Server-wide /shouts

[Zirael]

What I'm about to write has been already mentioned in other posts, but at this point I think the topic deserves a dedicated thread.
As we can see from latest version update and 'emergency' update planned for next week, SE is very keen on remeding city area congestion. I highly approve dispersing people from Horst and Port Jeuno MH entrance, but there is one detrimental factor in spreading players evenly in all cities.
We need some means of communication between people who are strangers to each other, literally "Whitegate shouts" or recently "Port Jeuno shouts".
It was pointed out on these forums that one of major reasons people stick together is to 'hear' what is going on, if there are any missions/NMs/items etc advertised that they might be interested in. Outside of WG/PJ the only feasible way of advertising player's desires to other players is looking-for-party/not-looking-for-party flag. /seacom texts are too passive and too impractical for purposes of, for example forming an AF3+1 seal farming party, selling something, buying something or teaming up for quest/mission. I know JP people use /seacom more readily to indicate what they are doing (what NM they camp, what xp spot they took etc.), but I think we need a more dynamic way of communicating with each others within zone and across zones.
Me, and probably quite few other people would like to be able to go out fishing/crafting/solo-xp/camp-NM etc and not miss out on that RDM body AF3+1 NM shout or if someone's looking for a lv100 crafter for hire etc.
I haven't had a RMT /tell for several months now and if Jeuno shouts get too annoying I can always filter them out etc, so, can I ask for a /shout that could reach to all the people on server? One might say, this would cause too much spam in chatlog, I would say, allow people to /servershout once per minute/serveral minutes (as has been already suggested) and allow for this to be turned off if desired.
Or make a separate tab in chatlog window to which one could switch and see what has been shouted out recently (similar to FFXIV or other games) if one desires to do so.

[Mirage]

I think at least a new new region-wide chat channel would be a very good idea. Then you could sit in any of the Jeuno zones and still see all the pick up group shouts you might be interested in. Combined with abyssea warpers in more of the jeuno zones, I think this would greatly lower the congestion issues we have now.

It would also make sense elsewhere in the world. If you want to team up with someone out in the field, it would often be easy for other interested players to get to where you are if they already are in the same region. Maybe they are in the same region for the same reason as you too, but just haven't zoned to the same area that you are in yet.

[Octaviane]

Agreed as long as we have the option to turn a filter on when it gets to be too much.

[Morgantisthedon]

I posted a similar thread shouts revamped
same issue awile ago here is the thread ....
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/3830-Shout-s-revamped?highlight=shouts+revamped

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Dissagree.
FFXI is not WoW. We do not have nor do we have a place for channels.

[Morgantisthedon]

Dissagree.
FFXI is not WoW. We do not have nor do we have a place for channels.

i disagree with what you think. Dont say people use the sea all comment either. Unless you have a duo character or go only with friends or your ls . You will be standing there watching shouts. No way boring as hell. If they where to intoduce it you could be off skilling crafting doing quests or similar. And if you dont like it introduce a filter to take it off. People who want sit in a small zone and watch shouts...good luck to you is all I am gonna say. Plus tons games not just WoW have this implemented for that reason alone .... do you log on to watch shouts or you log on to play and be active and still be able catch stuff you need or want do ? Just a idea think of it from a diffrent angel.

[Mezzopiano]

I fully support this idea. It is a pain having to sit in Port Jeuno either scanning the shouts or starting your own to get anything that's not EXP done. Also, since when is "not WoW" a justification for anything, particularly considering, as mentioned above, WoW is hardly the only MMO to use channels anyway?

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Shouts are already too gongested, we dont' need more.
Besides, one server shout and all of the PS2s would explode.

[Mirage]

Why would they?

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Why would they?Because of the PS2 limitations.

[Flash]

I enjoy the /sh in the cities. It keeps me occupied while enduring the never ending wait for party invites. If we were to create a separate channel for this, we would loose our tradition of window-box-cram that I've grown accustomed to throughout the years.

