SE and their insanity

[Malachi_Gage]

Have you ever played any other types of RPG's? Not online, just like... Final Fantasy VII through X-2? You are solo for about a half an hour, then...*gasp* you get a couple of members to make a party. A Massive MULITPLAYER Online RPG is following the same aspect of teamwork to accomplish a similar goal. If you don't like that, well quit FFXI, cancel your account and stop wasting your time posting on these forums.

[Carbon]

A lot of the past few posts are missing the point of the original poster.

Teamwork and groups are not the problem. Finding that team is the problem at hand.

Unless you're in an army of a LS, or a LS that's very close to several other LSs, or are very close to a person who is, you're screwed as far as a lot of the notoriously difficult quests/missions are concerned.

Getting 6 random people around your level is hard as it is. Getting 18 is a downright colossal task.

[Cassidy]

18 people is not alot, EQ needed 50+, when limbo comes out in this game they are saying itll need 3 alliances, now if you're not in a LS, or close with some people that are you'll be screwed.

If you want to do quest/mission/AF/ whatever plan your time, look for people around your level and shoot them tells saying you want to try to do X in 3 days around such and such time and are trying to put people together for it, perhaps they need it too, if not and they know anyone that does have em give em your name.

Get as many people as you can like that and then the time you're going do it get on early and /shout for a while, cuz 1/2 the people that said they would come probably wont show up

You can also post stuff on msg boards...,"Such and Such Server AF 3 1-25-04" then give the details inside and have interested people take note/sign up, whatever

The one thing i would caution you on is if you do something like this make sure you know what you are doing when it comes to the quest, and try to know as much as you can about other quests there that people will want. Dont manage to get the people together and say "So ok who knows how to do AF3 cuz i dont" . If you set it up you're the leader, unless you can find someone who has done it before and just wants to help or somehting

[Jroggy]

Originally posted by OnionWarrior
i see both sides evenly... don't tell people that they are bitching though, its just rude. i sometimes wished that the game would eb a little more soslo firendly, because i like many other people am very busy and only have an hour here and thereto play. i love the game, the attention to detail and such, my only real complaints being taht the agme doesn't leave a soloable option for those who don't have the time (or who are socially defunct) and taht the game doens't really have a story early on.

it's also rude to tell someone they'll dislike the game in further levels and that your looking forward to a different game cause you dislike this one so much.

[Cometgreen]

I'd say during the week, I only play maybe an hour or two, sometimes seperated (ie one hour before dinner, one hour after dinner).

During the weekend, I may play for 2 hours at a time two or three times a day, depending on my workload.

Currently: LvL 33 rdm, 13 rng, 9 war, 8 drk, 4 thf, 24k gil, lvl 16 bonecraft, lvl 5 woodworking, rank 4

All though I think I play a lot, I also don't have the time for 3 hour long sessions. Now, if I want to do something that will take a few hours, like a hard mission or AF/RSE (though I'm not there yet), I will set aside those few hours and try to make a team. Luckily I am in a good linkshell, but I still ask around if I need to.

Btw, what do you think those lvl 75's do all day? They probably have everything they would ever need, so helping you on your AF is probably what they look forward to. And as someone else said, it's not like AF is required. It's like every other "special equipment" sidequest in every other FF: it is meant to be long and arduous, or else it wouldn't really be special.

Cometgreen

[stealthbig]

If you want to solo, why the hell are you playing an MMORPG; so either stop playing or stop bitching.

[Sutra]

I appreciate those who have replied to my original and past posts who are in the same position or at least able to understand my view.

Jroggy: I wasnt being rude in saying i'm waiting for Lineage 2. Infact i'm playing the Tai beta now for it, and it is alot more friendly to the "casual gamer" which most if not all of these game companies have said is their "bread and butter audience". (Basically because the hardcore gamer plays it a week, gets to max level then gets bored after another week and quits)

I have a job, and I have a life, I have responsibilities at home to take care of as well as paying bills and getting ahead in life. I dont have hours upon hours like most of the posters who have made negative comments in this thread have. I have to be responsible, so that means I get 2-3 hours MAYBE to play this game a day.

