. I can only play Tank or Healer when using this system and each side has a downside to them that are just too big to ignore.

I know I can change their classes, but I'm stubborn and want to keep them as they were.

Squad healers do in fact raise dead squad mates, but they can only raise out of combat. And yes they stand in all the bad, because they are absolute beasts that give no fucks. Only time it's given me trouble is in Aurum Vale, which, admittedly, yeah, they don't perform their best in that one.

Aggro really isn't the major problem you'd think it is, unless you're trying to make them pull 2+ packs. They'll start attacking when you do, and tanks will typically do their aoe enmity skills once or twice, but will otherwise largely focus down one enemy at a time. You can either stick to what they are attacking and not worry about aggro, or you can try going overboard and ripping the things they're not focused on.

Do yourself a favor and take at least one Arcanist. They'll throw out the occasional Physick (still somewhat viable in low level content with low level gear), and pretty consistent on Shadow Flare usage for aoe damage.

And make sure everyone you take is set to whatever the highest DPS tactics/orders they have unlocked. Trusts might be better programed, but squadrons are obscene with the damage they can put out.

Imo it's a lost opportunity to expand on the singleplayer approach.
It seems like they're just going with the Trust system but I actually think that the Squadrons would be really cool especially if you could customize your squad more and with improved rewards.
Maybe give them more commands too so you could control them more and take them into raid content ( it shouldn't replace duty finder or party finder, but for fun and maybe some weekly ).

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Originally Posted by Abomination713

...when using this system because I can't trust the CNJ in the first place...

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If you are relying on Cecily (CNJ)... and she isn't good and often falls asleep at her post, you need an ACN running too to back up her heals. CNJ+ACN is ok heals, as long as you adjust and don't expect to pull wall-to-wall with them.

As far as AOE's they are mostly immune, ignore that mechanic for them, don't micromanage.

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I know I can change their classes, but I'm stubborn and want to keep them as they were.

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Ah pity, it helps.

I normally run a CNJ+ACN+THM and tank it. Save me needing to use the engage stuff.

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Originally Posted by Shibi

If you are relying on Cecily (CNJ)... and she isn't good and often falls asleep at her post, you need an ACN running too to back up her heals. CNJ+ACN is ok heals, as long as you adjust and don't expect to pull wall-to-wall with them.

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I do have a ACN on the team and I swear they are the only reason I don't die as a tank to some of the more hectic boss fights. Usually my team is MRD, NIN, ACN, and CJN. Will most likely be switching out the MRD with GLA since Flash seems better at getting aggro compared to Overpower which doesn't make sense and will replace NIN with ARC once they get high enough level.

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Originally Posted by Michieltjuhh

Only use Marauder, Archer(s) and Conjurer for dungeons, all of them on pure offense. Micromanage them a little for certain dungeons (e.g. Bad Breath in Aurum Vale), and they'll clear faster than your average DF group.

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I don't know if I should be impressed with the squadrons or depressed for the average DF group.

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Originally Posted by Abomination713

I do have a ACN on the team and I swear they are the only reason I don't die as a tank to some of the more hectic boss fights. Usually my team is MRD, NIN, ACN, and CJN. Will most likely be switching out the MRD with GLA since Flash seems better at getting aggro compared to Overpower which doesn't make sense and will replace NIN with ARC once they get high enough level.

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ARC is pretty good, THM is slightly better I think because of their positioning in fights, the ARC does some real weird stuff with moving back, but yeah, that sounds like a good direction to head. Definitely move away from MDPS as soon as you can.

And yes, when I am healing, I noticed GLA is better than MRD as well - but even with GLA, the ACN's pet can still peel agro, requiring target of the peeled mob and a command to focus.

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Originally Posted by PapaIggy

They did update it, its called the Trust system.

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An upgrade implies improvement, not a nerf.

Trusts are weaker, slower, inefficient, rarely AoE, stop attacking when avoiding mechanics, can't be customized, only have 1 glamour alternative.

Squads can get stronger than the average DF player, kill decently fast, arcanists that double as aoe casters and back-up healers, do not stop attacking to avoid mechanics because they're literally immune to many of them or simply take reduced damage, have infinite glamour possibilities, and you can customize their damage/def/hp priorities.

