Limit Breaks...what do you think?

[Spy]

I wouldn't be opposed to a test of personal skill to progress beyond 50, especially one that requires the person focus on everything that's happening and (more importantly) is thematic for each job.

Like a Monk would need to use Dragon Kick at the right time to Pacify a dangerous opponent's weapon skill, or switch his fist stance based off his opponent's shifting elemental weaknesses. A White Mage would have to keep an ally alive while being attacked by other enemies (sustaining himself and an ally under pressure). A Black Mage would need to rotate between crowd control and elemental spells while kiting to bring down a group of enemies alone (too tough to AoE down, too tough to Sleepga + kill one, kill next before Sleepga's diminished effect kicks in, etc.) Just as examples.

Frankly if this fight would be just "run up to the guy and hit it until it stops moving" then it'd be nothing more than irritating busywork and a gear check. That's not fun.
(This whole thing reminds of me of Cecil becoming a Paladin in FFIV, and how that was themed to the Paladin job quite nicely.)

This is a very nice input ^^ I highly agree that the fight should be a test of your ability to use/time your skills wisely...where one or two mistakes would mean downfall. I want a challenge. It's true that if the fight's too easy, it may as well not be added at all.
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And lol I had forgotten about the crown XD

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Also, that FFVII limit break video made me want to play the game again XD

[Estellios]

As long as I don't have to farm for anything with the abysmal ancient papyrus drop rate.

[Cynthis]

I am not a fan of the idea of having to pass a test to level up. If you put in the time and effort then you should get the level. Having to pass a difficult test would make a lot of average players frustrated and drive them away from the game and making the test really easy makes it pointless so better to not have it.

I do see some signs of elitism on the board and I do understand the frustration of very good players taking on difficult content and feeling like they fail because their group has some average players in it. That's what hardcore endgame LSs are for.

I think there are a lot of people like me who have enjoyed other FF titles because of the stories but also because they offer you an alternative to getting around a difficult boss rather than trying over and over again until you perfect the strategy and do everything right. When I've encountered a difficult boss in FF games my response has always been the same, I go back, level up some more and come back when the fight is much more manageable. Having failed Ifrit a few times I am now patiently waiting for the level cap to be raised so I can eventually solo the big red bully

My problem with tests to level up is that they would not give me that option and rather than spending hours or days to practice my hand eye coordination and understanding of the fight, I would move on to something else. Of course, if there were tests like these everywhere I would soon have no place to move on to and at that point I would have no reason to play.

[Isaveron]

As long as it's a test to see how competent you are at playing your class. If it's going to involve farming an item with an extremely low drop rate or needless running around talking to NPC then don't, as that would just be a blatant time sink.

[Ruisu]

As long as it's a test to see how competent you are at playing your class.

This. This game needs a stupid filter. I don't want levelling to become a chore, but I'm tired of having to do content with people who have multiple level 50s, and still don't know what the fuck emnity is.

[Cynthis]

This. This game needs a stupid filter. I don't want levelling to become a chore, but I'm tired of having to do content with people who have multiple level 50s, and still don't know what the fuck emnity is.

There's that elitism I was talking about. I understand that it can be frustrating but are you seriously expecting the SE to tell people: "Sorry, you're not good enough to advance any further, perhaps you should consider playing a less demanding game."

In PUGs you have to expect to find players of different skill levels. If you want to avoid that then stick only to an endgame LS and do everything with them...or, all content could be scaled so it can be soloed, then you don't have to deal with players that don't measure up to your standards of excellence.

[Powercow]

There's that elitism I was talking about. I understand that it can be frustrating but are you seriously expecting the SE to tell people: "Sorry, you're not good enough to advance any further, perhaps you should consider playing a less demanding game."

Basic levels of competence are not too much to expect from players at the level cap.

[Cynthis]

Basic levels of competence are not too much to expect from players at the level cap.

...and who defines what basic level means? Is it always the same or should it vary with content? I just see this as a very slippery slope.

[Sylkis]

As long as it's a test to see how competent you are at playing your class. If it's going to involve farming an item with an extremely low drop rate or needless running around talking to NPC then don't, as that would just be a blatant time sink.

This.!!!!!!

[Elexia]

As long as it's a test to see how competent you are at playing your class.

So..exactly like the fight the OP was talking about that you failed to read? Understood, though last you said you never played FFXI past level 10 so I guess you didn't realize that.

My problem with tests to level up is that they would not give me that option and rather than spending hours or days to practice my hand eye coordination and understanding of the figh

Unless you exploited Necrologis pages back in the day (wouldn't doubt it) or sat on your ass and got powerleveled (again wouldn't doubt it) there's really nothing wrong with this because if you know your job and how to play the game, a test would be almost nothing. Even RDM fight was built around a player knowing how to play the job more than a MP battery.

Of course, if there were tests like these everywhere I would soon have no place to move on to and at that point I would have no reason to play

You'd really quit if you had do some work? Is that really how far MMOs have fallen?