Sightseeing...

[KoujiMoreno]

In no sense is this a well implemented system. You are not sightseeing with this, you are waiting for 20 different weather/time patterns to go sightseeing. Like I said in the OP, they could have just given us a cutscene of the location with the right weather/time, they needn't even do that, just a postcard of the proper scene that might make some players go "I want to come back here when it's like that for a screenshot". I really do not get why people are against something like that, how would it be anything but an improvement to the system? It's less frustrating and more rewarding. What is so worthwhile about the current set up that its worth defending? Is it really just another case of "SE made it this way, and SE can do no wrong!"?

Now you're getting it.

[Mysteltain]

I said it in my earlier post, but after reading some of the comments from people defending this system I feel I need to reiterate this point: the problem isn't that Sightseeing requires us to wait for the right moment. The problem is that the system is needlessly vague about at least one of the requirements, forcing us to guess and rely on trial and error rather than logic. To make my point a bit clearer, here is a good example from the Sightseeing Log, along with the reasoning to the solution:

Log #008 - Western La Noscea

"When dawn breaks, I quench the flame and pour meself an ale. I step outside, and lose meself in the blue expanse above and below - me hard-earned reward for the ships I've seen to safety, I reckon." Such were the candlekeep's words and I would see as he saw.

So, from this log what can easily reason through that that the proper time to be here is morning, which occurs at 6am ET (Eorzea Time), and that we can see both sea and sky, so no clouds or rain. The location is revealed to us by the speaker: it's from a candlekeep, meaning it'll be at a lighthouse in Western La Noscea. As for the emote, he simply says that he looks out, so /lookout is a pretty obvious choice. This clue tells us all that we need to know about the location, leaving no doubt as to when, where, and what emote we need to fulfill our objective. The only doubt we could have is to whether the weather is "Clear" or "Fair", given that in both instances you can see the blue sky. But that still gives us a 50/50 chance, so if one doesn't work, check back later for the proper weather.

Overall, a very reasonable request, and easily fulfilled. Now, for a terrible example:

Log #004 - Middle La Noscea

"Back-breakin', arse-bustin' work, it is. But seein' me vessels ridin' the winds, soarin' off to far lands where me legs will never carry me - well at least me sweat and blood ain't been for naught, eh?" Such were the laborer's words and I would see as he saw.

From this log we know that we'll be looking for a port of some kind, specifically one involving air transportation. Given that this is in Middle La Noscea, it's easy enough to figure out where to go by simply looking at the map. Given that, unless specified otherwise, the proper emote is /lookout, we know what to use. But time? Weather? We're informed of neither of these. Does he see the vessels, silhouetted at night against the lights of civilization? The sun casting them in a fair light? An orange tint cast over them from the setting sun, framed by clouds? So, off the top of my head, our options for weather in Middle La Noscea are: Clear, Fair, Cloudy, Foggy, Rain. And our options for time are: morning, afternoon, evening, night. So, at any given point, we have a 1/20 chance of being right. That's a 5% chance, assuming every time we check this location there is a different weather/time combination. That is not good design, that is being needlessly vague. It wouldn't take much to fix this either:

Log #004 - Middle La Noscea (personal edit)

"Back-breakin', arse-bustin' work, it is. But seein' me vessels ridin' the winds, the sun shinin' right down 'pon 'em, soarin' off to far lands where me legs will never carry me - well at least me sweat and blood ain't been for naught, eh?" Such were the laborer's words and I would see as he saw.

I added seven words, and all of a sudden we can narrow down the possibilities to two types of weather, and one time: Clear or Fair, and Afternoon. We're back to a 50/50 chance, and that's much easier to work with than 1/20 chance.

I know I was really long winded with this, but I hope this will show just how flawed this is as an optional task. But it's not hard to fix, either! The time/weather requirements for each riddle can even be kept, so long as a bit more specificity with regards to time and weather is added. At that point you're solving a riddle, not taking a scattershot guess and praying that the stars have aligned, and the former is much more enjoyable than the latter.

[Yukiko]

That whole sightseeing task makes me wish i could use the echo to change the weather and time...
Even ascains are saying we will become much stronger, so please adjust SOMETHING.
Currently i have given up on that part of the game! (I am not alone, many friends are skipping this too)

[ChriZirhC]

I wanted to do the ones in limsa earlier. Camped first the one at bismark. It had to be good weather and in the morning around 8am. Was waiting then at exactly 8am it rained. fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[Inkin]

I don't have a lot to add, everything has pretty much been said in this thread but SE really needs to step the fuck up, so I'll add another post/complain I guess.
The idea is great, and I actually had a blast with friends looking for the vistas. But weather? Seriously, no. I can understand you don't want people to clear it right away, but this is the kind of stuff that makes people disgusted. We have enough grind to do with Novus (Spiritbonding, Myth farming, Materia buying...), why do you have to implement weather that especially never shows up when you want it to on content that's supposed to be laid back? Instead of being laid back, I am absolutely getting irritated at this, waiting for the weather to change...
Also:

[Inkin]

(1000 char limit)


- Fair and Clear weather. Please, this is exactly the same shit. And yet, you can't clear certain logs on Clear weather and vice-versa.

- Some weathers don't seem to exist at all. And yes, I am talking about the rain weather in Drybone. Showers weather, that we have. But rain weather? People have been waiting for more than 10 hours here for the right weather, with no luck. I don't know a SINGLE person that has gotten entry 018 done yet on the whole internet. If you try to make something grindy as shit, please AT LEAST do it so people can clear it.

Do you call that laid back? I don't. I was very, very excited about this log and in the end, you guys blow it again.

[Scorpius]

Ahh the joys of waiting on day/weather to get something done...
Kinda reminds me of unlocking Summoner or crafting in XI...
Fun times indeed.



NOT!!

Glad i'm not unlocking this crappy quest. Don't want/need the achievement.

[Nalien]

Glad i'm not unlocking this crappy quest. Don't want/need the achievement.

Wish I could say that. If I was just disappointed with it I could probably put up with that disappointment and forget about it, instead they decided to hold the Fledgling Apkallu hostage...

Kinda reminds me of unlocking Summoner or crafting in XI...

I guess it could be worse...


You know, something like the waterfall in Uleguerand Range would have been nice. Again, not for every single entry in the log, but it would at least make the weather requirement a bit more interesting. You're not standing in the right spot waiting for weather, you're waiting for the right weather so the path to the spot opens up. Then it's very likely to be a place you've never seen before as well. World interactions like that are something XIV is completely missing thinking about it... I think XI even let you get around them without weather (you could trade Ice Clusters to fire spouts in Ifrit's Cauldron to temporarily stop them iirc).

[MeeDeggiThePunisher]

Relax, it's just a side activity. You guys are taking this a little too seriously. It's a minor annoyance at worst.

[Nalien]

Relax, it's just a side activity. You guys are taking this a little too seriously. It's a minor annoyance at worst.

It's precisely because it's a side activity that it shouldn't have such ridiculous lockdowns on the content.

I wouldn't call needing cloudy weather to view the inside of the Leatherworkers Guild a "minor annoyance", I'd call it a stupid, nonsensical one.