Bilingual relations, getting started, and misc things.

[Kiyosuki]

Hello you guys, its nice to meet you. :) Don't worry though, this isn't one of those introduction threads which I know has a tendancy to turn people monstrous.

Looking around quickly at various FFXI message boards, the subject of mixing between Japanese and Western players on one server's course gotten a lot of discussion. Players on both sides complaining and the like, but I've noticed lately its been slowing down a lot more, and its not quite as hard to interact with other Japanese players anymore, even if we don't speak the same language. Point I'm asking is do you think rather than thinking it may have been better to start a North American server, that its actually pretty cool that we have to all play on the same server? I mean, all these differences have come up because of that segregation in the first place, so naturally the different cultures will form their own unique feeling little world. But I think personally that a lot could be learned by the interaction between the two, I don't buy the whole "the two just can't mix" notion. I joined a Linkshell thats largely Bilingual (even though I can't type it in its original form, and my japanese needs brushing up) And its gotten a ton of members (50 +) So the will is there, hey, it could encourage some on both sides to learn the other's language, or even understand eachother a little more. I have 5 Japanese players on my POL list now, all I did was try to strike up a conversation and attempt to understand eachother and thats all that was needed. So maybe its not as bad a move as most first thought.
I mean, the American players will have more than enough time to get up to good levels before the next expansion comes out as well. Unless you're pride is just so hurt that so many are at a higher level than you immediatly, maybe the mingling can happen successfully. It started out kind of rough but lately its been getting a lot more friendlier and less separated than before already. What do you think?

I wanted to meet and play with as many people as I can rather than just hang with 1 or 2 people all the time, isn't that the fun of MMORPG's? Maybe I meet up with some of you sometime too!

I'll hold off asking the usual barrage of newbie like questions...for now. XD

[krycis]

I just wish I could read kanji! I know nothing of japanse, except some ridiculous phoenetic words, but I'd still like to converse with the japanese players. The Tabverter (i'll just call it that) is pretty poor as it is now, it'd be wonderful if they kept updating it, maybe we'd both be able to chat. Anyone think that S-E might do that?

[Jei]

I found it next to impossible to invite japanese players using romanji. leave alone using english.

Just my note. Japanese players are really nice to the ones they can communicate with. Japanese that can read a little english can turn out to be really nice.

But if they can't, they act like jerks and don't even try. I invited some japanese to join my party using romanji, and with out reply, I got black-listed. Some just shout back at me NO! Using japanese clients and typing japanese to communicate with japanese players, will give a total oppisite reactions from japanese players compare to using US clients typing english.

[Kon]

well im glad we started on the same server. I would of hated to start on a new server where the economy was new. If it wernt for the JP's the crystals wouldnt sale nearly has well and some thing goes for all the other guild materials. B/c you generally dont start to really focus on a guild till mid 20's to 30's.

[Tomoh]

I have to agree on the point about some Japanese being rude to English speakers. Actually, there's one in my LS:( He would ask me to translate derogatory remarks in to English. I tell him not to generalize and have gotten in several arguments with him. He now bashes EN players when I'm not on. Sigh.

I'm being a hypocrite myself since I have been avoiding leveling my Thief 15 in Valkrum. I just hear so much horror stories and Thief 15 would have hard time finding a PT.

[Sol Kiskie]

I can read hiragana, but regretably I only know how to say a few basic things in japanese.

So far every single japanese player i've encountered on Odin has been nice.

I mean when a white mage will run through a dungeon to cast raise on one of your party members, there is no way you can say that person is mean.

Then again I know a little bit more about japanese culture than some people (i'm far from well informed though)

So whenever i'm in a party I try to tell my party members to bow and be polite. And when someone dies not to just shout out a message for a white mage.

On another note, the only rude players i've encountered were american and I was asking far less from them than I was the japanese players :rolleyes:
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[Kiyosuki]

Yeah I still think its a good idea for us to play on the same server. However like some of you have said, there are some real dicks that are Japanese players as well. A popular new trend among players at the moment is the notion that Japanese players can do no wrong, and that all American players are horrible and rude. Thats a rather delusional and naive way of thinking, because we're all only human, more reason why its good to try to interact like this. When the general populace of American players start getting high in level and gil wealth I wonder if relations will get a little more interesting then.

