I'd personally kinda like to see the old "Squadrons" system revamped a bit

Every now and then, whenever I head to my Squadron barracks (I'm in Immortal Flames, so it's about the most convenient glamour dresser), I'll usually just check in and send my squadron on a mission. Definitely not something I really pay any attention to, but it seemed like it was probably a fun idea at the time.

It's something that, honestly, I kind of wonder if it might be cool updating it slightly?

For example, there are apparently all kinds of NPC's you *can* enlist in your Squadron. But since you're limited to... what, 8? And they seem almost impossible to get "the right NPC's you want" if aiming for particular ones (I've never seen a guide on them; would appreciate a link if there is one, though!), I'm personally a little indifferent to them.

It might be kind of cool if they were updated a bit, maybe giving each one a specific outfit/default, and positioning them as NPC's in the future (even just one-off quest givers or something)? Or even just seeing them out randomly patrolling the cities from time to time.

Also, I'd personally be kinda stoked if you could potentially "collect 'em all", even if the ones IN your squadron were maybe a random assortment, or the others were "out in the field" but could be changed out as you liked.

Heck, you know how there are several Grand Company ranks that are currently inaccessible to players? Maybe that could be tied to getting access to commanding a larger "Squadron"?

In fact... what if you could actually bring the Squadron under your command, to populate your Island Sanctuary? You could explain it as your GC leader authorizing you to establish your island as a new base of operations (maybe even GC-themed building makeovers), OR you could do the opposite and get permission to give your squadron members a bit of R&R, giving them a break. Actually, that could be a perfect solution for what to do with any "non-active squadron NPC's" that you've unlocked; chilling on your island sanctuary until you make them active back at your city's GC.

Of course, it's just an idea. And not even one I think would be some BIG, MASSIVE addition to the game or anything.

Rather, it just seems like kind of a cool system that, particularly with the Trust system, feels like it's kinda been left by the wayside a bit. It would be cool to update it a bit, or heck, maybe even merge Squadrons *into* the Trust system somehow, getting the best of both worlds?

What do you guys think?

Didn't yoshida say he's going to phase out the squad system and double down on trusts/supports?

It's a dead system, like how they did nothing else to your Chocobo Companion system.

At least the squadron was a test for the trusts...? But it could have led to giving us more ranks for the CG, even if it only unlocked glamour/ect.

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Originally Posted by Bacent

It's a dead system, like how they did nothing else to your Chocobo Companion system.

At least the squadron was a test for the trusts...? But it could have led to giving us more ranks for the CG, even if it only unlocked glamour/ect.

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Personally, I would rather have random NPCs that I can glamour over Yshtola with a new hat. :/

IDK if they ever said that.
I don't even remember if anything was said in relation to GCs/Squads. though I'd rather they keep them relevant and useful/give new life.

I know they made many Trusts/Support(but i forget if that only applied to Story relevanf DNGs). though that brings into question the minor achievements related to them, as well as the Assigments and their rewards(which many collect.., MGP VIP for example, or what it's called)

we can only wait and see, I hope they make them useful and add more GC ranks.<and make the gear dyeable, so I can use that nice Jacket with other, things.>

Maybe if we explore a new region, it could have some tie in with GC support. but at that point, what else is the need for it.., We have the GCoE, the E.Alliance.(does the I.Contingent count, probably not, but something will grow in that region in the future.)

Tldr: we have no idea, while I personally would like to think they will do something with them, specially as some characters reference your rank in certain scenarios and cutscenes. we really cannot tell. specially since others recall potentially it being up to chop.

Some day, I hope they're able to port squads over to Duty Support (likely after they get caught up on the duties.)

What makes the squadrons fun is that you can glamour them. I would've honestly love it if the duty support used them/the lesser Scions instead of no-name randos

I liked choosing my squadron and the customization we have over them. Wish we could do more with them. Would have been cool if they could have been used along with Chocobo as a summonable companion while soloing or something, or picked as retainers, or anything more really.

I didn't like the squadrons, but that's because of the heavy min/maxing required for those missions. Ugh, never again.

The last time that was mentioned back in storm blood. they said they where going to work on it next to apartments. with your suggestions it will give them a bit more life

I think the easiest way to incorporate the Squadron into the Trust system would be to make the unlock happen earlier and then use a level scaled version of your squadron members in the Duty Support rather than literally nameless NPCs.



Edit: Also, the Chocobo Companion got mentioned, I would like to note just how outdated that thing is since one of the skills in all 3 of it's trees is 5% Accuracy, a stat that hasn't existed since Stormblood launched.

I'd have loved updates to Squadron & our Chocobo
Maybe make our Chocobo apart of the trust system :D

Hah, I'd honestly completely forgotten about Chocobo's being companions! I mean, I pretty much always have mine out, but they *are* fairly useless in general, it feels like. But yeah, I would LOVE being able to bring them along the Trust system, or even for running old non-synced dungeons (particularly for BLU's, since Choco Meteor is super important).

It's a real shame they went with current Duty Support system of using Trusts instead of having a more tweakable and expanded version of Squadrons.

A properly leveled up and micromanaged Squadron could demolish dungeons faster than majority of the random parties you get in Duty Finder, but I guess from new player perspective it's better to have slower pace and more enemy ability respecting group of AI.

It's also a huge missed opportunity in testing out customization systems for other (side)content, they could have tried skill trees or pick X ability spellbooks for Squadrons on top of the fancy stuff like glamming and maybe alternate stat gearing etc.

