The new player experience...

[Pixela]

Is incredibly awful, you must lose almost all the players you get because the devs can't see this game from their viewpoint.

Any new player will have no idea of anything, a returnee that does not know to read ffxiwiki or similar sites again will have an awful time, even then you have to know what to look for.

I see many players that get to level 15-16 solo and flag up for parties in dunes. They then sit there for many many hours, I see players who have no idea what they are doing and just kill mobs till they get bored and quit.

Why is the trust system not given automatically with some kind of explanation? Why not give players a healer/DD/tank as a basic set and let them get more if they wish? Why do you have to unlock it from a quest and then unlock actual npcs? what if they don't know the quest exists?

Why is the questing system (the backbone of the new leveling system now that parties are dead) hidden in a menu and unlocked at some random NPC? Why is there no explanation?

Why do Square offer welcome back campaigns to a game with such a horrible system in place to welcome them?

FFXI does not deserve new players when it treats them so incredibly badly.

FFXI is only playable if you have FFXIwiki open and do a lot of research, as a game you play without that it's worthless. What is wrong with the devs really that they can't see this, this is the only game I've played that was so broken from a new player standpoint.

[Demonjustin]

Records of Eminence actually gives a sort of guide to help with a few of the things you mentioned and is easy to find in the Quests menu, though I think they should have a NPC say something to help guide you to look at it.

[Jybwee]

As a returning player, from long ago, and starting from scratch. I completely agree. I mean FFXI is kind of a hardcore game anyway just in the way the systems work, but they really NEED to point people to RoE and Trusts right from the start. Should be a npc that automatically talks to you when you start a new character.

When i first played i never used a wiki or anything like it. It's a crazy way to play but definitely doable, playing now i see how much i missed lol. Now that there are no parties and other people questing/killing around your level (to talk to/ask questions/share info)... you really need to, at the very least, point people to RoE and Trusts.

This game is only going to appeal to a niche group anyway just because it's an older game and not as... polished (or spoonfed/themepark if you'd like)... as newer mmos. It does definitely appeal to me but i had a friend point me in the right direction of what was new since i played (back in like 2006). This was only after 15 lvls solo but with RoE, then found trusts, then up to lvl like 23 before i realized you could have multiple trusts out. At least i had an idea of the old systems and gameplay and wasn't totally new. I think all the rest can be learned in time and with curiosity but RoE and Trusts are something a new player really can't live without in these days of FFXI.

[bungiefanNA]

I can't recall, since I unlocked botht eh first day they were available, but either RoE or Trust gives you a chat log message every time you enter a zone with the NPC that it would be worth your while to talk to [NPC Name] @ [Position]. That kept popping up until I actually did it. It also points you to the tutorial NPCs when you make a new character ever since they introduced them.

RoE also has the tutorial quest right in the menu first off. Someone only needs to be curious enough to check the menu, which you learn about for trading the adventuring coupon in the tutorial. The official web site also has the new player guide, which is linked on the front page of PlayOnline Viewer as soon as you log in.

Records of Eminence was announced and explained to great fanfare when it was introduced in December, through update notes, a Youtube video, and official forum posts. They added direction to it how they could with the current game engine and interface. Rememember that this game is going on 13 years old now and the original development team has rotated out and been replaced with different people. Upgrading the core of the game is not something reasonable with the staff on hand.

[Damane]

Is incredibly awful, you must lose almost all the players you get because the devs can't see this game from their viewpoint.

Any new player will have no idea of anything, a returnee that does not know to read ffxiwiki or similar sites again will have an awful time, even then you have to know what to look for.

I see many players that get to level 15-16 solo and flag up for parties in dunes. They then sit there for many many hours, I see players who have no idea what they are doing and just kill mobs till they get bored and quit.

Why is the trust system not given automatically with some kind of explanation? Why not give players a healer/DD/tank as a basic set and let them get more if they wish? Why do you have to unlock it from a quest and then unlock actual npcs? what if they don't know the quest exists?

Why is the questing system (the backbone of the new leveling system now that parties are dead) hidden in a menu and unlocked at some random NPC? Why is there no explanation?

