Breaking into the Savage Elite

[Shaolinz]

I previously posted about a lot of difficulties and frustration with getting duty complete in savage content. Although I was putting in a lot of time and energy, my efforts weren't getting anywhere mostly because 90% of that time was spent in queue. I could only find toxic ststics, and I really didn't want to raid with unfriendly people. So I changed my tactics. My biggest complaint wasn't wiping; it was not even getting the chance to play.

So what I did was I used my 70 omnicrafters and leveled up two alts (SAM and AST) and got them to i350 gear levels. Instead of starting my own queue and waiting forever I just pitch hit in literally every party finder I could that was doing the train. I got about nine straight hours of constant attempts in as all three class roles. I watched more successful players in their roles and emulated it when it was my turn to be that guy. Finally at the end of the night, I recognized early on a DPS was struggling to grasp the knockback ghost. With some hasty macro switching I ended up covering him instead and notified the warrior to use Holmgang (suboptimal I know), and finally got the clear as he was casting saintly beam. After getting that first clear I have killed it many more times, as the "duty complete" requirement really does open you to a higher caliber of players. Additionally, after that my progression has been much faster (with only two hours of attempts at O6S I got to wipes.

So, solo queue in party finder is possible, but you need to have multiple classes leveled to do it. You will die a lot but at least you'll get attempts in, and law of averages states eventually you'll get lucky and break into he elite crowd... and it's all downhill from there. I still think there needs to be more incentive to take on newer players, but for now that battle is conquered.

[Fhaerron]

After getting that first clear I have killed it many more times, as the "duty complete" requirement really does open you to a higher caliber of players.

The amount of 'kill for friend' PF's is insane. The 'duty complete' requirement does nothing most of the times, I usually get even bigger idiots in my group then people who still have to get the kill.
The other problem for me is also unlike you I don't have 9 straights hours time to do raid, I have full time job and evening school + study each day too, so I play about 3-4 hours max / evening, and like on mondays I don't even have time at all, I leave house at 6am for work and I get home at 11pm (after evening class) and I can't play after 11 because I have to get up at 5.30am (everyday) for work.

For me static is the only way to go.

Even before I got my busy schedule I didn't like pugs because 99% of the time it's an unorganized pile of trash unable to performing even the most basic fights.
Byako ex which is like the most easiest fight ever created ... instant kill with friends then do it with pugs and it's a complete wipefest even with the 'duty completed' requirement.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

I'm glad you bricked your way up. I did just the same back in the Coil days. I wanted it enough to keep trying and keep finding others that wanted it too, til I effectively created a static and taught them T5 without realizing it. And I'd make the correction that there's no "Savage Elite" so to speak. There's really no "Elite" at all. Good players also fail and make mistakes like everyone else. The only difference is that they learn from them, minimize them and keep trying.

My greatest advice to anyone in this game is to just try. You won't always succeed right away, but you'll be amazed what you can do.

[NephthysVasudan]

I find it sad and hillarious all at once that people assume "duty complete" means people know how to do the content..when they likely got dragged through it...or carried rather....

Granted I'll revisit content I've cleared - but I try to indicate that I'm not entirely confident in clearing said content...like the 3 fiends - which ill be first to admit I've not mastered.

The 2 important keys here is 1: People need to drop the damn salt shaker and just deal with it. 2: If your going to try - try hard - do your best - know your role - but don't bitch/bs around if someone makes a mistake - just take it with a smile and try try again.

Persistentance and will power wins out. - as proven by the OP. Congrats btw.

[BluexBird]

I don't do statics. Because I don't like waiting for other people, don't like having a schedule, and sometimes you'll end up with one or two bad players and have to put up with it.

But then with random groups in the PF, you'll end up with baddies who don't know the fight yet, or who just plain suck.

There's a solution to this, though. Let me tell you a little secret. :3 If you log in every Tuesday right on the reset, you will see several parties of raiders. These people most often know the fights VERY well. Assuming you're not the one who messes up, you'll fly through train, breeze through O6S, and O7S should only take a couple of pulls. You'll land at Kefka, but at that point you'll be torn between a few people who know past Kefka and those who have even cleared O8S, so just see.

Deifnitely worth it though since trying to clear O7S with the rest of the baddies during the middle of the week is a pain in the ass.

[Lord_Zlatan]

snip

Another useful tip is, if you are starting the party yourself especially, to open a discord server for your party to log on to. It allows you to network with people so you know who is good and who is not. You can friend/bookmark them and look them up for future content.

(Side not, my static is probably going to need another thank if you want to join ours [sorry about the shameless plug], should your schedule allow).

[Shaolinz]

I'd be happy to. I'm east coast and play mostly after 7 PM on weeknights and sporadically throughout the weekend. Hit me up on game if interested.