Squads also aren't used as a crutch/excuse for bad dungeon design because dungeons weren't designed specifically for them.

Yeah, as annoying as micro'ing the squadrons can be, I actually found it kind of fun as well. Trusts are kind of too good. If you build your squadrons right and know how to use them they can actually clear things very quickly.. as long as a fight doesn't require any actual mechanics. I guess my ideal companion system would be something between the two. The ability to leave them on snail speed as a default but give you the ability to take manual control and order them around if you want to, and as you get more comfortable with whatever content you're running them through.

Another update I would like is add Viera and Hrothgar into the recruit list. Which I asked here. I want to have my barrack full of lionman! :cool:

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Originally Posted by Shibi

I'd like them to be expanded to 70... Once you have the full set on Kindergartners all levelled up to 60 it's a bit of a dead end.

Taking them to 70 would then let you move into trusts immediately.

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Agreed.
Besides, there are some glams that I'd like to use on them which are Lv70! ..or between 65-70!

Alternatively:

Remove squadron dungeon functionality entirely.
Build the trust system to do all story content from the first dungeon (lv 16). Including the pre-50, 4 man trials (Garuda, etc).
Utilize Edda’s party as trust members until the obvious, swapping for Scions (B squad Scions, like Hoary Boulder)
Expand it to function in 8 man content, utilizing scion NPCs.

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Originally Posted by kaynide

Alternatively:

Remove squadron dungeon functionality entirely.
Build the trust system to do all story content from the first dungeon (lv 16). Including the pre-50, 4 man trials (Garuda, etc).
Utilize Edda’s party as trust members until the obvious, swapping for Scions (B squad Scions, like Hoary Boulder)
Expand it to function in 8 man content, utilizing scion NPCs.

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this would be so hecking rad. i wish.

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Originally Posted by kaynide

Alternatively:

Remove squadron dungeon functionality entirely.
Build the trust system to do all story content from the first dungeon (lv 16). Including the pre-50, 4 man trials (Garuda, etc).
Utilize Edda’s party as trust members until the obvious, swapping for Scions (B squad Scions, like Hoary Boulder)
Expand it to function in 8 man content, utilizing scion NPCs.

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I would really, REALLY like to use the squadron I spent months finding (I got all the "unique" costume ones for the race/genders I wanted) and then once they could be glamoured, dressing and training for something other than yet another RNG item/currency daily "venture".

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Originally Posted by Shibi

ARC is pretty good, THM is slightly better I think because of their positioning in fights, the ARC does some real weird stuff with moving back, but yeah, that sounds like a good direction to head. Definitely move away from MDPS as soon as you can.

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From my experience, ARC isn't just better, they are head and shoulder above any other class in damage, especially AoE damage. Two ARCs with max rank offensive will melt everything as long as they use shadow flare, and the only problem with them is that they sometimes have trouble activating it (and they can't command their pets to change targets, which is a pretty minor problem).

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Originally Posted by van_arn

I don't know if I should be impressed with the squadrons or depressed for the average DF group.

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both, I'd say
double archers with offensive tactics absolutely melt everything it's not even funny

Pls make squads level to 70. I want to be able to solo everything in NG+ with my lowest level classes.

I would like to have them reach all the way to 90 and be able to take Jobs and not just base classes...

Maybe we can hope the Squadrons get an update the next time they decide to update Grand Companies, and considering they were last updated in Patch 4.4 maybe they are due an update.

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Originally Posted by Shibi

ARC is pretty good, THM is slightly better I think because of their positioning in fights

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I don't think I've ever actually had a THM in my squad. What's their AI like?

(I don't think I've actually seen most of the squad class AI since I struggle to even want to take anything besides Arcanist...)

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Originally Posted by Krotoan

I would really, REALLY like to use the squadron I spent months finding (I got all the "unique" costume ones for the race/genders I wanted) and then once they could be glamoured, dressing and training for something other than yet another RNG item/currency daily "venture".

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Ultimately that’s all they really are though, since you can’t really use them for most content.

I mean, could just roll them into the Scions then as customizable trust members. Or rewrite it so you are recruiting Scions with primal immunity.

I’d rather see them hanging out in the rising stones than being tucked into that closet in gridania. But even then I haven’t touched squadrons in over a year aside from maybe glamours- if they were gone I wouldn’t notice a bit.

