When you Love the Story, but are Really Bad at the Gameplay

[kaynide]

I second taking a minute to tweak your setup.

Like Kage said, make sure you're using legacy keyboard setup.

If it helps, here is my bard setup: (Apologies any spelling errors; I just slapped it together)

[Carin-Eri]

Well, gave it one more try (on Very Easy) and managed to stumble through it.

Although will admit I had to use gamepad + mouse - the gamepad 'stick' seems to be the only way I can manuver just fast enough to react. Far from ideal, and a bit sloppy, but I guess I can at least carry on a bit now.

[Larirawiel]

My recomendation is: keyboard + mouse. It helps a lot to avoid some red circles on the ground. If you press both mouse buttons then your character start to move forward. No need to search and press 'w' or something. And do not back paddle with 's' or so. Walking backwards is too slow and you will propably be hit by a bad effect. It is way faster to hit both mouse buttons and make a 180° turn with the mouse.


Cheers

[HisShadowX]

Okay, to start at the beginning, I started playing FFXIV mid-December (last year), on a Free Trial account (I registered several months before but hadn't actually played the game) and was instantly hooked - the story the game is telling is amazing and really does leave you with a 'just one more quest/cutscene' feeling at almost every step. I've subscribed and played through to the post-Stormblood/pre Shadowbringers quests so far.

Point in fact - I hit a proverbial brick wall a few days ago. Try as I may (and I've tried repeatedly) I cannot complete the 'A Requiem for Heroes' duty - I can just about scrape past he first stage (playing as Hien) but when it swaps to my character Ascian Zenos just keeps wiping me out no matter what I do or try. To my utter humiliation I can't even defeat him when have tried setting the difficulty level to 'Very Easy'.

I've seen threads/posts on this forum referering how many feel the the game is too easy and tried talking to a friend who dismissed my comments as me being defeatist - so I have to ask - since I don't feel as if I am really competent enough to play the game at this point, should I continue?

Keep in mind the people who post on the forum are more of the hardcore elite. The problem the developers have is they sort of have to ignore the loudest voice which is them because if they listened to them there would be no ARR and FFXIV 1.0 would of been good enough.

Think of most of the hardcore elite as people who like BDSM they like pain and get pleasure from it. In the gaming world they refer to this pleasure as accomplishment. Every time they get whipped its like them in game uttering, "Oh yes give me more accomplishment"

They do not understand basic facts why people like New Game + even though you gain no XP. In fact there has been topics with them utterly confused by this because they do not understand playing a game for the story and not getting an 'accomplishment.'

Even after FFXIV failed they the hardcore elite/minority felt the game was still easy. Keep in mind in FFXIV 1.0 if you played more then five hours a week you could not gain XP but you could lose XP and delevel. Pretty much the hardcore elite are sadists. Don't try to understand them.

[Kohl]

Something to take into consideration; how well does your internet connection and computer/console handle the game? I used to have all kinds of issues with mechanics and timing, then I stopped playing on Playstation3 (been playing a long time, am still "casual") over WiFi and realized I was seeing everything on a delay.
Just something to keep in mind.

Another small change you can make is to rearrange your HUD so that you can keep your eye on the important information. How far your eyes have to travel across the screen can make a difference. So play with your options, and don't give up!

[Carin-Eri]

Something to take into consideration; how well does your internet connection and computer/console handle the game? I used to have all kinds of issues with mechanics and timing, then I stopped playing on Playstation3 (been playing a long time, am still "casual") over WiFi and realized I was seeing everything on a delay.
Just something to keep in mind.

Another small change you can make is to rearrange your HUD so that you can keep your eye on the important information. How far your eyes have to travel across the screen can make a difference. So play with your options, and don't give up!

That's an interesting point actually - was discussing this with some friends earlier, one the UK (same as me) and one in Australia. The conversation was basically this:
"need to consider that we're playing on a NA server with relatively high ping and I know I have died loads of times when I can clearly see I am out of the area of effect but the high ping has skewed things…… that makes it harder".

Certainly makes sense, and the login screen does sometimes show my connection as being 'Poor'.

[Jennah]

I'm curious - maybe I missed it from earlier in the thread, but are you finding dungeons easier to run with Trusts, or with 3 other humans?

If your main problem is dodging mechanics and reaction time - the Trusts sound like better practice? Except in them, once you die, you aren't rezzed, it's just over. But you also won't feel like you're holding anyone back either, while you practice.
Another practice alternative would be to try to solo a much lower-level dungeon by checking the "Unrestricted Party" option in the UI. Take your Bard to something like Xelphatol, and practice there? The enemies won't die in a single shot; but you'll probably live no matter what you do.
Move up to some of the Stormblood leveling dungeons solo once you've got that. Bardam's Mettle might be a particularly good one to practice for its 2nd boss, if you read a guide and understand what it is that you need to dodge.