Imagine if they had tried duties where multiple players bring some of their Squadron for big battles, being able to play as proper commander for them.

I might be using them wrong but my Squadron is so weak they barely can clear dungeons. I’m stuck at Brayflox dungeon since many years ago and never came back to it since.

I personally think they should increase it from 8 to 12 members and add more characters from the missing races, Hrothgars & Vieras. I really did enjoy using them. It was a lot of fun. Only certain dungeons were a pain, but for the most part, I like using them to practice roles I was leveling.

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Originally Posted by Hycinthus

I might be using them wrong but my Squadron is so weak they barely can clear dungeons. I’m stuck at Brayflox dungeon since many years ago and never came back to it since.

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Yeah thats entirely on you. Properly leveled and maintained and utilized they clear dungeons extremely fast and with very little trouble. The only issue I ever have with them is the healer occasionally having a massive brain fart and just NOT healing but thats pretty rare. Also I bring a arcanist along as a secondary healer just in case. Also to be able to look at what Summoner used to be and weep.

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Originally Posted by Palladiamors

Yeah thats entirely on you. Properly leveled and maintained and utilized they clear dungeons extremely fast and with very little trouble. The only issue I ever have with them is the healer occasionally having a massive brain fart and just NOT healing but thats pretty rare. Also I bring a arcanist along as a secondary healer just in case. Also to be able to look at what Summoner used to be and weep.

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It's probably cuz these are ARR/HW level dungeons, but I daresay squadrons are actually faster and more effective than trusts (not sure about duty support tho)

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Originally Posted by Allegor

It's probably cuz these are ARR/HW level dungeons, but I daresay squadrons are actually faster and more effective than trusts (not sure about duty support tho)

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Unlike the Trusts who have like 1 AoE attack in their standard rotation, I do believe the Squadrons actually use AoE attacks regularly when there are multiple enemies... So they have better AI for fighting trash. Also, I do believe they don't stop attacking during mechanics which is something the Trust NPCs do.

I love Squadron. I have a full miqote squad on my main, and a full lala One on a lala character.

While I WOULD like to see them revamp the GC system-- I'd also like to finish all the damn ranks we don't have yet. Neat glamours appear in the GC's. And it's sad we still haven't had much of upgrades to ranks and gear since basically Stormblood.

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Originally Posted by Elkanah

While I WOULD like to see them revamp the GC system-- I'd also like to finish all the damn ranks we don't have yet. Neat glamours appear in the GC's. And it's sad we still haven't had much of upgrades to ranks and gear since basically Stormblood.

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About ranks glamour i dunno if somebody else noticed: the last chest piece off GC outfit, can now be bought only if you have the actual max rank, but It Is not a piece added with last ranks. They Just moved the requirement form last cap to actual One.
I Always found that lazy and i wished instead they added something new >_<

Squads are dead as they currently are, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be taken in a different direction.

For example, the next step for squads could be at your next GC rank you get promoted from managing a squad to managing a platoon. You go from having 8 squad members to having 20 members, you can send them out on different types of missions and they’ll gain exp, bring back exclusive rewards and unlock special missions that let them unlock extra features like their classes job stone and level cap rises (allowing them to skip shadowbringers dungeons for command missions and move straight onto endwalker). Maybe even have a little cutscene that you can watch of a kind of summary of what happened on the mission. Then they could expand command missions to include unique missions closer to guildhests with your squad rather than just dungeons.

I am literally 71/100 on the achievement on doing 100 command missions. I am so stoked to be SO done with the Squadron system. I am just gonna throw on some silly glamours on them all and never go back into the barracks ever again once the achievement is done. xD

i forgot squadrons were even a thing until i made a new character and wanted my squat emote back
i do wish it was given a facelift or something, it seems like a really random side thing to do that's kinda tedious

What I would like is new insignia. 1st Lieutenant, a jacket with one bar on the collar and one on the sleeves for 2 LT, a jacket with two bars / two rings on sleeves for 1st LT, a jacket with 4 bars / anchor on the collar and four rings ( braided ) on the sleeves for Captain...as a variant, a jacket with epaulettes, 1 bar for 2LT, 2 bars for 1 LT, 4 bars for Captain.

There was a new uniform for Maelstrom, saw it in a role quest, cant find a pic right now.

I definitely like the idea of being able to have squadron members on our island sanctuary. that would be cool.

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Originally Posted by Elkanah

While I WOULD like to see them revamp the GC system-- I'd also like to finish all the damn ranks we don't have yet. Neat glamours appear in the GC's. And it's sad we still haven't had much of upgrades to ranks and gear since basically Stormblood.

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What sucks is that those Glamours are GC locked. If I earn something / buy something on the Immortal Fails, d@mmit I want to be able to wear it if I switch to Maelstrom.

I do miss my chocobo squad. They just sit in the barracks all day.

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Originally Posted by Cabalabob

Squads are dead as they currently are, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be taken in a different direction.

For example, the next step for squads could be at your next GC rank you get promoted from managing a squad to managing a platoon. You go from having 8 squad members to having 20 members, you can send them out on different types of missions and they’ll gain exp, bring back exclusive rewards and unlock special missions that let them unlock extra features like their classes job stone and level cap rises (allowing them to skip shadowbringers dungeons for command missions and move straight onto endwalker). Maybe even have a little cutscene that you can watch of a kind of summary of what happened on the mission. Then they could expand command missions to include unique missions closer to guildhests with your squad rather than just dungeons.

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*raise cap to 30 members*
*single player 24 man raids*
DO IT YOU COWARDS!