One shot mechanics in Normal Raids

[Frizze]

These raids still aren't even a week old, and even though I don't think I can explain that mechanic in very few words, it's still fun to try.

Let me try. "Stand where the birds are opposite your debuff, and the portals behind and to your side are different." I got it down to 18 words, and a fairly simple explanation.

OP: This is all you need to do. Check for opposite birds first to get in the right column, then check for opposite portals to get in the right row. "Opposite bird + opposite portals" also works as an explanation, though one that itself might need to be explained to some people. But it really is that easy.

[Gemina]

Let me try. "Stand where the birds are opposite your debuff, and the portals behind and to your side are different." I got it down to 18 words, and a fairly simple explanation.

Not to sound rude, but this doesn't help much. You basically just told a player how to handle the umbral/astral debuffs and that the portals to the back and sides function differently. Trying to dumb down the mechanic isn't doing a service to anyone, nor does it pay it the respect it deserves. It really is an interesting mechanic to toss into normal mode, and luckily as others have pointed out, there's no enrage otherwise this fight would be even more troublesome for casual players.

I've seen the mechanic explained in many different ways. All of which I am sure are valid, but what it is, is players figuring out their own way to position themselves properly during this phase. It's not difficult to explain the basics of the mechanics: pay attention to your debuff and get hit by the birds of the opposite color. The back portals are the receivers, and the birds will come out of the side portals. That's it. That is the mechanic. What makes the brain start spinning is the mechanic tricks you into thinking you have to pay attention to two things at once. The side of the brain that perceives and processes colors and the side that uses logic are different. People who don't actively practice this are going to have trouble with this mechanic until they allow themselves to split it up.

The best way for me to explain it to myself is first stand in the path of the birds opposite your debuff, and then shut off all thinking pertaining to this part. You're in the safe spot, now leave it be. The next is to pay attention to which portal the birds I am not getting hit by go into. This is the portal that is safe for me to stand in front of. Thinking about my debuff switching is actually what was giving me trouble, because it made me think about more than I needed to. The key for me was the part I italicized, but in order for me to grasp that, I first had to fully understand how the umbral/astral debuffs and how the portals worked.

[tdb]

Not to sound rude, but this doesn't help much. You basically just told a player how to handle the umbral/astral debuffs and that the portals to the back and sides function differently. Trying to dumb down the mechanic isn't doing a service to anyone, nor does it pay it the respect it deserves. It really is an interesting mechanic to toss into normal mode, and luckily as others have pointed out, there's no enrage otherwise this fight would be even more troublesome for casual players.

Does it become clearer if you add "colors" to the end? Because "different colors" is what she meant by saying "different".

[Gemina]

Does it become clearer if you add "colors" to the end? Because "different colors" is what she meant by saying "different".

No. The side and back portals are not only different in color, they also function differently as well. By her saying different, I have no idea how they differ from each other outside the obvious color schemes and positions.

[Elladie]

I would just like to say that this thread has gone some way to restoring my faith in the XIV community. Unlike most threads on this kind of thing, very few people have been downright rude and told the OP to 'git gud'. Most people seem to understand why this mechanic can be very difficult to grasp. As Gemina said, it's two different thought processes at once (a bit like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time).

I'm not asking for a nerf personally, I had fun doing this with friends (although it was definitely stressful). But if I didn't have such a great group to go with, I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't want to inflict myself on a random bunch of people. So it's sad that some will miss this story because they don't have an appropriate(and patient) friendship group.

[tdb]

I'm not asking for a nerf personally, I had fun doing this with friends (although it was definitely stressful). But if I didn't have such a great group to go with, I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't want to inflict myself on a random bunch of people. So it's sad that some will miss this story because they don't have an appropriate(and patient) friendship group.

As time goes on, more people will learn to do the mechanics reliably and it will become easier to carry people who haven't learned yet. Gear upgrades will help dealing with the DPS check phase. So even if some people might not get to experience the story on patch week, sooner or later everyone will be able to.

[tdb]

No. The side and back portals are not only different in color, they also function differently as well. By her saying different, I have no idea how they differ from each other outside the obvious color schemes and positions.

I have a feeling you are interpreting the latter part as an independent sentence, when in reality the "Stand where" applies to both the first and the second parts. Adding some more words: "Stand where the birds are opposite your debuff, and also where the portals behind you and to your side are of different colors." Or putting it another way: "Stand where the birds are opposite your debuff, and at an intersection of two different-colored portals."

