Cutscenes for Castrum Meridianum and Praetorium: A Suggestion

[Ryan77k]

Oh, hello.

Since the change that made it so the cutscenes in the above mentioned dungeons can't be skipped, I myself haven't really done the Main Scenario Roulette since, with a couple exceptions. I think most of us veterans can agree that it's a fairly draconian and heavy-handed change that, really, just makes nobody want to go through it again. Although I am leveling up a new alt right now and have reached the point where I have to do it again.

The thought sort of dawned on me that there might be a way to keep the cutscenes around, but offer the option to skip the cutscenes for experienced group. I mean, I'm doing Praetorium unsynced as I type this and I'm not even able to skip the cutscenes, which is ridiculous. I would offer the suggestion that a vote system be implemented to skip the cutscenes. Might not be perfect, and someone could easily troll it, but the option and ability to do so might well be better than not having it.

[Hasrat]

"Let's just keep kicking players until the vote passes."

[Lambdafish]

cool, 3 new players, 5 experienced players, vote passes, 3 new players who lose out. Unless there is 8/8 voting for skipping then the system wont work

[HyoMinPark]

I see the issues it would cause if cutscenes were skippable provided there were no new players (e.g., kicking the newbie when there is one), but I think a decent compromise would, at least, be to allow cutscene skipping if you're running the content unsynced.

[Canadane]

cool, 3 new players, 5 experienced players, vote passes, 3 new players who lose out. Unless there is 8/8 voting for skipping then the system wont work

I would be 100% fine with an 8/8 vote needed.
That, or just make it so if someone is there for the first time, you can't skip cutscenes. If nobody is new, let the regular skip option be there.

[Frizze]

I think a decent compromise would, at least, be to allow cutscene skipping if you're running the content unsynced.

You can only run unsync with a pre-made party. If you pre-made a party, you can discuss the option and potentially agree in advance that no one wants to watch the scenes. Unsync allowing skips solves the problem. If youre worried about the que for the version that cant be skipped, you can always bump the roulette reward a bit higher. There exists an amount of exp/poetics/something that will keep the ques moving at a reasonable rate, it just has to be calculated.

[Pastahnak]

Well would this effect the massive exp gain I get at the end? Cause Id still vote to watch cutscenes just for the added exp.

[Krojack]

Although I am leveling up a new alt right now and have reached the point where I have to do it again.

Honestly you don't have to do it. There is always Palace of the Dead.

It's honestly not as bad as people make it out to be. I just alt-tab out during the cut scenes. Having a vote will pressure the first time people into saying yes else get called out and bashed on if not even kicked out of the instance.

What should be changed is, if you run unsynced then you can skil. If there are no first time people then they can be skipped. Other than that it's fine.

I still see new people getting left behind because of the large pulls that get skipped and they don't know whats going on. Also the elevators needs to be removed as people are always left behind on those as well.

[Moogly]

Most likely, the vote will end up with skipping the cutscenes.
Unending journey stays the best compromise and I doubt any other solution will work if it involve having veteran players watch the cutscenes.

[PangTong]

They should just take the time and make these two instances solo duties with NPCs like so many others that already exist. Just separate Ultima and Lahabrea and have them be a separate 8 player trial.

Even weekly capped tomes aren't enough to make me sit through 45 minutes of cutscenes. Probably even VI materias wouldn't be enough. If you got 3 guaranteed Second Chance Points, that might be enough.