[Kegsay]

Whilst it's possible for SE to add this I'm sure, I can see one major stumbling block. Each shout would be sent to everyone who has the option (presumably) turned on, which means 1 shout could result in ~3000 or so packets being sent from the servers to every character. Now assume you have at least 1 person saying something every second, and the extra load on the servers becomes unmanageable. I wouldn't say it's a PS2 limitation, they would just receive a packet and display the text, and a client can accept large numbers of packets before performance degrades (see: Besieged).

[Mirage]

Because of the PS2 limitations.

Explain what sort of limitations the PS2 has got that would prevent an additional chat channel.

-edit-
Didn't notice this until now


Whilst it's possible for SE to add this I'm sure, I can see one major stumbling block. Each shout would be sent to everyone who has the option (presumably) turned on, which means 1 shout could result in ~3000 or so packets being sent from the servers to every character. Now assume you have at least 1 person saying something every second, and the extra load on the servers becomes unmanageable. I wouldn't say it's a PS2 limitation, they would just receive a packet and display the text, and a client can accept large numbers of packets before performance degrades (see: Besieged).

I'm not sure that they would have to send the extra chat channel text in an additional packet. The way it is now, I'm pretty sure many chat channels are sharing the same data packets across the network, and the client itself is filtering which chats to display or not, just like how widescan data is sent to all clients, regardless of them being on a job that actually has access to widescan.

As for the actual amount of data, I'm pretty sure it is very small. It's probably something like two bytes per character, plus message headers. I would be surprised of a 100 character message took more than 256 bytes, one quarter of a kilobyte.

I do understand that it would add up with around 800 clients receiving for example a regional shout vs the amount that would receive a normal shout. (around 400 if in port jeuno, i guess). I do however not think this is something the servers couldn't deal with. The biggest increase in chat data would of course be in the jeuno region, I do not think any other regions would notice a significant increase in amount of chat data transferred.

another edit,
Right now, on Sylph, there are 385 players in Port jeuno, and less than 150 spread over the other 3 jeuno zones. With a regional Jeuno shout, I think many of the port jeuno players would spread over in the other 3 areas, leaving the total amount of players in jeuno more or less the same. I feel pretty confident that the chat server can deal with sending a message to 150 more characters without facing overloads.

There might be more problems on servers that have significantly higher populations.

[Teakwood]

Right, because every interesting idea for making the game better has to be shoehorned to fit your one-size-fits-all sig, sorry, we forgot.

On topic: I think this would be a fantastic idea. Perhaps region-wide rather than worldwide, with a restriction on how many lines you can post to it every X number of minutes to prevent spamming; this would prevent the problem of people congregating in Port Jeuno even though there's no -mechanical- reason for them to do so anymore.

[Octaviane]

Because of the PS2 limitations.

Your answer to everything that you don't like or want is the above statement that is present via your sig in every post you make. Almost 2000 posts target PS2 users and your perceived thinking that PS2 limits or is responsible for everything that is wrong/missing in FFXI.

Yes PS2 DOES have limitations, but get with the program. It ain't going anywhere anytime soon. SE will make that decision to stop support without your input when the time is right.

Bring on the chat channels + filter = not having to limit my play time by standing around in Port Jeuno with 700 other people. :)

[Camate]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

[Mirage]

It's good to hear that you are looking into this. It's understandable that server load would increase, but at the same time, i guess some types of server load could decrease as well, if people can be spread out over more areas and still see the shouts they want to see.

Then there is also the option of a separate type of regional shout where you are limited to shouting only once per X minutes. That could help with keeping server load down, and ensure that people pick their regional shouts carefully, and don't waste them on meaningless chatter.

[Godofgods]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

Good plan if possible. Grouping all the jeuno areas together wouldnt matter much. Its not a long run to shout in each zone. What you do want to do tho, is group the area in each town where the abyssea npcs are with port jeuno. That will truly help releive the port jeuno conjestion. That way you can be in any nation and have teleport access and shout acess. With that theirs no need to be in PJ itself. So grouping them areas together would be best.

[Sama]

I don't know about other servers, in Asura, half of those shouts are made from drunk players, why the rest of the people want to hear that and I have idea how the Dev Team can filter those garbage argument from all the shouts.

