The Praetorium: The Anti-Climactic Climax

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

No, they don't. Which is why outside of the mandatory run for story completion, most don't do it.

This isn't a problem that'll be fixed easily, and to be honest, even I can't think of a good, "everyone-wins" solution. But as for the problem of "speed runners leaving behind newbies just for tomes" issue, that's a fairly easy one to fix. Make it less appealing.

Sure, Brayflox gets old. But you can literally get tomes almost anywhere now. It may not be at maximum or the most time-efficient methods, you can get them anywhere. So why something lengthy like Praetorium?

[Mystry]

I absolutely agree, finding out that I had to duty finder the climax of the storyline was depressing enough, then I get in them and all 3 of them I was the only fresh 50, and everyone else speed ran the shit out of it.

I literally did not move a single inch, as I was watching cutscenes the entire time. Once one ended, another one started.

Which leads me to ask: Why are these final parts of the storyline forced group content? Why can't they be solo like plenty of the previous stuff? It would certainly add a ton more meaning and make it FAR more enjoyable, and 50 groups running it wouldn't have to be down a member because I want to see my story cutscenes.

Yes its a video game but all this praise that the NPCs heap onto me after finishing those just felt undeserved, like I was stealing credit, since I didn't actually do a thing in those dungeons.

[Morningstar1337]

snip

I can think of some reasons:

• Easing into the postgame: The moment you reach Westwind, the trials and dungeons are all 8-man. This is because all the endgame content is 8-man content (with CT tripling that amount)
• Going for epicness: Imaging a small battalion of 8 storming the enemy stronghold. Decimating armies and beating the Big Bad's ultimate weapon and then the Big Bad himself. Sounds good on paper right? This ties in with the above point. After all it must be important if twice the amount of people are participating

As it is I think the Dungeon should have been slit into half with the second half being a two-in-one trial boss rush. Or at least it should warp the players inside the boss area when the cutscenes ends (and not just for Lahabrea)

[fixitfelix]

In future story content, remove cutscenes all together and design new story content to be dynamic instances that allows the story to unfold through the instance.

Add natural barriers in level design to allow players, while navigating through a level to watch something cool unfold,ex. A NPC challenge the boss and tell the story while your group runs across a bridge or balcony and fights to get to him/her. This allows a group to be more fluid in going through a instance and gives the best of both worlds to the new and the old. This adds another dimension to the story as if what your doing really is making a difference.

Cutscenes don't really make you feel part of the story, as you are just observing actions that are being carried out that aren't truly your own. However adding a cutscene at the end after beating the instance is okay, as all your actions added up to what you get to see. This allows newcomers to experience it at their leisure while the repeat players can exit out and move on.

[ruskie]

Suggestion... get friends, FC mates etc... to tag along. You don't need a full group of 8 just a majority will do - if you can get a healer or both or a tank or both to wait on you - you'll be set on ejnoying the story. We helped someone that way basically we sat down until they finished watching the cutscenes. And I have seen DR groups wait for all people to finish watching the cutscenes. It's mostly reliant on tanks - if they are willing to let new people enjoy it all then you'll be able to enjoy it.