Beyond a point, DF is pretty much useless, and that needs to be fixed

[atxferret]

Every Titan/Garuda/Ifrit EX run, or T5+ run, either the tank or heals leaves immediately, meaning every DPS's 40 minute wait time is essentially reset since no tank or heals joins in progress, or they get about 15 minutes in and vote abandon, regardless of if the group is learning the fight, progressing, or even asking for guidance.

Personally, I'm one of the ones that watches the videos before going in, and often after my first run or two so that I know where and why I failed. I find that, in this game, that's actually most people, as opposed to WoW where people used the random group function to essentially force carries all the time. Unfortunately, this has not seemed to have any effect on people's willingness to give others time to learn.

This is obviously effectively broken. To just go in, then be forced to take an abandon after 15 minutes (if not immediately, if a tank or healer bails), even if the group is actually doing fairly well, is absurd.

[atxferret]

I propose three possible solutions:

1.) More Echo possible on these fights, and it is earned more quickly, maybe 2 mins in instead of 3. However, once you cross the 25% Echo threshold, loot is either significantly lower level, or possibly none at all. This would allow people to complete the encounters, learn the mechanics, while keeping the elitist from whining about loot being too easy to get and providing an incentive to get better at the fight. Also, remove the encounter timer. Whatever practical use it has now would be effectively gone, and it would serve no purpose other than to prevent people from continuing to learn the fight.

[atxferret]

2.) Significantly harder to implement (I assume), but possibly more effective, and more in line with the current way of doing things - put people into tiers of DF groups. Try to group people that have tried 10+ times with others that have tried 10+ times. Then 20+. Then 30+. It might make wait times longer for DPS, but it would be worth it since there would be at least SOME promise of experience. Obviously, no one can guess how much each player took away from those attempts, but it's better than nothing. I get so sick of seeing "First time, what do I do?" on my 30th attempt at something.

[atxferret]

3.) Remove these harder events from DF altogether. This would force people to use PF instead, where there is at least some social responsibility for going into a fight with no knowledge, no experience, and not a care in the world if they actually clear the encounter. Now, before you say "People can choose to use PF instead of DF", keep in mind that it takes quite a few attempts before you realize how incredibly flawed DF is at these levels. Also, if you do a quick Google search, there is a depressingly large number of people that are at least claiming to quit the game due to Titan EX being so freaking hard, and I have to believe that most of those attempts are done in DF going by the frustrations voiced. PF is good, great actually. FCs are better. But the DF gives you this feeling of immediacy, and in the later encounters it's a false one.

[atxferret]

Also, regardless of which of these solutions are implemented (if any), there should be some reward for checking that "Join Party in Progress" box and completing the encounter. As it stands, all it does is almost guarantee that you'll get stuck in a disintegrating group.

[Ruri]

Solution, Use party finder to make your own group on your server with a message "no ragequit" or something along those lines. DF is mostly used for practice for the extremes and high lvl turns imo. If you want a win I'd make my own party. Or you can continue to suffer DF (I know some people say they have no choice but making your own party sometimes is just as quick as waiting for DF to pop). DF isn't useless, just don't expect a perfect party or people who stick with you in DF parties. Agree that people should stick with a party after just 1 wipe though but that's their choice if they want the DF leaving penalty.

[atxferret]

Avoiding a tool does not fix the tool.

[atxferret]

Personally, I only use DF for practice and learning, but that's mainly because of its problems. Therefore, I offer suggestions to fix those problems.

[Ruri]

I said it can be used for practice, but don't expect people to stick in for the long run or get easy wins. IMO that is what DF is for, quick practice runs. Others may want it used another way but I don't think it will ever be.

[Ruri]

BTW Ferrets are awesome