Thread: 4.5 Patch notes are live

Originally Posted by LaylaTsarra

Wipes happen in the beginning because people are learning mechanics. It's pretty normal in my opinion so stick it out. To ask that story content not be locked behind more challenging content is simply not going to happen. Story is important but so is the fact that not all content has to be so easy to run that they eliminate it form the more challenging duties.

I have no problem with there being challenging content in the game, as otherwise a portion of the playerbase would have nothing to interest them over the long term. But the more challenging content in the game already rewards the best loot, so I question whether it's really necessary to also lock story content---which has a fairly universal appeal---behind a wall that is going to either impossible or extremely unpleasant to scale seems a bit much from the vantage point of someone in precisely that situation.

On the point of sticking at it: I generally put off doing raids for quite a long time, so by the time I get to them most participants have generally learned the mechanics... But there still ends up being wipes and drama. I don't enjoy the content at all, so the only reason I eventually tackle it is for the storyline, and then I feel bad for stinking so bad and making the raid that much harder to get through, so that turns me off the content even more. Challenging single player games are my bread and butter, and have been since buying my first game, Castlevania, on the NES; but something about traditional MMO combat just doesn't click with me, and I can't seem to get past the point of being terrible... Add a fear of public scrutiny/humiliation on top of that, and I just don't think raids are ever going to be for me.

If SE ever deign to throw a reasonable challenge (i.e., not something like HoH) the way of mostly-solo players like me, great! But until then, I'll continue to stick to the casual stuff and keep on wishing that all the significant story content was accessible to us scrubs.

Originally Posted by Rokke

24 & 8 man raids are for casuals to gear up without having to step foot in harder content. Running them on/close to patch day is more or less expected to be rough since everyone is figuring things out, but if you're consistently struggling with them you'll need to sink more time into recognizing mechanics & how to best react to said mechanics as your job.

As for the notes -
Theres a whole lotta QoL changes I'm happy to see: Flying ponies, blank partitions, friendlist organizing, GUARANTEED MINON DROPS IN THE OLD RAIDS. Good stuff

Yeah I’ll run day one to start learning the fights when wiping is excepted and people are less likely to starting chewing people out.

Originally Posted by purgatori

How many people actually ever get to see the Return to Ivalice story content? Am I part of a tiny minority of players who suck too badly at the game to get through this game's raids without being carried (which is not an enjoyable experience in the least)? Or is it the inverse, and SE are just creating major story content that the majority will never see?

As others have said, alliance raids are doable with radom people, and were meant for everyone to play. A single death doesn't matter much there, unless you screw an important mechanic and kill everyone else and such, but there's not a lot of those.

Ideally you would want to go with a couple of friends or FC mates, in your case, as I guess that you would feel more relaxed and confident. But it's still doable if you go by yourself. Just watch the mechanics beforehand to go in more prepared and familiar with them (I know that this doesn't work for some people, but even a bit can help), try to warn people when you enter to briefly explain them your situation, and I'm sure that the majority of them will understand it and even try to help you. Who knows, you might even surprise yourself and improve Go with your RDM if you can, and it will be even less stressful for you, as you can potentially make more mistakes for the alliance as a tank.

Also, if you run them on or close to patch day, wipes are expected. So don't think too much about it and take the opportunity to learn with the rest of us. Or just run them a week+ later.

Originally Posted by Vahlnir

Everyone has different levels of skill in regards to gaming. However, you seem to be aware that you are causing problems both for yourself and fellow party members. Surely you can find a way to improve. The normal and 24 man raids, as well as MSQ story battles, are meant to provide just a sliver of challenge. They aren't going to change that. So...improve, or not. Maybe you simply can't and there's nothing wrong with that so long as you aren't the root of every party's drama. Not everyone is fit for every game or activity. But I would at least try to make improvements.