The JPs stayed in white gate mostly because of that.

[Airget]

You know how there was a KI you could receive that would give you a message to tell you when a ballista match was starting up? Would it be possible to potentially make "signboards" in the zones where people would normally gather. If a person is holding a certain KI, they will receive a message when a new post. Limit it to 1 post a person with maybe a 15-30 minute duration for the longevity of the message.

Possibly have it work in a strictly "keyword" sense with this like "seeking allies" "CoP" "Mission" "Red Mage" or "seeking allies" "Abyssea altepa" "Ardor stones".

I think the whole trick is trying to develop something where people from other zones don't miss out on the opportunity of a pickup group but at the same time make it so it doesn't stress out the server so much. Judging from the response of the Community Rep I would think that the above suggestion may be the proper way to create a system that would put the least amount of stress on the server.

Overall I can imagine how it would be with a "global shout" basically you have the base of the shout, then you have to send the data across all other zones. if you consider how much people spam the servers would prolly crash every 10 minutes from players just shouting nonsense across the global shout.

[Coldbrand]

Yeah I'm not really interested in hearing more /shouts. People only have incredibly stupid things to say typically on my server when shouting.

[Eagle7D8]

Are ps2 limitations solely based on the amount of Hard Drive space SE is allowed to use?

[bungiefan]

No, they're based on all the system limitations. RAM is in very short supply, and the processor of the system can only handle so much. Hard drive space isn't running as dry.

[Alhanelem]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas. I'm sure most people would LOVE it if each region had its own chat channel. If there's any way they can make this happen, they should.

[Juilan]

Try to find a way to set it up like a linkshell, you can sign on to the linkshell to view server shouts, I see no difference there than a large ls with 64 people, other than the requirement of making /sh do two things... or make it so people just cant see the shouts XD

[SubDragon]

One of the things I thought of was instead of linking city regions together just link the zones where the abyssea npc's are. Now that we have that option of warping around from our home nations as this is the gathering places.
I also think you should put a time limit on players as to how often they use a global shout system to no quicker than 1 min or 3 or 5 or even 10. to 1. reduce server load and 2. reduce the number of stupid shouts.
I like the idea of a server LS that you join for shouts and turn off as you don't need.

Thats my take on the issue. I think this does need to be looked at to help alleviate people that overcrowd a zone and cause players zoning in to be disconnected.

[Runespider]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

This sounds like a rough workaround for it, and it would still not let people hear shouts in starter towns which is good for the game (newbs seeing more activity there). Cant they add a 2nd LS type idea? (talk to an npc to get a shout LS that everyone can use that has a 5 minute spam delay).

[Illianna]

You know how there was a KI you could receive that would give you a message to tell you when a ballista match was starting up? Would it be possible to potentially make "signboards" in the zones where people would normally gather. If a person is holding a certain KI, they will receive a message when a new post. Limit it to 1 post a person with maybe a 15-30 minute duration for the longevity of the message.

Possibly have it work in a strictly "keyword" sense with this like "seeking allies" "CoP" "Mission" "Red Mage" or "seeking allies" "Abyssea altepa" "Ardor stones".

I think the whole trick is trying to develop something where people from other zones don't miss out on the opportunity of a pickup group but at the same time make it so it doesn't stress out the server so much. Judging from the response of the Community Rep I would think that the above suggestion may be the proper way to create a system that would put the least amount of stress on the server.

Overall I can imagine how it would be with a "global shout" basically you have the base of the shout, then you have to send the data across all other zones. if you consider how much people spam the servers would prolly crash every 10 minutes from players just shouting nonsense across the global shout.

This sounds an awful lot like a better /seacom system... one where you could search comments by keywords ^.^; Wouldn't it be a lot easier just to make the tools that already exist more user friendly rather than think up something completely new?

[Panthera]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

We really need more than this.

Sitting around Jeuno listening to shouts is not always time well spent. Often, we're out camping an NM, or working on Trials, or at a favorite fishing spot, etc.

There need to be channels that can be heard across all zones, everywhere.

