Mao has question for everyones about DDR-style boss fights.

[AllenThyl]

Also, old boss fights sometimes has some more randomy elements in thems.

Which ones? Because the last time this came up, the resident forum clown embarrassed himself down to his underwear by saying that the Nael phase was truly random.

Anyone telling you that this game has always just been DDR is LYING AND DECEIVING YOU.

The game has always just been DDR. If you don't see that, you simply don't understand the boss mechanics that were happening properly. You know, just like you thought the Nael phase was truly random :>

[Valence]

Wow, someone has been truly living rent free in there.

[Kaurhz]

I wonder when the autographs will start?

[Eraden]

Which ones? Because the last time this came up, the resident forum clown embarrassed himself down to his underwear by saying that the Nael phase was truly random.



The game has always just been DDR. If you don't see that, you simply don't understand the boss mechanics that were happening properly. You know, just like you thought the Nael phase was truly random :>

Mao said "randomy". As in feels little bits like random things whats players interact with other than just has to be in specific spot at right time. Is not actually random though. At least Mao pretty sure is not random. Mao uses final fight in Aurum Vale (Mao likes Aurum Vale) as example. Is fairly complex (at least in Mao opinion) fight where is importants to cleanse debuff. This means choosing when to eat fruit and where to be to gets it. Fruits seem to spawn in random spots but Mao thinkings if actually watch where fruits spawn, is not actually random. What IS random though is how each player decides to interact with this. Some might try go for fruits early on. Some might try wait for little bits. Is little bits more complex than just simple dance. For Healers this makes fights feel randomy because thems always has to be on guard in case is player whats wait too long. This why Mao likes old fights more. Mao would like see actual random elements added to new fights to make fights more interestings and has replay value. Is not need to make fights completely random. Just add little bits.

[Araxes]

I think it is time to be honest with one self and face the fakt that FF14 is not the game most of us remember it being.

This is so true it hurts...

[Kozh]

Obviously there were limits like Enhanced Arrow which was kinda trolling someone, but that's an outlier.

Just want to tell funny story, but when I was new to the game, I accidentally hard trolling a DF Monk by giving them Enhanced Arrow. Which then I extended the duration with Time Dilation, because my noob brain thought gotta go fast = more dps

Then I saw their TP vanished lmao (thankfully it's just trash pull on Sohr Khai)



Man, I miss my RNG cards....

[Ceridwenae]

Mao... ( <3 )

In general, I want to agree with you, Mao. However, I can't fully, since I've generally stopped being able to play regular instanced content - even just story dungeons - because of the graphics. I've been able to fine tune a lot of it, but it's all still too much, especially since the graphics were updated. Before then, I was beginning to have problems with my reaction times, but blind me as well where there's little I can do but turn the effects off and hope for the best, and I am not having a good time. I was sticking around to see if things got better, and even if they did, it's just not enough. I've spent from Dawntrail's release up until the other week to level all my jobs, by FATEs and bounty hunts alone. No dungeons. I can't do roulettes reliably because of graphics, therefore I can't even see if I can improve on my reaction times, which would be what I would do back in the day.


Then I hear the most recent trial prevents a player from taking part if their ilevel is not sufficient, and if I can't do roulettes for the tomes to get the most recent gear, or repeatedly run the recent dungeon for gear (which is certainly one way to eff the flow of your story beats), then it seems that it was smart to unsub, which I did last week, albeit ahead of finding that information out. This game just ended up making me really feel my disability. I would've really liked it if I'd had the option to retire altogether from the combat-oriented part of the game so I could just craft and gather, but noooo, everything must be forcibly tied to the story and inherently incredibly restrictive. Couldn't possibly think of alternative way of playing or doing things. If I wanted to do the things I enjoy, I actually have to get my husband to first jump in my seat and play my character for me - and you know, that does not feel good. We've done that for some time, for various odd instances, but now it's every time there's a dungeon or trial just in the MSQ, I'm saying no, it's not worth it anymore. I want to do things myself. I want to be able to take part properly, and I just can't.

