The Problem with ARR Progression

[LauraAdalena]

So, outside of the more glaring stuff like the "Pray Return to the Waking Sands" meme that Minfilia is, SE decided to include a wall only because Titan(Hard Mode) was required in the MSQ. However, this also forces you to unlock Ifrit and Garuda Hard Mode for absolutely no reason. Honestly, as much as I am ok with unlocking a single Hard Mode for story reasons, this absolutely is one of the worst ways to gate people given that the content is dead and just serves to clog up the story for a good while. You have to kill Ifrit and Garuda Hard Mode first of all things too before even accessing Titan Hard Mode.

I'll admit, I didn't ever get the "pray return" joke because I actually only remembered her saying it a couple times. That aside. this is literally a non-issue. It's 3 trials and they're super easy at this point. Honestly, it'd also be weird to do one and not the other two. If it was removed it wouldn't feel any better or worse just like how the required side-dungeons and guildhest missions did before those were removed. is it strange they require you to do this? Yes I guess. Does it hurt if you do them? no. Is it the deciding factor for why people left? I highly doubt it.

(also, I moved a sentence from your second paragraph to the first so the points flow better)

As for the people saying "Sure, but we can just unsync it" those that do not know how to access the Novice Network or don't have an FC/Friends are going to have a higher chance of quitting the game outside of the Company of Champions quest chain at Lv 30-34 since Coerthas at least gets fun story-wise.

I literally when the HW mission requiring Titan Hard came out didn't unsynch and didn't think to and just DF queued and got it cleared without any issues or really needing to do mechanics all that much. I did the same mission with my sister and we didn't have any issue, I didn't need to invite people from my FC or unsynch, we just queued and got it. I do not see how this is a problem. Literally, even if shit goes wrong 90% of people know enough about the fight to carry you and 90% of the time it's down a healer/tank and DPS when I get it in roulettes anyway. And then Ifrit and Garuda have even LESS deaths and can be carried even easier.

... Titan Hard Mode again in the case you already unlocked it(besides, you're Lv 60 by the time you have to do it at 3.4). It would smooth progression in ARR...

Wait, level 60? That's Heavensward. Not ARR. Wait, are we talking about the old lock that I'm fairly certain was removed or the HW 3.4 required Titan Hard? Now I'm confused. Because 3.4 has no relation to ARR's pacing issue.

No seriously, I've read this post quite a bit and I get confused at that point every time.

[HyperiusUltima]

Wait, level 60? That's Heavensward. Not ARR. Wait, are we talking about the old lock that I'm fairly certain was removed or the HW 3.4 required Titan Hard? Now I'm confused. Because 3.4 has no relation to ARR's pacing issue.

No seriously, I've read this post quite a bit and I get confused at that point every time.

I was referring to the time in HW where you fight Titan. Why else would I say Lv 60 anywhere else? The only reason they force Titan Hard at “Good Intentions” is because of that particular moment in time. That, and also the issue with potentially missing the HMs because of the move to The Rising Stones in 2.2/2.3. They made a little ‘time bubble’ just so that you wouldn’t forget it since Minfilia also goes poof just before Soul Surrender. It’s more tedious than anything to be forced to do them when you want to continue MSQ.

[Iscah]

Wait, level 60? That's Heavensward. Not ARR. Wait, are we talking about the old lock that I'm fairly certain was removed or the HW 3.4 required Titan Hard? Now I'm confused. Because 3.4 has no relation to ARR's pacing issue.

No seriously, I've read this post quite a bit and I get confused at that point every time.

Do you remember the story arc with the kobold child that accidentally summoned Titan? The game makes you redo Titan Hard to represent that fight (then changes all the dialogue to make it heartbreaking).