[Darkpsyko]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

I think it would be good to group San d'Oria / Bastok / Windurst with Jeuno as well. People will not feel the need to stay in Jeuno if they can hear the Shout done in Jeuno in the three nations city.

What would be possible as well would be to link only the port zones from the city, where you can find abyssea npc. (except for windurst)

[Dhragon]

I think it would be good to group San d'Oria / Bastok / Windurst with Jeuno as well. People will not feel the need to stay in Jeuno if they can hear the Shout done in Jeuno in the three nations city.

What would be possible as well would be to link only the port zones from the city, where you can find abyssea npc. (except for windurst)

You know, they're adding the NPC to Port Windurst today...

•New Abyssea support NPCs will be added to the following areas:
Ru'Lude Gardens/Chocobo Circuit/Port Windurst *Please note that Bastion status cannot be checked via the new NPCs.

[Bulrogg]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas......However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

<Thanks for the offer but I'll have to pass.>

We already have server specific sub-forums that can be used for /shout purposes, why do we need server/multi-area shouts too?

[Won-Ton]

How about a kind of radio you could acquire, and tune to different cities? Transmitters could be placed in central locations and if a shout was heard by the transmitter, you could hear it as well. Then different cities could be used for different kinds of shouts; Jeuno for Abyssea & w/e, AU for Assault & missions, Bastok for bazaar & item shouts, Windurst for live Ballista games, Norg for conspiracy-theory-themed interview shows, etc.

[Mirage]

Yeah I'm not really interested in hearing more /shouts. People only have incredibly stupid things to say typically on my server when shouting.

I imagine there would be separate chat filters for additional shout types. If not, you could always seek refuge in your MH :>

[Glamdring]

I suggested back when all that RMT /tell crap was going on allowing us to make our own filters to block messages. This was never implemented, but it would have been helpful to block RMT spam. It is also useful to block offensive or such content, but even better, it can be st to block any shouts that DON'T contain certain words. So if all you want is Abyssea invites you block all shouts that don't contain Abyssea or Aby as an example.

Certainly, not everyone would use it, but the ones who really don't want to "listen" to all the useless, juvenile garbage being shouted in Port Jeuno would almost certainly use it extensively. And since you can't reach a GM with any speed to report offensive content, and there's enough of it that screenshots could fill a 1 TB HD in less than a week, filters are the only way to go... Unless SE wants to actually put GMs in the affected areas so the garbage shouts are headed off in a hurry.

[Miiyo]

I'd like to see this and hope this would only be done for the Jeuno/Ru Lude Area. I don't see it as possible, however, unless people find a new home for their transportation needs. Port Jeuno + Horst = failure of multi-area shout.

[Godofgods]

Good plan if possible. Grouping all the jeuno areas together wouldnt matter much. Its not a long run to shout in each zone. What you do want to do tho, is group the area in each town where the abyssea npcs are with port jeuno. That will truly help releive the port jeuno conjestion. That way you can be in any nation and have teleport access and shout acess. With that theirs no need to be in PJ itself. So grouping them areas together would be best.

As i said, theirs no need to group every zone in the game together. But with abyssea being the current thing in ffxi, the 4 zones that have aby tele npcs should be grouped together for shouts.

Tele Npcs were added to help releave the massive conjestion in port jeuno. Also with the AH merged, its one less thing you need to go to jeuno for. However, at least on my server, the conjecstion is at an all time high dispite those additions. The reason is, to hear shouts for seals or nms. I may be able to tele to aby from sandy, but if i stay their, ill never be able to find a seal/nm party.

If one zone in each city (the zone aby tele guys are in) were /shout merged, then their truly wouldnt be a reason to have 600+ people hanging around in port jeuno. Youd be able to hang out in any city and still have full benefits and full acess. That would give the players what they need, and releive PJ conjestion all at the same time.

So i think that would be the best idea, assuming they are capable of implamenting it.

[Mirage]

I'd like to see this and hope this would only be done for the Jeuno/Ru Lude Area. I don't see it as possible, however, unless people find a new home for their transportation needs. Port Jeuno + Horst = failure of multi-area shout.

A horst clone will be added to one of the other jeuno zones, so that's not a problem.

