Bozja is extremely disappointing (especially the 5.45 update)

[Saranade]

Literally feel like I am in a "hard mode" version of Golden Saucer. I come from 1.0 and this content is like... man... just... bad.

[Xerkrosis]

I'd like to see the new content, but I still couldn't complete my castrum-q.
Been trying to get in, and when I finally did, there were only 8-20 people in there, with the time when there were 20 we wiped on first boss and that was it. I've also had waitings for over 90 minutes without any castrum popping.
I don't know what is going on, but this patch day was the most frustrating ffxiv-day to me in which for the first time I haven't done any new content.
I've hated bozja before, but the hate shifted over to SE in full for basically forcing that stupid grind-ja.

The game takes here and there wrong turns, and it is forgiveable for the content the game else has to offer. But I've not yet seen it that bad with people considering quitting FFXIV.

[SohkyonAyhan]

You know... I've been thinking about that.
Outside of SQEX making two stories (one for people who did Bozja and one for those who didn't), I think the only other thing they could have done is have the main camp be on Gangos and not the front line itself.
That way wether you're gathering memories on the front line or from Heavensward fates, both groups can report back there. The story would need a little adjusting, but so much takes place at the camp anyway.
I think the main thing they'd have to change would be to add Castrum to the duty finder instead of having it be accessed through Bozja.

I like the idea of having it be a more central hub, yeah. I feel like there might need to be two separate stories though, cos if that isn't there as an incentive to do the Bozjan Front stuff proper, it might feel like a dull grind to nothing. (Well, I did the Bozja stuff for the story, but maybe not as many people who enjoy Bozja care? Idk.)

Castrum in Duty Finder is a good idea! I can understand why they'd want it to be something special you work up to that only happens once in a while, but that also does contribute to the problem of no one doing it after a while. Maybe you need to get to rank 10 or whatever to do it, and then it just unlocks in the Duty Finder. Then if you queue up into an alliance roulette it could be added as one of the ones you randomly get? I feel like it would need a little ironing out but it could work.

[Arkevorkhat]

Stepping into this conversation somewhat late:
I don't particularly mind that they chose to allow people to do it outside of Bozja, sure, Crystal Tower raids being the chosen set of duties is a transparent attempt to get them to be more appealing to new players, in order to potentially get them to subscribe, but that's not the worst part. The worst part is that the drop rate inside bozja is so low that it's clear that the Crystal Tower raids are the intended way to get the memories. They're telling people "you can get these items in the current content, or you could go do Crystal Tower raids, make the game look more appealing to the people who are playing the free trial, and we'll kick you some extra memories for your trouble."

[SohkyonAyhan]

I think the worst part about Castrum is actually getting enough people together to do it and the rewards being very subpar. The entire raid itself is fun and its cool trying to coordinate with many groups. I think Delubrum Reginae is also very fun fights-wise, but once again marred by poor choices (no role queue, doesn't refill spots of dropouts, another mettle sink).

I agree! I've not done Delubrum Reginae yet but I've heard the actual fights are fun, and I enjoyed the Castrum raid a lot! Except for all the losing mettle... and losing more mettle... and yeah, very few rewards to make up for the 10k mettle I lost. When they changed it so you could get the coins from fates I just ground out those to get what I wanted for glams :P There is a lot going for Bozja imo but it has so many wonky things detracting from the overall experience.

[AncientWillow]

*shrug* Honestly, i like it there but idk I just cant stand it more than 30 mins being in there... atleast when I did euruka on my original acc that i lost the secret question for.. it was fun to do during stormbringers...

but bozja is "nice" in theory but honestly its flat out booring the "fates" are almost pointless to do honestly at rank 7 getting 750 mettle for a fate when you need like 9k to level is honestly a bit unreasonable.. its basicly better to just afk at the start and move a few inchs every 6mins until an enagement pops up.. its not really worth the effort to run around at the fates that rlly give u nothing worth anyting and the mattle exp is lame..

atleast in Euruka the fates were fun and you could get some nice items outside the place from it/lock boxes were grantied from fates as long as u were there doing something. .. Bozja is like you show up u get a stupid jewel thats only point is in bozja and rarely get clussters and lockboxs ... and the exp is just trash from them for what is required

[SohkyonAyhan]

Stepping into this conversation somewhat late:
I don't particularly mind that they chose to allow people to do it outside of Bozja, sure, Crystal Tower raids being the chosen set of duties is a transparent attempt to get them to be more appealing to new players, in order to potentially get them to subscribe, but that's not the worst part. The worst part is that the drop rate inside bozja is so low that it's clear that the Crystal Tower raids are the intended way to get the memories. They're telling people "you can get these items in the current content, or you could go do Crystal Tower raids, make the game look more appealing to the people who are playing the free trial, and we'll kick you some extra memories for your trouble."

THAT. Is a good point and something I never considered! I was so surprised by how few drops I got in Bozja... out of curiosity, did they do anything similar to that for the Eureka weapons? (I've not done them, though I started Eureka just recently). Like, where they gave you two different ways to upgrade the Eureka weapon but the easiest way was the stuff outside Eureka?

[Infindox]

I don't think they quite know how to write story around the relic weapons anymore. I really enjoyed what was there for anima, was decent for ARR weapon and I did at least find some interest in Eureka (in terms of the primal and what it did). Today's story was.... Ehhhhh? Felt kinda rushed. It's a shame too, because I am very interested in the lore that bases itself from Ivalice and Tactics/XII.

[ItMe]

I like the idea of having it be a more central hub, yeah. I feel like there might need to be two separate stories though, cos if that isn't there as an incentive to do the Bozjan Front stuff proper, it might feel like a dull grind to nothing. (Well, I did the Bozja stuff for the story, but maybe not as many people who enjoy Bozja care? Idk.)

That's very true.
I was thinking from the angle of "how could people that did Fate grinding still enjoy the Bozja story" because
A.) Then at least they'd get a story instead of just doing Fates, getting a relic, and leaving.
B.) Then you can show both parties the lore that the weapons are so tied to.

But you're totally right.
And having a second story would def get me to try both routes too~
Logistically though... I can see why they didn't : (

Castrum in Duty Finder is a good idea! I can understand why they'd want it to be something special you work up to that only happens once in a while, but that also does contribute to the problem of no one doing it after a while. Maybe you need to get to rank 10 or whatever to do it, and then it just unlocks in the Duty Finder. Then if you queue up into an alliance roulette it could be added as one of the ones you randomly get? I feel like it would need a little ironing out but it could work.

Yeah. The Baldesion Arsenal was only accessible through Eureka, and it feels like as they were making Bozja into Eureka 2 they just kinda copied that part too.
Maybe that means they're happy with it?
Or that they've got ideas about where they wanna push that concept next?
IDK, we'll have to see.
Personally, I dig it being in Bozja, but I can understand why it doesn't agree with everyone.

[Arkevorkhat]

... Like, where they gave you two different ways to upgrade the Eureka weapon but the easiest way was the stuff outside Eureka?

They did not, the eureka weapons require (and did require) almost exclusively materials that were only obtainable in Eureka.