Sometimes you just need completely gut things that don’t work in order to build something better. I think this could be better than a glorified set of dress up dolls.

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Originally Posted by kaynide

Ultimately that’s all they really are though, since you can’t really use them for most content.

I mean, could just roll them into the Scions then as customizable trust members. Or rewrite it so you are recruiting Scions with primal immunity.

I’d rather see them hanging out in the rising stones than being tucked into that closet in gridania. But even then I haven’t touched squadrons in over a year aside from maybe glamours- if they were gone I wouldn’t notice a bit.

Sometimes you just need completely gut things that don’t work in order to build something better. I think this could be better than a glorified set of dress up dolls.

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I mean.. YES .. but.. I just want to comment that I invested a LOT into my squadron and as someone who was there for the rollout I would like that to have meant something even though I understand that means more investment in a mostly ignored system now.

I still send them out everyday and have managed to have ALL of them with Gold Saucer Point chemistry and every once in a while I'll run a dungeon with them to finish a challenge or complete a wondrous tale.... seems like the promotion and rank system that was such a huge part of early "progression" in the game has just been abandoned.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kaynide

Alternatively:

Remove squadron dungeon functionality entirely.
Build the trust system to do all story content from the first dungeon (lv 16). Including the pre-50, 4 man trials (Garuda, etc).
Utilize Edda’s party as trust members until the obvious, swapping for Scions (B squad Scions, like Hoary Boulder)
Expand it to function in 8 man content, utilizing scion NPCs.

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Hell no. I love squadron while I can't stand 2 minutes with Trust.
If anything I'd like squadron to be taken all the way up to be used instead of Trust.

OP, squadron is clunky and irritating at first, but once you level them they're absolute powerhouses. They tend to clear packs before you can even touch them.
There are some dungeons they're really bad at (like Copperbell Hard or WP Hard) but in most of them they're fine. AV is actually smooth with them, as opposed to DF, cause standing in crap does nothign to them, as they're immune to all kinds of effects.
And you can get distracted and leave them to clear stuff on their own, unlike Trust where your death is a wipe.
Just pull through. They do really well set on offensive, I think I have tanks and healers set on defensive and that makes them focus on tanking/healing more than on just dpsing, other than ofc making them harder to kill.
They

Please SE, I just want them all using each of Shisui gear... :(

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...cOzdXBdlw7.png

Roes in speedos!

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Originally Posted by Tlamila

AV is actually smooth with them, as opposed to DF, cause standing in crap does nothign to them, as they're immune to all kinds of effects.

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Eh, they still get caught by Bad Breath, which can still lead to wipes, but it's more because the healer gets distracted trying to Esuna everything and drops the ball on healing.

At least to 70, would be nice

I personally like Trusts better in some ways -- they're better for folks who want to learn mechanics, and (my personal reason for enjoying them) they have more personality and interactions, both with each other and the dungeons. The only reason I use Trusts is to see those interactions.

(Take Alphinaud, G'raha Tia, and Y'shtola into Matoya's Relict as a Trust, and pay attention to them leading up to the second boss of the dungeon, and immediately after that fight. It's great. I'm also deeply fond of Alphinaud's /shock emote and "Is... that a giant armadillo??" upon seeing the first boss of Malikah's Well. I'm told Alisaie will rage out at the boss being untargetable and carpet-bomb the entire arena with repeated Verholies during the first boss of the level 87 dungeon, too, if you take her in there in Avatar mode.)

But Squadrons? I feel like they, along with your chocobo (i.e., the one you can bring out as a companion in overworld content), and possibly even to some degree bits of the current retainer system are like... maybe the various pieces of what they wanted the Path Companion system to eventually grow into becoming back in 1.x. And as frustrating as they can be at times, I do also think it'd be nice if Squadrons got a little more love and could approach that again. Make it so you can bring one of your Squadron members out in the field, as opposed to just your chocobo. Etc.

One thing I really want from Squadrons is to see all the recruits I have before deciding to dismiss or accept.

Also add all the dungeons form 15 to 70

It feels like our involvement with the Grand Companies has been cut out all together over the past few expansions. I can't remember anything to do with them in ShB or EW. Maybe they just want us to kind of forget them.