Why do Square offer welcome back campaigns to a game with such a horrible system in place to welcome them?

FFXI does not deserve new players when it treats them so incredibly badly.

FFXI is only playable if you have FFXIwiki open and do a lot of research, as a game you play without that it's worthless. What is wrong with the devs really that they can't see this, this is the only game I've played that was so broken from a new player standpoint.

its a freaking 13 years + old game, where MMOs didnt have any handholding guides for everything like they do today. What do you expect? a total overhaul of the entire system for a 13 year old game? come on be a bit realistic here... demanding freetoplay or lower monthly fees woudl be more realistic.

I am surprised they made Records of Eminence some form of a "guide" with the beginning objectives.

[Kensagaku]

They indeed have a guide. The instant you zone into an area with an RoE NPC, you get the "You should go here and talk to X important person." From there you're introduced to the RoE menu, which gives you tutorials on how to do things like resting, taking on FoV, accessing the RoE menu, etc. And then as one of the basic quests, you get Trust(Nation) which tells you which NPC to go to in order to start Trust for that nation. I do not recall if it unlocks all three at the same time or it just requires you to finish the first before it gives you the other two. Either way, it introduces you to Trust in the three nations.

The only thing I'd like changed is making Ferreous permanently obtainable. Bastok doesn't have a healer Alter Ego for the initial trust, and San d'Oria's is a DRG/PLD, which has a very limited pool, so unless you start in Windy you're in a bit of a fix. Making Ferreous permanently obtainable lets players go out and do the tutorial stuff, likely earning the 500 Sparks they need in the process, and unlock Ferreous so that they have a healer (even if he doesn't pro/shell) to help keep them alive more easily.

[Lithera]

You can't finish the second npc in the initial trust unlocking quest if you haven't done anything with that npc. Like on my taru mule I can't get a certain mithra because they don't have enough fame to trade her yag necklaces.

[Xantavia]

You can't finish the second npc in the initial trust unlocking quest if you haven't done anything with that npc. Like on my taru mule I can't get a certain mithra because they don't have enough fame to trade her yag necklaces.
I don't think thats true at all. I believe it is strictly based on nation rank. I didn't realize I could get Curilla until I went to start the savage blade quest. Which led me to try talking to Ayame, which gave me trust options as well. Once I hit Rank 6, I was able to get Trion, Volker, and Iron Eater. Any action I had with any of these came strictly from either Windurst missions or working through CoP.

[Zarchery]

FFXI is only playable if you have FFXIwiki open and do a lot of research, as a game you play without that it's worthless. What is wrong with the devs really that they can't see this, this is the only game I've played that was so broken from a new player standpoint.

It also doesn't work without a computer or a gaming console and some sort of input device. Your complaint is stupid. You just named the completely free resource accessible to everyone that helps, but decided to discount it because without it you wouldn't have anything to whine about.

[Babekeke]

I see players who have no idea what they are doing and just kill mobs till they get bored and quit.

You watch them for hours until they give up, yet you offer them no help/advice. I see the real problem for new players... is YOU!

[Pixela]

It also doesn't work without a computer or a gaming console and some sort of input device. Your complaint is stupid. You just named the completely free resource accessible to everyone that helps, but decided to discount it because without it you wouldn't have anything to whine about.

The point is that without a resource the game is unplayable, the trust npc is just another npc in an army of others. Same applies to the quest npc.

In the past it didn't matter, you just messed around killing things till 12 and people invited you to party where you learned almost everything. That doesn't happen these days so it's on the developers to make sure people have these important things activated.

@Babekeke

The point is that this is happening on all servers, the devs seem surprised the free weekend didn't net them more players. I'm trying to explain what is wrong with this game from a new players experience.

[Lithera]

I don't think thats true at all. I believe it is strictly based on nation rank. I didn't realize I could get Curilla until I went to start the savage blade quest. Which led me to try talking to Ayame, which gave me trust options as well. Once I hit Rank 6, I was able to get Trion, Volker, and Iron Eater. Any action I had with any of these came strictly from either Windurst missions or working through CoP.