[Rasstog]

I may have a solution for you to consider... rather than subjecting 'every' chat log with what normally 90% inane shout chatter... only now your wanting to add it from the entire 'world'.... how about installing “virtual jumbotrons” in each city area(s) to display server-wide shouts.

That way people that don't have anything else to do can run their little character over and park it in front of the 'big screen' and watch to their hearts delight... and the rest of us would be spared seeing the 'crap' in our chat logs.

This approach should reduce the 'excessive packet' issue of sending the message to those that 'subscribe'... because you would be sending the 'messages' to a single city area 'tron'.

[Kari]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

There'd be almost no point in doing this if all you're combining is region.
The problem is, people are keeping their Home Point, and therefore their idle spot and etc, in Port Jeuno.
Why? Because, at least on most servers, Abyssea turned Port Jeuno into "the place" to shout for groups and such.
The reason people even considered a world-wide shout channel, is to be in other places such as Bastok, Windurst, etc and still be able to receive shouts, in the case they wanted to participate in one.
Simply, if you can't find a way to let us see shouts from multiple zones, you're going to have a lot of trouble making Port Jeuno less congested.

Does such a thing really make a huge server strain? How is it any different at all in comparison to what we all do every day with Linkshells?
Either way, I just hope any testing you attempt involves being able to see shouts from Port Jeuno while in the other Nations. This is the main concern of many at the time, with the new implemention of Abyssea NPCs in the places many of us used to set our Home Point at. Simply combining regions would hardly change anything.

[Zirael]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

My plea was more about being able to go camp a NM in some obscure place or go gather Beehive Chips or /fish and still be able to get a word about a shout group forming for something I might be interested in. Your solution would give me an option to afk in few more zones, but I would still be left with a choice: do I stay hang around city with nothing else to do in order to see shouts, or I move out to do Campaign/camp NM/whatever and miss all the shouts. I want to stay tuned in AND go out do stuff. Is that too unreasonable to ask for?
As for system resources issue: having 3k people online with 700+ people in Port Jeuno alone and people zoning in getting DC during weekends is a proof to me your server can't keep up already. Don't think being able to see a wide range shout would make it worse than that. If the server can't handle sending a packet to 1-3k people simultaneously, it looks to me you need to optimize your code or upgrade that 2Mbit connection. I think there are few games out there that manage to handle that. Is it really not feasible for FFXI?
Anyways, thank you for the reply, at least we can hope for a step forward.


How about a kind of radio you could acquire, and tune to different cities? Transmitters could be placed in central locations and if a shout was heard by the transmitter, you could hear it as well. Then different cities could be used for different kinds of shouts; Jeuno for Abyssea & w/e, AU for Assault & missions, Bastok for bazaar & item shouts, Windurst for live Ballista games, Norg for conspiracy-theory-themed interview shows, etc.

Actually, I like your idea. Maybe something like a new type of linkpearl/key item channel that you could equip/uneqip to tune in to the talk you're interested in.
As for JP people staying in Whitegate, I think they do that more for convenience. Quite a lot of them don't speak EN, so English shouts are meaningless to them, same as for us JP text in chatlog is useless. This way they aren't bothered by people shouting back {Please use autotranslate function.} and we get less spam. Win/win.

[Mirage]

well it is different in that a linkshell message only needs to be sent to the few dozen (at most) players in the linkshell, while the entire jeuno region sometimes has nearly 1000 players in there, who would all receive every region-shout made in there.

But it would lower port jeuno congestion. Even if people still put their homepoints in jeuno, it doesn't have to be right in Port Jeuno. All Jeuno zones would have a shared chat channel, so everyone interested in shouts could now be spread over 4 areas instead of 1. I know I would idle in Upper Jeuno waiting for shouts if I could, instead of in port.

-edit-
Oh hey I know. What if we got a system where we could "subscribe" to a specific area's shout channel? Like when I logged on, I would type for example "/channel add portjeuno", and then I would get shouts from Port Jeuno in my chat log no matter where in the game I was. If I wanted to change that to a different channel later, I could do that with "/channel add someotherzone" whenever I felt like it. Or turn it off with "/channel remove zonename".

