[Eiyoko]

New rule:

The EXP band is nice, but it doesn't give you an excuse to only buy (and use) only ONE ring. Get two, you moron, and put it on once you use your EXP band. The effect doesn't wear off when you do that, I promise you.

And for Pete's sake, don't use it in a low-level party if no one else is. General rule of thumb for those: If one other person in your dunes/Qufim party isn't using an exp band, you shouldn't use one either. There's a reason you keep your party in close levels, you know, and it's not to see who can achieve a higher level by the time you disband.

[Murphie]

I dunno. If my goal is to get as much exp in the time I have to party, I don't really care if I'm going to outlevel the rest of the party by the time I'm ready to go. My level won't be affecting them anyway at that point.

[Mog]

Originally Posted by Eiyoko

And for Pete's sake, don't use it in a low-level party if no one else is. General rule of thumb for those: If one other person in your dunes/Qufim party isn't using an exp band, you shouldn't use one either. There's a reason you keep your party in close levels, you know, and it's not to see who can achieve a higher level by the time you disband.

It's the dewnz. Nobody really gives a shit.

[IfritnoItazura]

Originally Posted by Mog

It's the dewnz. Nobody really gives a shit.

Do you mean Valkrum Dunes, where new players first meet old players in parties? If so, then that's one place where old players should make concerted effort to be considerate and helpful, setting examples for the new players.

[Boldfinger]

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

Do you mean Valkrum Dunes, where new players first meet old players in parties? If so, then that's one place where old players should make concerted effort to be considerate and helpful, setting examples for the new players.

Being honest, by the end of February I'll have been playing this game 'off and on' for about a year. I think I've partied about 4 times altogether because early party experiences in the Dunes generally weren't good and for the most part it was experienced players giving it "We're in the Dunes, who cares?" that made it like that.

I read on various forums that the Dunes was where you were supposed to learn basics like Skillchains, Magic Bursts, party dynamics and how to play your job correctly. When I was asking about things like that I was getting answers like "lol. Newb. No-one does Skillchains" or "We have PL, you don't need to 'insert job here' properly". I found it to be really not enjoyable so I've settled mostly for unlocking jobs, levelling them up to 15-20 and lowbie farming/crafting. I've managed to get RDM to 32 which enabled me to unlock advanced jobs and level some of those to 15-20 but that's been about it so far. I've been fairly close to quitting a couple times but I recently joined a very nice LS so I'm expecting that to be a thing of the past and that parties will be the norm from now on.

I just wanted to say that IMHO the Dunes would be a lot less 'LOL Doonz' if the experienced people that were complaining made the effort to change things

Just my 2 cents of course.

[Feba]

Dunes never was a good place to learn about the game. It's something people are forced to go through if they want to get a party at that level, and it's never been a pleasant experience.

Anyone who tells you they ever had a fun dunes party is a downright LIAR.

You never really started to learn anything until Kazham, but really you can't learn anything about partying from the 'standard' areas. Once you start to move out-- be that you're one of the people that goes to Shakrami and Korroloka, or you don't go until later and do Altep and such, you can start to learn. Once you meet a party and move to your campsite instead of moving to your campsite to meet a party, you can start to learn.

Anything before that is an unpleasant experience and practically forced grouping.

[IfritnoItazura]

Originally Posted by Feba

Anyone who tells you they ever had a fun dunes party is a downright LIAR.

Then I guess you'd call me a liar. =/

Valkrum Dunes' shining moments for me.

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

... Valkrum Dunes isn't always that bad. >_> Overall, it can be a really valuable experience for newbies. Valkrum Dunes taught me:
- How to Skillchain. (Yes, for real.)
- How to MB (from JP players, no less).
- Danger of undeads.
- Importance of Silent Oil/Sneak and Prism Powder/Invisible.
- How to run around Goblins without aggro.
- Importance of sitting home point.
- Food!
- The power and danger of Cure and Curaga.
- Managing MP--and to demand time to rest. >_>;
- The roles of Puller, tank, healer, and DD.
- Duo/trio tanking, and Utsusemi shadow counting
- And, much, much more.

Most importantly, I learned kindness in Valkrum Dunes. Strangers volunteered to help me get support job quest items. Random WHM's gave raise to party members who didn't set HP in Selbina or near by. Passer-bys cheered us on when we defeat toucher than expected monsters. Chocobo riders who dismounted to clear tunnel's bats so lowbies without oil can pass by safely.

And, I'll never forgot that a kind, high level player put together an entire party for me because I was feeling sad not not able to get a party as THF/---.

Is Valkrum Dunes a perfect place to play? Of course not! Yet, it's not just about the "noobs" and silly things they do or do not--it was the place I first found the FFXI community.

* * *

Don't scare the newbies so much; the first time in VE is a period of joyous growth. ^_^

Not to say there are not a lot of bad parties in Valkrum Dunes, but a dose or two of positive attitudes can go a long way.

[Boldfinger]

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

Valkrum Dunes' shining moments for me.

Um, yeah. That's pretty much everything that I had expected but ended up missing out on

[Feba]

Then I guess you'd call me a liar. =/

Yes. I would.

Liar.

[Armando]

And for Pete's sake, don't use it in a low-level party if no one else is. General rule of thumb for those: If one other person in your dunes/Qufim party isn't using an exp band, you shouldn't use one either. There's a reason you keep your party in close levels, you know, and it's not to see who can achieve a higher level by the time you disband.

Counterargument, just because even I have to be an ass every once in a while.

If the person using the EXP band (Anniversary Ring excluded) is lower than the highest party member(s), that lets him catch up and perform better while not penalizing your EXP one bit.

[Mog]

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

Do you mean Valkrum Dunes, where new players first meet old players in parties? If so, then that's one place where old players should make concerted effort to be considerate and helpful, setting examples for the new players.

I would like Valkurm Dunes more if it wasn't more of a hassle of exp'ing with newbies than necessary. 9 times out of 10, whenever I give a newbie advice, he just shuns me off and continues doing whatever mistake he sees fit.

I have a lot more fun soloing/PL'ing myself than partying here...

[Armando]

Make a lot more seals, too.

I like seals. Baby seals, too, but that's a topic for another thread.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Originally Posted by Mog

9 times out of 10, whenever I give a newbie advice, he just shuns me off and continues doing whatever mistake he sees fit.

How is that any different with a "veteran" player?

[Mog]

Originally Posted by LyonheartLakshmi

How is that any different with a "veteran" player?

Well, basic knowledge of party mechanics and how to play this game is a whole lot different than knowledge in higher level, whether it be using a haste build, which weapons parse better overall, etc..

I mean, come on. When someone in a dunes party refuses to level his subjob, that's just being lazy.

[Sevv]

Originally Posted by Mog

Well, basic knowledge of party mechanics and how to play this game is a whole lot different than knowledge in higher level, whether it be using a haste build, which weapons parse better overall, etc..

I mean, come on. When someone in a dunes party refuses to level his subjob, that's just being lazy.

If possible i would thank you more then once.