Anti-Speed Run Mechanism

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

I don't believe SE designed the game for the current speed run mechanics to occur. A lot of folks may get bent out of shape if you try to consider the balance of the game as it goes against their current favorite method of grinding.

The few things that I can think of that could deter a speed run, such as those found at Amdapor Keep.

1) Once the boss battle starts, all unkilled mobs will pile up into the boss room.

2) Bosses have an HP boost based on the number of unkilled mobs/groups in its dungeon segment. This may result in battles taxing HP/MP/TP more. Better gear and tactics will allow you to "speed run", where other parties may need to level the playing field by killing enemies before the Demon Wall or before that gremlin-ant-looking fellow.

[Jinko]

1) Once the boss battle starts, all unkilled mobs will pile up into the boss room.

Vote for my favourite, plus it would be kind of funny the day after patch >.>

[Amas]

The few things that I can think of that could deter a speed run, such as those found at Amdapor Keep.

1) Once the boss battle starts, all unkilled mobs will pile up into the boss room.

2) Bosses have an HP boost based on the number of unkilled mobs/groups in its dungeon segment. This may result in battles taxing HP/MP/TP more. Better gear and tactics will allow you to "speed run", where other parties may need to level the playing field by killing enemies before the Demon Wall or before that gremlin-ant-looking fellow.

Incentive works much, much better than punishment for altering behavior.

If speed runs of AK stop being viable because of a mechanics change and the only reason to kill trash is because you have to, most people will stop doing AK entirely. It's just not worth the time for a bunch of ilvl 60 greens and some tomes if each run is going to take 60-90 minutes and you'll rack up a massive repair bill in the process. The 8 man story dungeons become more efficient, from both time and cost perspectives, if you have to slow-run AK.

If speed runs of AK stop being worthwhile because you get something of sufficient value from the trash, people will start killing the trash.

Edit: And in a wider sense, if your goal is to create a healthy, thriving MMO, punishing players is a generally stupid idea. If people do something unanticipated (FATE parties, AK speed runs) and the devs' response is to punish people, those players won't feel valued and are likely to quit. It's bad business sense on SE's part to just nerf nerf nerf. If something is exceptionally unbalanced to the point of breaking the game (e.g. finding an exploit that triples tomes dropped in a run), that obviously needs to be addressed.

It's a much better business decision for SE to learn from their mistakes, avoid repeating them in the future, and generally let things stand for the time being (or create incentive to alter behavior). Nerfing FATE XP or adding mechanics to prevent speed running is foolhardy. Especially 2 weeks into a game's life. Add daily quests that give a big chunk of XP for completion of a dungeon, and you'll see people migrate towards the DF and mostly the hardcore grinders will stick to FATEs. Add drops of value to AK trash so that people want to kill it. You lose money hand over fist just by being 50 and doing content, and rather than introducing money through dailies, add it through trash (which is also an effective time gate).

[Warpune]

Well, explain this: Repairs to tank are beyond 2k gil in this crap speedrun and 600 gil from standard one. Pretty good reason to avoid speedruns and make ppl leave since tanks got insta que.

[Ryuni]

Well, explain this: Repairs to tank are beyond 2k gil in this crap speedrun and 600 gil from standard one. Pretty good reason to avoid speedruns and make ppl leave since tanks got insta que.

Sorry I only run with friends, sometimes we grab a random from DF but it works out anyways.
We get consistently lower repair bills if we do sacrifice runs. Even the tank.

[bwalker36]

Well, explain this: Repairs to tank are beyond 2k gil in this crap speedrun and 600 gil from standard one. Pretty good reason to avoid speedruns and make ppl leave since tanks got insta que.

Def not the case. If you go through the dungeon and don't die besides sac the repairs are much cheaper than clearing fully. Trash is just useless. Give me vendor trash and chance at items and I'll kill them. But costing me more money, being slower and giving me nothing annoys me. I did it once fully to experience it and now I'm doing it to progress my character.

[Sakasa]

Def not the case. If you go through the dungeon and don't die besides sac the repairs are much cheaper than clearing fully. Trash is just useless. Give me vendor trash and chance at items and I'll kill them. But costing me more money, being slower and giving me nothing annoys me. I did it once fully to experience it and now I'm doing it to progress my character.

Yeah but you see here is the thing while that is perfectly alright you are now going to force people to do it your way now or fully experience it again with new people

[bwalker36]

Yeah but you see here is the thing while that is perfectly alright you are now going to force people to do it your way now or fully experience it again with new people

Me no. I will try to find full parties. If I cannot I simple ask the group what they want to do. If they have all been there and want to we speed run. If two payers are new, I'm not speed running to die on bosses well go through it slowly and learn them some AK.

But a lot of people do tend to be that way or will quit if they don't get the speedrun. I prefer the speedrun but will not rage quit especially after waiting 15 mintues for the server queue anyway.

[Mikai]

false your gear breaks faster dealing with trash mobs compared to speed running.

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

snip...

Incentives do work better. Considering Amdapor Keep is being run in an exploitative method, I think we've gotten spoiled with it.

The last thing I can think of for now is having a line (usually the safety line) that you can't cross if anyone in the party has enmity. So any current "safe zone" should have the line on it. This will probably just lead to finding other safe spots to respawn at, but may enforce killing the monsters instead of running by them without punishing the players (unless taking away an exploit is considered punishment, but as said, that deserves no compensation for. Those of us using it are being compensated now).