I refuse to run Castrum the way it is now

[BillyKaplan]

I’m finally there and I want to enjoy it.

I don't think anyone objects that the way things were before wasn't optimal, but two wrongs don't make a right. People can tell us to not run the roulette until the cows come home but that's actively detrimental to the purpose of the roulette in the first place.
I still think revamping it into a solo duty, or using the squad technology using some GC NPCs would've made this a much better experience (they have the tech now, they just need to want to revamp the content which they refuse to do). Just now if people wanted poetics they'd have to farm the 50/60 roulette instead [shrug]

[Darric]

The problem in Castrum still depends on how patient the other, not-so-new-anymore players are (for instance those queued from MSQ roulette). Personally I got no problem with watching all cutscenes again. It just goes downhill if there are some players who rush ahead to bosses, barring the others out who just want to enjoy the run.

[Coratanni]

Here's an even stranger concept. Perhaps allowing players to skip cutscenes is good for both new and old players? It's good for new players because the don't have to wait as long to move forward in the msq, which is required for progression; and it's good for old players because they can get through it quickly and the rewards are actually worth it.

I'm not sure which way is ultimately better, tbh. I'm just saying that the "skip cutscenes" side does have some legitimate points that you should address before dismissing them as a whole.

I have run the msq roulette almost every day since the change and have found the parties much friendlier to deal with, than it ever was before. The roulette is optional. If you dont like the change, then don't run it. You have plenty of other ways to farm experience and poetics.

[Tranquilmelody7]

I specifically refuse to run Castrum, I don't really mind Praetorium.

While a bit shorter, Castrum is a lot more actual work than Prae and yields nearly half the experience.

As things are now, I still run the MSQ roulette but straight up back out whenever I end up with Castrum.

I guess I made a mistake by mentioning the cutscenes in my OP, as that is all everyone is talking about...

[StouterTaru]

I still feel like the xp for running that content should be much much larger than it is now.

I ran it twice since the change and its not worth it. Even with the adventurer in need bonus.

Adventurer in need exp bonus has always been a joke. The GC seals and free materia are nice, but adding 5% exp at the end isn't going to make anything worth doing that wasn't before.

[Akimori]

I always laugh when i see these threads.

People seem to think they a forced to run content.

So funny.

Its story content, so yes. People are forced to run this content

[Avatre]

Its story content, so yes. People are forced to run this content

Pretty sure they meant after the initial time through people aren't forced to run it(as in the roulette).

[Enla]

Pretty sure they meant after the initial time through people aren't forced to run it(as in the roulette).

To be fair though, there are some people who don't care about the story and just want it over with even if it's their first time. I certainly did, though in my case it was less about caring about the idea of seeing the climax and more being utterly done with what I saw as flimsy writing. Still in this case it's a one and done situation. I don't think the change was needed personally, but worse comes to worse a newbie in that position can just turn on twitch or something. I definitely would if I was in that position now.

[Coratanni]

Its story content, so yes. People are forced to run this content

One time. Out of how many hours that they invest into this game on a particular character?

If you had ANY idea how many hours I've invested just getting all of the lux relics, 2 zetas(over halfway done with book step on a 3rd), 7 anemos, all of the bird mounts, over 200 runs of the newer extremes, not to mention leveling other characters... The 2 hours required for those two dungeons for people now, isnt even a drop in the bucket. In comparison, I spent 14 hours grinding out for my very first clear of o5s the first week it came out. Once you've cleared those dungeons for the story, you never have to go back again if you so wish. You can spend your hundreds or thousands of hours grinding other stuff. One and done.

[BillyKaplan]

The 2 hours required for those two dungeons for people now, isnt even a drop in the bucket.

You're comparing optional end-game time-sinks to two dungeons that are required to even get things remotely started. No one forced you to grind all those things, while these MSQ instances are about as mandatory as things get in an optional game.
That said, saying 'it's a one time thing' really isn't a good defense, mostly because people aren't complaining as much about the content (we stopped running the roulette, it's fine) but about the attitude from the developers. I'm a software engineer - this was about as brutal and unfriendly a design decision as they could've taken, and raises concerns for the future as well as sets a dangerous precedent besides.