Dear Yoshi P and Developers

[Bizzy123]

I have been playing the game for just a few years and I have loved the MSQ and quests. But since I hit level 90 on my Dancer, the dungeons have been getting harder and harder. A few years ago, I had an accident and it left my right hand weaker and I had to learn to play differently. At first that worked but as I leveled up and hit 90, suddenly the Dungeons and Boss Fights became so hard that I spent the time laying on the floor dead. And unlike other games like WOW, the Dungeons and Bosses are tied to the MSQ and unless you do them, you cannot advance the game. And then came the Post Quest Dungeons and bosses for Level 100 and they were moving so fast that I literally pay almost 4000 gill in repairs after every dungeon/boss. And I spend the time in them lying dead on the floor until the healer rezzes me. I just finished Mistwake and spent the last hour crying because it may be that my time with FF14 has come to an end. In other games, normal dungeons are not that hard--it is the advanced dungeons (Extreme, Savage, etc) that are hard. And I know I am not alone. I would imagine that at least 50% of your player base doesn't want dungeons so hard that they lay on the floor embarrassed or crying feeling like the game has left them behind. I even watch multiple YouTube videos to prepare for the mechanics but they move so fast that the bad area flashes and the boss hits seconds later--giving those of us who were not looking for an extreme or savage dungeon no time to move to safety. I'm just sad because I don't think I'm going to be able to continue the MSQ or even do the next expansion. I hope you listen to me although it just may be too late to fix any of this.
Sincerely Bizzy Willow

[Mesarthim]

No game can cater to every imaginable scenario, disability, illness, etc. However I am responding to one tidbit at the latter end of your post:

"but they move so fast that the bad area flashes and the boss hits seconds later--giving those of us who were not looking for an extreme or savage dungeon no time to move to safety"

Dungeons aren't and have never been savage or extreme, unless it is a criterion dungeon and that's optional content. What you are missing are visual tells. The game has long since moved past "only dodge if you see an orange aoe under you". Granted one exception to this was the Mothercrystal trial where you just kinda had to do trial and error. My activity has plummeted off of a cliff this expansion but I've actively played for the past ten years. Most of the new mechanics are either only a surprise the first time or only take a couple of times to understand, then it's back to business as usual.

What you are missing is just a new perspective to how you're learning fights. Not saying it's going to suddenly make your left hand better but if you need to stop dpsing to see what the boss is doing in a dungeon there's nothing wrong with that.

[GlowClam]

Dear Bizzy123,

The fact that you are suddenly having such major problems is not because you forgot how to play. It is due to very specific game design decisions that become extremely noticeable from level 90 onwards and especially now in Dawntrail (Level 100). I would like to briefly explain what is happening in the background:

1. The Illusion of the First 400 Hours
The majority of the Main Scenario Quest (from A Realm Reborn to almost the end of Endwalker) is very forgiving. This is because you usually enter older dungeons with the absolute best equipment for that level due to item level syncing. As a result, bosses deal much less damage, they die faster, and you don't even get to see many mechanics. Over hundreds of hours, you get used to a fairly relaxed pace. From level 90 and on the way to 100, this gear advantage disappears. The bosses suddenly hit exactly as hard as the developers calculated.

2. The Developers' Shift in Strategy
Before the current expansion, the development team around Yoshi-P consciously decided that dungeons and bosses should become "more stressful" and demanding again, as many veterans had complained about boredom. The result is exactly what is breaking your heart right now: the game design has shifted from fights that you could memorize like a choreography to extremely fast, reaction-based encounters.

3. Why Videos Don't Help You Anymore
This also explains why preparing with YouTube videos doesn't help you. In the past, the game announced almost every attack with a glowing area (telegraphs) on the ground. Today, the game often omits this. You have to read the boss's body language. When the safe area finally appears on the ground, it is often only for a second or two. If your right hand is already weaker due to your accident, knowing the mechanic doesn't help you, t simply fails because of the far too short physical reaction window that the game forces upon you.

4. The Crux of Playing Dancer
Additionally, you play Dancer. This is a job that relies heavily on abilities that suddenly light up (procs). This forces you to constantly look at your hotbar. At the same time, the game demands that you keep an eye on the boss amidst a completely overloaded, flashing screen. This constant multitasking is extremely exhausting at level 100 and overwhelms many players.

If you aren't doing it already: try to play the story dungeons exclusively with the Duty Support / Trust System (NPCs). The NPCs always know where the safe zones are. You can simply stick to their heels and follow them. If you die, at least there are no repair costs for others, and you don't have the mental pressure of feeling like a burden to a party of real players.

I really hope that the developers take the feedback from players like you seriously and realize that story dungeons must remain accessible. The game just suddenly changed the rules.

[Ilisidi]

Add in the graphical effects spectacle and it can be difficult to see the boss and the bosses to begin with. So turning those down for everyone not you, is a good idea.

[Bizzy123]

I truly appreciate all the feedback I got on my post. While I do agree that games cannot accommodate all disabilities, even my friend who plays very well has died in some of those dungeons and his armor is almost 780. And I have played consistently since 2022 even when others stopped playing either before or during the last expansion. I am a hardcore fan of FF14. It has given me more than a game but numerous friends who I value and consider family. I am going to try the Trust system using NPC's for at least the first attempt to do the dungeon. And my friend has been helping me to try to get the graphics on my screen to reduce the graphics of others' casts/spells, etc. He is also trying to help me be able to see the boss better as my camera angle is still only showing me the arena we are standing on and maybe half of the bosses actual body. So I may be missing queues from the boss that others are seeing. And I have always gone by what my original FC leader taught me: ABC (Always be casting). So perhaps I do need to stop and consider where I need to be way more often. Thank you all. I do hope though that the developers consider that forcing this level of difficulty on players because we cannot skip dungeons or boss fights, makes it hard for normal people like me to enjoy the game we love.

[Bizzy123]

Thank you so very much Glow. I truly appreciate your feedback <3

[CidHeiral]

And I have always gone by what my original FC leader taught me: ABC (Always be casting). So perhaps I do need to stop and consider where I need to be way more often.

Always prioritize resolving mechanics first. You can't cast if you're dead.

Regarding the dungeon difficulty, I'm confident anyone can overcome them if they're willing to try their best and ask for help. They aren't anywhere near extreme or savage difficulty, they just require the player to be paying attention, which was not the case from 1-90 so it can be quite jarring for some. Since you're on my DC I'd be happy to help you learn if you'd like.

[Bizzy123]

Thank you for the offer Cid. I would appreciate any help. I am usually on between 5-8 eastern time almost daily playing with a friend of mine.

[CidHeiral]

Thank you for the offer Cid. I would appreciate any help. I am usually on between 5-8 eastern time almost daily playing with a friend of mine.

Sure thing, whenever you're struggling just pop over to Hyperion and do a player search. If I'm around and not already busy I'll be more than happy to assist or answer questions, etc.

[RaionKansen]

Cute meme post