Echo Spectate / Gobbie Training Grounds

[Dalex]

With the addition of the Stone, Sea, Sky this upcoming patch as a kind of "Test your Strength!" raiding prep tool, I was wondering whether it would be feasible to have a kind of spectate option for the end game raids and trials. Like, say it's a dream or astral projection afforded by the power of the Echo that allows you to be "present" during another party's fight without actively participating. I would allow that such a thing could be made invite only, the option to suspend chat from spectators, and a limit on the number of people who can spectate. It could be useful for people who want to learn the fights without necessarily feeling the pressure of being the weak link.

Alternatively, you could have a kind of "training ground" with mechanical dummies (I'm imagining in the steampunk style of our favorite Gobbies) reminiscent of end game bosses that simulate their attack patterns but do little to no damage so people can practice avoiding attacks and learn what to look for. You can institute this method three months or so after any major new content is released to give hard-core raiders time to complete the content on their own, and lore-wise you can say that the Gobbies were able to construct these training grounds due to the advice and feedback of daring adventurers who have survived these encounters (maybe even reward world or server firsts with a shout-out somehow, like in-game representations of their characters in the background, or some kind of memorial wall).

[MXMoondoggie]

You mean like...Watching video guides on youtube?

[Dalex]

video guides are so meh, though. There's nothing quite like actually being there, moving around, seeing things from the perspective you want, focusing on different targets. Video guides are a forced perspective that relies on the editing quality of their creators.

[VargasVermillion]

Could work if it allowed you to see everyone in the raid and the abilities they use in real time and all that. But it's unlikely to happen, especially like that.

[MXMoondoggie]

video guides are so meh, though. There's nothing quite like actually being there, moving around, seeing things from the perspective you want, focusing on different targets. Video guides are a forced perspective that relies on the editing quality of their creators.

Video guides also come with commentary on particular mechanics and how they work plus explanations of how they tackle them. Just watching a fight you don't really get that sort of discussion you just see what you see. You also get to see the whole thing while you are relying on a group to finish everything when watching a random set of people or your friends. What you are suggesting won't actually help if you can't even follow a guide and then go in and learn for yourself with a group. There is no magic wand that can make you do everything perfectly right away even if you watch guides and streams of raid groups online you only get their experience not your own which you need to get a feel for the fights rhythm and speed of attacks. It's a lot of work for the devs to achieve very little beyond what already exists in guides and streams.

If you want to learn a raid gather like minded people and spend hours working on it this is how people do these things.

[Shurrikhan]

You mean like...Watching video guides on youtube?

I would think Starcraft II replays or DotA 2 / LoL in-game streams might be the apter comparison?

That said, I have to agree with your above post. Most of this can already be done via online resources we have now. Much of this, while desirable, doesn't really warrant its development time.