GamesRPGFinal FantasyFinal Fantasy 14One of FF14’s most prolific raid guide creators is a science teacher, whose first ‘Hector lectures’ were made with an app from his time ‘teaching online during the pandemic’When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesRPGFinal FantasyFinal Fantasy 14One of FF14’s most prolific raid guide creators is a science teacher, whose first ‘Hector lectures’ were made with an app from his time ‘teaching online during the pandemic’When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Square Enix)
If you’ve been raiding via party finder for any amount of time in Final Fantasy 14, chances are you’ve seen the phrase “Hector strats” more than a few times. Hector Hectorson—also known as Hector Lectures—has aYouTube channel with guidesthat bring in hundreds of thousands of views a pop, often releasing mere days (if that) after the raids themselves drop.
Turns out, as per a recent interview withFF14’s official community team, he’s always enjoyed making guides—just, for real-life students wanting to learn the mechanics of the universe, rather than how to do a Limit Cut for the nth time:
“I’m a science teacher working in an inner-city school in the UK. I started playing FF14 alongside a good friend of mine at the start of Shadowbringers and fell in love with the game pretty quickly.”
Image1of3(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
Image1of3(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
Image1of3
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
(Image credit: Hector Hectorson - Hector Lectures (via Square Enix).)
“Because I raided very casually back then, I would normally make these before our group ever stepped foot in the fight. It helped my group to all be on the same page and understand the mechanics a bit better, but mostly it was just a lot of fun to make the guides,” then, shockingly, Hector reveals that he released his first guide onto YouTube “mostly on a lark. I had made the guide just as a tool for my static, and it ended up being so useful that we cleared the fight in around 45 minutes.
“I realised there were no other guides available for the fight yet and so made it public on YouTube, on the off-chance that someone might find it helpful. The community response was overwhelming, and, because of that, I’ve been sharing all of my guides ever since.”
The production quality’s certainly increased since then—Hector makes them in Keynote (Apple’s version of Powerpoint). He’s got custom assets he gets his raid buddies to capture, and each guide takes about 15-30 hours to make “depending on the fight, with each guide featuring thousands of animations.”
The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals
M4S Guide - AAC Light-Heavyweight M4 Savage (Wicked Thunder) - YouTubeWatch On
M4S Guide - AAC Light-Heavyweight M4 Savage (Wicked Thunder) - YouTube
M4S Guide - AAC Light-Heavyweight M4 Savage (Wicked Thunder) - YouTube
“At some point in this, my static and I actually go DO the fight, but oddly enough, I find this to be one of the least essential parts in the process.”
As I recently discovered alongside PC Gamer’s own Mollie Taylor atGamescom last month, even the easiest content in FF14 can be a struggle when you’re playing with complete newbies—meaning the game actually does a decent job of getting you up to snuff on its own.
For savage content, though, most of these telegraphs are either obfuscated or hidden entirely, and as someone who cleared an entire savage tier last expansion (please, hold your applause) I’ve made use of his tutelage more than once. Maybe I would’ve scored higher in my science GCSE’s if I’d had a Hector Lecture to hand.
More about final fantasyFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsFinal Fantasy 14 data sleuth gathers more info on the game’s script, finds Alphinaud is the king of yappers—though Wuk Lamat’s in the top 3 after just 1 expansionLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►
More about final fantasyFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsFinal Fantasy 14 data sleuth gathers more info on the game’s script, finds Alphinaud is the king of yappers—though Wuk Lamat’s in the top 3 after just 1 expansionLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►
More about final fantasyFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsFinal Fantasy 14 data sleuth gathers more info on the game’s script, finds Alphinaud is the king of yappers—though Wuk Lamat’s in the top 3 after just 1 expansion
More about final fantasy
Final Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsFinal Fantasy 14 data sleuth gathers more info on the game’s script, finds Alphinaud is the king of yappers—though Wuk Lamat’s in the top 3 after just 1 expansion
Final Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their alts
Final Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their alts
Final Fantasy 14 data sleuth gathers more info on the game’s script, finds Alphinaud is the king of yappers—though Wuk Lamat’s in the top 3 after just 1 expansion
Final Fantasy 14 data sleuth gathers more info on the game’s script, finds Alphinaud is the king of yappers—though Wuk Lamat’s in the top 3 after just 1 expansion
LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►
Latest
Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11
Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11
Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11
See more latest►
Most PopularPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fabI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bayFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsTikTok’s time in the US may be ticking to a close as it makes a last stand in the Supreme Court, though Trump now says he ‘opposes banning’ it
Most PopularPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fabI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bayFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsTikTok’s time in the US may be ticking to a close as it makes a last stand in the Supreme Court, though Trump now says he ‘opposes banning’ it
Most PopularPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fabI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bayFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsTikTok’s time in the US may be ticking to a close as it makes a last stand in the Supreme Court, though Trump now says he ‘opposes banning’ it
Most Popular
Piranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’
Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene
Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our fault
Team Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40K
Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.
Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anything
If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off
AMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fab
I tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bay
Final Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their alts
TikTok’s time in the US may be ticking to a close as it makes a last stand in the Supreme Court, though Trump now says he ‘opposes banning’ it
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1
Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2
Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3
Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4
Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5
Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
1
Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
2
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3
WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4
Ikea Utespelare desk review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
