Seriously dumb design decision

[The Ultimate Despair]

I am going to start this by saying that I really like the game. In fact I like the series a lot.
But its my first time playing the Sky trilogy and seriously the fact that the people following you trigger the enemies on the map is one of the worst game design ideas I have ever seen. They take most of the space and ALWAYS trigger something. Even better when its the dumb ♥♥♥♥♥ you have to protect in battle. There's quite nothing like being forced into a surprise attack while all the enemies get a free critical attack opportunity effect.
For a series that is supposed to be heavily tactical, its extremely anti tactical to have eneies spawn 2 feets away from the player, make it so you have to protect npcs that do about nothing helpful and then make it so these same idiots can trigger enemies on the map.
If it was one in a while, it would kinda pass. But I have 5 hours into the game and its been 2 missions in a row doing this ♥♥♥♥ and its starting to get old. Am I going to have to endure this throughout the whole game? Like am I goign to have two characters for the whole game to protect a bunch of useless NPCs like this?

[Stabbey]

I always have the Haze quartz equipped as soon as I get it (Bracer Guild reward for reaching Junior Bracer Rank 5 - between mid Chapter 1 and early Chapter 2). That makes monsters unable to see you, which really helps prevent those ambushes.

There are very few occasions with NPC's accompanying you.

[Berahlen]

And until then you can just...watch where you're going and not run everywhere? If an enemy spawn is in tight enough quarters that you think you can't avoid it, be proactive and tap it in the back yourself so you get the surprise instead of them. Hell, even if you don't want to fight it, you can start the fight on your terms and then flee immediately, and go on your way while the enemy is spinning around for a bit on the map.

Last I checked, this all falls under...well...being tactical.

[The Ultimate Despair]

Originally posted by Stabbey:

I always have the Haze quartz equipped as soon as I get it (Bracer Guild reward for reaching Junior Bracer Rank 5 - between mid Chapter 1 and early Chapter 2). That makes monsters unable to see you, which really helps prevent those ambushes.

There are very few occasions with NPC's accompanying you.

Okay so its mostly an early game thing? Like the Prologue is getting the player used t it?
I love grinding and all, but being forced into surprise attacks due to the line of characters following me, doesn't feel good lol

[The Ultimate Despair]

Originally posted by Berahlen:

And until then you can just...watch where you're going and not run everywhere? If an enemy spawn is in tight enough quarters that you think you can't avoid it, be proactive and tap it in the back yourself. Hell, even if you don't want to fight it you can just flee immediately and go on your way while the enemy is spinning around for a bit on the map.

Last I checked, this all falls under...well...being tactical.

Look, I get where you're coming from, but let's be real, its not a great idea. Its the sum of it all combined that feels... dumb.
I know what I can do, but it doesn't mean its well thought out.

[Stabbey]

Zero and Azure have no Haze quartz, but they do have ranged attackers in the party and shooting enemies in the back stuns them for a few seconds, and also - more importantly - there's an option to turn off enemies being able to interact with trailing people.

Games after Azure have no trailing people, just the lead character.

[The Ultimate Despair]

Originally posted by Stabbey:

Zero and Azure have no Haze quartz, but they do have ranged attackers in the party and shooting enemies in the back stuns them for a few seconds, and also - more importantly - there's an option to turn off enemies being able to interact with trailing people.

Games after Azure have no trailing people, just the lead character.

I know about Cold Steel onwards, I didn't know Zero and Azure hadthat kinda mechanic though

I got Cold Steel 1 through 4 and both Zero/Azure physically, I am getting Reveries physically also tomorrow. But the Sky games are just too expensive for my taste so I grabbed them here to finally start the whole Trails saga properly

[Kargor]

Originally posted by The Ultimate Despair:

But its my first time playing the Sky trilogy and seriously the fact that the people following you trigger the enemies on the map is one of the worst game design ideas I have ever seen. They take most of the space and ALWAYS trigger something.

I don't remember having a problem like that -- I know I have my guys following me, so I pay attention where I'm going, probably.

Having to keep an eye on them in fights was a different thing, but not much of an issue either -- they seem to generally keep their distance, and it seems their threat-level is low enough so enemies don't go chase them.

In fact, while the game is noticeably old, and has its flaws, it's much better than I had expected. I've seen f*d up "escort" missions in games that are newer than this.

[The Ultimate Despair]

Originally posted by Kargor:

Originally posted by The Ultimate Despair:

But its my first time playing the Sky trilogy and seriously the fact that the people following you trigger the enemies on the map is one of the worst game design ideas I have ever seen. They take most of the space and ALWAYS trigger something.

I don't remember having a problem like that -- I know I have my guys following me, so I pay attention where I'm going, probably.

Having to keep an eye on them in fights was a different thing, but not much of an issue either -- they seem to generally keep their distance, and it seems their threat-level is low enough so enemies don't go chase them.

In fact, while the game is noticeably old, and has its flaws, it's much better than I had expected. I've seen f*d up "escort" missions in games that are newer than this.

I am not saying that any of these mechanics are bad in themselves. I am saying that the culmination of it all, kinda makes it a bad choice.
For example, spaces are fairly cramped up, which arguably makes sense since this was originally a PSP game and well.. Only so much can be done on such a small screen. But that makes it sometimes an enemy decides to switch direction and barely hit any of the backrow, then gets a free surprise attack, even if that backrow character hits it face on. At least apply the same logic as on the controller character.

Protecting people in itself, isn't the worst, except when you considet the surprise attack and then you get 4 enemies that each magically have the guaranteed crit affix on each of their turn. That renders it unpleasant.