I expect that a game company that promotes my type of player as their main focus to actually cater to us and make the game somewhat progressional to us, not trying to lasso 18 people my level or above to go on some 5 hour romp thru vanadiel. The party system in this game is utterly atrocious. What good is trying to progress if the only way you can progress is with a party 2-3 levels around you? And THEN you cannot find anyone of that said level spread?

Before you go complaining about my topic, you need to look at the facts.

- The party system makes it very strict what parties can be made. 2-3 level difference is a colossal feat to find 6 people (even worse if you need 15-18 people for big quests) in your area of the same gauged levels, who are doing the same quest or mission, and have even remotely the amount of time to devote to the quests or missions as everyone else.

- The fact that you need lvl 60-70 help on quests like AF, Prime Summons, and things of that nature is rediculous. How can anyone be expected to find that kind of help, most people wont even talk to you much less help you with quests that size. I hear people doing shouts needing help, nobody answers, they just keep shouting, and nothing, I ask them if anyone has /t them, and they say hell no, which is no suprise.

Dont get me wrong, I like this game, I have loved FF from the beginning, but this kind of structure has done nothing but sour me on games like this. The only thing they can do for making quests that slow or even stop level progression (because the hardcore gamers get to 75 in a week) is asking the near impossible, and expecting it to be looked at as a quality quest, instead of its real modus operandi of attempting to cut your level progression to nothing. Yes I work in field I know what they do.

Stealthbig: Before you go and say as many of you have "Its a Massively Multiplayer Game" well yea sherlock, we all know that, but the statement MM and the actual getting the MM people to help you is 2 different things in a game centered around forced grouping.

I am not "Bitching" i'm simply stating facts that are irritating most of us everyday. "Man I cant find a group!" or "wont anyone tell me where this is? I could use some help!" or "sorry, your too low we need people 2-3 levels around us, your too low!" This is stuff we hear everyday, and it frustrates us just as much each day. Sure, I could join a LS, and I have before, but most LS's are there just for familiar chat, they arent there to actually help you "aww dude i'm busy" or "hey man just put up your pt flag somones BOUND to tell you..." yea right.

Cometgreen: >>And as someone else said, it's not like AF is required. It's like every other "special equipment" sidequest in every other FF: it is meant to be long and arduous, or else it wouldn't really be special.

I appreciate your stance on this, but as i'm sure you know people look at you with favour if you have certain items, and quests done, and if you dont they look at you like a noob. Having AF for higher levels is key to having group requests. I cant even tell you how many times I hear that "Dude you have nice stuff, yea your good to party", before when I had crap items, people do a check on me and say "nah man your too low", i tell them we are the same level and I get the noob finger and told my "sh*t sucks, go get some better equipment".

[Jroggy]

Originally posted by Sutra
Jroggy: I wasnt being rude in saying i'm waiting for Lineage 2. Infact i'm playing the Tai beta now for it, and it is alot more friendly to the "casual gamer" which most if not all of these game companies have said is their "bread and butter audience". (Basically because the hardcore gamer plays it a week, gets to max level then gets bored after another week and quits)

isn't that a bad thing?
i know i was rude, but there's been so many threads of people complaining about this and that it gets annoying. Every game has flaws. And not every game will appeal to everyone.

[Lokan666]

What a joke.

This is MUCH better than taking 50-60 people on a 2 hour raid for 2drops..

[Sutra]

Originally posted by Jroggy

isn't that a bad thing?
i know i was rude, but there's been so many threads of people complaining about this and that it gets annoying. Every game has flaws. And not every game will appeal to everyone.

I understand that, that is why i'm trying to keep this discussion to wheras we can talk about it without adding the "bitching" or "complaining" labels to it.

Lokan666: Its virtually the same thing as EQ except you need less people as your stating. Its still a raid with 20 or more people for 1 drop, even worse.