The biggest complaint I hear against American players is that they run horrible parties. I mean, ofcourse in general they're not going to be as good since the Japanese players have a year's head start, and have most of the advanced classes to play around with while generally, the NA player's are still trying to get to 30 right now. These things take time, but some people instantly want awsome parties without having to work towards making it good at all themselves. It can be annoying to deal with people as they're still learning how to really function, and no matter what on either side there will be horrifically rude or bigoted players from time to time but not everyone's like that. Thats the interesting thing about MMORPG's from what I've seen so far, having to confront different kinds of people in order to really progress.

[Apoc]

Here is a horror story for you Tomoh, I recently joined an ENG LS and over heard some discussion of WHMs soloing at 16 saying they are getting great exp.... There exp they said was 12-30 and this is great to them. The WHM also stated that it is faster than PTing in valkurm because he only gets around 50 exp a battle T.T.

Now that is scary.

[Haplo]

I think we can say they represents about .01% of the FFXI population.

[Angler]

Well, it's interesting - I've had mixed experiences with EN players. Due to my experience, however, I noticed that JP players are a million times more consistent about what they do, though.

Three nights ago, I joined up with a single JP player (WAR/WHM I think) who was rank 6 and an English player (BLM). Needless to say the JP player was the PT leader, and that's got to be one of the most successful 3-person hunts I've ever had. The JP player spoke simple English and asked us to do the same, which we both agreed to do. And it worked out just fine.

Two nights ago, I ended up joining a 6-person PT, in La Theine. As soon as I joined I checked the member list for the PT - and whoa, I can't believe it, but the mean level in that PT is HALF of what my level is. And when I tell them about it, they just say that "it'll be fun"... right. Because I can't keep up they all die.

Last night however, I formed a 6-person PT myself in La Theine. After our BLM and one of the WARs leaving with little to no warning at all, we were down to a WHM, WAR, THF and MNK. But that seemed to work out perfectly fine - I strung together a 3-part WS Combo and we were able to get it off a couple of times... the only gripe I had is that the WAR didn't Provoke - not once. But it worked out OK! I got down to 1 HP a couple of times thanks to Orcs... but that wasn't necessarily the WAR's fault. Overall though, that was the most successful EN party I've ever been with, even though I didn't get more than around 1200 exp in total for 2 hours.

So, I've had mixed experiences with EN players but oddly haven't had any mixed experiences with JP players (I'm not doubting that it's possible to have a lousy JP party though). I guess I've been very lucky in that respect. ;)
Angler

[Lily]

I think it was a great idea. At first I had doubts too about this whole aspect. But after playing for several weeks, I've encountered a handful of japanese players. I am in England, so I don't see *that* many due to my timezone I think, nor have I partied with any yet.

The only times I've encountered them are near the auction houses, or when I've died and being raised by one, lol. They are so kind.

1 japanese player helped my group of 7 ppl doing the subjob quest that spanned over 3 hours. It started with us waiting on top of the slope to the beach for nighttime for the bogys, and an air elemental getting too close and for some reason aggroing me because I cast protectra on us all. Anyway, out of, I think 8 ppl, 6 died, after a grueling 2 minute battle against this thing. We tried our best. Two survived because one was a galka with the most combat experience and hp, and the other was lucky. Anyway, this japanese player (a high lvl rdm/nin called Harunaha) found us, took the time to raise *all* 6 of us (imagine how long that took), then proceeded to help us with the bogys, which took 2 day/night cycles, because the first didn't spawn enough of them to get the capes. That was the most gracious and helpful thing anyone has done so far for me and my friends. They even asked if we all wanted to be on their friendlist. His/her grasp of english was pretty good too. Amazing stuff. Really makes you envy the rdm class when they can use raise, refresh, convert to do all that. ;)

Anyway, apologies for the long post. Just really indebted to that person, and I wanted to share. :)

[Apoc]

I think we can say they represents about .01% of the FFXI population

Trust me It applys to much more than that.

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Anyway on a side note I have come across many polite new eng players who are very friendly and decent players as well, I came across something very scary though a level 12war/- with a 40+ skill in black smithing. I find that is fairly impressive for a new eng player.

[Jei]

I've been in a JP group last night... horrible. they ended up with PLD PLD WAR WAR WHM RDM... there was BRD looking for group and some BLM but they refused to invite them because they flag as "E"

now that was horrible. 900exp an hour. tons of downtime and not enough firing power.