Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
My experience with Binding Coil of Bahamut...
cranthug
Member UncommonPosts: 102
This is an opinion and personal experience piece, read on if you wish.
I was skeptical of what the end game would have to offer in terms of challenging team play early on in the development process. While participating in beta the game seemed very simplistic while leveling to max, the leveling dungeons were not ever a threat, and close to all were bested on first attempt with very little issue. I was worried that end game would be the same. Well, my worry was assuaged last night.
Having finished the primals and now entering into BCOB..I can see the tiers of play from a wider perspective and have faith that Square has and will continue providing a rewarding experience for those that seek a challenge. The level of difficulty is going up at a satisfactory rate, in my opinion.
We move on to the Coil itself. The entirety of the zone is broken down into mini-dungeons (called "turns"). Currently there are 5 turns in BCOB , and I believe more will be added in the future.
In Turn 1, as soon as you enter you are immediately faced with a coordination check in the form of a mini boss. From there you clear out a bit of insignificant and not too time consuming trash, then make your way to the turns only boss. He has a few interesting mechanics not yet seen in previous dungeons, and it is an enjoyable fight in my opinion. Once the coordination is together he goes down without too much issue, but the potential for a wipe is most definitely present.
In Turn 2, I was told there are multiple paths to take on the way down to the boss. I do not know more, other than that you must kill 3 npcs with slightly varied abilities on the journey down to the boss. Once you arrive at the boss, you are again greeted with a totally unique encounter with mechanics previously unseen on your journey thus far. This Boss had potential to one shot the tank, was doing damage to the party, and was keeping the melee on their toes. The difficulty was acceptable and the fight was once again enjoyable.
Turn 3 finds you entering the world of Sonic the hedgehog. I honestly do not know the purpose of this turn, as there are no bosses or loot. Whether they intend to add a boss is unknown to me, but as it stands now it is a huge waste of time. Interestingly enough though, the most deaths we had were in this turn. It's basically a puzzle, as you find yourself making your way down to turn 4. Don't get too far ahead of your group or you will find yourself obliterated haha.
And there I sit, the party having ended for the evening to be continued on Sunday. I hear tell that Turn 4 is where the majority of FC's are stuck on their journey through progression, and I anticipate seeing more of what BCOB has to offer. This raid was done with a makeup of about half newbs to the instance and half that had been there previously. Our raid leader was knowledgeable which was very helpful for us newbs, and the voice comms were necessary for coordinating stuns and silences. If you miss CC on bosses in here you will almost surely wipe, it is not like missing CC on Ifrit.
As with every game, after reviewing guides and what not it may seem simple...but I do not envy the pioneers as I'm sure there were many many more wipes than we experienced. Took us about 3 tries to down turn 1, closer to 5 wipes in turn 2, and just a ridiculous amount of time wasting in turn 3 haha. The raid took 3 hours or so which didn't seem too taxing to me. Aside from turn 3, the speed at which you complete each turn seems perfect for a busy man with not a whole lot of time to devote to raiding these days. Overall, my fears are put aside that FF XIV can't provide satisfying and difficult content to complete. I look forward to turn 4 for sure.
This post is meant only to help those that are getting sick of endless tome farming, and those that shared my fears the game would be too easy. The game will provide PvE group enjoyment once again after you finish your DL set, don't worry. Stick with it and don't get discouraged...the tomes you need are finite. I now have higher hopes that SE will keep providing us ways to amuse ourselves, especially with what they have in store with 2.1 coming soon. Good luck, and may you walk in the light of the crystal...blah blah blah haha
"Cheeky Basterd"
Paradigm Free Company
Behemoth Server
*Edited for spelling...doh*
Comments
This makes me want to check out turn 3 haha.
Thanks for sharing.
Well...half the party didn't show up for Sunday raid haha :O Getting drunk watching baseball and football I imagine. Ah well, no update as I had planned.
Still, get through the bs gear grind and get in this place. It's good fun old sport!
Yes I was reading about that Kano...how exactly is it unbeatable? Is it an issue of gear check or what? I know at least one guild has used exploits to down boss, while others have used exploits to get the mapping achievement. What about Twintania is unbeatable though is my question?
