Are static groups simply the now accepted reality for endgame progression?

[Waliel]

A little side track, but I wonder how Crystal Tower will fit into this. Last I heard it was accessed through DF and being balanced to be "enjoyed by all," so I wonder if it's on a weekly lockout as well, it being between Titan HM and Coil in progression.

[HecatesLover]

5 years ago and longer static groups for challenging content were the norm and I haven't seen that change at all since. People made guilds around them. Such people came to FFXIV and are doing the same thing. As a matter of fact those static groups were much larger back in the day. WoW 40 man raids, you didn't take pick ups into the 40 man Blackwing Lair, Ahn'Quiraj or Naxx. EQ the raids were even larger and if you wanted to participate you made a commitment to a guild and joined one of the much maligned (in this thread) static groups.

[Huxer]

I'm confused. How is this new again? Isn't this the exact same way that a raid lockout worked in WoW? That system lasted for years and years. Why is this a big issue? Am I missing something?

[shadowrell_d-_-b]

On a side note seriously? What warrants that response? Did you even read my post or are you just trolling for opportunities to stick your nose in the air while feeling obnoxiously smug about your myriad accomplishments in a video game. Sorry buddy it's not really relevant here, I've been playing "hardcore" MMORPG endgames for over ten years I'm not that easily impressed by random acts of rudeness.

this bravo sir!!

I also agree with you, it seems some here weren't truly understanding what is it you were saying. I for one do not like the static grp aspect to BcoB some of ppl are even saying it disconnects the FC in a way where you rly want to try to push everyone forward together. not sure why its designed this way I understand more team focused but this isn't a PUG issue more a issue of accessibility

[Sentinel]

Isn't that the point of MMOs? for you to find friends to play with (or join the MMO with friends) and raid with em. You get a chance to find a static group every week. The reason there is no outcry is simply because players prefer this method. WoW has an LFR raid system where you DO NOT need static groups, people hate it.

We are not being forced into static group, this is a design that people prefer.

[Benzareli]

When you grew up playing MMO's the goal was to marathon grind in a game for a year to get better than you were the day before.

Today it is to get the best in slot gear. It's a different game. Nerds today don't sit in a game to obtain a sense of progression. Today we farm to get better than the next guy.

You wanna casual content with a random group made up of your linkshell, you are more than free to. What you need to figure out is your real problem. You upset you aren't as competitive as focus'd groups? You think it's too hard to train a random every week? You sad 8 people is a split that doesn't fit the mold of your linkshell?

[Xatsh]

The only issue with guilds in XIV is Baha Lab atm, where it is forcing you to fragment your guild into smaller static groups. Which is very bad for any kind of organization, scheduling, group progression, helping each other, and can cause your guild to fracture into smaller group.

For a guild leader Baha Lab is a 100% nightmare atm, it is literally almost the worst design possible for a endgame guild... only thing worse would be if you could not take people into higher levels. SE made the gear drop like crazy in the dungeon (100% for 2 pieces) but added the lockouts to prevent the content from being beat. This is why that design fails, it is so casual in its drop it is screwing over any kind of organized guild. Now some people in my guild have to decide to pug it with people outside the FC which should never have to happen in an endgame guild... or sacrifice gear drop each week which is poor game design.

Baha Lab is fun content, but it is horrible for guilds. It is only good for statics. SE needs to stop designing content like this and start thinking about guilds before they end up breaking them. And guilds and community are what will keep people in this game once they hit 50.

[Benzareli]

Guild design before this game was more the better. WoW cut it down to 40 people and that was too much, so they cut it to 25. This is 8.

[Bluefox]

I agree with you OP. Currently the game, not just BcoB feels rather static / split in the community.
Little static groups of friends in my guild now refuse to help others, this current system seems to support this idea of only helping yourself and your select few buddies and not helping the guild as a whole, to forebode community play and just go with 7 others is not the type of game i came to enjoy from XI 04~09 (Que in "Well go back to xi" reply)

To give an idea of how i saw and enjoyed community's style endgame compared to this. In a guild from xi we would run sea / sky on set days a week, then run dynamis on every sunday / thurs. Not everyone's gear would drop but to the players who would show up to these events consistently would get there items for there main class and everyone would be happy to see a fellow member get better gear. (cont. )

[Bluefox]

Currently what I'm seeing in my current community is the officers are full darklight / titan weapons, while the other lv50 members are struggling to get any darklight and some are having trouble with garuda, but because of them not being in the little click of 8 people within the guild, the higher geared members are not helping them at all.

This current system is toxic to a community style of play and only allows people to pick 7 friends to play with threw all of endgame, why even have a guild system in-game if you only design content for 8 people. (Square raise the text cap srsly.)