Difficulty of normal content.

[Lizvette]

I don't think I have to worry about that, I know to stay in my lane as it were, it's just not knowing how much that lane is going to narrow (or drop off completely) going forward because I have doubts about my competency up until now when comparing my performance to others doing the exact same content with less struggle/better results, and that it was likely *their* actions and not mine that even got me this far.

comparison is the thief of joy - don't worry about others doing better or worse. just do your best, if WoL acted only alone, they'd get wrecked in ARR. they didn't, because they had allies and friends behind them.

[Banggugyangu]

I don't think I have to worry about that, I know to stay in my lane as it were, it's just not knowing how much that lane is going to narrow (or drop off completely) going forward because I have doubts about my competency up until now when comparing my performance to others doing the exact same content with less struggle/better results, and that it was likely *their* actions and not mine that even got me this far.

You still totally missed the point of my original reply to you... Complacency is bad, in almost all aspects of life. As a person, you should seek to improve yourself in life. Likewise, as a gamer, you should seek to improve yourself in game. Where you actually start and finish doesn't matter so much as long as you're actively improving. While yes, you'll occasionally come across the mouth breathers that won't accept anything below orange (they likely don't reach orange anyway, let's be real...), those are very few and rare to encounter. If you don't have one of those in a group, and you are upfront about where you actually are, then the rest of the group you're with will accommodate. This is the most common scenario that happens in duty finder and party finder. The other most common scenario, however, is someone not being upfront and honest about where they are. They setup a party finder at a prog point far beyond what they've actually even seen, let alone cleaned up. This lack of setting proper expectations leads to frustration from the group.

Yes, this is primarily advice for PF, but the exact same advice applies to all duties. If you enter a raid you've never done in DF, just say, "It's my first time" and the rest will be understanding of failures. If it's a raid that you struggle with, say "I have a hard time getting this one." and the rest will be sympathetic, most likely. From there, just try to do better. You may not even DO better... but as long as you try, that's all 95% of the player base asks. If you are sincerely trying, you might have a veteren take notice and offer advice. If so, then listen to the advice. It may be wrong, it may be right, but listen either way. Discern the advice after the fact and decide if it should be applied. This is the meat and potatoes of FFXIV group content.

[royox]

I don't think I have to worry about that, I know to stay in my lane as it were, it's just not knowing how much that lane is going to narrow (or drop off completely) going forward because I have doubts about my competency up until now when comparing my performance to others doing the exact same content with less struggle/better results, and that it was likely *their* actions and not mine that even got me this far.

That's why we have infinite combat resurrections. You died? Rise up and keep going, if the other 3/7 know what they are doing you will complete everything MSQ related with no problem.

There's one thing to consider. For some reason I see you consider yourself "less competent than the others doing the exact same content, with less struggle/better results..." This people you are comparing yourself were exaclty like you the first time they reached that content, and if they look "competent" is because they already know it. This line reached me, because yesterday, after some years, I decided to do EXTREME trials again (last time was in Stormblood) and MAN what a hard time I had in the second extreme in some specific phase. Then after some wipes (and even an out of nowhere clear lol) I felt total shit and told to the party "I'm so sorry I suck at this mechanic, it just melts my brain". My surprise when at least other 4 people, that I thought they were such PRO players, started saying "omg me too, I just follow player A" and player A "what, I was just following player B" and player B was there like "I dunno what I'm doing lol". Meaning that I was thinking so low about myself but we all were struggling as.F. Then we started talking about mechanics where we suck and I was so surprise how other players can struggle at stuff I find easy, but they are gods at mechanics I just cannot.

Don't worry, you won't find this "wall you cannot pass" on the MSQ. And if you die, rise and repeat, and ask/tell your teammates.