Has it always been like this or...?

[Jamein]

First off, they shouldn't have mocked/insulted you. That was ridiculous and not something you should expect from all the playerbase.

Now, to the real issue, I get that you want to watch the cutscenes I do, but you also have to realize you are not the only one in that party. There are 7 other people and if all 7 want a quick run, and only you want a cutscene run then you have to resign to the fact that you're in the minority and people are going to rush it.

I don't run story mode anymore as I have nothing to spend solds on, but when I did and if there was ever a new player I would allow them to just sit and watch the cutscenes while the rest of the group cleared the dungeon, i beleive that is a fair tradeoff. You can experience the boss fights on your second playthrough.

While I get that this kills your immersion, it really is the fair option to the entire group. If it wasn't for the roulette bonus you wouldn't even get to run the dungeon as no one would really join in DF at all.

Castro and prae are full of cutscenes and a 20 minute run can easily turn to 40+ if we are all sitting and watching and taking it slow. You can't expect people who have done that over 100 times to do that at all.

As others have said, if you want to experience the dungeons as intended, then you need to either be around for when they are released, or find an FC or PF group to help you out who all agree beforehand. As I said earlier, there are 7 other people in that group and as a latecomer to the game you are in the minority.

The problem doesn't continue into the late game though, as most dungeons after that aren't so cutscene heavy and no one is going to stop you from watching Coil cutscenes.

Still, as first stated, the party was in the wrong for mocking/insulting you that behavior isn't right.

[Seif]

This is really more the fault of developers than players.

I understand it sucks and that was my experience too. Basically the way the game is made makes you miss out the grand finale all the story is building up to and then later see bits of it in a journal. Not epic to put it mildly.

[Avenger]

This is really more the fault of developers than players.

I understand it sucks and that was my experience too. Basically the way the game is made makes you miss out the grand finale all the story is building up to and then later see bits of it in a journal. Not epic to put it mildly.

Although SE is certainly to blame for the long-ish cutscenes, the fact that they're skippable, the lack of iLvl sync (leading to overgeared players steamrolling everything) and making it possible for new players to be locked out of boss arenas, I would say that the bullying speedrunners are also to blame.

I really hope I don't become so selfish and impatient that I would want to ruin the climax of the main story for a new player who wanted to actually experience and enjoy the game narrative in context.

[Rufalus]

Ok, after seeing this and numerous similar topics, the obvious conclusion is that party content should never contain story cutscenes.

Regarding CM and Prae, with priority these should be among the first to be modified into solo content (perhaps with npc allies), and the main scenario roulette can thus be removed since it will no longer be necessary to help new players complete these instances.

[SpiritMuse]

Ok, after seeing this and numerous similar topics, the obvious conclusion is that party content should never contain story cutscenes.

Regarding CM and Prae, with priority these should be among the first to be modified into solo content (perhaps with npc allies), and the main scenario roulette can thus be removed since it will no longer be necessary to help new players complete these instances.

With a lot of these things, the primals in particular, the story already acts like you're soloing it anyway so it wouldn't even be very immersion breaking. Although CM and Prae are among the few that do actually specifically talk about there being an elite team of adventurers.

[Jamein]

Ok, after seeing this and numerous similar topics, the obvious conclusion is that party content should never contain story cutscenes.

Regarding CM and Prae, with priority these should be among the first to be modified into solo content (perhaps with npc allies), and the main scenario roulette can thus be removed since it will no longer be necessary to help new players complete these instances.

Pretty much this.

I also wish they would stop gating content behind the main story, as some of us really do not care for it. Don't get me wrong, I am an FF junkie and I love the stories but MMO's stories have always been so dull for me, not to mention the way this one started... I just couldn't get behind it. Yay i'm a hero with zero depth and I save everyone a million and one times and then run some weird little errand and deliver flowers. I don't want to have to run around skipping cutscenes for an hour so I can do a new dungeon or trial.

I know people have said that the story has been amazing with this last patch, but I'm so far gone now that I've skipped every cutscene since level 40 or so, and I don't have it in me to play catch up. Maybe one day I will try to get into it.

The one story line i have been watching is the BCOB/SCOB/FCOB one, as that has been somewhat fun, but thats probably because I've always loved Bahamut in every FF :P

[Stormrider]

Heads up Neko. I believe there is a Cut Scene Linkshell on Balmung. They did advertise quite a bit a few months ago. Maybe make some shouts and see if anyone has it or it is still active. Also shouting in Mor Dhona on Balmung is good to lots of people just hanging out being bored.

On a semi related note. Do people still think it is a good idea to gate everything behind what has come? Players are only going to get meaner the more times they are forced to run this content.

[Firepower]

I believe that Yoshi knows the mistake he made with Praetorium and Castrum and that is why it has not been repeated since. The difference between running those 2 dungeons quickly and watching the cutscenes fully is somewhere around 20-30 minutes, depending on the speed that the player reads the scenes and continues.

Now as much as I believe that people have the right to watch the scenes they are all available in the inn at any town after the event so you can then watch at your own pace, making people stand around and do nothing for an extra 20-30 minutes while you watch all the scenes and then participate on the fight is a little bit selfish. So you make a choice, if you watch all the scenes you will likely get left behind and will miss out on the fights in the dungeon because everyone else doesn't want to waste time. If you skip the scenes you can participate but will have to watch them at the inn in the end.

The choice is yours and you should be ready to accept that if you wish to watch the cutscenes you should instruct others to leave you behind so that nobody waits for you and they can get on with what they want to do.

If you want both then that is what the party finder is for, but I advise that you should be thankful to the people who rush through the dungeons for you are likely to be waiting a LONG time to get a group together these days to do both of them dungeons where everyone wants to watch all the cutscenes.

[LystAP]

I believe that Yoshi knows the mistake he made with Praetorium and Castrum and that is why it has not been repeated since. The difference between running those 2 dungeons quickly and watching the cutscenes fully is somewhere around 20-30 minutes, depending on the speed that the player reads the scenes and continues.

Traditionally, with most Final Fantasy games and RPGs in general, the story is often heavily interweaved into fights. If I recall, prior to FFXIV, Yoshi primarily dealt with single player RPGs, and operated among similar assumptions when designing Castrum and Praetorium. Now that he has more experience with the 'mass' consumption of the MMO experience, he correspondingly adapted and moved the cutscenes.

Although I cannot help but to think that something was lost in this movement, perhaps this is why the conclusion of 2.55 is so lackluster, considering that a similar "dungeon" that would allow you to fight your way to freedom would eventually be encouraged to just skip.

Additionally, I checked the cutscenes in the Inn, I do not believe you are able to view the initial pre-fight and post-fight cutscenes, such as that great monologue before Ultima Weapon with Gaius on the elevator shaft in the Praetorium. You can only view the primary cutscenes.

Perhaps they could add some incentives for viewing the cutscenes, such as a morality meter like they have in SWTOR, considering recent critiques of the WoL's lack of personality, but then that has it's own issues. There's not a good solution for this.

[Socomlord]

Like others have said use party finder or get a good fc to help. Ppl can be toxic on here sadly.