Content Idea:BCNM

[kaynide]

Going along with other ideas for resource sinks, I’d like to propose BCNMs! Iscah’s gilsink inspired me…

What is a BCNM?
From FFXI, “Burning Circle Notorious Monster”, but really it is a trial that is accessed by spending an item to enter with your party. It is a single complex fight with gimmicks, and that you can choose specifically which fight you want.

In FF14 terms, entry is similar to 14’s treasure hunt and the actual trial is more in line with blue mage’s arena fights (gimmicks) or really any 8 man trial.

What’s the point?
They offer bite sized harder content; not meant to be 100% clearable without any real need of storyline or chain of trials like savage. You could focus on one at a time with friends easily as you like.

Since it costs resources for each attempt, you give meaning to excess tomestones/company seals.

How would I do it?

I wouldn’t have entry keys available for straight gil, rather use poetics and grand company seals (different tiers of key for different trials)

I wouldn’t have them introduce any new mechanics or models. Just recycle content, mixing existing monster abilities. on par with the Eureka/Bozja boss fates.

I would make it punishing, like the debuff you get for making a mistake never goes away; 2 or 3 mistakes and dead, etc.

I’d also have lots of gimmicky ones, where you have to figure it out (like blue mage)

What would you get?
In line with Treasure Hunt maps; just a variety of stuff, with general rewards for any, plus specific things available from specific BCNMs.

That’s it!

[Azuri]

So you are saying we should have difficult content with a 1-use entry fee that is lost if you fail to clear because little Jimmy was sniffing glue with 50% GCD uptime?

This will go great.

[Xaphire]

So you are saying we should have difficult content with a 1-use entry fee that is lost if you fail to clear because little Jimmy was sniffing glue with 50% GCD uptime?

This will go great.

So, if something like this were to be implemented and it were anything like XI - you wouldn't be doing this with random players. You'd likely form a group for it and as it would be small I imagine you could fill it with people you know aren't glue-sniffers or window-lickers.

[Azuri]

So, if something like this were to be implemented and it were anything like XI - you wouldn't be doing this with random players. You'd likely form a group for it and as it would be small I imagine you could fill it with people you know aren't glue-sniffers or window-lickers.

Look, I despise the "bUt tHiS iS nOT wOw" argument but this idea takes the worst part of Mythic+ and puts it in XIV. You would literally create content where you'll be hard denied from joining without good parses.

[Xaphire]

Look, I despise the "bUt tHiS iS nOT wOw" argument but this idea takes the worst part of Mythic+ and puts it in XIV. You would literally create content where you'll be hard denied from joining without good parses.

...make friends? Do you not know 3-7 other people? (I liked BCNMs in XI, and it sounds like a fun idea).

[SilverObi]

It would probably need some tweaking in its rewards to be "worthwhile" doing instead of treasure maps and/or to be on par with the relevance of BCNMs in XI, but that would probably be an odd metric considering most BCNMs were for good horizontal gear. I'd love to see that lowman content concept come back though especially if they really leaned into the XI trappings and gave us more unique weapon and gear appearances from it (kclub lookalike please).

I can see them avoiding the concerns Azuri is bringing up by just making them more puzzle type fights like BLU rather than pure skill checks.

[Divinemights]

So, if something like this were to be implemented and it were anything like XI - you wouldn't be doing this with random players. You'd likely form a group for it and as it would be small I imagine you could fill it with people you know aren't glue-sniffers or window-lickers.

Too bad for you, but it works really nicely in FF11
It is not going to be a content for everyone but it is going to be a piece of content for people who likes team play

[kaynide]

So you are saying we should have difficult content with a 1-use entry fee that is lost if you fail to clear because little Jimmy was sniffing glue with 50% GCD uptime?

This will go great.

I mean, you're clearly not familiar with how it was in XI; there is no duty finder system. You ONLY did it with trusted people. Also, harder does not mean ultimate level difficulty. Something the Rathalos EX when it was current is like, perfect.

Personally, my friends have fun figuring things out. We did in XI, and we still do now when we do Eden, etc together.

And, as is in XIV, you CAN do treasure maps with random people, but there is no system to support that either- you have to shout/gather people and talk out what you're doing. The only person to blame if you get "Jimmy" is you for not choosing your party carefully or doing it with strangers.

[Saraide]

From where come the need of unlock keys. I know treasure maps have them but to me it feels more of a detriment to the experience than an improvement. If the fights are well made and fun to do, why not just leave them open for people to enjoy?

[kaynide]

It would probably need some tweaking in its rewards to be "worthwhile" doing instead of treasure maps and/or to be on par with the relevance of BCNMs in XI, but that would probably be an odd metric considering most BCNMs were for good horizontal gear. I'd love to see that lowman content concept come back though especially if they really leaned into the XI trappings and gave us more unique weapon and gear appearances from it (kclub lookalike please).

I can see them avoiding the concerns Azuri is bringing up by just making them more puzzle type fights like BLU rather than pure skill checks.

I mean, ideally it'd be a completely different pool of items, similar to how treasure hunt or Eureka has..but it's own thing. Heck, I'd be fine if it was all current-existing gear, but level 1 glamour versions- even if only select parts (like the plate armor body, but a healer can wear it like we had in FF11)

Personally, I'd prefer if these were just pure combat with gimmicks, rather than gimmick-based..but I guess that's the fun of it- there could be a large variety. Even could be joke fights like 4v4 (4 npcs) where the NPCs are all retainers like we sometimes see in the field/wolves' den. (just costume and "in story" they are retainers not any actual player's retainers)

Also, just differentiating from maps: for Maps you can hold 3 at any time (1 open, 1 in either storage), and you are not guaranteed a portal. Once inside, after each fight you aren't guaranteed a next room, so the primary thing for maps is luck instead of skill. The fights themselves are random, but easy: You essentially have a 100% chance to win, as long as you're playing with any competency.

For BCNM, you are 100% guaranteed to get the fight of your choosing, but ideally a 50-70% chance to clear with basic competency. And if each fight has it's own unique drops, all the better.