The XIV encounter recipe in a nutshell

[Valence]

- Turn everything into a circle or square arena.
- Add a trial boss. Addendum: if the casual version is closer to a dungeon, remove the dungeon part and only keep the trial boss for the higher difficulty versions.
- Interlace AoEs and donut AoEs.
- Pepper with pair stacks, light party stacks when appropriate.
- Add a tank buster or two.
- Rince and repeat.


To think we were promised new and exciting encounters for Dawntrail.

[Kes13a]

- Turn everything into a circle or square arena.
- Add a trial boss. Addendum: if the casual version is closer to a dungeon, remove the dungeon part and only keep the trial boss for the higher difficulty versions.
- Interlace AoEs and donut AoEs.
- Pepper with pair stacks, light party stacks when appropriate.
- Add a tank buster or two.
- Rince and repeat.


To think we were promised new and exciting encounters for Dawntrail.

we got them in DawnTrail. wasnt the inclusion of Wuk Lamat in virtually everything "new and exciting"?

[Jeeqbit]

Also:
- Raid wide AoE that you can't avoid.

But really to be fair I like the last boss of the Stayborough dungeon or trying to do the maze in Tender Valley (even though it's re-used). It's a start.

[Havenchild]

we got them in DawnTrail. wasnt the inclusion of Wuk Lamat in virtually everything "new and exciting"?

It was!

We also did get new mechanics, like knockup mechs that check what direction you're facing, RNG-ish patterns, more continuous KB mechs, counting ‐ hit confirmation mechs, bait mechanics everyone does that have some RNG mixed in..

We can ask for more sure, but let's give them credit where it's due. This tier was not simply stack, spread, aoes, donuts etc

[Krojack]

- Turn everything into a circle or square arena.
- Add a trial boss. Addendum: if the casual version is closer to a dungeon, remove the dungeon part and only keep the trial boss for the higher difficulty versions.
- Interlace AoEs and donut AoEs.
- Pepper with pair stacks, light party stacks when appropriate.
- Add a tank buster or two.
- Rince and repeat.


To think we were promised new and exciting encounters for Dawntrail.

The first boss for The Strayborough Deadwalk expert dungeon had something new and I bet you complained about that.

[DeltaCyan]

Don't forget the chance of an attack being either a spread, a stack with 2 person pairs, or a stack with 4 person groups.

Bonus points if the tell is just a different cast bar name instead of a visual cue.

[AnimaAnimus]

The first boss for The Strayborough Deadwalk expert dungeon had something new and I bet you complained about that.

Something as annoying as the first boss of Deadwalk is new, but its not exciting. I think complaining about something new that is as poorly made as the first boss of the Deadwalk is legit. I mean dawntrail is new too (well parts of it here and there) but still plenty of ppl complained because it was one of the most poorly written, paced and boring pieces of story they have given to us since, well, ever.

Just because we asked for something new and was given whatever thing this is, doesn't mean we cannot point out that it was not done well.

[Havenchild]

Just because we asked for something new and was given whatever thing this is, doesn't mean we cannot point out that it was not done well.

So we dismiss new mechanics also if we subjectively decide it's not "exciting" as well? The entire premise of this thread is to reinforce that they have a repetitive track record of mechanics, yet when they add new things, we still get to dismiss it if we find it "boring" or "not fun"?

These forums can never be satisfied. Every thread proves this more and more. Here's an idea OP, become a game dev, get hired by SE and create this new and exciting mechanic you believe everyone will enjoy unequivocally.

[Jeeqbit]

Just because we asked for something new and was given whatever thing this is, doesn't mean we cannot point out that it was not done well.

They actually said that the reason they fell into this pattern of mechanics is because people regard them as clean and well done, and that when they tried other things, they'd often be attacked for it and my guess is that the Stayborough first boss is an example of this. It caused them to retreat into "safe mechanics" that they know work.

[Maltothoris]

We also did get new mechanics, like knockup mechs that check what direction you're facing, more continuous KB mechs

I'll give you these but the others have already been in the game

RNG-ish patterns, counting, bait mechanics everyone does that have some RNG mixed in

For rng patterns, we already had guardian https://i.imgur.com/LA03wDy.png For counting, we had caloric and pangenesis. For the bait mechs everyone has to do, we had O8s part 2.