Tales from Duty Finder: Some make you laugh, some make you cry. Let's vent.

[Lodi]

I've noticed a few WHMs using only Cure II the past 2 weeks

Can't decide which is worse between that and Cure bots.

I still remember that Holminster Switch I ran as RDM, I was screaming "USE ADLO" in chat while trying to keep the tank alive because our SCH did nothing but spamming Physick for the entire dungeon. No damage, no AF, no CDs, only Physick.

[Ceridwenae]

*in which I have a long & mixed bag of happy, not a specific story but a few, but all borne out of DF experiences*

Part I:

My family and I unsubbed before ShB came out for financial reasons, and I subbed again in September this year to play through that expansion. In the past, I've had my husband helping me out and keeping my head on as straight as possible in duties (he carries me, in a way - it's sweet but I don't think I can be proud of this), but this time I was all on my own. Trusts helped a lot, but I still had to do trials with real people. And... I did. It might seem very silly to a lot of you, but for me this in and of itself was a huge deal. But I did it, and I think I did really well, all things considered. I made myself focus down on the mechanics in a way in which I don't think I did before, simply because my husband would usually call stuff and I'd get through that way. Nice, but it turns out that lovely crutch is more hindrance than help (poor Hubby!). I gave myself permission to fail, forgive myself, to be patient and keep trying - what I would do for anyone else but me previously - and it bloody well worked.

The first group I had running The Dying Gasp was...quite terrible. The healers were having a terrible day, poor loves. But the repeated fails taught me the fight. The next group I got had better healers and we just got it done. I wasn't perfect rotation-wise (not sure I ever am, but it's something I'm working with), but I realised absolutely and perfectly what a lot of you already know and say: dead dps does no dps. Get mechanics down first. It may take me a while to learn things, but they're going to stick when they do. I don't think I've ever felt better about myself and my stupid situation. Games can be awesome. Thank you, game; I'm not sure you'll fix my anxiety completely but you're helping me get on top of it.


Part II:

My husband and daughter resubbed within a few days of each other recently (admittedly I'd unsubbed after the above experience and resubbed when I realised I could afford to and they followed me because I was enjoying the game so much). So finally, Daughter finished the Stormblood expansion yesterday with much happiness and joy. Between me and her dad, we've been helping her out, doing dungeons and trials. Mostly it's been fine (notable horribly embarrassing exception in Emanation where I was *that* noob failing Vril and taking an aoe off the platform in ignoble self-sacrifice - in my defence, I was having a terrible day for other reasons, but Daughter did puppy eyes at me to help her. I should have said no. I've actually laughed about this since). Then, of course, it's the Royal Menagerie. Now, I've only ever done this duty once 18 months or more ago, when I was quite terrible at playing (am likely a smidge better now), anxiety-riddled and I couldn't process the stuff going on around me. I also can still get super nervous about grouped content, particularly if I've had bad experiences with a specific duty in the past. But this is for Daughter, and she really, really, really wants to finish the expansion so I have to suck all that up and put it to one side and get stuck in.

Honestly, I should've figured being overlevelled and geared made a huge difference! Still a noob in so many ways. The trial went so smoothly. Yes, a few people found the floor, but nothing that seemed too terrible; for my part, I didn't mess up at any point that I can recall, a marked difference from my last time out at that trial - but more so for my actual mental state! Apparently I levelled not only my character but myself (as in part I) and it seems to be sticking.

Daughter had fun. She shrieked at AoE a bit, did die (told her it's nothing to be worried over and this time I meant it!), but was so happy to get through. Each time we have a duty with Daughter it's been doubly great because I can see just how much she has improved, how she takes How To BLM lessons on board, and that she's open to making changes and continually improving herself as well. Am proud and happy, both for myself and for her. Now she has the bridging content between expansions to pootle through, and then on to ShB, which she was given for her recent birthday from me and Hubby.

I know this was a long post, so here's a TL;DR:

I got better (at trials and laughing@self suiciding off platforms by accident). Daughter had fun with Shinryu. Thanks to all the people in all the groups we've DF'd our way though with thus far. <3

Oh, also: our ongoing family mission is getting all the primal mounts. We're doing trials unsynced as WAR, WHM & BLM. We've done all the ARR stuff, (just need the ponies to drop for all of us) but does anyone have tips for Heavensward primals/raids (not alliance, of course)? Is it achieveable with this set up? Anything we should be aware of?

