[Request] BLU concerns regarding toxicity - apply to rest of game

[BillyKaplan]

As we all know at this point, BLU is to be locked out of hefty portions of content when introduced. When explaining why, one of the reasons provided was -
to avoid toxicity by party members if the BLU in question was missing specific monster skills.
While I fully believe this particular concern could've been alleviated through design, I agree with the underlying logic. Sadly, BLU isn't the only place where such things are possible, and I therefore humbly beseech the dev team to reconsider other aspects of the game in order to avoid similar conflicts.

My examples and suggestions:

1. Lock 30+ duties behind jobs.
You cannot partake in the duty unless you have the relevant Soul Crystal equipped.

2. Lock ARR and HW duties behind the completion of relevant job quests.
No more 35+ WHMs without regen.

3. Lock 70+ duties behind the completion of the relevant level 70 job quest.
Not only are you missing out on skills that depending on job make or break your kit, you're also missing out on gear.
On release, the best gear available before facing Shinryu was the ilvl 300 gear from Ala Mhigo, but no one was going to farm that place before taking on the trial. Therefore, the best available was the 290 job sets which many people didn't have. There was no guarantee they had full Castrum Abania sets either, so for most players, the 290 sets were a noticable upgrade. Lacking that, people died to unavoidable damage.
People not doing their level 70 job quests was one of the reasons why Shinryu was nigh-immortal for as long as he was.

4. Lock leveling dungeons behind a minimum ilvl.
Like how a BLU can't adequately perform without their skills, other classes can't perform without proper gear. No one wants to see ilvl 90 gear on the tank in the Vault.

People looking to bypass these restrictions should be allowed to do so with pre-formed parties, while locked out of the duty roulettes. Directly queue for duties.

Please feel free to offer feedback and additional suggestions!

EDIT:
5. Change the ilvl weight so right side gear matters less than left-side gear (at least for non-tanks, tanks have more vit on everything).
Tying in with #3, part of the problem in Shinryu was not enough vitality on people. Vitality comes from left side gear. Therefore, it doesn't matter how far ahead you can pull your ilvl if you buy the one crafted ring - you'll still die to the first unavoidable attack.

[Roda]

Seriously, and sometimes, new players can just be inattentive and a "cannot join duty" message can snap their focus back onto something they've accidentally neglected. *staring at my fcmate who tanked my first healing dungeon wearing cloth because it had str on it...*
Good suggestion all around.
I would add, even add a warning on solo duties like you have when you queue up with low durability gear, saying "you should consult your job mentor before taking on this challenge" or "you feel like you may be underequipped for this task"

[Kogasan]

Also I don't want to see level 35+ tanks without their proper abilities such as shield oath and the like.

[BillyKaplan]

Also I don't want to see lol 35+ thanks without their proper abilities such as shield oath and the like.

Locking duties behind 1. soul crystal, 2. job quests, should ensure that they have the skills unlocked in their kit. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about personal skill levels. And you shouldn't do heuristics like "toggle Tank Stance on immediately" because either they just click it off, or if you make it mandatory you're killing stance dance. It's too intrusive.
These suggestions aren't the be all, end all solution to everything. However, as said before, oftentimes these mistakes are born out of ignorance rather than malice or even laziness, so putting these restrictions in place should still make a difference.

[Kogasan]

OP I don't think you quite got what I was saying. Stance dance is ok and all but I gave been in dungeons like Stone vigil where a tank doesn't have its shield oath up and I ask them if they have it and they say they haven't done their job quests since level 30 lol.

[KageTokage]

This is a very valid point. Letting people get away with not doing job quests yet locking BLU out of duties using the reasoning that they may not have certain important skills is really dumb.

Though I think the class would still be a balancing nightmare if all of its skills are actually useful and don't get totally outclassed by others at higher levels.

[BillyKaplan]

OP I don't think you quite got what I was saying. Stance dance is ok and all but I gave been in dungeons like Stone vigil where a tank doesn't have its shield oath up and I ask them if they have it and they say they haven't done their job quests since level 30 lol.

Locking duties behind 1. soul crystal, 2. job quests, should ensure that they have the skills unlocked in their kit

I think I get you just fine, not sure about the other way around

[Arek]

I support this.

I've seen a Gladiator lvl 47 in Aurum Vale without doing any of the Class quest... So no Shield Lob, Shield Oath and so forth. It was truly horrible. Manage to pass the 1st room but needed to kick him because he was not listening.

[Stormfur]

You know how in duty finder, it won't let you do Expert mode until you have certain dungeons unlocked?

So too with BLU - until you go out and learn certain skills, you cannot progress. Nobody's upset because certain dungeons aren't available to them. They'll just ask their FC or in the forum or wherever, "which ones am I forgetting?"

Besides, it's not like all of BLU's spells won't be uncovered the first week anyway just like Eureka was.

[BillyKaplan]

So too with BLU -

Despite BLU being the introductory context, this thread is not about BLU.
I will admit, it absolutely is a jab at that part of the reasoning for not adding them in as a proper job. But it's not from that direction. "Oh, you agree that a job not having all needed skills is a problem? Well sit down Squenix, because do I have news for you!".
SE, through BLU, admitted such cases are problematic. As such, I'm asking them to address those difficulties outside of BLU.

(I agree with you, don't get me wrong, just not what I'm getting at here)