Take it easy on the Nerfing :/

[Kallera]

I'm taking about the Alexander raids though. Unless you are referring to the one above it; to which I say, "Communication". Even with the adjustments to the trial, you still won't get anywhere without communication. That aside, if you were referring to the part I removed; it's just a given. There are players who are in it for the loot. Some people just really like the shinies.

I guess I should have mention the part of you comment I was referring to on nerf arguments on the forums eventually happening, which was Alex Savage, not SOF. Savage content and main scenario content are two different things. Nerf argument to savage content are different because savage content is an extra mode to an existing content, it is designed to be harder, and optional.

[AdamFyi]

I guess I should have mention the part of you comment I was referring to on nerf arguments on the forums eventually happening, which was Alex Savage, not SOF. Savage content and main scenario content are two different things. Nerf argument to savage content are different because savage content is an extra mode to an existing content.

Ah, I see. That point was completely off-topic and was meant to address specifically on the Alexander raids; which is why I removed it. It wasn't in any way related to the Steps of Faith or the MSQ at all. I believe it was merely just an observation on my part that something akin to what I had stated would likely occur. Like I said, some people just really like the shinies. xD

[Hyrist]

Well, that's fine and all, but you do have to consider one thing; future content.

That's a bold assumption. No, if anything, I would speculate that we hit the cap of what we would see with casual dungeon difficulty with the last three instances we have had. All that forcing heavy communication in casual dungeons does is reduce your playerbase as the pacing of this game is tuned too fast for true co-ordination to be instilled on the casual level.

Instead, I will speculate right now -expect the game to tilt MORE casual with Heavensward. Alexander Normal is the practice mode for Hard, and is released BEFORE hard mode is. That's a direct opposite of what we had with Coil. I expect Alexander Hard to maintain a challenging difficulty.

While I expect new and interesting things to come of the dungeons we are released, I don't expect the competency requirement to pass these dungeons will escalate further than what we already have.

It'll likely be the classes themselves that grow in complexity, with new skills to be added.

[Seryl199]

I'm all for a nerf when it's catch up content. Sure, Steps of Faith has been out for a while now, but there's nothing to really catch up to, just completing the story. I play pretty regularly, at a "medium-core" pace, and I haven't even completed the MSQ, thinking that I had plenty of time before the expac to bang it out at my leisure. I suppose I'm just a little disappointed that I won't even get to see the fight as it was originally intended to be, and there's not even a way to reverse it if I wanted to try, as there is with echo buffs.

[Fyce]

The nerf to Steps of Faith wasn't needed. All that was needed was actual communication between the 8 members.
Honestly. It really wasn't that hard. I know I failed a couple times in the beginning but the DF group I was with kept trying, and eventually won.

I didn't know we could solve the "bad players" problem with a few lines in the chat.

Last time I ran the trial (before the nerfs) the cannoneers were terrible. Thanks to your tip, I now know that I'll just tell them to "shoot the big dragon better!" to magically make them good players, well able to do their duty. Hooray!


... Stop thinking that communication was the only thing preventing people to get their clear. On SoF, before nerfs, if only two, or even one player was performing badly, the whole group would fail. And that happened A LOT. So much that people were more willing to take the 30mn lock in the face rather than stay for that trial.

I've run it quite a few time, and I can assure you that telling everyone what to do doesn't make a big difference if you don't start with a full team of at least competent players.

Not being able to carry people and balance their mistakes was the big problem of this trial.
Now, a very talented individual joining the group can turn the tide.
Yes, not being able to carry people was the big problem. And being able to carry people is something to expect in the MQS.

I guess everyone wants a easy game.

If that was the case, it would make you the very tiny vocal minority... and they won't change the game and completly switch their target target audience for you.

[AdamFyi]

Instead, I will speculate right now -expect the game to tilt MORE casual with Heavensward.

That goes for you too. Bold assumption there. Then again, we don't know much considering that there isn't much official info to go on. All we can do now is pretty much speculate for future content. Regardless, this is an MMO and there isn't much anyone can change about it. Communication is pretty much a big deal and can be tied to competency checks. Namely, being able to communicate with your party members on who does what and what does who. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Hopefully they can include content for everyone; Casual, Midcore, and Hardcore players.

[Noshpan]

Most of the requested adjustments for Steps that I've seen was to add a sort of reset option when it's obvious that it's going to be a wipe. Steps was never a hard trial, unless the majority of your party are a bunch of lazy ass brain-dead fuckwits. I didn't feel that HP needed to be reduced in the trial, but since the next major patch is most likely going to be 3.0, they probably want more of the player base to be able to access 3.0 by June 19th/ 23rd. Not that I feel that the HP reduction of Vishap & the adds are going to help. People are still going to wipe on this because they're lazy as hell.

[Hyrist]

That goes for you too. Bold assumption there. Then again, we don't know much considering that there isn't much official info to go on. All we can do now is pretty much speculate for future content. Regardless, this is an MMO and there isn't much anyone can change about it. Communication is pretty much a big deal and can be tied to competency checks. Namely, being able to communicate with your party members on who does what and what does who. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Hopefully they can include content for everyone; Casual, Midcore, and Hardcore players.

Agreed. As far as my taking bold statements - I have a pretty strong track record of being accurate with my statements. Mainly cause I've been following them since NA release of FFXI. I take no shame in admitting when I'm wrong. It just seems that I have a good feel for these things. (For better or worse, I've made calls I didn't want to happen, that came true too x.x)

But yeah, character complexity up, endgame appeals down to more casual players (probably wider diversity and easier time getting settled in.) It won't mean that the 'hardmode' difficult events will be easier, mind you, but that the overall feel will seem more accessible past the point of heavenward.

We can potentially use the level 30 start on new Jobs, the 'below ilvl130' start on level 51+ gear, the delayed release of Alexander as well as the first release of storymode Alexander BEFORE the hard difficulty, as all indications of continuing the trend of 'ease of admission'.

That's what makes SoF and storyline gating such a staggering point - it's in stark contrast to all listed points moving forward.

[RiceisNice]

...

It's not just mechanics/cannon damage though. You still need quite a bit of output from player damage throughout the fight. Which was why I was a bit annoyed by the NPC telling me that our attacks "would avail little against this foe"...when in actuality, non-cannon/DK damage would make up about 50% or more of the boss' hp.

I do agree with you that having 1 or 2 deadweights would have a signifcant impact on the overall progress, whether it be them legitimately bad or straight up trolling.

[Whocareswhatmynameis]

Personally I'm okay with them nerfing content if it is needed to progress the main story, such as with Steps of Faith. Non required content such as the Coils, EX Primals and CT should not be nerfed ever in my mind.

I just hope they don't make the other 6 elder dragons easy. Even if that means taking them out of the story. Elder dragon and easy don't belong in the same sentence.