Why are NAs obsessed with Valkurm?

[Maju]

Every time I scan Korroloka Tunnel during JP peak I see it full of parties. We all know why; because Korroloka exp owns Valkurm exp so hard it isn't even funny. Then JP prime time ends and the PT count in Korroloka soon falls to 0 and remains that way until the next JP prime. At the same time Valkurm has become so crowded you can hardly find a mob to kill in there, yet everyone insists on going to Valkurm. Every time.

I've always thought newbie JPs are far better than NA (or EU) newbies, but I think this observation kinda confirms it. Somehow this whole "level to 10-12, then go to dunes" mindset is solidly stuck in the NA heads and quite frankly, it pisses me off. Why can't people think for themselves and actually consider the options they have instead of following everyone to Valkurm like a herd of stupid sheep?

[Dux]

No idea.
>> Edited for clarity of purpose

[Tirocupidus]

I'd wager it's because the Dunes is a more centralized location than Korroloka, and no one wants to try to find 5 other people willing to go somewhere else.

[Feba]

Exactly. Everyone's already in dunes. It's so hard to make a korro PT that it's usually not worth it, unless you're with friends.

[Zamphire]

My asnswer would be two fold.

1. Valkrum Dunes is alot easier to get to from Sandy and Windurst than Kor. Tunnel is, especially without the use of a chocobo or airship.

2. Even if you're one of the people that are smart enough to not follow the masses, alot of the time you have to go where the money is, or in this case, the exp. True, Kor. Tunnel might be better exp than the dunes, but there's actually PEOPLE in the dunes. I can sit in the dunes and wait 10min and get a party, I might wait all day in Kor. Tunnel without one.

[neighbortaru]

tbh, I've never had much luck with Korro or Maze standard pickup-parties. If you have a bunch of mages + range, sure it's wonderful but standard tank + 2 (close) melees has been nothing but disasters for me. Full-Force Blow hurts like all heck.

[Ellipses]

We're allergic to communication and planning, and strangers are icky. Some weirdo with red and green thingies around his words trying to get me to go to some Kallookidydookidy Tunnel isn't getting that crab killed any faster. Now shut up and lemme work! 16MNK LFP goldarnit!

[Maju]

I'd wager it's because the Dunes is a more centralized location than Korroloka, and no one wants to try to find 5 other people willing to go somewhere else.

Well, the dunes are far from all major towns. In the middle of nowhere even. Korroloka is in Bastok!

I tried to invite people to Korroloka Today. I had a 4-person PT in the dunes and we decided to move to Korroloka and I wanted two more members, but I found only unsuitable jobs and refusers. When we finally made it to Korroloka and started gaining comparable exp with only 4 people, those who refused my invite were still seeking in the dunes. I bet they got their wonderful 1k/h when they finally got a party. Too bad they could have made 4k/h in Korroloka.

Amusingly, while skilling up my dark magic in the empty Korroloka Tunnel, I noticed a gil seller bot PT enter and start to exp on the worms. They are all L21 with no subs and horrible players. I bet they still make more exp than the average Valkurm PT.

[Bishop]

I seek in jeuno. If I get invite to dunes, then I teleport. If I get invite to korro, I airship. Simplest way in my opinon.

[Tirocupidus]

Well, the dunes are far from all major towns. In the middle of nowhere even. Korroloka is in Bastok!

Centralized between the 3 nations, I meant.

I'd've mentioned the subjob quest as well, but it seems most people have a subjob already.

[Queen Uma]

I've always thought newbie JPs are far better than NA (or EU) newbies, but I think this observation kinda confirms it.

This is far from true. Newbies are exactly that, they are new to the game regardless of what language they speak, they don't have some special gaming powers just because they're from Japan. They don't know where to go when they reach x level so they ask around. The fact is most players will be told that the dunes is the place to level from 10-20 if they speak English. If the Japanese are telling their newbies that Kor tunnel is the place to level then thats good for them. All the more reason to still level in the dunes whilst they pack out that area with parties. I for one am a fan or Buburimu Penisula (sp?). It's just a short boat ride from VD and hardly anybody camps there.


I think one of the other main factors in the popularity of the dunes is the choice of starter nation. I don't know about your server but on Asura the majority of the players chose San d'Oria and Windurst. Valkurm is the logical meeting point for members of these nations.

You say that the dunes are in the middle of nowhere whilst Kor Tunnel is in Bastok, this only benefits new players from Bastok. Are you suggesting that players who chose other starter cities have to make a long journey whilst Bastok players sit on their arse waiting?

Valkurm (and Buburimu) also follows a logical progression of levelling with the zones either side being good spots to get levels 7-12. Zurhum Mines can hardly support a player up to level 15 so they would have to venture out of Bastok only to come all the way back just to get into Kor tunnel for a party. Lets not forget the great sense of exploration a newbie has. They want to see new exciting zones, not just hang around their starter city.

