Duty Finder tip: How to get more groups.

[Nanga]

I'm surprised it took me and other folks to realize this, but there was something we were NOT doing until this weekend, which was actually preventing us from getting groups in Duty Finder more frequently, and it has to do with the server we play on.

The language setting in the Duty Finder window!

I and my Free Company are english-only speakers on a Japanese Server. So, naturally, we had our default language set to "E" only, for english. Well, it turns out this was actually hindering our ability to get groups in Duty Finder.

Once we started checking each language box, JEDF, our time spent in the Duty Finder dropped significantly. It didn't dawn on us until now that we were actually restricting ourselves from getting into groups where everyone else only had the "J" language selected. Sure, once we changed it to where we selected all languages we got into many more groups - and most of them didn't speak a lick of English, it really didn't matter much for duties we knew how to complete anyways. We've cut-and-pasted a simple phrase from Google Translator to let the rest of the group know we are English-only, a simple greeting, and if they need to give us instructions to please say our name first so we know to copy their message and translate it via Google's Translator.

Anyways. I hope this tip helps other folks. It was very surprising to us to see how significant of a difference it makes when you select ALL languages in Duty Finder.

Edit: As others noted in this thread, for best results, make sure you know the Duty fairly well before using this method to get groups faster in Duty Finder. While people should not be offended over others joining a Duty Finder group and speaking another language (it promotes socializing), some people are just downright mean about it. I haven't noticed this on the Japanese servers, but from the sounds of it, the NA/EU servers seem to have an issue over language barriers. Use of the in-game Auto-Translator is good for overcoming these, or do what I am my pals do: cut-and paste to Google Translate for more complex issues.

Good luck!

[Somi]

I'm glad you found this way to help yourselves, but there is a major problem with this for most people... the language choice is especially designed so you may choose the languages you speak and/or are able to understand. In most groups the auto-translator will help and it'll be just fine, but there are people who specifically only want to play with others in that exact language they chose.

Problem no. 1: You are lieing about your language skills and therefore cheating people out of getting their desired group with same-language players.
Problem no. 2: Even if no. 1 doesn't apply, once you need to communicate on anything other than the basic stuff they will notice you can't speak the language you selected and be pretty pissed about that. It also makes you feel bad, at least it made me feel bad the one time I tried the "F" setting.

Another thing I noticed and I'm quite saddened to admit is that a lot of my fellow German players are utterly annoying and do not communicate whatsoever (may it be because of language skills or just because they're German and we're not nice to begin with). I chose to deliberately not check the German button because I could see a pattern where German players messed up my groups by not reading, not knowing any English and being huge jerks in general. I was shocked and disappointed to see that not checking "D" made my game-life easier...

Sorry for the long rant. It was built up.

[Nanga]

It must be pretty much only an NA/EU problem, because I have never run into a JP who was upset that I did not speak their language. Matter of fact, they were always more forgiving and patient and helpful to non-speakers. If someone is offended that you are checking their language and don't speak it, I think that is a problem of themselves, and not you.

Anyways, this is mostly useful when you are doing speed runs of CM, or Garuda HM over and over again. As a DPS, I went from waiting 3 hours in-between Garuda runs during primetime, to only waiting 15-20 minutes. That is a tremendous improvement. If people are upset at me for deciding not to waste 2.5 hours of my time simply because I don't speak their language, well, that's their problem. My time is my time, and we get along just fine with a translator - in-game auto-translator, or Google. The JP's are great. Maybe you should consider switching to a JP server if you're having so much trouble with people over language? The only time I seem to have trouble with the translator is when I'm trying to /shout to form groups.

P.S. Most JP's I've run into with these groups were actually surprised at how good Google Translate is. But truth be told, as long as the statements/questions are simple and not wordy, it's not hard to get a good translation.

P.P.S: If your complaint is about being sociable with others in the game, not being able to fluently speak their language is hardly a barrier to being social. Their are plenty of universal keystrokes (smilies, for instance), which are friendly. Plenty of universal words which are friendly and social. And lastly, the built-in Auto-translator has TONS of phrases, questions, words, etc which are purely social in context, and make for a very friendly experience when nobody speaks each other's language. I recommend looking into everything you can say with the Auto-translator. If that doesn't satisfy you, make a bunch with Google Translate, and keep them in a text file so you can alt-tab to cut-and-paste, or just keep Google Translate open at all times. I'm constantly cut-and-pasting the entire chat box to see what folks or saying in Japanese, so I can then respond and be social with them, too.

[Malakhim]

I've been doing this since forever. Hell, playing with players from different regions is one of the biggest reasons I started learning to speak and read Japanese and German years ago. About the only excuse a person has in a group is if they're either French, or an asshole.

But really, the auto-translate function is a great tool for that sort of thing, unless you need to get really detailed about specifics. Most of the Japanese players I play with don't really speak very much anyway, so the point is moot. Just join the duty finder on all languages. This game was designed to be a cross-regional game like FFXI anyway.

[CatholicFan]

Problem no. 1: You are lieing about your language skills

It's not a lie. Where does it say those buttons are for identifying your own language skills? As far as I can tell, the language buttons aren't for what languages you speak, but what languages you're willing to play with. I don't care if you only speak Swahili, as long as you know the fights and do your job.

[Deroth]

Even if you select all as an English speaker it won't group you with those that haven't selected the English option. If you select more than just one language that doesn't mean you know them, it means you're willing to group with them and deal with any potential communication issue.

Anyone that complains that you aren't fluent in their language is an hypocrite.

Besides, some of the most fun I had back when I played FFXI was being the only English speaker in a Japanese group working with auto-translator to communicate.

[svann]

you want to also click join party in progress

[Vagrant-0]

Say what you want, but if you're going to queue with the options of speaking a certain language, you should have some basic understanding of that language or atleast know how to play well enough that language is not needed. Game also has an internal translation feature for basic messages.

If you know how a party is supposed to work, know how a boss works, and can work with your party, you usually don't need to say anything anyway.

[HurtigeKarl]

I'm glad you found this way to help yourselves, but there is a major problem with this for most people... the language choice is especially designed so you may choose the languages you speak and/or are able to understand.

Every German and French that is younger than 40 years, knows English unless they slept in school. So yeah, choosing F and D is safe.

[mythicrose]

I'll run a dungeon the first time in my primary language (English) just to learn boss mechanics. Then I'll queue up as a dragoon for the dungeon in any language that way it really doesn't matter what the group is talking about. I don't have to leave the English choice when I'm queuing up as a warrior.


Using multiple languages in the DF is a great way to cut down on wait time as a dps. But I would highly recommend knowing the dungeon before hand so one isn't a liabilty or seen as a "derp" to the other members of the group.