My taru is only windy rank 4 and hasn't had any interaction with Nanaa. Curilla only needs rank 3 in any nation and have done the sandy initiation quest. Same with Ayame but the initiation quest for bastok. Trion and Volker only need rank 6 and having the trust permit key items for their respective countries. Iron Eater just needs the permit and having the rest if the mythril musketeers. Meanwhile Nanaa needs you to trade her a yag necklace.

[Xantavia]

My taru is only windy rank 4 and hasn't had any interaction with Nanaa. Curilla only needs rank 3 in any nation and have done the sandy initiation quest. Same with Ayame but the initiation quest for bastok. Trion and Volker only need rank 6 and having the trust permit key items for their respective countries. Iron Eater just needs the permit and having the rest if the mythril musketeers. Meanwhile Nanaa needs you to trade her a yag necklace.
Thats really......weird. You would figure all the 2nd stage Trusts would have the same requirements.

[Damane]

The point is that without a resource the game is unplayable, the trust npc is just another npc in an army of others. Same applies to the quest npc.

In the past it didn't matter, you just messed around killing things till 12 and people invited you to party where you learned almost everything. That doesn't happen these days so it's on the developers to make sure people have these important things activated.

@Babekeke

The point is that this is happening on all servers, the devs seem surprised the free weekend didn't net them more players. I'm trying to explain what is wrong with this game from a new players experience.

The people you partied with years ago, also had to read all the stuff on the wikis etc. you just had the luxury that other peoples did it for you. now new players have to do it themselfs and its honestly not that hard. there are some FFXI wikis that offer a condensed new player guide that points out the most important directions in the game.

I think even the FFXI/Playonline page has something like that.

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/contguide/index.html

EDIT: another option SE could add is the ability to gain CP instead EXP when you are a lvl 99 level synced player. similar like you have the option to switch from exp to limit points at lvl 75. Only for lvl 99 and only when lvl synced all your EXP gained is converted into CP. Together with the announced ability to call trusts in level synced party this could be another option for high lvl players to participate in low lvl content and gain something out of it.

[Babekeke]

Together with the announced ability to call trusts in level synced party.

This is already available.

Also remember that there's an extra RoE for level sync, so you get twice as many sparks/bonus exp every time you kill 200 mobs.

[Zarchery]

The point is that without a resource the game is unplayable, the trust npc is just another npc in an army of others. Same applies to the quest npc.

In the past it didn't matter, you just messed around killing things till 12 and people invited you to party where you learned almost everything. That doesn't happen these days so it's on the developers to make sure people have these important things activated

I've been playing since 2004. I never got anything more complicated than levelling done without referencing a guide or asking someone else for help.

[Pixela]

I've been playing since 2004. I never got anything more complicated than levelling done without referencing a guide or asking someone else for help.

Lets say you started playing today, you saw the game on steam and thought "looks fun!"

You log on after making your character, you know nothing and there is literally nobody around at all to talk to...since that is the reality of FFXI now.

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists, how do you know how to get trust npc or even FoV? Try leveling without those 3 things solo to 99, see how long before you give up.

The point is to retain players that return to or try out FFXI.

[Xantavia]

Lets say you started playing today, you saw the game on steam and thought "looks fun!"

You log on after making your character, you know nothing and there is literally nobody around at all to talk to...since that is the reality of FFXI now.

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists, how do you know how to get trust npc or even FoV? Try leveling without those 3 things solo to 99, see how long before you give up.

The point is to retain players that return to or try out FFXI.
You talk to various NPC's in town like in every other RPG out there. I didn't know about the wiki's at all when I started playing years ago, and I think I spent like 2 hours exploring Windurst before leaving the city. If it was today, I surely would have run across the trust starter, RoE NPC, and even the gate guard who explains the basics of signet and introduces you to crafting.

[Zarchery]

Lets say you started playing today, you saw the game on steam and thought "looks fun!"

You log on after making your character, you know nothing and there is literally nobody around at all to talk to...since that is the reality of FFXI now.