[Cassidy]

Sutra,

i wont screw with the quote thing cuz its a hassel so anways paraphrasing

- I have a job and other stuff i have to do (subtext: im not a loser like the hardcore players)

everyone who plays this game has a life, most people also have school or work, having a life does not preclude you from being a high lvl or having X item, poor time management does

- I expect game company to cater to their focus group

ive never seen SE say this game was designed mainly for the casual player, perhaps i missed that somewhere

- 2-3 level diff

this sucks, it should start at 2-3 and scale as you get higher to about 5 lvls around 30 and 7 lvls around 65+ (or some variant) but its not that hard to find people in the spread /sea all 30-33 or whatever will give you alot of people, send them tells

- 2-3 level diff for missons/quests

you mention this but you dont need it for missons/quests you're not there for exp...doesnt fly

- lvl 60-70 help on AF

you dont need lvl 60-70 help, it makes it easier, but you can do it with an alliance of people around the level it takes to equip the item, and if an item is lvl 60-70 it is reasonable to expect you need lvl 60-70 help

- summoner fights

this sucks, summoner class is broken

-hardcore gamers to 75 in a week (said this a couple times)

this is hyperbole

-forced grouping

(almost?) every decent MMORPG has had force grouping, that is to say you lvl much faster if you are in a group, to the point where you feel you must group

- MM and actually getting people together

you not being able to get people together do to a lack of effort, bad luck, or whatever is your fault, not SE's, they provide a quite indepth /search engine to help you find people, better than in the other MMORPGS ive played

-"not whining"

whining or not what you are saying is old hat, people have been saying it for years, not bein able to find a group sucks, it happens, its the nature of the beast, play a solo game if you find it too frustrating or make a WHM

-look in favor on people with AF

yes people do, this shows they have invested their time into getting the AF, if it was very easy to get, as you seem to be advocating, people would no longer look in favor on it b/c it would be easy to get

-people not liking your equip/people in general

when you play with other people you have to put up with them, it can be alot of fun, or it can suck, either get better stuff, expect that your time is limited and you may have trouble, find a way to orginize your time, or play another game

for time management set goals each night and do your best to complete them, time is wasted running around, if you want to PT the next time you play log where you think you will get a group, ifyou want to work on crafting then go sit in town and while your crafting /tell people looking for help on such and such quest at a later date.....you may get ignored or they may say no but you are just sittin in town crafting (or farming easy stuff for cash) anyways so keep trying.

When your fighting find a good PT and stick to one place and just bang the levels out, find people in similar situations to yours on msg boards and work out a casual players static PT

not finding a group sucks but your post makes it seem like you havent tried much beyond putting up your flag, with missons you say youve talked to other people and they never found help, try yourself, until then quit complaining if you arnt giving it any effort

[TMPikachu]

hmmm, linkshells

find a nice, reliable linkshell

or even start your own, it makes finding parties ALOT easier, and more fun to party with allies you've played with many a time, builds kin-ship, n' trust and whatnot.

I would prefer having to party with 17 other folks to get swanky armor, than have every bum be able to solo through the game.

It's cooperation, not competition.

[Shadowfury]

I Do think all games should be solo friendly, although some games can go too far. The last game I player (http://www.mythofsoma.net) was a solo mmorpg, xp and stats actually got worse when fighting in a party, yet that was still very enjoyable.

To be honest I would rather be able to solo than HAVE to fight in a party, even if there was a slight exp penatly. From what Ive heard there is a massive penalty for this.

Finally all these people saying its an "Massivly Multimplayer ORPG," yes it is - however it doesnt say "Massivly Multiplayer Have To Party ORPG" - just cause a game is massivly multiplayer does not mean that its party orientated, just that it has many players on it. As i say the above game I played was purely solo, yet still an mmorpg and was much more fun than an RPG due to mixing with other people.

[Ashlok]

Only have 3 words, "World of Warcraft".

[Shirow]

Is WoW that good?
Anyway,Sutra, I assume that you're a family...person right? Like you have kids etc. If you're a family...person, then I apologize and understand what you're going through and take back my comment.
Ummm, Shadow, and anyone else, you can solo in FFXI. You'll mostly be able to solo TOUGH's. All it takes is for you or anyone else to actually take the time and make a stack of HP/MP potions, and any other stat boosting meal, along with strategy, and you can solo for most of the game. Now when it comes to fighting the higher ups like Primes and Other bosses(i guess), then you could take them on with atleast 3 ppl. Including the potions,meals, and strategy thrown in. Although, this is just an assumption.