So I'm currently playing ESO, and for various reasons, am finding that much better - for now, at least. It'll probably try to burn my retinas at some point, but currently I'm getting stuff done in a game which has me feeling actual joy that FFXIV hasn't since I don't know when. Suffice it to say I AM HAPPY. A change is as good as rest. Itches are definitely being scratched. I am not saying ESO is a better game, or anything like that, it just is functionally better for me for now. I at least feel vaguely competent in a way FFXIV has been preventing me from.

Additionally, ESO didn't delete my house when I didn't play for a few years which should not be a revelation, but here we are.



EDIT: So I know this thread was about the faster paced nature of the combat, and I've talked about not even being able to get to that point, but maybe I'm suggesting looking elsewhere for a break or a different way of playing? Just for a little bit. Sometimes it actually makes you better at figuring stuff out in other games, is all. As in, play a different game to FFXIV, but with different combat, and if or when you get back to FFXIV, you might find you can do some things better than before? I don't know, we're all different so it's hard to say, but I know that before I got blocked by allegedly better graphics, I found taking time out to play a few days of GW2 or ESO improved me a bit in FFXIV. Eh, YMMV.


For myself, unless they give better options for the graphics, it's unlikely I'll be able to fully take part again in FFXIV (so it'll be down to if my husband wants my help in a treasure dungeon or something), but that's not the case for most people, so maybe it'll help to do something else for a bit instead.


Anyhoo, I hope you are happy in your endeavours, Mao.

[Eraden]

In general, I want to agree with you, Mao. However, I can't fully, since I've generally stopped being able to play regular instanced content - even just story dungeons - because of the graphics. I've been able to fine tune a lot of it, but it's all still too much, especially since the graphics were updated.

Mao has much sympathies for Kheeziah. Mao has friend whats also has difficulties dealings with graphics in FFXIV. Mao hopings Kheeziah has much funs with ESO!

[Khutulun]

Eh... assuming jobs were complex though, they'd likely just make all fights (not just Normal) brain dead to compensate knowing how Square-Enix thinks, and they're not going to make jobs AND fights too hard at the same time lest it drive out a good chunk of the playerbase.

But the current trend of simplified jobs and tight mechanic fights isn't exactly winning people over either anymore, and the discontent is obvious by now.

Not sure what the solution is that's not going to carve up subscription numbers either way, with Square-Enix going for whichever choice causes the fewest people to leave.

One would assume CBU3 would have the foresight to leave some of the original ARR jobs simple. FF14 has the good fortune of having a job/class system where you can play all of them on a single character. Really should make use of that fact by making a gradient of easy to hard jobs. If someone can't handle both complex jobs and tough fights... then they can play the easier jobs. For those that want spice, they can play the harder jobs.

We certainly won't get anywhere if the job complexity is treated as binary, with either all jobs being easy or all jobs being hard. Granted, seems like CBU3 deals in absolutes.

[Misutoraru]

Eh... assuming jobs were complex though, they'd likely just make all fights (not just Normal) brain dead to compensate knowing how Square-Enix thinks, and they're not going to make jobs AND fights too hard at the same time lest it drive out a good chunk of the playerbase.

But the current trend of simplified jobs and tight mechanic fights isn't exactly winning people over either anymore, and the discontent is obvious by now.

Not sure what the solution is that's not going to carve up subscription numbers either way, with Square-Enix going for whichever choice causes the fewest people to leave.

I guess SE have to make a choice either balance job output to small differences at high end content that end up “streamlined/homogenise” job which we have been seeing for the past few expansions

Or

Just stop chasing that goal and only balance job at a looser standard (which those trying to clear in first week would most likely be affected), but in doing so job start showing about of variety and more variety in dungeon set up like back in ARR and HW

Many MMO try to do both and end up job taking “favourite of the month” rotating in each patch, I would rather SE take the latter approach