Two months into Shadowbringers, do you find yourself still using Trusts?

[Lonkkis]

Didn't used it even once so far. I don't like the idea that the Npcs can't rez you and that it should take longer than with a normal group. Maybe if they make it more rewarding and speed it up a bit im gonna try it out.

It's the same as with the squadron. Its a really nice idea to provide variety, but the way how they did it is pretty bad. I also would like to spend more time with my squadron but it seems they abandoned this feature and spending time with it doesn't feel rewarding in any way. Its more difficult and takes longer doing the Dungeons with a Squadron but its not worth doing it in terms of Xp nor you can get anything nice or usefull from the dungeons. (At Least i didn't found anything)

They really should do something to motivate ppl using all features of their game and make them feel fun and rewarding.

This is actually wrong. From levels 20-55, Squadron xp surpass even PotD, and with the addition of Sohm Al possibly even longer (I did squadron leveling with all the classes before Sohm Al got added).

(Following xp gain is when using a 30% xp earring, FC buffs and Armory bonus. Toss in a Battle Manual too if you want more)

Clearing Halatali gives roughly 150k xp, one run takes about 15 minutes (sometimes faster), which translates to roughly 600k xp / hour. A 51-60 PotD run at level 20 gives 75,600 xp per run. If you have a good group that clears the place in 10 minutes, that makes it 453,600 xp / hour

Key thing is to run only specific dungeons with them. Since AI is pretty stupid, it's recommended to only run Halatali, Toto-Rak, Brayflox and Stone Vigil with them. As stated before, I haven't run Sohm Al with them I can't say what the experience running that one is.

And use two Archers if you're not DPSing, put all of the Squadron members on offensive tactic, put the Engage on your hotbar and their LB too.

[Shougun]

I haven't run Sohm Al with them I can't say what the experience running that one is.

They're definitely pretty great exp options, at least if you've got the tactics set up and are doing the right dungeons .

Sohm Al is actually pretty easy and fast, I can wall to wall pull the entire dungeon with squadrons (I've done it as tank, healer, and DD) and they deal awesome damage (regularly skipping the big slime phase all together).

Just wanted to add another dungeon to that list- Brayflox hard is easy so long as you have your own AoE.. because the last boss is a huge pain otherwise lol. Like on dancer you could push all the bombs to the wall in one move, super easy.

Definitely the biggest limiting factor to squadrons is their AI and how many buttons you want to push for them. Really hope something happens to them so they don't become dead content now that we have Trusts (suggested a few things already). Also if Trusts can learn to do the damage squadrons have i'll be using them a lot more (used them for novelty and just to see how smart they are, pretty smart, fun to listen to), but I just like going fast and wall to walling stuff with efficent feeling lol (but since they're current content only I'm okay that they don't yet, just hope later they can).

[Voltyblast]

Nope

I only used it once for the 79 dungeon, I was tank but didn't even attempt to mass pull, and the run took me more than 30 minutes: dps is extremely slow and weak, a group takes forever to be killed, and I bet I was doing more dps than the actual dps of the trust.
I could probably use it if I was levelling a dps and needed that quick run but, I think I'll stick with normal roulettes and over 30 minutes of queue...at least it's faster and I get to talk with actual human beings from time to time.

[Yunuen]

I've been using them a little bit, mostly Holminster to try and get the minion, and I figured it'd be good to use them for Dohn Mheg so I can get some nicer snaps without having to being a burden to other players, lol.

I'm a bit annoyed that they don't use AOEs, and that it's a bit harder to get big pulls, but I can live with it. ...In a few instances where I've tried to get Thancred to get bigger pulls, I've had Alphinaud teleport to where I run ahead and almost get Thancred killed from the lack of heals.

[Khalithar]

I never used trusts during the leveling process, not even once.

[Deceptus]

No because they don't use any aoe at all.

[Vidu]

I gave them their first chance today - during the MSQ they were completly useless to me, or rather: to us. Seeing how you only have the option to go full trust and not with having as many trust members fill your group up, its of no use when you play through the story together with your partner...

Anyways, gave Holminster a try today. Took way to long and Urianger died during the last boss. To the AoEs the boss does when spinning around, not to a stack or anything I had any power over, mind you. Lucky enough the boss was at 5% and "we" made it, but I dont think I'll be doing that again any time soon.

[WhimsicalPacifist]

Took a look through my combat logs at Holminster. No AoE and zero Direct Hits coming from the Trust NPC's. Critical hits seem to be capped at 5% (RNG may push it to 4-6%). If you are playing a class with a large chunk of potential in rDPS vs personal DPS you probably don't want to use it in a trust. Not looking forward to losing MSQ XP to Trusts if they replace them.

[KageTokage]

The trusts mostly suck at clearing trash quickly. I've found they tend to be only marginally slower then average DF groups at killing the bosses.

With all my classes at 80, I still have three of them a few levels away from cap so I think I'll max them so I can do the next MSQ dungeon with them. I enjoy the banter between them.

[Crysten]

I'm loving them on DPS jobs, personally.

The average DF queue on my data centre is around 15-25 minutes, and the average DF run takes around 20-25 (assuming the three other people in your party aren't special). By comparison, trusts have an instant pop and the average run takes about half an hour. In that sense, they honestly even themselves out. I've had plenty of DF runs go slower than trusts because some casual DPS are terrible at the game.

People complain the trusts are too slow but I like the fact the trusts basically give you a concrete expectation. I know if I have half an hour to kill, I'll just jump into whatever dungeon I need with Thancred, Urianger and Ryne.

For healers and tanks though? I probably wouldn't if I could get an instant pop.