Raiding is becoming less and less optional

[Edax]

Raiding is becoming less and less optional

The Crystal Towers raids are so easy as to not be believed, I'm not sure that this is a problem.

[FoxyAreku]

I thought this thread was related to extremes and savage (you know, actual raiding).

But the 24 mans that you can win by going afk? You must be joking.

[wereotter]

Most players already do the 24-man content anyway considering that in the odd-numbered patches, that's how players who aren't doing savage unlock the option to upgrade their gear as well as get gear for alternate jobs.

Early on there might be some bumps, but I've only ever seen a handful of times where a group was unable to clear the raid and get the rewards. Making them a part of the story adds to them since it makes them more relevant. It's not as though they're asking you to clear something like Titan savage to advance the story. They make easier versions for people who want the story and harder versions for those who want the challenge.

[Theodric]

You only need to do each raid once, on normal mode. That isn't a lot for the development team to ask of players in order to unlock content. If it were a case of asking people to complete savage raiding, then that'd be a completely different matter.

[MsMisato]

I think having normal raids being a part of the story is just fine. However, ff they were savage and were required to advance the story that's a different thing but it isn't. Normal raids right now are pretty straight forward. With the exception of thunder daddy which was nerfed recently, all the 24 and 8 person raids are fairly easy once you grasp the major mechanics that could wipe out the raid.

[Gemina]

Funny thing about "raids" in this game is that anything outside savage/ultimate is considered casual content when those encounters are basically trials, and for all intents and purposes could be called "savage/ultimate trials"; all the while, 24 man alliance raids is actually a true raid by definition. But "raiding" is typically the term used to refer to the most difficult content the game has to offer. Ahhhh, semantics.

Anywho, alliance raids is some of the most fun content to do in the game. It's a playground where both the devs and the players can step over some boundaries a bit - with restrictions of course. Construct 7's math mechanic is an example of that. Boiled down though, they are basically massive dungeons and are designed in a way that they will be cleared nearly every time. And just like dungeons, every once in a while they will toss a wall in there, forcing players to obey mechanics or gtfo.

[Ultimatecalibur]

Funny thing about "raids" in this game is that anything outside savage/ultimate is considered casual content when those encounters are basically trials, and for all intents and purposes could be called "savage/ultimate trials"; all the while, 24 man alliance raids is actually a true raid by definition. But "raiding" is typically the term used to refer to the most difficult content the game has to offer. Ahhhh, semantics.

Bahamut and Alexander (Normal) actual felt like raids as they made you feel like you where infiltrating and fighting through dangerous locations. Omega and Eden have felt more like a series of interconnected trials. It is funny how the existence or nonexistence of trash fights can seriously change how a raid feels.

[Cithaerias_pyropina]

Eh, I'm quitting after 5.3's Shadowbringers's story-arc conclusion anyway. I won't need to do forced content I don't like if I don't even play.

[Vivi_Bushido]

I'm really conflicted on this subject. I understand there should be a casual thing because some raids can be to hard and some people just want the story and lore, but other times, I miss the lore being locked behind super bosses. It made the moments felt a bit more rewarding.

[RVallant]

I'm really conflicted on this subject. I understand there should be a casual thing because some raids can be to hard and some people just want the story and lore, but other times, I miss the lore being locked behind super bosses. It made the moments felt a bit more rewarding.

Yes, I agree.

For example; I think everyone interested in the story should absolutely do The Binding Coils of Bahamut.

Will you get to do them in roulette? No.

Will you get to do them synced? Unlikely.

Best chance (and this is advice from reddit, here, in-game and discord) is to unsync advertise 'first time poetic bonus' and level 80's will blitz you through. So, you won't get the awesome fights that happen in there, and there are quite a few tough ones IMO. I remember Twintania on sync was a pain, especially dodging her annoying divebombs as a party. Or the lady's icebitten/fire nonsense etc, but taking them down was a great moment for me. Unsynced, it was just waving a lightsaber around and demolishing everything with no thought - it lessened the impact of the whole thing. Still, absolutely worth going through for the story, and there are a LOT of scenes, quite a few very long ones in the final few turns as well, so beware of PUGS spamming through it.

I hope other raids are doable on 'normal' synced, or through the roulette or whatever, it would be a shame to have to unsync run all of them on account of being late to the party.