#FFXIVHEALERSTRIKE

[Loggos]

Fundamentally, endgame raiding is similar to Elden Ring bosses - you have a challenge, you chip at it to learn what works, and eventually you overcome and beat it, which results in nice dopamine rush.

Oh, I see! That's a good point!

Unfortunately FFXIV has no mechanisms to ease new/casual players into this and many don't even know that they are missing out and that would actually like to face and overcome this challenge.

I've only ever done Zeromus EX (one of the easier EX fights) and even here the difference between casual content and this fight was night and day for someone who had zero former exposure to this level of content.

Even basics like markers, positioning, sub-groups, countdown etc. were all new to me. I had to read up on all those things first and when I watched a guide I ended up taking several pages of notes and made a mini heal plan.

I went from not even caring which dungeon/trial I end up in because I know I'll get through them even if I have forgotten the fight, to sitting down, doing actual homework and preparing for a couple of hours.

It really didn't feel like a natural, smooth transition into harder content.
I'm a bit of a wannabe tryhard, so sitting down for some hours was ok for me.
But I can imagine that there are other people who (understandably I think) wouldn't want to bother with that much work out of nowhere.

(When you are a seasoned raider this kind of preparation and planning surely becomes part of the fun.
But if this is all new it feels like a huge chore that gets thrown into your face all of a sudden and gateskeeps you from playing (parts of) the game.)