Feeling discouraged

[Honey-Boy]

Hello I am a returning player who has picked up Samurai and I am pressing my buttons as they light up and generally enjoying myself.

Last night I had a bad experience in Duty Finder. Another player told me that SAM is not for me. I asked them to please clarify and they told me much like Samurai from our own history the SAM job in-game requires total dedication to the blade, and this may mean forsaking your own friends, wants, and needs in pursuit of total mastery over both yourself and your katana.

They then told me to look into reading the book of five rings by Miyamoto Musashi.

I really enjoy this job but I'm not sure if I'm entirely cut out for it now as it requires a whole level of commitment I was not prepared for. I would like to continue to play it but if I'm just going to embarrass myself with my bumbling swordsmanship in duties I feel it's not worth the stress.

Does anyone have any good SAM advice or possible suggestions for another job that doesn't require as much personal discipline and commitment?

Thank you!

[Enkidoh]

That person is clearly just a role-player taking their immersion way too seriously, so don't listen to them. So really, don't take their comments to heart (great if you like to role-play, and for what it's worth, I'm a role-player myself on Balmung, but there is a time and place for everything and that person really shouldn't have been RPing, or at the very least not to that level, even rhetorically, in a Duty Finder party). It is true that each class and Job has it's own mechanics and tricks to really getting the most out of it, but they don't require huge amounts of dedication to the level he's claiming, just simply having common sense and learning what each ability and weapon skill does, what combos can be executed, and the specific mechanics for that Job that can influence them. He's just taking things way too far.

So please, don't get discouraged! If you like the Job, keep playing as it!

Also the beauty of the Armoury System is like the other incarnations of the Job System throughout the FF series you are not stuck as the one class or Job for the entire game, you can switch to another and level that whenever you like, so you are bound to find something that is a better fit if you do decide SAM is not for you.

[Archaic-Antiquarian]

It sounds to me like the person has taken their role-playing too seriously. Be that as it may, in no way should you be discouraged by them. Not if you truly enjoy the job as you stated.

If I'm understanding correctly, it sounds as though you just began the job. I've only really ever been a Bard, so I can't speak from experience on all, but I do believe that none are mastered right away.

I've read The Book of Five Rings, it is a great read and I recommend it, but that is not necessary to enjoy this game. Play the job you like, you have no where to go but up.

Do not let anyone take away your fun, do not be discouraged.

"You must not be influenced by your opponent." Miyamoto Musashi

That's what they wanted all along.

[Hysterior]

[Frizze]

Ill join the chorus saying this player was RPing to a greater extant then is advisable among mixed company. Now with that said, it is possible that you arent getting everything out of the class that you could. This person could have noticed a deficiency in your single target or aoe rotations, and tried to "RP-up" telling you that you arent doing well(to avoid being reported most likely). I am not a samurai expert, so i cant offer any specific advice. But generic advice? Thats easy. If you look around the DPS forums you should be able to find some more in-depth samurai discussions. And if you want the best advice, The Balance discord is the place to be. Rotations, gearing advice, leveling tips. Whatever you may need, and with the math to back it up.

Another good bit of generic advice, dont take that guy too seriously. Sure, strive to be your best. But dont let one or two(or even a handful) of jerks in a PuG get you down. Most of this community is great, and you are welcome to be one of us too. Oh, and welcome back and best of luck!

[Coletergeist]

Hello I am a returning player who has picked up Samurai and I am pressing my buttons as they light up and generally enjoying myself.

Last night I had a bad experience in Duty Finder. Another player told me that SAM is not for me. I asked them to please clarify and they told me much like Samurai from our own history the SAM job in-game requires total dedication to the blade, and this may mean forsaking your own friends, wants, and needs in pursuit of total mastery over both yourself and your katana.

They then told me to look into reading the book of five rings by Miyamoto Musashi.

I really enjoy this job but I'm not sure if I'm entirely cut out for it now as it requires a whole level of commitment I was not prepared for. I would like to continue to play it but if I'm just going to embarrass myself with my bumbling swordsmanship in duties I feel it's not worth the stress.

Does anyone have any good SAM advice or possible suggestions for another job that doesn't require as much personal discipline and commitment?

Thank you!

Someone did same thing to me. I played for less than a month and now I have players telling me they love my damage or whatever and say I'm awesome at it.

I was also discouraged, but dedicated to playing a job I wanted and loved.

You'll surely get there if not yet already there; they can suck a big ol' one, because honestly there's no "right" way to play. Just have fun, my friend.

[Honey-Boy]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful advice, I have decided after much thought and sleepless nights to stick with SAM.

Everyday I am getting stronger and more proficient in the way of the blade.

I have also begun reading "Book of Five Rings" and this passage has been ingrained into my mind:

“Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.”

I hope to meet the person who chastised me in that dungeon again possibly in a frontlines so I may run my blade through them.

[Honey-Boy]

Hey Everyone just wanted to give an update after your great advice!

Samurai is unfortunately not for me, I really tried and would watch videos pertaining to both FFXIV samurai job and it's real life counterpart until the early morning hours.

I simply find the job too taxing and difficult for me personally, and after a week I have come to understand why seppeku was such a common theme among the samurai literature I have read.

I understand that was most likely Naoki Yoshida's intention in creating a mechanically challenging job to adhere to the samurai's legacy, so I do not have anything negative to say about the job as a whole.

With all that said I would love to thank everyone again for the warm advice, I have swapped to Dragoon and would gladly take any Dragoon advice or information you would share.

arigatou gozaimasu