Labyrinth of the Ancients is the ideal dungeon design more dungeons should emulate it

[Wolf_Gang]

It's a shame that LotA is a Raid because it really has the right format for a good dungeon:
Trash mobs + Elite mobs > Major boss > mini boss > major boss > mini boss > major boss > big boss.

I get that the current dungeon design emulates the classic FF forumla. You enter a cave, fight waves of random encounters and defeat the boss at the end.

Problem is, FFXIV's battle system isn't tailored around short bursts of combat. There are too many trash mobs that kill the experience. They don't last longer than one skill rotation and it eventually becomes a game of monotonous button mashing.

FFXIV's battle system really shines during boss encounters. That's what makes Labyrinth of the Ancients the ideal dungeon design.

It's one linear instance involving waves of bosses. The boss mechanics are light enough for anyone to quickly understand, but has enough depth for the fight to remain interesting.

Could you imagine a 4-8 man instance like Labyrinth of the Ancients?

I'm hoping the game designers evolved from what they did with LotA and make the new 2.2 dungeons focus on boss battles.

[Tupsi]

I can't imagine it because 4 man is such a cop out design and wasted potential HOWEVER! it was originally SUPPOSED to be a 4 man dungeon you did before Crystal Tower but per usual, that all changed. It needed a bit more honestly, kind of like the actual Labyrinth of the Ancients. It felt too much like a boss rush than an actual labyrinth. (even if the original still technically was one too.)

[Tiggy]

it was originally SUPPOSED to be a 4 man dungeon you did before Crystal Tower but per usual, that all changed.

I've never seen that mentioned anywhere before. How do you know such a thing is true?

[Kako0404]

The whole teleporter thing kinda made it meh. Otherwise they could introduce environmental risk element to make it more adventurous. It's always hard to make it rewarding to do trash mobs but there should be a way to do so. Like bonus seals if you chain kill trash etc with a hard cap per dungeon. Or challenge rewards.

[Judge_Xero]

With the ease of access that the Duty finder offers I think it would be great to have even more 8 man dungeons.
I still like the FF Themed 4 man parties but I don't think it works as well with the MMO style design. (Tank Healer DD). Maybe if 4 man content was reduced to anything goes it would feel more like a band of Returner misfits travelling from Narshe to Vector.

[whiskeybravo]

Maybe if 4 man content was reduced to anything goes it would feel more like a band of Returner misfits travelling from Narshe to Vector.

Up to Haukke Manor the dungeons can be run without a tank. Probably higher if you have a couple summoners.. It can be fun if you've never tried it

[Judge_Xero]

Up to Haukke Manor the dungeons can be run without a tank. Probably higher if you have a couple summoners.. It can be fun if you've never tried it

Running without a tank does add to the dungeons. (LOL 4xSummoner+Titan Egi)
I think that the Duty Finder should que all 4-Man dungeons with any given priority to class, other than needing at least 1 healer.

It would add a bit more depth on "How are we going to get through this"

[Ehayte]

Per Reinhart's translation of some notes today:

Halatali HM is a new type of dungeon where you fight a series of bosses in colloseum style battle. Since the first Halatali, since the dungeon was cleared out of mobs the Gladiators guild have it changed into a colloseum for thier training but allowing adventurers to battle as well.

[Synapse]

Per Reinhart's translation of some notes today:

Man! could it be, a final fantasy content is actually coming to FFXIV? Battle Arena!??

Gotta keep my hopes down so i don't get disappointed.

[Zikh]

Black Rock Depths and Maraudon in WoW were innovative and awesome. That was 10 years ago, back when developers didn't make games for the drooling masses.