A Skipping Normal Raid Option :o ?!

[Commander_Justitia]

Since the Heavensward addon we get normal modes besides the savage raid tiers.

I think the "normal/story mode" was a good addition for casual players who don't want to attempt savage at all, or don't have the time for it(or other reasons). I don't want to have it removed.

But as a savage raider, my incentive to play during the raidtiers in Second Coil and Final Coil was also to progress the story and be surprised by new mechanics/bosses. More "recently" I only experienced that feeling with the A8S final phases and Neo Exdeath a bit.

I want to be able to completely skip normal mode and enter savage mode directly. Even if the savage mode doesn't have any story cut scene, I still would prefer it, I would have the chance to choose at least.

It is not necessary to get the gear from normal modes to clear savage, there is probably better crafted gear anyway.

It shouldn't be a requirement to have cleared normal mode to enter savage.


Why do I have to spoil myself the savage experience in normal mode?

Edit: Unlocking the new savage tier right off could be tied to clearing the old savage tier, while new/returner/casual player can still unlock it with the new story mode.

[LittleChickenNugget]

If you're doing savage mode, doing one run of normal mode is nothing.
And I have to squint and ask - is your tag wrong on the side? 70 gladiator?

[Zojha]

And I have to squint and ask - is your tag wrong on the side? 70 gladiator?

You can set anything you like there, class or job, it doesn't mean that you actually play it. I wouldn't give too much about the whole displayed character bit.

That aside... yes, being able to skip Normal IMO is overdue. The only harm that would do is that you couldn't have these "Minstrel" sidequests to unlock Savage, which is a fairly small loss.

[Krotoan]

You can set anything you like there, class or job, it doesn't mean that you actually play it. I wouldn't give too much about the whole displayed character bit.

That aside... yes, being able to skip Normal IMO is overdue. The only harm that would do is that you couldn't have these "Minstrel" sidequests to unlock Savage, which is a fairly small loss.

so you'd be OK with random people who haven't even passed normal joining in on the savage runs? I'm pretty sure this is an intended effect: Prove competency (or ability to buy/fudge a carry) before hitting "hard" mode.

[Zojha]

so you'd be OK with random people who haven't even passed normal joining in on the savage runs?

Yes, because Normal is too easy to see whether people are qualified for Savage anyway - So far, the NM fights weren't noticeably more difficult than Shinryu normal and everyone had to go through that somehow. Considering all the "Farm party - No bonus" horror stories, even having cleared the content in question already isn't a great indicator of competency.

If you want some basic competency check, you should start demanding people be able to clear the SSS dummy for the respective content. That at least ensures people know their rotation in theory, even if the application in the content might leave things to be desired. Clearing normal doesn't even do that.

[Krotoan]

Yes, because Normal is too easy to see whether people are qualified for Savage anyway - So far, the NM fights weren't noticeably more difficult than Shinryu normal and everyone had to go through that somehow. Considering all the "Farm party - No bonus" horror stories, even having cleared the content in question already isn't a great indicator of competency.

If you want some basic competency check, you should start demanding people be able to clear the SSS dummy for the respective content. That at least ensures people know their rotation in theory, even if the application in the content might leave things to be desired. Clearing normal doesn't even do that.

let me rephrase: you'd be OK with someone who possibly can't even clear normal being in your party for a savage clear?

It's not about being able to clear savage,it's proving a basic competency in clearing mechanics.
If you're still ok with that.. sure. I've nothing against letting people try what they want, but I'm assuming from the amount of people in the forum that complain about people being "carried" and failing savage runs , that the complaints would increase to "omg why are they letting noobs into savage with no filter". It's not MUCH of a filter, but it's there. I'm suggesting that it's a gateway that was easy to implement and is there for actual "hardcore" players benefit.



all that being said, what's one run in normal to a hardcore hardmode loving raider?

[Stanelis]

If you're doing savage mode, doing one run of normal mode is nothing.
And I have to squint and ask - is your tag wrong on the side? 70 gladiator?

I think you're missing the point. The issue isn't being able to do normal mode or not. The issue is that by doing normal mode, you spoil yourself by seeing most of the bosses in normal before going into savage, thus reducing the appeal of savage mode. I actually do agree with the OP and that's why I don't raid in FFXIV anymore (even though I completed all content before echo in 2.X).

[Urthdigger]

Yeah no... if you're capable of clearing Savage, you should be capable of clearing normal. Needing to clear normal mode first establishes some base competency (in theory anyway) and should be no sweat to someone ready to tackle savage.

[KaivaC]

Yeah no... if you're capable of clearing Savage, you should be capable of clearing normal. Needing to clear normal mode first establishes some base competency (in theory anyway) and should be no sweat to someone ready to tackle savage.

I'd have to agree with this. Casuals still have some trouble dealing with O4 normal, what with the void casts that the boss does. For them to just skip straight into Savage....I shudder at the thought...

[Tridus]

One normal clear is hardly an onerous entry requirement. This doesn't seem like it'd ever make it very far up the priority list of things that need working on.