See, when I want the answer to something, I use the wise and all knowing Google. Do a search on "Final Fantasy 11 help". What is the 3rd result? Or just Google "Final Fantasy 11" and look at the 5th result (not counting hits for shopping and images). When I was starting out in 2004, I had a linkshell to introduce me to some of the basics, but a lot of the more in depth stuff I found on GameFAQs and eventually Allakazham. Don't think the wikis were even around back then.


How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists

The records of eminence system is the most clearly explained thing in the entire game. It's right there on your Quests menu, and it tells you exactly where to go to set it up.


how do you know how to get trust npc or even FoV? Try leveling without those 3 things solo to 99, see how long before you give up.

Trusts are a little opaque, but the entire Fields of Valor system is explained in the tutorial objectives and on the books themselves. If you read the text, it explains it.

But this whole "new player versus old player" thing is a false dichotomy made to give the impression that we have some sort of unfair advantage. Here's the thing; new content is constantly coming out and to a limited extent we all become "new players" every month. There are new Adoulin missions coming out in a few weeks that nobody will know how to do. Some people will figure it out. Others like me know how to research it. You say "new players can't figure anything out!!! This game is unfair". But if told about this free and easily accessible resource that will tell you everything you need to know, you say "oh that doesn't count".

[Babekeke]

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists

This vvvvvv


See, when I want the answer to something, I use the wise and all knowing Google. Do a search on "Final Fantasy 11 help". What is the 3rd result? Or just Google "Final Fantasy 11" and look at the 5th result (not counting hits for shopping and images).

[bungiefanNA]

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists, how do you know how to get trust npc or even FoV? Try leveling without those 3 things solo to 99, see how long before you give up.

Except, walking around your starter town, you are going to get the alert to talk to the RoE NPC, right near the town exit, and the position is given.

If I get stuck in a game, no matter the platform, I use a resource like GameFAQs or a wiki, like I have for almost 20 years. That or I post on a forum (again, usually GameFAQs) and ask. Heck, Youtube has tons of tutorials. SE has had links to the new player guide on the main page of PlayOnline Viewer, and the main web site for FFXI for a long time. It's prominently placed right under the Adventuring Primer on the main page. You're going to end up there anyway looking for account registration instructions and links.

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/contguide

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/newplayer/index.html

The Community link in the bar across the top, points to community sites:
http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/newplayer/index.html
which points to two wikis. It would be nice of them to link to BGwiki and FFXIclopedia (which GamerEscape forked from), but resources are there and easy to find.

BTW, you are also directed to a tutorial NPC, which should be near the RoE NPC, during the opening cutscene when you log in the first time on a character. It reminds you to talk to them on a regular basis (every time you enter the zone) until you do. They introduce you to accepting missions and getting your teleport crystals.

[Pixela]

The point I'm making is a game has a totally hidden leveling system with few players around that forces you to check online for leveling is dumb, most people that may try this game won't do it.

Why not have a big ! over important npcs if you are under a certain level. The point is this game needs players and it's going to lose them due to hidden features.

[Zarchery]

The point I'm making is a game has a totally hidden leveling system with few players around that forces you to check online for leveling is dumb, most people that may try this game won't do it.

Why not have a big ! over important npcs if you are under a certain level. The point is this game needs players and it's going to lose them due to hidden features.

"Totally hidden levelling system"??? You walk around and kill stuff. Just like every RPG ever. Do you take this attitude to other genres? Do you, like, play Doom and say "OH NOES. BIG SCARY DEMON COMING AT ME!!! WHAT DO I DO???" I mean you complained that the Records of Eminence system was too difficult to figure out. That one literally has instructions on the name and exact map position of the NPC you talk to. In fact, if I recall correctly, during the opening cutscene at new player creation, an NPC marks several important NPCs on your map.

You kind of remind me of the Angry Video Game Nerd review of Zelda II. He complains about how difficult it is to figure out things like blowing the whistle in the middle of the 3 rocks or crossing the river in the third town, when the instructions on how to do those things are given by NPCs in the game. Pumping NPCs for information has been the cornerstone of RPGs for decades. And that's the hard way to do it. The easy way is through the completely free resource available to everyone.