To save server resources, it could be made so that if you didn't actually perform any actions (run around, chat, sort inventory, whatever) on your character for like an hour, the subscription would be dropped. Whenever you got back from your AFKing, you could just re-subscribe I guess.

[Zirael]

well it is different in that a linkshell message only needs to be sent to the few dozen (at most) players in the linkshell, while the entire jeuno region sometimes has nearly 1000 players in there, who would all receive every region-shout made in there.

But it would lower port jeuno congestion. Even if people still put their homepoints in jeuno, it doesn't have to be right in Port Jeuno. All Jeuno zones would have a shared chat channel, so everyone interested in shouts could now be spread over 4 areas instead of 1. I know I would idle in Upper Jeuno waiting for shouts if I could, instead of in port.
You've got a point, but wouldn't those 1k people rather idle at campaign tower, at a NM camp or wait for magian trial weather? You go to a city for wide range of reasons and go out, but you afk there for more than 10min for either showing off your 'town gear', bazaar or catching up with shouts.



-edit-
Oh hey I know. What if we got a system where we could "subscribe" to a specific area's shout channel? Like when I logged on, I would type for example "/channel add portjeuno", and then I would get shouts from Port Jeuno in my chat log no matter where in the game I was. If I wanted to change that to a different channel later, I could do that with "/channel add someotherzone" whenever I felt like it. Or turn it off with "/channel remove zonename".

To save server resources, it could be made so that if you didn't actually perform any actions (run around, chat, sort inventory, whatever) on your character for like an hour, the subscription would be dropped. Whenever you got back from your AFKing, you could just re-subscribe I guess.

Yeah.

[Gwynplaine]

When I suggested this before it was partly because I assumed just opening up shouts would be the most straight-forward and easiest way to go. But I guess nothings ever easy in MMO's.

I think server-wide would be ideal, but failing that at least if there were one specific zone within each city to hang out and watch for pickups or buy/selling that would still be great. For example, tie all shouts from Port Jueno, Bastok Mines, Southern Sandoria, Windurst Woods, and Aht Urhgan Whitegate together. Here's a suggestion I have that could help implementation, but it's probably a lot of coding and work so I've no clue how practical it could be.

Instead of just expanding shouts, it could use a more limited and moderated form of communication. In order to that you could limit the choice of words and terms used to specific things similar to auto-translate. For example, if you want to communicate across the "international" channel lets call it, you have to enter in information. First enter in a purpose (similar to /seacom) for doing a party, quest, or mission, or buying/selling, etc. Second enter in what the quest/mission/item is you're pertaining to. Third enter in a level range you specify, if one is needed. Fourth enter in how many players are tagging along so far, and how many total you need. Fifth enter either generic class types you still need (support, front line etc.) or specific jobs if applicable.

This is pretty much the standard model for shouting players have banged out over the years. Limit each players communication on this channel to one message sent per minute to prevent spam. Requiring only communication pertaining to party/pickups/trading also eliminates the usual shout talk and bickering and also any potential RMT messages. Like I said, I have no idea how overly complex or practical that is. But I think the general idea could be worth considering for Square to put its own spin on it.

[Glamdring]

must just be me... I've always been more interested in finding ways to get rid of irrelevant chatter, not encourage it and force it on the rest of the population. I don't want to see this AT ALL without some heavy-duty revision of the filters. Like, I don't see even 1 shout unless I specifically ask to, and then only on the specific content I care about.

[Mirage]

You'll love my "channel subscription" idea then.

Maybe the feature could even be given a graphic interface? Sort of like a combination of the "search area" interface and linkshell interface. Browsing areas with a menu similar to the area search, then selecting them and selecting "subscribe" from a sub-menu".

[Zirael]

must just be me... I've always been more interested in finding ways to get rid of irrelevant chatter, not encourage it and force it on the rest of the population. I don't want to see this AT ALL without some heavy-duty revision of the filters. Like, I don't see even 1 shout unless I specifically ask to, and then only on the specific content I care about.
Fair enough. also, don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for this to be able to get spammed with every drunk idiot's past-midnight thoughts.