Explanation, which you probably already know: Portals of the same color are linked. If white birds go into the red portal at the back, then white birds will come out of red portals at the side. Red = white, blue = black (in this example). You want to get hit by different colors. Thus if you have the dark debuff to begin with, you want to stand in front of the red portal (where white birds go in) and with a blue portal to your side (where black birds come out).

Further explanation: The portals and their intersections form a checkerboard pattern of alternating safe and lethal squares. The initial positions of the birds make two entire columns lethal. Thus there will be four safe squares on the playfield. This is somewhat similar to the grid mechanic on the first boss of Orbonne Monastery.

Edit: The goal of this sort of short instructions is to give players who do not grasp the logic of the mechanic something to memorize. Those who do grasp the logic will sooner or later come up with their own way of figuring out the safe spots from the clues, as you have done. But given how impatient people are it's impossible to teach the full logic to people after entering the instance.

[Frizze]

I have a feeling you are interpreting the latter part as an independent sentence, when in reality the "Stand where" applies to both the first and the second parts. Adding some more words: "Stand where the birds are opposite your debuff, and also where the portals behind you and to your side are of different colors." Or putting it another way: "Stand where the birds are opposite your debuff, and at an intersection of two different-colored portals."

Explanation, which you probably already know: Portals of the same color are linked. If white birds go into the red portal at the back, then white birds will come out of red portals at the side. Red = white, blue = black (in this example). You want to get hit by different colors. Thus if you have the dark debuff to begin with, you want to stand in front of the red portal (where white birds go in) and with a blue portal to your side (where black birds come out).

Further explanation: The portals and their intersections form a checkerboard pattern of alternating safe and lethal squares. The initial positions of the birds make two entire columns lethal. Thus there will be four safe squares on the playfield. This is somewhat similar to the grid mechanic on the first boss of Orbonne Monastery.

Edit: The goal of this sort of short instructions is to give players who do not grasp the logic of the mechanic something to memorize. Those who do grasp the logic will sooner or later come up with their own way of figuring out the safe spots from the clues, as you have done. But given how impatient people are it's impossible to teach the full logic to people after entering the instance.

This, more or less. For that last post i typed what i thought was a clear set of directions(initially at about 45 words), then edited it a half dozen times to get to as few words as possible(since Gemina said she was having a hard time explaining it succinctly and i wanted to try to help). I probly should have edited out the comma for clarity too. I was going for an explanation along the lines of: Stand where your birds dont match your buff and the portals behind and to your side arent the same color. As your surmised, its intended as a quick thing you can check to survive the mechanic(whether you get it or not) allowing you to focus on your role in the fight. As a BLM, i use a ton of these little mnemonic ideas so i can focus less on where to stand for a mechanic and more on blasting the enemy to fiery pieces of ash.

Gemina, it was never intended to be rude. If it came off that way, i offer my apologies.

[Gemina]

This, more or less. For that last post i typed what i thought was a clear set of directions(initially at about 45 words), then edited it a half dozen times to get to as few words as possible(since Gemina said she was having a hard time explaining it succinctly and i wanted to try to help). I probly should have edited out the comma for clarity too. I was going for an explanation along the lines of: Stand where your birds dont match your buff and the portals behind and to your side arent the same color. As your surmised, its intended as a quick thing you can check to survive the mechanic(whether you get it or not) allowing you to focus on your role in the fight. As a BLM, i use a ton of these little mnemonic ideas so i can focus less on where to stand for a mechanic and more on blasting the enemy to fiery pieces of ash.

Gemina, it was never intended to be rude. If it came off that way, i offer my apologies.

That's ok. I don't think you were being rude. I hope I didn't come off in a way that had you interpret my comments as such. I think all I am trying to get across are two things: The difficulty explaining the mechanic to others, or rather wording things in a universally understandable way while avoiding being verbose (something I have a problem with); the other being trying to understand what players are trying to explain to myself inside the duty. Like I said before, all the ways people are explaining it are perfectly valid and accurate. I understand them now while I type this, can read them thoroughly, and I am outside the duty. I don't feel a time constraint to interpret people's comments and ask proper questions, or explain it correctly to others once I know how it works. I think that makes a difference.

Anywho, I do appreciate your help^^