So I suppose what I'm saying is Kor tunnel isn't really for starters, its more for players who have experienced the dunes a few times, have a good method of travel and can recruit friends/ls members/other experienced players for a good xp party.

[Omni]

Well, the dunes are far from all major towns. In the middle of nowhere even. Korroloka is in Bastok!

umm, i'd hate to break it to you but, not everyone is from bastok...
bastok is further than valkrum for sandoria and windurst players by far.

plus, for a lot of newbies, they might not know how to or even be able to get to bastok if they are on foot. a lv 15 player that must walk on foot from windurst? good luck on that one. even if they did, i doubt most players would want to.

now, there are far less jp newbies out there than there are any other newbies. so for a jp to get there, they probably just airship, outpost warp or tele dem/altepa and ride from there. much easier for them to make it to korrokola tunnel than it is for a lv. 15 newbie with no chocobo/airship.

the main reason ppl goto valkrum is as people have pointed out:
easier to get to than other places
capable of holding many pts (though it gets crowded, how many zones in vanadiel can hold 20-30 pts?! i dont know if i know any others besides buburimu that have safe camps)

[Maju]

This is far from true. Newbies are exactly that, they are new to the game regardless of what language they speak, they don't have some special gaming powers just because they're from Japan. They don't know where to go when they reach x level so they ask around. The fact is most players will be told that the dunes is the place to level from 10-20 if they speak English. If the Japanese are telling their newbies that Kor tunnel is the place to level then thats good for them.

I believe JP newbies are either better at seeking info or just more willing to do so. Obviously it has nothing to do with gamer talent.

I think one of the other main factors in the popularity of the dunes is the choice of starter nation. I don't know about your server but on Asura the majority of the players chose San d'Oria and Windurst. Valkurm is the logical meeting point for members of these nations.

Not any more logical than Buburimu, though I do see other advantages Valkurm has over Buburimu.

You say that the dunes are in the middle of nowhere whilst Kor Tunnel is in Bastok, this only benefits new players from Bastok. Are you suggesting that players who chose other starter cities have to make a long journey whilst Bastok players sit on their arse waiting?

Well, you'll have to run your ass off to Valkurm no matter where you start, so might as well run the whole way to Bastok and get good exp. ^^

Lets not forget the great sense of exploration a newbie has. They want to see new exciting zones, not just hang around their starter city.

If they were actually exploring they would find all the other leveling options. Instead they go where everyone else goes or where their moronic more experienced friends tell them to go to. Yesterday I was in a dunes PT where the rank 5 ninja didn't know what Utsusemi is or where to get it. That's the kind of people we have giving advice to our newbies.

So I suppose what I'm saying is Kor tunnel isn't really for starters, its more for players who have experienced the dunes a few times, have a good method of travel and can recruit friends/ls members/other experienced players for a good xp party.

Yeah, I agree with this in a way. If you don't have a sub, Valkurm is ideal because the sub job quest items drop there, however, if you have a sub there is little reason to ever exp in Valkurm again.

[ValisOfValefor]

I've always thought newbie JPs are far better than NA (or EU) newbies, but I think this observation kinda confirms it.

Generalizations=bad. Ive had plenty of horrible parties, and great parties from all three sides of the spectrum. When we all started off in the game we we're all at the same levels (though some people learned faster than other).

The other reason why the Karakolla tunnel is not picked is becuase it only supports a few parties, where as Valkrum can support a good amount of players. And there is one other area too, that supports most valkrum dunes level parties too. The Bermibu pennisula (sorry for my bad spelling), but I dont see that area flooded by JP player either.

People are gonna go where the parties are made (IE Valkrum Dunes, Qufim, Crawlers Nest, Garliage). And It's gonna be like that.

Somehow this whole "level to 10-12, then go to dunes" mindset is solidly stuck in the NA heads and quite frankly, it pisses me off. Why can't people think for themselves and actually consider the options they have instead of following everyone to Valkurm like a herd of stupid sheep?

More generalizations. Not Every NA player is a stupid sheep as you put it. The Dunes is a learning place, you have to help people to become the best they are there, not elsewhere.

[Maju]

The other reason why the Karakolla tunnel is not picked is becuase it only supports a few parties, where as Valkrum can support a good amount of players. And there is one other area too, that supports most valkrum dunes level parties too. The Bermibu pennisula (sorry for my bad spelling), but I dont see that area flooded by JP player either.

Oh this one is easy. Worms are quite simply the weakest mob type in the entire game. That's why JPs go to Korroloka and not Buburimu. The only advantage Buburimu has over Valkurm is that it's not crowded. Korroloka on the other hand simply has a lot better mobs than either Valkurm or Buburimu.

It's like going to an overcrowded Bibiki Bay to exp on those damned efts instead of imps in an empty Caedarva Mire or something. A really bad idea.