Quote Originally Posted by Jeeqbit View Post
I remember how an average party couldn't get through Titania. Sometimes they still couldn't get through it even with several stacks of Echo because the tanks don't understand how to tank it and DPS is low even with Echo. The biggest thing that has probably helped since was forcing leveling dungeons to have a minimum item level so that people don't go into the trial with second tier Stormblood gear.

Remember how everyone used to abandon Steps of Faith? I do, because I waited 40 minutes when I queued into it in Heavensward and everyone abandoned immediately, which was soul crushing enough to make me consider quitting because I couldn't progress. Then I tried one more time and 40 minutes later, they all abandoned again and I had to have a message ready to ask them to stay. By the time I'd sent it only 3 people remained to see it and they admitted they were about to leave too, but would stay and wait for it to refill.

Then we have the first EW trial, which just like the extreme version, I've seen people flat out unable to do until I put a Dorito on myself.

This is what actually happens when you gate the MSQ behind hard content.
I think the idea here is that, if you make the regular content on average a little more difficult, players will be on average a little more competent so you don't run into hard blocks like this the moment something even slightly difficult blocks your way.