And "new players" aren't some holy grail. If you bring in new players that need so much hand holding that they can't figure out the Records of Eminence system, they're gonna quit almost overnight anyway as soon as the slightest roadblock hits. We don't need a bunch of new Crevoxes.

[Pixela]

And "new players" aren't some holy grail. If you bring in new players that need so much hand holding that they can't figure out the Records of Eminence system, they're gonna quit almost overnight anyway as soon as the slightest roadblock hits. We don't need a bunch of new Crevoxes.

The cancer killing this game.

People like you are poison to any mmo.

[Lithera]

We asked in the early part of the QoL thread for a way to improve the quest system and got told that they can't do a ! Or a change to npc name plates for quests. Also there are a lot of quests that when you get them tell you exactly what they want.

[Babekeke]

The cancer killing this game.

People like you are poison to any mmo.

Look, you're obviously too young and/or out of your league playing this game... I hear Hello Kitty is nice this time of year.

[Pixela]

Look, you're obviously too young and/or out of your league playing this game... I hear Hello Kitty is nice this time of year.

Why are some of you guys totally unable to grasp that you can make a point without it actually applying to you?

This is not about me, this is about new players that Square desperately wants but they can't figure out why they can't retain them. I'm helping them understand why their game is so unappealing to new players or returnees.

FYI I played since 2004 on my original character (quit just before Adoulin along with pretty much everyone I knew). Just because this character is new does not mean I'm a new player.

[Babekeke]

I'm not convinced that SE even cares about new players joining this 12 year old game, considering that they have FF14 running as well, which due to it being a newer engine, they've been able to make it as cuddly and easy as all the new kids want in their "game for this month".

Most FFXI players have been playing for well over 5 years and are a fairly stable player base now.

[Zarchery]

Why are some of you guys totally unable to grasp that you can make a point without it actually applying to you?

This is not about me, this is about new players that Square desperately wants but they can't figure out why they can't retain them. I'm helping them understand why their game is so unappealing to new players or returnees.

FYI I played since 2004 on my original character (quit just before Adoulin along with pretty much everyone I knew). Just because this character is new does not mean I'm a new player.

Exactly what good is a new player who quits after 6 months?

And like I already said, everyone becomes a new player after every version update. The difference is that we're willing to research how to do the new content whereas guys like you are really only willing to whine about it.

The qualities you're talking about aren't an FFXI thing. They are characteristics of every RPG ever. How do you figure out how to get the bridge that will get you to the Dragonlord's Castle in Dragon Warrior? How do you get to the 6th palace in Zelda II? What do you do when you get to 65 million BC in Chrono Trigger?

I mean, it is utterly laughable that you said that getting into the Records of Eminence system is too difficult. The only way it could be easier would be if every single objective was instantly activated the second you logged in.

[Zarchery]

The cancer killing this game.

People like you are poison to any mmo.

No, the game is declining because it has always been more of a niche game and not a titan like World of Warcraft or Everquest, and the fact that it's over a decade old. All these confusing elements that you think are scaring off new players were there 10 years ago, only back then the game was fresher. It was actually much more hostile to newbies because XP and gil was much more difficult to obtain.

[bungiefanNA]

The point I'm making is a game has a totally hidden leveling system with few players around that forces you to check online for leveling is dumb, most people that may try this game won't do it.

Why not have a big ! over important npcs if you are under a certain level. The point is this game needs players and it's going to lose them due to hidden features.

It's not a totally hidden system. There are plenty of in-game prompts that point you to them. The alert to talk to the Records of Eminence and Tutorial NPCs happene every time you enter your zone, until they are talked to. SE put out a YouTube video detailing the new features when they released them. The patch notes also say what new features have been added. (They don't put detailed patch notes in PlayOnline Viewer anymore since theyare so long, and PlayOnline Viewer only has a resolution of 640x480 no matter how big you stretch it.). It's an online game, they expect you to interact with the web site a bit, or other web sites. That said, they don't hide these new systems, they point you to them pretty persistently. Content that used to be hidden, like unlocking a subjob, advanced job, or job-specific armor, are now in the Tutorial section of Records of Eminence, with detailed requirements on what is needed to unlock them and which NPC to talk to in which zone.

