We Need to Start Expecting Mid-Level Sprouts to Play Better

[Yeastyloins]

This is absolutely true. I can count on one hand the number of times I've tanked an 80+ dungeon even though I've been level 90 on PLD for months and do roulettes almost daily. The game thinks that just because I've done them all on a different role (DPS) it means I know what I'm doing when going in as a tank. I once got tossed into the late-game dungeon in Radz, can't recall the name, and had a horrific time tanking; especially the last boss. I did what I could but felt horrible for the group and was extremely embarrassed because I was projecting the attitude of the OP and many others here onto the party members, thinking they must be feeling what the OP's expressed. The worst thing is I couldn't do anything but put my shield up, move forward, do what I could, and hope I didn't get kicked.

People automatically assume just because I'm level 90 and don't trip the "New Player" thing, that I've been tanking higher-level stuff forever, know every mechanic in and out, and know exactly when and where to use each skill for optimal effect. I'd love for there to be a requirement to directly queue and complete each dungeon separately on each role before adding it to the roulette for that role. At least I'd be able to say "This is my first time here" or "I'm inexperienced" without people thinking I'm trolling them.

I, for one, agree. But then I guess I would. As I've said, I'm still not great at the game after eight months of playing. I DO try, but still get flustered trying to understand mechanics and work rotations, I'm still clumsy and slow to react, and it's certainly very rare that I feel that I'm asset to the teams I'm with.

Here's my question to statements like this: Did you ever look up a guide, a video, or check a resource such as the balance for any of the jobs that you play or any of the fights you struggle with after running into issues? Did you ever try to sit and practice rotations in stone, sea, sky to get rotations down then test out doing rotations then put them in practice in a fight you are familiar and comfortable with? Did you ever think to yourself "Im having a hard time tanking and/or healing, maybe I should look up some guides to play those roles" or "I never seem to put up my buffs when everyone else does, maybe I should see what people are doing at the start of a fight/pull for [insert job]"?

This isn't a "Have you tried gitting gud?", but rather a question of when faced with difficulties or problems did you attempt to try and figure out what was going wrong with your gameplay or attempt to adjust what you are doing?