... or you could just keep trying with the story as you are, I guess. Not much more you can do on gear and levels if you bought the 90 crafted set. But if you're where I think you are, you have 3 dungeons and 2 trials left to go.
I don't ... think ... there are any more significant solo duties in your way? But I honestly don't remember; like most people here, the Venat solo fight didn't even register as a speed bump to me on normal. Which isn't to brag, or to insult you - I'm sure (most) people here want to help; it's just hard for us to imagine the problems you're running into.

[Illmaeran]

That's an interesting point actually - was discussing this with some friends earlier, one the UK (same as me) and one in Australia. The conversation was basically this:
"need to consider that we're playing on a NA server with relatively high ping and I know I have died loads of times when I can clearly see I am out of the area of effect but the high ping has skewed things…… that makes it harder".

Certainly makes sense, and the login screen does sometimes show my connection as being 'Poor'.

I'm in the US and play on a JP server. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me. You'll get used to how and when to move, but will still get caught regularly. You just have to be forgiving of yourself.

[MiaShino]

I guess that isn't bad advice. I don't know - just feel like I'm still missing something; that those who (in the other thread I referenced) say that there isn't any excuse to be useless at the game at this point are right. I mean, I shouldn't be struggling against a B-list 'Boss' such as Venat, should I?

I guess my frame of mind isn't helping much either if I'm honest. Life (R/L) is pretty rubbish at the moment.

Many of these types of the threads appear here on forums, tis normal. Cannot speak for the others but despite how feisty of a lala can be on here I know I do not expect absolutely perfect play. Cannot play perfectly every time so how could I expect it?

The issue is that this is team game and why many others also become the feisty. Many many simply never try to improve then simply do not care about inflicting that on others. This is my personal baseline for strangers of randomness I meet in the duty finder. Are you trying? Are you at the least doing the fundamentals of your job? (Tank: Cooldowns + hold aggro + not spinning things | DPS: Doing deeps + attempting to use skills | Healer: Keeping people upright + raising when needed + attempting to do deeps).

Welp! You did make this thread and from peruuuusing your other stuffs you certainly appear to be trying your bestest so shall attempt giving some advice for you!

Many thanks to the family and friends who assisted me with most of this, much of what am going to say comes from them. Recently even was able to assist very very close friend during their first time in Mhach as Astro with the order of operations I follow during duties. Brought happiness seeing it work for them so hope it works for you.

1.) Stay alive - This is most important for any roll. Tis first thing that should always be on the mind because after all can do nothing when dead. That means asking, alright how do I not die here?
2.) Branching from staying alive is, learn the mechanics. Cannot stay alive if you get hit too many times! Many ways to accomplish this but your eyes should be on the boss/arena/other players more then the hotbar or anything else.
3.) Perform your roll. As yours is deeps that means keep that gcd rolling as often as can, remember your A,B,Cs. It is better to do the rotation poorly then press no buttons for one gcd attempting to perform correct rotation.
4.) Execute correct rotation - If able to accomplish one through three the mind will be less of the occupied making this step easier. Guides, the Balance discord, linkshells, friends or family, perhaps even just reading all the skills then puzzling out if do not know rotation.
5.) Optimize - Most will not do this or do not care but some do! If you have it alllllll down already what else is there to do but be dirty min-maxer! This is when during a fight you will be thinking about uptime, drifting cool downs for invulnerability phases, proper positioning, buff alignment, other stuffs.

Now that have covered what you should be doing during every encounter onto the other things!

It's almost definitely more an issue of my lousy reaction speed and inability to get past using either keyboard & mouse or gamepad & mouse. I just can't seem to get my head around using a keyboard-only setup

Have not read whoooole thread so am uncertain if this was mentioned. From reading this bit it sounds like you are clicker (click the buttons instead of use hotkeys or struggle with hotkeying). This is awful for muscle memory, my uncle never fails to mention this if he sees anyone clicking the skills! It has helped tremendously during my time learning mmos. Someone mentioned already but good hotkeying is crucial.

Because of my small hands had to find some creative hotkey placement and purchase mmo mouse to even play.. FF14 is most customizable thank the twelve so easy to find something that works for you if are willing to spend time on this.

Although will admit I had to use gamepad + mouse - the gamepad 'stick' seems to be the only way I can manuver just fast enough to react. Far from ideal, and a bit sloppy, but I guess I can at least carry on a bit now.

Yup yup! Reminds a Mia of my uncle again. When he found out you could use controller to play this he spent whooole day setting that up and switched immediately to it. He too is reaching later years (late 60's) and said this made moving while accessing hotkeys significantly easier for him. You may wish to consider controller! Can do everything in FF14 land with one no problemo. He was even able to level healer to 50 after switching, roll he said he would never ever play.

