Final Fantasy XIV (Guide in first post)

Malkav said:

First EX is rather easy, no group mechanics to speak of, just identify and dodge (or just follow the guy that's quick to identify safe spots).

Second EX is something else though. Man I hate these fucking waves.

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Waves? Isn't that the first EX? Although I guess in the story order it's 2nd but since it's weapons it's the one I started with. Cleared on 2nd PF, first was 30mins of people being terrible at the basic stuff but got me to see the core of the fight, then I joined a "clear party must have seen enrage", even though I hadn't even seen waves, but eh I watched a video. Honestly was pretty easy that part. Granted I played tank so I could eat random vuln stacks and still not die. Cleared that after like 40mins in there wiping to chakrams and waves.

Haven't tried other one, should probably do it at some point before my sleeping schedule drift too far out of prime time.


On class stuff, since I've leveled a few now.

MNK is meh as I mentionned before, really don't like the "rework", it's just too superficial, and even then it's somehow kinda clunky shit, especially how your ressource generate(the new blitz shit) doesn't line up with 2mins raid buffs, it's a charge based ability with 40s cd so it should line up since you need 3 charges for the big burst, but it doesn't because you only start with 2, so you have to do a scuffed opener where you purposefully fail the blitz so it lines up with the next 2mins. Don't know which retard designed it like that but it's stupid. Also not a fan of how Dragon Kick and Twin Snakes keep getting switched around, it's a minor stuff and to an extent it makes use of the MNK special "combo" system but I like it better when I just always DK > Twin instead of having to think if it's DK > Twin or DK > True this time around.

SCH is great, the best it's been since HW imo. The 1.5s GCD change is godlike for the feel of the class with all its oGCDs, the fairy is a lot more responsive and the new party sprint is actually really fucking good, even though it looked like the most boring showcased ability by far, getting motherfuckers who are too slow to react in time to their spots while also mitigating dmg is great shit. There's still clunky aspects to the class, and Energy Drain feels kinda sad now, but overall love it.

SGE I haven't capped yet, but honestly feels pretty meh as I expected. It's not terrible or anything, but it feels too simple, and yet it struggles at some weird stuff like if your tank in dungeons is shit and doing big pulls, you suddenly struggle for healing output until you're high enough to have a ton of oGCDs(but then you'll struggle the pull after since you're out of cooldowns).

SMN is super fun, although very simplistic. I feel it got the MCH treatment where you have a really easy to do rotation, but it's somehow enjoyable because the skills feel good. I didn't level with it though, lvled SCH, and the low lvls(especially before 72) look absolute ass. You literally just get color variations of Ruin, so yeah I wouldn't want to level with it. At 72 at least the Ruin variation become a bit different but the class really only shines at 86+ when you get the oGCD primal spells. Barely a caster anymore though, like you have 3 whole non instant every minute or some shit, everything else you can just run around, so plays like a ranged phys DPS, but you get nice utility(rez and budget aoe and tank heals).

RPR is pretty alright. Out of the melees I think it might be my favorite now. I like that it doesn't have too many positionals, and while it's a slow GCD class, it has a fair amount of stuff to do it felt like. Mobility is great, low lvl damage is broken, so it's a nice overall class. The 80 skill definitely makes it come together as before that it feels pretty barebones.

WAR is fucking great. I hesitated between it and GNB and don't regret it. It's so fucking strong in dungeons, every 25secs you basically get Hallowed Ground for ~8seconds on trash packs because of the self healing from Raw Intuition, and the DPS feels less "all or nothing" around your Inner Release window. It's still a big burst but since it's now a 1min cd for only 3 fell cleaves, it doesn't feel as bad if you die/get dmg down/get unaligned or whatever. Also feels like you do more stuff since it's up more often. The new 90 capstone skill is cool as fuck too, although I hate how it's delayed to move, but it's hilariously good looking when you use it as a gap closer. Overpower is still the only downside, but overall not as much of an issue especially since you get aoe Upheaval(with no rage cost) so you can oGCD the first pack as you're running.

Haven't leveled the other stuff yet, a lot of what I looked into looked kinda boring though, so haven't really felt tempted to level too much.

Elidroth said:

I had a low-level character on Behemoth, so I started fresh as a Thaumaturge, and shifted to Black Mage once I hit 30 (with the 15 archer req). I'm sure it'll get more complex but right now (lvl 38) it's a VERY basic class to play.

Monk was annoying before I left the game, and my Bard just got crazy with all the abilities. I felt like I was playing EQ2 again.. Sticking with BLM right now.

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Most classes are stupid easy at low lvl, stuff really only starts to get semi complex as you get to HW/SB levels and start getting more complex abilities. BLM's pretty fun as you get higher as the rotation becomes more interesting and you get a lot more tools, plus you stop chucking the puny looking firebolts and start just spamming big WOOOSH BOOM shit.

Every class ends up with a fair bit of buttons save a few exceptions. Like generally speaking everything has at least 25 buttons and a few have 30+. SMN is probably the only one with a low amount now, with MCH not too far behind, these were reworked and they trimmed a lot of stuff in the process, but a lot are just building upon the previous expansion bloat.

Tarisk said:

I'm wondering if all the tanks have a lot of self healing then. Able to solo bosses as well as my warrior. Did the first boss of one of the level 90 optionals from 60% to dead solo. Used to be something I felt I could only do when playing PLD

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WAR and PLD already had a lot, but they did buff GNB healing a fair bit, and they buffed PLD and WAR too. DRK didn't really get much in terms of self sustain, although TBN was always a pretty strong tool for that due to the low cd. PLD is still best at keeping someone else alive so you don't take forever to do shit though, WAR can "kinda" do it but you need stuff to be lined up properly(need Infuriate/Primal Rend for bigger heals) and it's not nearly as good, and I think GNB isn't that good either but can maybe do it, kinda like WAR. DRK can't do shit though, since TBN is largely "either someone else or me survive without healing", unlike the others who offer healing to other people too.

As WAR though the self healing is definitely pretty nuts. Honestly most content I don't actually really need heals. Even EX trials I can tank for a long time without any healing, besides specific things(adds on weapon trial since those hurt quite a bit). Dungeons and shit I can do some of the trash packs with minimal/no healing by rotating my self heals and mitigation, and bosses I literally need no healilng at all.

Those new tools are really nice when you get paired with a shit healer, can still do wall to wall pulls and still be ok. It's only shit when both DPS are also shit, which sadly happens too fucking often.