I'm questioning if you've really started and looked at it from the eyes of a current new player. It's not as bad as you are making it out to be, and I know a ton of people on GameFAQs and Reddit that have come new to the game recently and haven't had trouble. My LS has been recruiting new people on a regular basis, and the REDDIT LS on Asura is even more successful (often maxes out the 64 people limit of having a pearl equipped at the same time).

[Babekeke]

Oh, and no one so far has mentioned the Mentor system... for what it's worth.

[Pixela]

Oh, and no one so far has mentioned the Mentor system... for what it's worth.

I think we all know what the "Mentor" banner means when someone has it, and the words mentor or helpful ain't it.

[Demonjustin]

I think we all know what the "Mentor" banner means when someone has it, and the words mentor or helpful ain't it.No, we all don't, do tell.

[Babekeke]

I must admit, You never see the people from top linkshells who've done it all and know most of the answers flagging up as a mentor. Mentors are generally rank 3 and levelling their first jobs.

I think part of the reason for this is how the mentor icon hides the bazaar icon. If we lost the icon from mentor, I'd happily flag up myself, but until that happens, {I want to make money}.

I'm always happy to answer a /yell or /shout though, if people need help and I'm in town.

[Pixela]

No, we all don't, do tell.

Almost anyone could become a mentor, as such people got it just for the fancy M icon.

You either had people that had no idea what they were on about, that never used it as intended or trolled. It was almost always a sign of stupidity or someone being funny.

There were some great mentors that used it as intended but so many were awful that the whole system became a joke, the M icon became like the dunce cap. Unless there are very strict sign-up restrictions the system is bad.

Again there were some amazing mentors, just not enough to overcome the horrible ones that dragged the whole system through the mud.

[Babekeke]

When it was first released, being level 30 was appropriate to becoming a mentor. Now you should have to own Maat's Cap or something that at least shows you know something about the game!

[Pixela]

When it was first released, being level 30 was appropriate to becoming a mentor. Now you should have to own Maat's Cap or something that at least shows you know something about the game!

Mentor isn't needed anymore anyway, Zak told us all we all only need Wiki and if we don't know how to find and use that we are worthless anyway!

[Babekeke]

He has a point. Though Mentors (if they worked properly) would be nice for people playing full-screen who can't alt-tab, or who are on a console and not near a PC.

[Pixela]

Honestly the game doesn't get new players anymore apparantely, it's old. So mentor isn't needed.

[Xantavia]

I used to keep the mentor icon on. Sadly, 9 out of 10 tells were people asking if I could give them gil.

[bungiefanNA]

It's easier for me to manage questions on forums than in-game, because I'm usually in the middle of an event that spams the chat log in-game. If someone is savvy enough to post online where a response can be given that won't disappear from their log when the disconnect (such as a forum), I'll try to help them there. If they join my linkshell and ask for help there, I'll try to assist. I post here, Reddit, GuildWork, GameFAQs, and BlueGartr, with occasional stops on some other forums. Mentor status is a bit more annoying to use, so I don't. I can read a forum at work and post in my downtime. I can't be in-game and keep up on a crowded chat log and send messages to people that are offline that way.

[Zarchery]

Mentor isn't needed anymore anyway, Zak told us all we all only need Wiki and if we don't know how to find and use that we are worthless anyway!

What I told you was that there was a freely available resource that provided you everything you needed, and if you refuse to avail yourself of that resource, it's your fault if you can't get anywhere. Like those hack comics who complained that they couldn't program their VCRs, even though clear instructions were written in the manual.

If you ask for help, then refuse the help that is offered to you, then yes that will be met with some disdain.

[Damane]

I am atm totally disgusted at the amount of handholding some people seem to need, its like the internet/google doesnt even exist for them! There are even FFXI forums on other sites where returning/starting people ask how to get started/return back the best and get helpful answers.... mindblowing yes!

[Babekeke]

I am atm totally disgusted at the amount of handholding some people seem to need, its like the internet/google doesnt even exist for them! There are even FFXI forums on other sites where returning/starting people ask how to get started/return back the best and get helpful answers.... mindblowing yes!