For eyesight and the general reaction speed there are many tells for encounters, seldom only one. Bad eyesight over here! I mean fricken terrible but what I lack in the eyesight department I make up for with my big ears. Also lala, my camera is so low I cannot always see everything so I use audio lots. More things are linked to sound then may realize! Some bosses (most) will shout what they are doing too. When this fails be certain you have npc announcements easily visible in chat box. Every boss cannot resist telling you their mechanics within the chat even in early dungeons.

Was how I first learned about heal doom. In the 50 dungeon Halatali (Hard) final boss will apply doom. He then proceeds to shout into chat something close too "The healers will hate this one!" while his other head says "Shhhh you will give away the secret". This told me ohhh so I heal and the debuff goes away, neat!

When this fails or for general telegraphs (aoe puddles/line markers/donut/point blank) remember there is always pattern. Some examples!

It is not uncommon for donut aoe to be followed up with point blank get away marker. Also fairly common for boss to force you to run away only to follow up with hurry up and get close marker.

Baited aoes (aoe puddle that keeps chasing you) can often be resolved by running small circles.

For nearly all other aoe types there are almost always consistent safe zones and these can be perplexingly tiny! Would be surprised to find out that the single pixel not in the aoe you are standing on was safe all alone? Using hmmm, Zodiark as example, you can actually resolve the arena spinning by sticking close to the center then making minor adjustments in movement. Becomes much of the easier to clear fights once you discover oh hey those aoe circles always seem to appear in same place. Just find the spot they never appear then park there, now you can ignore mechanics!

Struggling with identifying knock back safe zones or think you may be in situation involving knock back? Do not sleep on your arms length skill. Do not even need amazing reaction speed for much of this. Does the cast bar say Aero anything? It is likely going to push you.

Ohhhh right! This brings us to the UI, spend some time configuring this if have not.

Make important UI elements larger then place those where your eyes are the most. I place mine near my character as that is where I spend most of time looking.

If have not done already as well, split your target hud element into separate elements. Now find the cast bar element then jack that bad boy allllllll the way to 200% and place where is easily visible. Reading the cast bar is super fricken important! "Ohh look Ram's voice is casting, time to run!"

Find focus target hud element and size that up too, I have mine at 200%. Then make certain you set focus target on the boss. Now can always see what the boss casts even when untargeted.

Many apologies for the wall of words and letters! Tis sad to see someone become the discouraged though so wished to comment here.

To end this massive post of nonsense because this one tis also super important. Talk to the party! If you are truly struggling with something someone present may be able to assist. One quick: "Many apologies everyone, am really struggling here! How the heck do I dodge mechanic X" is better then silence. Also great for party moral especially for us healers.

Reading that brings me from "Mahhhhhhh my mana! What is happening and why is no one dodging anything!" to "Ohhh they are new and having difficult time with that one, I gots this." Can request the dorito marker too then just follow that person until can resolve the mechanic yourself. No one will know if no one speaks and this is mmo after all. That beautiful dorito carried my booty through Oborne Monastery on first time there.

[Ceridwenae]

Well, gave it one more try (on Very Easy) and managed to stumble through it.

Edit!: Prefacing this to say it's a general reply to a lot of your comments here and on that other thread.

So I suggest never comparing your competency as a level 90 bard who has only been barding since December last year (you wrote that, right?) to the competency of other players who have been playing the game for years. Ignore anyone who says your level dictates how good you should be, because it is a fallacy to think that, not least with level skips being a thing. If you truly want to "get good", it takes practice, perfect practice, and then the all-important component of time, and lots more of it for some more than others. You might want to note just how much time some of the posters have over you, and take heart and comfort that they may have been absolutely awful at playing at one time they wouldn't care to remember. But also consider they know stuff as a result, they may have the sacred knowledge! Acquire that knowledge, regardless of its delivery.

Then you have to add in technical issues, your innate gaming ability, and then any additional health considerations. Some of this stuff you can practice or "train" to overcome, some of it may require you to compensate in some fashion you will figure out for yourself. There is no shame in this, and the key factor is identifying the fact you need to improve, so you can feel better about what is essentially your happy fun time. We are all different, and it's only the truly hard of thinking who are going to give you short shrift for not being sublime perfection within a few months of playing, sprout icon or not.

I heartily recommend you take that bard and hammer the heck out of it in whatever fashion amuses you best. After all, it won't get better unless you whack it into submission, right? Do it in whatever way is the most fun for you. There's also a good number of Free Companies out there that are happy to help people learning as well if you want it.

I also recommend you get on some other jobs as well, even the ones that don't appeal. I've always found this one of the best ways to improve at the content (not just the jobs themselves), and a learning opportunity not to be missed. Looking up rotation guides helps a lot, hitting a dummy, then running some content. If you keep at it, keep asking the questions of how to do stuff (rather than complaining about things being impossible), then it will click.

Also, as an ex-bard main, people change mains all the time. Don't lock yourself down too tightly to one role.

Look, I'm fairly flakey at the moment with game time, but if you can ever get over to my data centre/server, I'll be happy to try and help you out if you want the assist. Or just want a chat!