[Rasikko]

Well this one sure sounds wonderful to be around. (that is not sarcasm)

[Rosenstrauch]

We're doing trials unsynced as WAR, WHM & BLM. We've done all the ARR stuff, (just need the ponies to drop for all of us) but does anyone have tips for Heavensward primals/raids (not alliance, of course)? Is it achieveable with this set up? Anything we should be aware of?

Ravana EX can be cleared solo, and Bismark EX's only real hurdle is the Sanuwa/giant technicolor "bird" phase, since you need to kill the blue or green one before the other gets too close. Still, so long as the tank grabs the second one and leaves the first to the other two, it should be fine.
Thordan EX is a tricky one due to the towers inflicting paralysis if you don't have enough people to stand in them, but with three people you should be able to clear it without issue. Nidhogg is also pretty tricky during a particular phase wherein somebody needs to take damage to heal an enemy, but is doable.
You'll absolutely have to follow mechanics "properly" for Sephirot and Zurvan EX, however, as they're prone to dealing lethal damage otherwise. They're doable, but everyone pretty much has to be on the ball for them. Haven't had an opportunity to try Sophia EX, but I imagine she's the same.

[Dreggit]

Ravana EX can be cleared solo, and Bismark EX's only real hurdle is the Sanuwa/giant technicolor "bird" phase, since you need to kill the blue or green one before the other gets too close. Still, so long as the tank grabs the second one and leaves the first to the other two, it should be fine.
Thordan EX is a tricky one due to the towers inflicting paralysis if you don't have enough people to stand in them, but with three people you should be able to clear it without issue. Nidhogg is also pretty tricky during a particular phase wherein somebody needs to take damage to heal an enemy, but is doable.
You'll absolutely have to follow mechanics "properly" for Sephirot and Zurvan EX, however, as they're prone to dealing lethal damage otherwise. They're doable, but everyone pretty much has to be on the ball for them. Haven't had an opportunity to try Sophia EX, but I imagine she's the same.

Mr. Happy has proven with optimal dps and a little luck very HW trial can be solo'd with PLD. Most recently he beat Zurvan. Though also keep in mind you can't steamroll fights and it takes clever use of cooldowns.

[Averax]

You ever be healing and you notice that there's just an inordinate amount of healing you're doing compared to what's actually happening, and then you realize that the DPS are just generally failing most mechanics, and you feel a twinge of pride that you've managed to keep everybody alive, but the feeling is quickly replaced with the knowledge that you're going to be in there for a good long while under that amount of pressure and are just wondering when your MP will give out.

That's been happening a lot lately. I suppose it has some charms when compared to everybody performing flawlessly and being religated to glare/malefic/broil spam.

[Mavrias]

Just had the best DNC ever in Bardam's Mettle. Not using standard step on cooldown, getting hit by aoes constantly, and complaining about me using an LB on a big trash pack when both of us were ranged (I was on RDM) classes.

[Ursa_Vonfiebryd]

The part that highlights the amount of Fire 3 being used as incorrect.

The quote was: "Umm question. Why are you spamming Fire 3?" Highlight the part where it says that's bad.

I can't believe the amount of people who are white-knighting this behavior under the guise of being 'helpful.'

[Mavrias]

The quote was: "Umm question. Why are you spamming Fire 3?" Highlight the part where it says that's bad.

I can't believe the amount of people who are white-knighting this behavior under the guise of being 'helpful.'

Hey man if you can't pick up context clues that's a you problem more than anyone elses.

I'm not whiteknighting anyone., just pointing out that just cause someone didn't dot their language with emojis it doesn't mean they were rude.

You're the one whiteknighting, if anyone is. And for someone who claimed to not know their rotation in the first place.

[linay]

Haha, yeah, I mained SAM for a while and then DNC, but RDM ends up being my preferred choice for daily runs (as DPS) regardless because it can mean the difference between a clear and a wipe and, ultimately, the point is to clear the duty.

Just to follow up on this, I just came out of an expert roulette run where the tanks died a few times and so I decided to help with healing and at the last boss I even had to raise both healer and tank. No commendation, but a thanks from the healer (I think), and the tank was clearly frustrated as they left immediately. That said, only one wipe altogether, so I'm glad I was RDM. It could've been a much worse run otherwise.