Saving the Sultana (City Raid Design Idea)

[Dhex]

/puts on flame retardant gear and a Lalafell-size gas-mask

Okay all set. This was just for fun - don't take it too serious. I just was trying to think of a end-game style content specifically designed for Free Companies that want to work together - content that cannot be done via Duty Finder for 24 people. Lots of mobs - lots of bosses - it wouldn't be a quick raid you can Duty Finder or pick up 16 randoms and clear. It's very Free Company oriented.

Hold-on for edit inc.


Free Company Raids: The Three Cities.

Example:

Saving the Sultana

The great city-state of Ul’dah has of late been plagued by plots to dethrone the Sultana. Sowing seeds of doubt within the ranks of the Paladins, brutality by the rising financial cabals employing ruthless brawlers, and sinister practitioners of forbidden Voidal arts have come together in a sinister crescendo. Their plan? Simple; Eliminate the Sultana with a hideous coup d'états - they’ve trapped the Sultana, Raubahn, and her Sworn guard in the Fragrant Chambers. Will the streets of Ul’dah now flow red with the blood of innocents? Commanders of the Immortal Flames turn in desperation to the adventurer’ Free Companies; as the body count mounts - it’s up to you to rescue the Sultana.

Requirements:
Party Size: 8-24 Free Company Members
Lv50 iL72
GC Rank Missions Complete.
Main Scenario Quests Complete.
Purchase a Torn Parchment: Plea of the Sultana (Immortal Flames) from Momodi; 25,000g + 10,000 FC Points

Quest: Access granted via completion of the Quest; “Breaking Oaths”
The Shifting Sands (Adventurer’s Guild) (X: Y: )
NPC: Momodi

A Company leader can purchase the “Torn Parchment: The Sultana’s Plea” from the Immortal Flames OFC Desk regardless of current Allegiance; Free Companies will be able to purchase another access to the duty “Saving the Sultana” up to three times per week*. Up to three groups of 8 (Full Party)** may directly enter the instance once the duty “Saving the Sultana” has been executed from the Entry point in Ul’dah. You will start with 120 minutes; and gain an additional 10 minutes for each Boss you defeat (5 Raid Bosses, 3 Optional Job Bosses); totaling 200 minutes if all bosses are defeated. This content is instanced.

*You will receive a key item upon duty completion; if you fail to complete the duty or otherwise leave the duty you will be locked out from that Free Company duty for 7 days from the time the duty was executed. You will still be able to purchase and execute “Aiding the Admiral” and “Seeking the Seedseer” if you fail to complete “Saving the Sultana”.
**Entering with only a single Party is significantly higher difficulty.

Job specific gear comes from the optional Job boss fights; As this content would be designed with a “city” raid for each of the city-states; gear dropped would be dependant on the classes that start within that city. MNK/BLM/PLD being from Ul’dah would mean that it’s optional bosses would be MNK/BLM/PLD - which piece drops would be random and the drop rate would not be 100% for - they will always drop a few Allagan Gold pieces to make them worthwhile. The required raid bosses drop Job accessories for SMN/SCH/MRD.

Essentially;
Ul’dah Raid - Saving the Sultana; MNK/BLM/PLD Gear - SMN/SCH/WAR Accessories
Limsa Lominsa Raid - Aiding the Admiral; SMN/SCH/WAR Gear - DRG/BRD/WHM Accessories
Gridania Raid - Seeking the Seedseer; DRG/BRD/WHM Gear - MNK/BLM/PLD Accessories




Map Example (4 images) for “Saving the Sultana”
Free Company Raids: The Three Cities.

[Nekodar]

I like the idea... Just feeling that it might be too restrictive with FC only.

[Mettaur]

Makes me think of Dynamis, which is a good thing!

[Toranja]

What if I want to see Ul'dah burn? ];-]

[Phe]

Dynamis Ul'dah baaaaaaaaaaam sign me up.

60 min max tho thx. and i set THF hands on prio #1 now.

[BoomerOU]

Cool idea. I agree with an above poster that it shouldn't be FC restricted, though.

[XanderOlivieri]

This seems awesome. If it were to implement, one of each set of team (since it looks like the typical 3 team raid) would have to take turns with choosing which optional boss they'd fight cause I don't see them getting all of the optional bosses in as one group. Time would seem to be an issue, unless the raid itself was unlimited...don't see it happening, but still really awesome.

[Dhex]

I feel there is very little incentive to be in a Free Company at them moment - very little for groups to go out and do together as well... a company of adventurers.


Coil is small groups... once a week. Crystal Tower is promising but it's also rather simplistic, can be done (and by extension abused) via the Duty Finder, and you still cannot currently form your own Alliances.

That said! I believe Square could easily build a system into their Free Company menu & board that allows Free Companies to become allies and run content of this type together - even run multiple raids at once. Imagine making a Free Company alliance and activating all three City-raids and attempting to complete each of them in succession - or simply opening them to your members throughout the week.

It is intentionally less "casual" in the sense they are not immediately accessible nor are they easily cleared in a single sitting, and you will need to win to do mutliple runs of that particular raid; but gear is laid out in such a way that if a group is low on people they can bypass Job boss fights and take a time penalty - it also addresses the issue people have with Coil; that is to say getting gear for Jobs nobody in the raid plays as!

It certainly draws on older generation raid structure - especially in the fact that loot is not 100% guaranteed - but that also makes the content last without requiring loot locks or entirely blocking people from doing the raid once they've completed it for the week.

-> If you clear the raid - you can try again - if you are short people or don't have a use for that gear you can skip those extra bosses - it's relatively flexible depending on your group and it's needs/wants. <-

[Nekodar]

I understand the reasoning; giving FC's something to do.
Alliances between FC's may be enough to let smaller FC's participate as well, but I still have my reservations about that particular detail.

[BoomerOU]

FCs already have something to do together - all content released up to date.

Imagine the uproar if a cool fun dungeon was released that required all people to not be in an FC.

It feels like an unnecessary requirement.