I've never had any trouble with MSQ story battles or any of the dungeons, it's only the raids and trials that are my undoing. I find that, in most games, a bit of reading and a lot of playing are usually all that it takes for me to skill up to being able to tackle the hardest content on offer, but not so in FFXIV. Given that I've been kicking around in FFXIV since the relaunch, it seems that I'd need to invest a great deal of time in order to achieve the minimum satisfactory level of skill required in order to tackle... well, content that I don't enjoy or find compelling in the first place. Frankly, I'm not able or willing to do that when the game is already a big time sink, and I have work, life, and other gaming commitments (perhaps one of my problems is that I've always refused to let FFXIV be the only game that I invest significant time into).

I'm happy to let raiders and trial-ers do their thing and not get in the way of their fun, as SE are generally fairly good at providing alternate ways to achieve a sufficient iQL to take on the latest MSQ additions---e.g., deep dungeons (loved PotD, but HoH not so much), Eureka, hunts, beast tribes, and the odd roulette are all activities that I either outright enjoy or can at least endure. The only time I grumble is when I'm missing out on story content... especially story content that calls back to my favourite FF in the series.

Originally Posted by purgatori

I've never had any trouble with MSQ story battles or any of the dungeons, it's only the raids and trials that are my undoing. I find that, in most games, a bit of reading and a lot of playing are usually all that it takes for me to skill up to being able to tackle the hardest content on offer, but not so in FFXIV. Given that I've been kicking around in FFXIV since the relaunch, it seems that I'd need to invest a great deal of time in order to achieve the minimum satisfactory level of skill required in order to tackle... well, content that I don't enjoy or find compelling in the first place. Frankly, I'm not able or willing to do that when the game is already a big time sink, and I have work, life, and other gaming commitments (perhaps one of my problems is that I've always refused to let FFXIV be the only game that I invest significant time into).

I'm happy to let raiders and trial-ers do their thing and not get in the way of their fun, as SE are generally fairly good at providing alternate ways to achieve a sufficient iQL to take on the latest MSQ additions---e.g., deep dungeons (loved PotD, but HoH not so much), Eureka, hunts, beast tribes, and the odd roulette are all activities that I either outright enjoy or can at least endure. The only time I grumble is when I'm missing out on story content... especially story content that calls back to my favourite FF in the series.

This may be a stupid question, but have you tried doing the raids as different jobs? Since it might partially be a matter of a playstyle not being suited for trials and raids.

Originally Posted by CaptainLagbeard

This may be a stupid question, but have you tried doing the raids as different jobs? Since it might partially be a matter of a playstyle not being suited for trials and raids.

Not a stupid question at all. The only jobs I have used for raids, though, are DRK, DRG, and RDM.

Originally Posted by purgatori

I have no problem with there being challenging content in the game, as otherwise a portion of the playerbase would have nothing to interest them over the long term. But the more challenging content in the game already rewards the best loot, so I question whether it's really necessary to also lock story content---which has a fairly universal appeal---behind a wall that is going to either impossible or extremely unpleasant to scale seems a bit much from the vantage point of someone in precisely that situation.

On the point of sticking at it: I generally put off doing raids for quite a long time, so by the time I get to them most participants have generally learned the mechanics... But there still ends up being wipes and drama. I don't enjoy the content at all, so the only reason I eventually tackle it is for the storyline, and then I feel bad for stinking so bad and making the raid that much harder to get through, so that turns me off the content even more. Challenging single player games are my bread and butter, and have been since buying my first game, Castlevania, on the NES; but something about traditional MMO combat just doesn't click with me, and I can't seem to get past the point of being terrible... Add a fear of public scrutiny/humiliation on top of that, and I just don't think raids are ever going to be for me.

If SE ever deign to throw a reasonable challenge (i.e., not something like HoH) the way of mostly-solo players like me, great! But until then, I'll continue to stick to the casual stuff and keep on wishing that all the significant story content was accessible to us scrubs.

As someone who often has trouble in raids and dungeons, i can sympathize with many of your remarks. However, i strongly suggest not putting off content for later. When content is new, no one can throw stones at one another over new mechanics.

Originally Posted by KageTokage

I'll just enjoy it for what it is and be happy with my ability to spit sardines at monsters and self-destruct for no particular reason (I'd like to hope that's what we learn from bombs because it's been a staple in practically every game with BLU).

Now I can /playdead harder than ever before!