Can deep dungeons get a real solo mode? Or allow matched parties?

[Kleeya]

I agree, having to rely on other people, this absolute nonsense in a massively multiplayer game XD

Irony aside, when players did suddenly quit my team when reaching high floors, it was each time after getting the black pegasus mount. They were after that from the start, and not completing the whole dungeon. Of course, they didn't say anything of it beforehand. Allowing matched parties will not get rid of this kind of people.

As for making a solo friendly version, that would only cause another forum huge uproar where the community will bash SE for making fun of players that already did solo it the hard way. Or would need to have different loot, achievements and rankings than the normal version, but then you would still feeling frustrated to not have completed the real thing.

In the end, your best bet is still to try to find really reliable players, with some of the hints who were given to you.

[Rowde]

-snip-

As for making a solo friendly version, that would only cause another forum huge uproar where the community will bash SE for making fun of players that already did solo it the hard way. Or would need to have different loot, achievements and rankings than the normal version, but then you would still feeling frustrated to not have completed the real thing.

-snip-

I'm sure they will eventually make it easier somehow and without doing any of that.

See all raid content from ARR and HW which can now be unsync'd. Perhaps that will even be the direct solution, PotD unsync'd... and for those that still want the OG challenge, they can just do it sync'd instead. However, I suppose for the sake of the sacred scoreboard, unsync option should disable high score reports.

[Penthea]

If it's a different kind of difficulty though, not entirely based on rotations and uptime. Some people on the other hand might find it easier. But what's the point even if they can't? At least with matched you can try and practice the floors much more, now you run into the problems the op states.

It's precisely because it's a different type of difficulty that it can be harder than savage. You need -constant- coordination as many aspects of HoH and POTD are randomised. You can't plan for everything like you can in raids. You need to act FAST if something goes wrong. You need to be super on point with pomander use. Mistiming the use of one pomander can easily cause a wipe. Using pomanders too liberally can doom you to a wipe later. You need to make constant judgement calls on whether you should use a pomander now or risk pushing through without it so you can use it later. Never mind all the mobs that have plenty of one-shot mechanics that need perfect pulling and dodging. In many cases pulling more than one mob is a guaranteed wipe.

Considering how pugs often run into issues on far easier content, the likelihood of achieving the level of coordination needed for the last 30 floors with a pug is insanely small.

[Rufalus]

I think if you're unable to find good reliable people who match your schedule and level of commitment then it's best to forget about the content and save yourself the stress. I mostly just stick to casual content that can be pug because statics so often lead to stress and drama. It's nice to be able to clear higher stuff but only if there are good friends who don't let you down. Maybe in the future you will make some good friends with same schedule and goals, then can try dungeon again.

[Ilan]

If it's a different kind of difficulty though, not entirely based on rotations and uptime. Some people on the other hand might find it easier. But what's the point even if they can't? At least with matched you can try and practice the floors much more, now you run into the problems the op states.

HoH or PotD challenge floors matchmade = people will scream for hard nerfes since they'll loose every pomander and can't get it done.

[Dzian]

I think if you're unable to find good reliable people who match your schedule and level of commitment then it's best to forget about the content and save yourself the stress. I mostly just stick to casual content that can be pug because statics so often lead to stress and drama. It's nice to be able to clear higher stuff but only if there are good friends who don't let you down. Maybe in the future you will make some good friends with same schedule and goals, then can try dungeon again.

i sometimes think its how much people expect.. im in a group of 4 thats doing hoh at the moment and we're not terribly fast upto 80 if i recall. but its done on a pretty much on the basis of when we all happen to be on and have an hour to spare sort of thing.. if we do it for an hour or 3 hours or just 30 minutes to clear 10 floors and then go do something else its no issue to us.

a lot of the issues i see with people putting potd or hoh in pfs and complaining they cant find people is because they literally expect to spend a full night doing it. potd literally every pf you saw was people wanting to go 51-200 in a single session and then complaining that noone wanted to do that..

kinda the same with savage statics see many people saying its hard to find members. of course it is when you wanna grind the same thing 5 hours a night 4 nights a week.....

[Kirsten_Rev]

Honestly I think that SE simply needs to make PotD / HoH DF'able. It wouldn't be difficult for match groups to start with certain 'base' Pomander counts above a certain floor level, so as to make it somewhat doable.

Personally I love the idea of fixed parties, but FFXIV just isn't built for it. Unlike FFXI, where fixed parties were a necessity to do... well, more or less anything outside of basic leveling, in XIV, they're almost never needed. End-game raiding and these Deep Dungeons, maybe Rathalos EX. That's about it. As a result, the average player simply doesn't have the right mindset for static parties. You can't take a casual game that's designed for people to play at their convenience 99% of the time, and then expect them to be highly accountable to others for the remaining 1%.

With Savage and Ultimate fights and such, it's arguable that there's simply no replacing the static element there. Those fights have a style of difficulty where you have to learn as a group to succeed for the most part. The Deep Dungeons, though? There's nothing special for that beyond being highly attentive and tactical in how you engage groups. People can pull that off in a matched group, and so SE should allow for it. Matched groups should only be restricted when absolutely necessary.

[OurMom]

wouldn't be difficult for match groups to start with certain 'base' Pomander counts above a certain floor level, so as to make it somewhat doable.
.

Then that's not fair to the pre mades because what pomanders you get is random so to make sure you're stocked up you have to go through x floors and kill x mobs. Being able to start and just get handed the things you need to succeed is a slap in the face.

SE shouldn't have to nerf certain stuff because the community isn't aware it's playing a MMO. I work full time and I manage to run PoTD to 200 several times a week.

[SeanCody]

Before I start, I'll express to anyone reading right now that I absolutely livid while posting this.

FOUR WEEKS. I have been trying to keep a group together for palace of the dead for FOUR WEEKS. I've had probably 16 groups in that time of people who say that they'll follow-up, but they never ever do. They ghost me, only one other person will show up, they'll show up saying they don't want to do it tonight because they are drunk, crap crap crap and I'm really sick of it.

I work full time and go to school full time, Friday and Saturday evenings are literally the only time I can play the game. These people will make promises a week in advance after we get to a high floor, such as floor 170, and then it turns into one of the following:
"Oh, I forgot."
"I don't feel like it tonight."
"I'm drunk lol"
No call, no show
"I'm with another group sorry."
"Can we do it some other time?"

The worst part about this game is having to rely on other people, and its too easy to screw me over just because you felt like being lazy and irresponsible.

Please SE for the love of all that is holy, find a way to make these people more accountable to return groups, I can't stand this anymore. At this point its legitimately easier to SOLO 1-200 in potd than do it with a group because the RNG and overinflated stats of potd 150+ can at least be overcome through luck and hard work. The people barrier just can't be overcome, its completely out of my control.

Please please please pleaaaaaaaaase add a solo-scale mode or allow matched parties in potd. Doing it with a fixed party doesn't prove anything that a matched party wouldn't equally prove. Keeping a party together in this game is impossible for me, and because of that I'm locked out, I feel completely helpless.

/scream into pillow
/endvent

You can easily duo potd so no need to get four people. A tank and a healer are enough.

[BokoToloko]

I mean. No one stops you from trying to reach 200 solo.

That's what I'm doing (trying) instead of looking for a static group.