Like this (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/43431-New-player%21?p=517408#post517408) one?

[Damane]

Like this (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/43431-New-player%21?p=517408#post517408) one?

yeah he is doing it right, he is activly asking in a forum for help! thats a good thing for answers, such sites exist for a reason.

[Lithera]

The problem is that there are so many people these days who need the hand holding and don't actually try to use their brain or have small amount of common sense. Heck even in a mmo like XIV there are people who even with the huge amount of hand holding the game does for you who think it's too hard or confusing. I don't think many of these younger people would have been able to play any of the off line FF titles that predate VII as so many of those you actually had to use your brain or talk to everyone in town.

[geekgirl101]

You must be living in the old days Pixela. Things have moved on. Most players are at endgame now. This is why Trusts are handy, and why you can find so much free loot in boxes when killing random mobs. SE have tried their hardest to make this solo and new player friendly. Yes there is a lack of documentation and you have to rely on 3rd party sites to tell you where to find everything. The new player guide helps you out only so much but doesn't give you useful advice such as how to obtain trusts to help you out so that you're not staring at a tough monster that's gotten the best out of you and wondering where everyone else is and if you can team up with them.

For a new player it seems an empty and confusing world. Very few people are in the small cities and are mostly afk. The shouts are limited to the cities they're in, so you can shout for help but you won't get any because most players are in the higher level cities and can't hear you or they just ignore you anyways. You don't know all the controls to bring up menus and submenus without someone telling you how. All you know is you're poor, you only have 10 gil (or 60 if you know how to hand in the adventurer's coupon) and everything buyable from npcs or the auction house is ludicrously expensive and aimed at players who've played for years and massed millions that they can spend 100,000 gil on a brass ring if they wanted to, but for a new player it's well out of their reach. Maybe when they go outside they'll discover the books for earning gil and extra points, or maybe they'll go to an exit that doesn't have a book outside and miss an opportunity. Maybe they'll have not even known they could take on RoE quests, or that they could gain an alter ego to help them in their toughest battles, or that they could exchange crystals for rank points.

[Pixela]

You must be living in the old days Pixela. Things have moved on. Most players are at endgame now. This is why Trusts are handy, and why you can find so much free loot in boxes when killing random mobs. SE have tried their hardest to make this solo and new player friendly. Yes there is a lack of documentation and you have to rely on 3rd party sites to tell you where to find everything. The new player guide helps you out only so much but doesn't give you useful advice such as how to obtain trusts to help you out so that you're not staring at a tough monster that's gotten the best out of you and wondering where everyone else is and if you can team up with them.

For a new player it seems an empty and confusing world. Very few people are in the small cities and are mostly afk. The shouts are limited to the cities they're in, so you can shout for help but you won't get any because most players are in the higher level cities and can't hear you or they just ignore you anyways. You don't know all the controls to bring up menus and submenus without someone telling you how. All you know is you're poor, you only have 10 gil (or 60 if you know how to hand in the adventurer's coupon) and everything buyable from npcs or the auction house is ludicrously expensive and aimed at players who've played for years and massed millions that they can spend 100,000 gil on a brass ring if they wanted to, but for a new player it's well out of their reach. Maybe when they go outside they'll discover the books for earning gil and extra points, or maybe they'll go to an exit that doesn't have a book outside and miss an opportunity. Maybe they'll have not even known they could take on RoE quests, or that they could gain an alter ego to help them in their toughest battles, or that they could exchange crystals for rank points.

I was a hardcore player years ago, I recently came back after a 2 year break. As someone that didn't keep up with all the changes in that time I came back with zero knowledge of them, I got to level 16 doing FoV without knowing about trusts. I went to gusgen, nobody there. Didn't know about the new quest based leveling system until I randomly watched a youtube video (saying check wiki is pointless because unless you know the questing system exists it's not something you will find).