When I suggested this before it was partly because I assumed just opening up shouts would be the most straight-forward and easiest way to go. But I guess nothings ever easy in MMO's.

I think server-wide would be ideal, but failing that at least if there were one specific zone within each city to hang out and watch for pickups or buy/selling that would still be great. For example, tie all shouts from Port Jueno, Bastok Mines, Southern Sandoria, Windurst Woods, and Aht Urhgan Whitegate together. Here's a suggestion I have that could help implementation, but it's probably a lot of coding and work so I've no clue how practical it could be.

Instead of just expanding shouts, it could use a more limited and moderated form of communication. In order to that you could limit the choice of words and terms used to specific things similar to auto-translate. For example, if you want to communicate across the "international" channel lets call it, you have to enter in information. First enter in a purpose (similar to /seacom) for doing a party, quest, or mission, or buying/selling, etc. Second enter in what the quest/mission/item is you're pertaining to. Third enter in a level range you specify, if one is needed. Fourth enter in how many players are tagging along so far, and how many total you need. Fifth enter either generic class types you still need (support, front line etc.) or specific jobs if applicable.

This is pretty much the standard model for shouting players have banged out over the years. Limit each players communication on this channel to one message sent per minute to prevent spam. Requiring only communication pertaining to party/pickups/trading also eliminates the usual shout talk and bickering and also any potential RMT messages. Like I said, I have no idea how overly complex or practical that is. But I think the general idea could be worth considering for Square to put its own spin on it.

It's up to SE how far they can improve current system, but I think it could and maybe should be improved.

[Glamdring]

channels is workable, if people actually use the right one. We'll have to see. Looks like the devs are serious about doing this, but the only concerns I see on their side is resource load. I want to see the "not having to listen to it" also be in the discussion. The existing filter system is an indication that-at least at 1 time-they were concerned about this, but I want to see that the filters be upgraded too, or the delivery restricted or something.

[xbobx]

Would be nice if the developers actually responded to important posts not stupid ideas like this.

Last thing I want is server wide shouts, bad enough in port jeuno.

[Mirage]

Except this is a good idea and will help with the congestion issues.

[Teraniku]

You'll love my "channel subscription" idea then.

Maybe the feature could even be given a graphic interface? Sort of like a combination of the "search area" interface and linkshell interface. Browsing areas with a menu similar to the area search, then selecting them and selecting "subscribe" from a sub-menu".

City of Heroes uses this feature, where a server wide channel is created and people can subscribe to / be invited to the channel. How effective the channels are is dependent upon the players themselves and who the channel mods are. As far as FFXI is concerned, maybe a special Linkshell given to everyone on the server, and then players can Equip it for help, finding Abyssea Parties, Help with missions etc.

[Doombringer]

"moogle crier" like a town crier, but he's a moogle. (cuz thats how ffxi rolls) put one in every city, maybe even every region/zone.

it'll basically work like a bulletin board. you post up what you're trying to do, who you need, what-have you, and of course it will have your name on your message, so people who are interested can find you.

then, since moogles are magic, the post is available at every other moogle, all players have to do is talk to one, and see what's been posted. if need be, break it down into categories.

then after some pre-determined amount of time, the message expires. you can choose to refresh this timer by talking to the moogle. (as opposed to having to repost it every, what, 15 minutes? 30?)

sure, it's still a bit more rigid than a real server wide shout, but it should be less demanding from a technical POV. (i guess though.. if you can check the moogle crier, you COULD just check for ppl's /seacom. actually.. why not just let us give our /seacoms a title line? so that way we don't have to load up 50 ppls /seacoms that have nothing to do with what we're looking for?)


edit: hell, add this functionality to the moogles in our moghouses to. call it moogle-net or something.

[Shadotter]

Was actually thinking about ways this could be implemented, one way I was thinking of was allowing people to sign up to get special KI linkshells for certain kinds of things, like one for putting up xp parties, one for events, maybe even one for campaign and stuff like that, or maybe just making an official chat channel per server in the forums that people can post stuff on instead, that way you can view it wherever in the game you are.

