Attention Newbies: Look at the Lodestone Play guides!

[Estellios]

Not that we don't like answering newbie questions, but I've seen a lot of people talking about trying to find information on this game when it has been right under their nose:

The Lodestone, the official website for this game!

Click on the "Play Guides" section on the left! It has lots of useful information such as:

• How do I find other players that are seeking a party? and How do I search for existing parties that are seeking members? (at the bottom)
• What do stats do?
• How do I Join a Grand Company and get my Chocobo?
• How do I unlock a Job?
• How do I perform Combos?
• What is Materia and how do I get it and use it?

Practically anything you may have a question about is covered (make sure to click any red/brown text links sprinkled throughout the pages for some delicious charts and expanded information). It is updated pretty frequently, usually a few days after major patches or whenever a new system or feature is added. The articles are really informative so the devs that work on it deserve to have their work brought to light.

Reps, maybe you can make a sticky topic alerting players to the Play Guides' existence so that more people are aware of it.

[Soukyuu]

Also one of the important things: how to search for party members and set up your LFG flag

I was pretty shocked some people were saying they didn't even know how to set up their lfg flag so they resorted to shouts instead.

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

I think the front page can be pretty overwhelming. Because we've been there most of the way, we know it's out there and what to look for.

It's like walking into a FedexOffice/Kinko's with a self-service area. Even though all the directions and choices are there, it's overwhelming enough that sometimes asking someone familiar with the place can point you in the right direction.

But I think stickies on some threads would be nice as well.

[Estellios]

Bah, thanks Crim I knew I forgot something important.

[REDace0]

I had no idea the Lodestone was so current! Thanks Estellios! I'll definitely link to the Lodestone guides where applicable when helping new players from now on in order to encourage their use.

[Estellios]

I added the info on the Search and Party Recruit tools. Not to steal your thunder, Crim, but that info needs to be plastered everywhere as much as possible so everyone uses it.

[Orophin]

I added the info on the Search and Party Recruit tools. Not to steal your thunder, Crim, but that info needs to be plastered everywhere as much as possible so everyone uses it.

With all the shouts in Ul'dah, seems like this problem doesn't pertain only to newbies. :P

[Soukyuu]

I added the info on the Search and Party Recruit tools. Not to steal your thunder, Crim, but that info needs to be plastered everywhere as much as possible so everyone uses it.

That's the reason I posted it lol
Maybe we'll someday see players actually not clogging up ul'dah.

[Soukyuu]

*bump* This one fell too deep to the bottom.

[wolfsspirit]

Lot of people and not only new never go to forums or lodestone or even know it exists .
suprised me lol

I would like an option to flag myself as not available in search.
Lately people i never seen or heared of before like to just contact me for help and requests.
I dont mind helping people out once in a while , it does gets annoying sometimes when people pop up in chat asking for whatever aid they need with parties or jobs/bosses etc.