Quote Originally Posted by Vyrerus View Post
The idea behind not using walkthroughs for a single player game is so that you don't spoil the experience by reading ahead/knowing all of the twists in the plot. A lot of guides and walkthroughs aren't spoiler free. The societal idea behind that is people want you to enjoy the game more and learn to play it yourself. A lot of guides also only opt for middle of the road tactics.

These kinds of things are true for MMORPG fight guides and the like as well, but in the MMO setting you are doing content with other people. People have different priorities and concerns in regards to fights. Most people just want to win, they don't want to think. Basically, we as a player base encourage guide use in order for people to learn a way to win the fight that everyone in the group can agree on and adjust around. There's more than one way to handle a lot of the mechanics in this game, but if 1/8 person is trying to freestyle what they learned on their own vs. what the 7/8 other people are doing, it can lead to death and wipes. So it's mostly about getting sympatico with the groups you're joining, have consideration for the 7 other people and their wants and needs vs. your own. If you want to learn fights without guides, just find 7 other people with the same mentality and prog with them.
I get that. But the question is still. Doesn't that still count as cheating?
This game is story based. Using a wiki to find all the aethercurrents is the same as using a strategy guide to find all the hidden weapons (FF9).
Using a video/guide to know the mechanics of a fight and how to do it is the same as using a strategy guide to know the best tactic and buildup for a boss in the old FF games.

In the past you weren't considered a real gamer if you cheated and looked everything up. People would say 'git gud' and say you didn't do it yourself.

Now, if you DON'T cheat, you're not a real gamer because you died and people still say 'git gud'.

The standards have changed.