Soooooooo npc party?

[Gemina]

I can't help being salty about this addition. I just don't get why this game even needs the trust system when no one currently has trouble getting through content unless they avoid DF like the plague. I guess I just need to wait to see what it is really all about. I'll say this though, after leveling my squad to 60 for them to collect dust I am definitely waiting this one out before even touching it.

[TwistedTea]

I can't help being salty about this addition. I just don't get why this game even needs the trust system when no one currently has trouble getting through content unless they avoid DF like the plague.

MMORPGs are catering more and more toward the solo experience. And if we are being pedantic, I've brought this up before in other threads; the MSQ is mostly a solo experience to begin with duty finder/matchmaking lobby thrown in occasionally. Being able to clear MSQ dungeons/trials with an NPC party is not going to change that experience much in that aspect.

I would have decried this 'soloization' of MMOs in the past but as a SCH main for combat content and someone who mostly uses duty finder to clear MSQ stuff; I rather do said content with an NPC party.

Firstly, I'm in a different timezone than most of NA so can't really group up with friends or FC mates. Secondly, the skill level of party members you get in DF can vary significantly. Especially now, that there are no new raids and the raiders are either doing other stuff or not logging in.

Third, my own skill level is not that great despite reading/watching guides.

I'd rather do fights with an NPC party and learn fight mechanics at my own pace than being chewed out by party members for not understanding mechanics or not reacting fast enough.

[Iscah]

I'd rather do fights with an NPC party and learn fight mechanics at my own pace than being chewed out by party members for not understanding mechanics or not reacting fast enough.

I agree. Having come from playing single-player games, I really dislike how hard it is to actually learn a fight through your own gameplay experience and the trial-and-error process you'd use in other games. What does it mean when he's casting X? Am I supposed to be running away with this marker or getting into a particular position?

Here in a multiplayer situation, you don't have the same freedom to wait and see what happens, or even realise that some mechanics are happening (because another player performed them and you don't have to even know about it). There's more pressure from the start that if you do the wrong thing, it'll inconvenience other people, and to fully understand what happened you have to either do more research or have someone explain it to you.


I hope this approach of "starting with NPCs but encouraging you to graduate to playing with others" will also come with some better elements of learning a mechanic in one dungeon, then seeing it applied again later on.

(Guildhests should have been an excellent way to do this from the start, instead of having their own unique quirks that are never seen again.)


I don't mind having the majority of MSQ gameplay being solo - I like experiencing the story at my own pace. The one time we did story progression "as a party" was a group from my FC working through the Alexander raids before they became roulette-able, and I kept all my friends waiting because I wanted to talk to every NPC at every opportunity.

I like the social aspects and seeing other people out in the world with you, going through the story - you can spot the people who are at the same point you are, and then maybe end up in a dungeon together, but you don't *have* to keep pace with them or hold them up if you want to take a break.

[TwistedTea]

I hope this approach of "starting with NPCs but encouraging you to graduate to playing with others" will also come with some better elements of learning a mechanic in one dungeon, then seeing it applied again later on.

Yup, this is a good idea. I think content like Expert Roulettes,EX Primals, Savage raids etc should be designed around party play.More difficult content being gated by advanced versions of the Hall of the Novice:

1. Hall of the Expert Roulette
2. Hall of the Extreme Primal
3. Hall of the Savage Raider

All of these should be difficult enough,updated every time a new tier comes out and solo duties. So by the time we're done with the MSQ and these halls, the player is better prepared for party play in more challenging content.

I like the social aspects and seeing other people out in the world with you, going through the story - you can spot the people who are at the same point you are, and then maybe end up in a dungeon together, but you don't *have* to keep pace with them or hold them up if you want to take a break.

Yup, some of the friends on my friends list are simply from doing what you've stated.

So maybe, I'm an outlier. For the last 3 months, I've spent most of gameplay time crafting and gathering. Having played for about a year now, FFXIV's scripted combat simply does not appeal to me.

However, what does appeal to me, is all the non duty finder content,some parts of the MSQ,side-quest story and lore,exploring the overworld,content like POTD/HOH, glamour and just hanging out with friends/FC mates.

XIV's overworld is great place to hang out in and judging by stuff like "Doman Mahjong" that's gonna be added, XIV is really starting to feel like Second Life.

[Alleo]

Third, my own skill level is not that great despite reading/watching guides.

I'd rather do fights with an NPC party and learn fight mechanics at my own pace than being chewed out by party members for not understanding mechanics or not reacting fast enough.

Maybe I remember it wrong but didnt they kinda hint that it would be harder to do the dungeons with the NPCs because they might not be good enough like players. (Thus a very bad player might not be carriered through this with them)

For example if they still have the bad A.I of the squadron and you have to micro manage them on top of hoping that nobody of them dies and learn the mechanics yourself, might be harder than just with a group. (We still dont get every single old dungeon for squadron either because it would be too hard for some of them) So not sure if its really that great of a learning experience.

@Yeol: Thanks for providing the source. If its truly just for shadowbringer content and people need to go through all the old stuff first (or buy jump potion) what exactly do they need to learn about the basics of the game at that level anymore?

[TwistedTea]

Maybe I remember it wrong but didnt they kinda hint that it would be harder to do the dungeons with the NPCs because they might not be good enough like players. (Thus a very bad player might not be carriered through this with them)

For example if they still have the bad A.I of the squadron and you have to micro manage them on top of hoping that nobody of them dies and learn the mechanics yourself, might be harder than just with a group. (We still dont get every single old dungeon for squadron either because it would be too hard for some of them) So not sure if its really that great of a learning experience.

I don't mind if it's harder to do with an NPC party because I'll only be spending my own time and inconveniencing myself by poor play.

Also in a lot of normal content, players are overgeared, thus ignoring or skipping mechanics. Repeated failure with an NPC party where it's less likely, we can ignore or skip mechanics or the player has to be the one carrying the NPC teammates, is better for learning mechanics.

But if it's gonna be similar to the wonky AI of squadron, yeah SE really needs to improve upon that.