Your point on no end game I have to respectfully disagree with though. Perhaps for the "hardcore" low percentage of players who rush to cap and blaze through content. The game has kept me amused, and with things to look forward to doing....so far haha. What your comment was on endgame is the main reason why I held back on rushing to cap and "stopped to smell the roses" along the way. You're exactly right if speaking to the top tier player crowd. The game has been out for a little over a month maybe? People already finishing their Turn 5 progress, haha. All good things in moderation
Though I suppose where I am at current on the gauntlet...I might be in the same boat next week. So only a week behind you! haha I'll let you know if I share your sentiments next week 
As it stands now though, I feel like it's all in the pacing of the individual...*edit* and what our unique definitions of a "raiding guild" are. hehe I would consider my semi casual PvE guild a "raiding guild" *edit*
What I agree wholeheartedly with is that 2.1 can't come soon enough, and I really hope it delivers on content and alleviates some of the current gripes about the game. I do think it is one of the better themepark mmo's to come out in recent memory and would like to see it get continued success, if it is deserved in the future anyway. Don't drop the ball SE, keep rolling!
Divebombs....
Has anyone figured how to survive that consistently?
I'm beginning to think so few people are expected to beat it due to a sheer gear check. You'll probably need resistance potions, food buffs, and pre-shields to beat Twintania.
Oh I see...I have not looked into Turn 5 at all, mechanics wise. My fear was that it was a broken encounter just not possible to beat even with best in slot gear. If its just an extreme gear check that is somewhat of a relief, though possibly a cop out on SE's part to keep players from saying the bested all content within 30 days or less.
What do you think?
And...haha...it kind of sucks that Bahamut isn't present in his own coil!
I guess that's to be added later.
Would be funny if you indeed need gear slotted with a hell lot of resist materia.
Well, I'm just thinking about how Crystal Tower is supposed to be the gap between Titan HM and BCoB.
Crystal Tower should have ilevel 80 gear, so superior to darklight but inferior to Allaghan and AF2. Since you are capped on one turn per week, it's going to take time to beat ilevel 80 gear. Makes me think it's a gear issue.
I'm just baffled on the Twintania mechanics. If I didn't know better, I'd say it's an issue with lag....but I do know better and it's not that.
Have to do more research I guess...did not realize Crystal Tower was going to be ilvl 80. Is it an 8 man version or 24? I have no idea.
The weekly cap on tomes and turns is definitely a bummer, I really hope when more content is added they don't restrict progress to such a degree. I do not want another DL grind haha.
Can you source SE confirming that? I would like to read more about it. Thanks.
They've already confirmed they will look at time restriction vs. cost in several aspects with the 2.1 patch. They intentionally gated progress in this version to keep us from smoking Turn 5.
Crystal Tower is a 24 man raid....which is extremely concerning to me since I'm a healer. I sincerely hope that it's not 3 lists of 8-man parties that I have to manage. That would suck worse than Twintania.
Think of if it this way though, if there's a weekly cap on progress it's not possible to be another dark light grind! I'm just looking forward to my sexy AF2 cap to go along with my super sexy AF2 scholar chest. Just call me Dr. General Washington (it looks goofy, but I like goofy).
Bahaha, I love it. I look forward to AF2 as well...DL doesn't do it for me, I like the classic FF look of WHM.
I too share your concern on the party frames, I'm guessing it will be fully customizable. A giant block of names on my screen will not help my line of sight. LOS being somewhat of an issue in some boss rooms as well. Turn 2, once that barrier goes up the zoom out sucks horribly. I like to have a view of the field, just not possible with how they want to position.
Don't get me started on camera angles during the ADS fight. It's such an easy boss, but I have a huge amount of difficulty because of camera angles.
I'm pretty much the Zoolander of FFXIV. I turn right for *everything*. I didn't really notice it until Titan HM. I play with the camera slightly right and I dodge to the right. If I have to go left, I get a bit clumsy. It's pretty funny...but since I'm ranged I'm one of the rot passers and when the camera gets stuck in first person due to the walls, I have to really concentrate to make sure I don't wipe the party.
Fortunately, my FC accounts for my disability.
At least I'm not the one doing de-aggro backflips off the side during Titan HM carries.
I just did my first coil run today. Got to finish part 3 and we stopped. The guild i am working with is LimitBreak and they have done coils before but they had issues with their previous BLM. I was actually thinking on focusing on my Bard but because i have done constant runs with them, have helped them down titan various times they invited me in despite being from another guild.
I must say it was a very fun experience and the music was downright awesome. I did watch vid guides for a bit to familiarize myself with the fights. the 2nd lvl boss was brutal but we had someone calling out the stuff n we kept ourselves organized. downed the boss with 1 click to spare.
The group im in consists of 2 paladins, 2 whm, one summoner, monk, black mage (me) and a bard. I am happy i was able to try out coils for once which now is helping me focus on 1 job and not on many.