The hardcore playerbase this game used to have that was loyal to the game have been gutted by FFXIV, many that would want to come play this as well as XIV after a long break would not be welcomed by a good experience. New players that had a taste of a FF MMO from XIV and wanted to try this, again would have a very poor experience. To me it seems the ultimate in idiocy to lose players that the game desperately needs to silly reasons.

There is nothing wrong with spoon feeding people when they start, especially when there are no players around in that area anymore to guide or aid them.

[bungiefanNA]

I was a hardcore player years ago, I recently came back after a 2 year break. As someone that didn't keep up with all the changes in that time I came back with zero knowledge of them, I got to level 16 doing FoV without knowing about trusts. I went to gusgen, nobody there. Didn't know about the new quest based leveling system until I randomly watched a youtube video (saying check wiki is pointless because unless you know the questing system exists it's not something you will find).

The hardcore playerbase this game used to have that was loyal to the game have been gutted by FFXIV, many that would want to come play this as well as XIV after a long break would not be welcomed by a good experience. New players that had a taste of a FF MMO from XIV and wanted to try this, again would have a very poor experience. To me it seems the ultimate in idiocy to lose players that the game desperately needs to silly reasons.

There is nothing wrong with spoon feeding people when they start, especially when there are no players around in that area anymore to guide or aid them.

As we've pointed out, Records of Eminence isn't easy to miss. You get a chat log message every time you enter a zone with an NPC that can exchange Sparks for items, until you activate the system. There's also this, right on the front page of the FFXI site, and linked in PlayOnline Viewer at the bottom of the screen with the Play button:
http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/contguide/

The very first question leads to this:
http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/contguide/detail/r_eminence.html

They were also a big deal in the December patch notes, and Square put out a big promotional video for the features added in that patch.

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bungiefan/media/FFXIGuide.png.html

It's prominently displayed there. I'll see about proving with a video how naggy it gets to get your attention on a new character too. The current Tutorial NPCs were added during Wings of the Goddess, and mentioned in the opening cutscene of every nation, but RoE does make itself known and tries to get your attention.

[Zarchery]

There is nothing wrong with spoon feeding people when they start, especially when there are no players around in that area anymore to guide or aid them.

Except that with the Records of Eminence system, they are being spoon fed, and this still isn't enough for you, apparently. Even if you're spoon fed, you still need to know how to swallow.

[Kraggy]

Any new player will have no idea of anything, a returnee that does not know to read ffxiwiki or similar sites again will have an awful time, even then you have to know what to look for.
'Twas alway thus, when I first started in April '05 if you didn't have a copy of Brady you might as well uninstall and go elsewhere.

The game now is hugely better in several respects, but the one thing it's retained is the total opaqueness of the quest system, which is tied to total opaqueness of the reputation system .. the game give no clue reputation exists beyond a hugely inscrutable NPC interaction that gives zero clue how rep. is gained and you have no idea an NPC that won't talk to you today will talk to you tomorrow when you've bumped to the next rep. tier you don't know exists.

It's a damning indictment of a game that is largely unplayable without a 'guide'.

[Kraggy]

Except that with the Records of Eminence system, they are being spoon fed, and this still isn't enough for you, apparently. Even if you're spoon fed, you still need to know how to swallow.
You clearly have no memory of what it was like on your first few days in the game, knowing no one and understanding nothing. One of the core problems with XI these days is the amnesia suffered by so many long-term players.

[Zeargi]

You clearly have no memory of what it was like on your first few days in the game, knowing no one and understanding nothing. One of the core problems with XI these days is the amnesia suffered by so many long-term players.

But the thing is that time is LONG gone. I remember having no clue what to do, but I had people to help me in my linkshell or in parties. Now a days, those parties aren't there, but the knowledge of those people is. The Wiki is open to everyone and has that information ready at a click of a button. So a new player has MORE than enough resources to do this. It just takes a little foot work on their part. FFIX had a quest line that most American players didn't even know existed, but that didn't stop some people from learning it by playing the game. It's an RPG, and in the same sense the First Final Fantasy was the exact same, you had to talk to people, and had to learn which ones you needed to talk to to get a quest or main story line completed. But then again, I grew up playing Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. People nowadays just don't play games to actually PLAY them.