Did the game get too complicated, or am I just an idiot?

[RapBreon]

I personally don't expect that. But it really does suck when your class is so reliant on the buff phase, that losing it due to random mechanics (like Quarantine) can completely kill your dps. Personally, I don't expect to get off every Split Shot due to cast time, nor do I expect for every Wildfire to hit. But it shouldn't be such a big dps loss, especially when it takes a long time to recover because without your buffs, you're basically gambling on procs.

But that is the core fundamentals of having of mechanics; to challenge your ability to pull off your rotation optimally in the face of a boss whose goal is to screw with your rotation. Amongst other things.

Sometimes you get shafted, sometimes you don't, but almost always there is something else you could've done.

Like sitting on your Wildfire until you see someone get Quarantined (within reason). For example, I know the first Quaruntine is coming around 50% on the first leg, I'm safe to go ham. My second round I know there might be a conflict because depending on group DPS, the leg might shatter before the second. I need to analyze what it happening and make a decision, not just jam buttons as they light up. This is an example of how mechanics separate the 'good' from the 'great'.

You're right though, some classes cop it harder than others on certain fights; that's the nature of the game however and part of what keeps it interesting - in my view. If your class is super reliant on those CDs (which MCH is) that means you need to be that more in-tune with mechanics that can screw with that phase. It's annoying no doubt, but necessary if you want to give it your best!

Naturally, these words are easy to say. Much harder to put into practice however.

[Ryaz]

But that is the core fundamentals of having of mechanics; to challenge your ability to pull off your rotation optimally in the face of a boss whose goal is to screw with your rotation. Amongst other things.

Sometimes you get shafted, sometimes you don't, but almost always there is something else you could've done.

Like sitting on your Wildfire until you see someone get Quarantined (within reason). For example, I know the first Quaruntine is coming around 50% on the first leg, I'm safe to go ham. My second round I know there might be a conflict because depending on group DPS, the leg might shatter before the second. I need to analyze what it happening and make a decision, not just jam buttons as they light up. This is an example of how mechanics separate the 'good' from the 'great'.

You're right though, some classes cop it harder than others on certain fights; that's the nature of the game however and part of what keeps it interesting - in my view. If your class is super reliant on those CDs (which MCH is) that means you need to be that more in-tune with mechanics that can screw with that phase. It's annoying no doubt, but necessary if you want to give it your best!

Naturally, these words are easy to say. Much harder to put into practice however.

The only real fight where I've actually had an issue so far is A4. A1, I can pop my buffs first thing and I'll sit on Wildfires until after the bots land again. A2... Well, not really as much use for it there as most mobs die before it goes off. A3 is fairly simple to manage it as there's plenty of time each phase. It's mostly A4 phase 2 that gets me. After the first leg is shattered, I save my Wildfire for the beginning of the second, which usually goes off fine. It's when I'm dealing with dolls, lasers and Quarantine at the same time that it gets messy. Which I'm sure it does for other classes.

I usually am near top dps on Alex fights, so I've gotten down pretty well, imo. It just sucks getting punished so hard for unavoidable mechanics. I'm not sure how hard it is for other classes to reapply their big buffs like BotD or Enochian, but having to rely on multiple 90+ second cooldowns and a 15 second window just to be competitive is really annoying and can be hard to recover from if something does screw up. Especially when several of the cooldowns don't even line up well, like Reload and Hypercharge, and you're left relying on RNG procs to just not lose your dps too much. That's not about skill, it's about luck, which always a bad design choice, in my mind.

[RapBreon]

The only real fight where I've actually had an issue so far is A4. A1, I can pop my buffs first thing and I'll sit on Wildfires until after the bots land again. A2... Well, not really as much use for it there as most mobs die before it goes off. A3 is fairly simple to manage it as there's plenty of time each phase. It's mostly A4 phase 2 that gets me. After the first leg is shattered, I save my Wildfire for the beginning of the second, which usually goes off fine. It's when I'm dealing with dolls, lasers and Quarantine at the same time that it gets messy. Which I'm sure it does for other classes.

I usually am near top dps on Alex fights, so I've gotten down pretty well, imo. It just sucks getting punished so hard for unavoidable mechanics. I'm not sure how hard it is for other classes to reapply their big buffs like BotD or Enochian, but having to rely on multiple 90+ second cooldowns and a 15 second window just to be competitive is really annoying and can be hard to recover from if something does screw up. Especially when several of the cooldowns don't even line up well, like Reload and Hypercharge, and you're left relying on RNG procs to just not lose your dps too much. That's not about skill, it's about luck, which always a bad design choice, in my mind.

I can't speak for BLM. But if I get sucked up after a Geirskogul, I lose BoTD and become a 2.0 DRG. There is no 'luck' in this situation, I took the chance to Geirskogul before a Quarantine and paid for it. Whilst the mechanic itself is not avoidable, you can certainly mitigate its effect on your total DPS. If you were to play around this mechanic (as Square presumably intends) you would not be 'punished so hard', no more than most other classes.

Another approach would be to queue a DF A4 and just not do your rotation optimally. Sit there counting the globals (or use a stop-watch or some such) between each Quarantine phase then multiply the total amount of globals by your recast timer. Repeating for each leg (1 is less of an issue than 2 though). This way you won't need to track when someone else gets sucked up (which can be challenging depending on the situation); you'll have timers and - with practice - a rhythm and feel for when each Quarantine. Failing that you could employ a stop-watch (or an ACT plugin) so you know exactly when each Quarantine comes. Regardless, the outcome will be Quarantine never screwing with your DPS cooldowns ever again for 20 odd minutes of work.

People would argue that this is ridiculous and shouldn't be required. To that I agree for the most part and it isn't. If you as a player are OK with not performing 100% then sure. I personally don't do it, not worth the effort for a DF level encounter when I can just press my buttons and win easily anyway. But blaming the class/team/players/game/RNG/insertscapegoat is typically misplaced (though not always), not when you can do something about it.

I'm bored and just felt like sharing my philosophy.

Edit: Spelling.