OHKOs is Lazy Boss Design

[Packetdancer]

I was doing P7N last night and I have to say this is my least favorite of the new tier because many of the mechanics are difficult to read and failing them results in death.

I personally don't find P7N confusing, though that may be in part because I ran P6N and P7N a whoooooole lot trying to get the orchestrion roll for "Scream". (Which I still do not have.) I say this not to be like "it's easy, git gud", but merely as context/disclaimer for this post, inasmuch as I recognize other folks' experience in there may differ.

ANYWAY.

Something I've noticed SQEX doing more of more recently is to put ground telegraphs on mechanics where I feel like we might not have previously had telegraphs. In savage and such, by the time you see the telegraph it's already far too late, but it provides a useful clue on how the mechanic works for the next time you see it.

However, I've also noticed that they seem to be adopting this approach in content that maybe previously would've been more forgiving there, such as normal raids. And I think one reason some folks may feel like they're struggling is that if you're watching for the floor telegraphs as the indicator, you're already too late.

To illustrate: I got P7N in normal raid roulette last week and someone remarked in frustration that there was never time to move when the Boughs of Attis telegraph happened unless they were already close to the center of the arena. When I pointed out that the boss literally moved into different positions well in advance of the attacks, they were absolutely surprised; they'd just sort of dismissed the animation as visual noise and ignored it.

This is not to say that this is applicable to your specific situation, but it is something I've noticed, starting back as far as the Zodiark MSQ trial, and I wonder if it factors into people feeling like some mechanics are becoming arbitrarily punishing.

Especially since I feel like there are less immediate KO mechanics lately, not more. Admittedly, some you need to have the tank throw Reprisal on the boss (or Heart of Light on the party, or whatever), which does not always happen in normal content. But I do feel like there are more survivable mechanics lately rather than less.

I think I died five times last night, one time when I died I have no idea what killed me, but it lead to one of many "chain death" occurrences.

Okay, now, while I don't know that I agree that there's too many one-hit KO mechanics, I do dislike the chain death scenarios.

Given how the arena situation frequently changes, I've seen people rezzed into what was a safe spot but is now empty space, I've seen people rezzed and then immediately get yeeted off the platform by Boughs of Attis, I've seen people rezzed and then realize they're right in the path of one of the bird strikes, etc.

And I know it must be deeply frustrating to die to a mechanic, get rezzed... and find yourself now in empty space, falling to your death. And then get rezzed again, only to be immediately yeeted off the arena and into space by the Boughs of Attis mechanic. And then get rezzed again, and...

I'm not sure there's a good fix for that, especially since I do actually like the fight design overall; it's something kind of different and new, which I want to see more of. But... I guess take this part as something along the lines of "I see and acknowledge your frustration there, and agree it's valid."