Speed run instances are killing PLD

[SwordCoheir]

Pickup groups will follow the easiest strategy possible regardless of a time-based reward. Countless pickup groups have been run using "cookie cutter setups" without any intention or hope of accomplishing a 5 chest clear. In 1.18, people stacked ARCs for Darkhold before they even knew there was a 25 minute chest to be had. In 1.19, people stacked LNCs when there was no time-based reward at all. 1.20 brought more ARC stacking, and again no time-based reward. Am I really supposed to believe now that 1.21 class stacking and cookie cutter setups are because of the 5 chest time condition, which you've just told me most people can't accomplish anyway?

Nobody said they were completely separate from one another, however time based rewards gives little flexibility to players with few jobs or who are more casual players. It's not like Ifrit or King Mog where no matter what time you kill them in the rewards are the same. You could go in with an all GLA/PLD group and win even if it took forever and still get rewarded for your efforts. AV, CC, and DH to get the best it has to offer you have to be pretty quick and flawless, and that just isn't possible without lots of experience in those areas, or having the ability to output damage and mitigate every potential liability along the way to help make up for that lack of experience hence "cookie cutter" setups.

Most of us are by no means asking for easy mode or handouts, we're just asking for content to be more flexible so PLD and other jobs are considered just as much as current cookie cutter options and still give casual players a fair shot at obtaining rewards even if it takes longer for them to procure it.