[Hoshi]

I remember a few years ago when someone was posting city chat to a website (I think it was whitegate chat on Bahamut or something like that). They had a mule who you could get to say things for you in the zone but that part of the feature wouldn't be necessary for this. If SE could make some sort of a shout aggregator that took shouts from all zones and posted them on a website instead of ingame this would allow players to check shouts at times when they were looking for group/quest/drama without sending global shouts to everyone (and that might reduce the server load required to make shouts 'global'?).

[Juilan]

Just thinking about this more, and remembering the chat log server in games like FFXIV Aion WoW and a few others that friends have told me about, the chat you see is being sent via a different connection than the actually game where you move... I noticed this in FFXIV when I dc'd and the chat log was going on until the "this server sucks at staying connected" error message comes up. That is why you have multiple linkshells among other things on that game, and I am sure a few others though I have no first hand experience with those... The question is would it be feasible for SE to make a side server that supports multiple servers that acts as a chat server for them, I could see it costing a bit of money and adding about 5s to your log in time since they'd have to have the ID for your character connect to multiple servers. I hope I could be corrected on this if I'm wrong. But that would make all end users happy and lower the congestion in every zone, just have a linkshell defaulted for shouts in the ls window, and oddly you could connect to multiple linkshells ... but I think SE is intimidated by the time it'd take to do that so that'd outweigh the out right demand by the end users to fix the issues that this would.

Also... if they can't do this, DONT SPAGHETTI CODE

[Juilan]

I remember a few years ago when someone was posting city chat to a website (I think it was whitegate chat on Bahamut or something like that). They had a mule who you could get to say things for you in the zone but that part of the feature wouldn't be necessary for this. If SE could make some sort of a shout aggregator that took shouts from all zones and posted them on a website instead of ingame this would allow players to check shouts at times when they were looking for group/quest/drama without sending global shouts to everyone (and that might reduce the server load required to make shouts 'global'?).

No since that'd only work people playing on PC... now just think if we had the ability to sign onto xbox chat on PC... then there would be no reason to play on anything else (and yes you can do xbox party chat on FFXI if MS can do it on games for windows live and xbox live, they can do it for every other game[now if we could petition that])

[Tsukino_Kaji]

For an example. There was just a 30minute /shout argument in port jeuno. This will occure more in a wider /shout channel.

[Tamarsamar]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.

To be blunt, I would not be the slightest bit disappointed if this did not happen.

[kingfury]

Though we need to do some more testing, and we are not sure whether it would be possible yet, we are looking into the possibility of making/displaying shouts throughout multiple areas.

To be a bit more specific, we will be looking into grouping certain areas server side so that a shout from one of the areas in that group will be heard from each of the other areas.

For example:
If Ru’Lude Gardens/Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno were to be grouped together, making a shout in Ru’Lude would be heard in the other areas (Upper Jeuno/Lower Jeuno/Port Jeuno). However, this would ultimately quadruple the server load, so we will definitely need to pay close attention to this.
-----------------
Great to know this is being worked on ^^

Now my 1st thought was "Why not make the Key Item Link Pearl concept that offers channel filters" and such like Juilan and a few others brought up:


"Try to find a way to set it up like a linkshell, you can sign on to the linkshell to view server shouts, I see no difference there than a large ls with 64 people, other than the requirement of making /sh do two things... or make it so people just cant see the shouts XD"
But after thinking about the concept more, and more, Illianna has a very valid point here:


"This sounds an awful lot like a better /seacom system... one where you could search comments by keywords ^.^; Wouldn't it be a lot easier just to make the tools that already exist more user friendly rather than think up something completely new?"
The point is, we're already connected to each other "World wide" without any new system being implemented via the /seacom system. At the core of the issue at hand, people simply want to add the functionality to both "Continuously Play the game while being updated on any and all relevant pick-up happenings being planned at the time regardless of where they might be in the world", and "Effectively communicate with everyone world wide when planning a pickup-like event."
Although we are indeed connected to each other via the /seacom system, the system falls short of solving this problem since it cannot "automatically update you via the chat log" based on what players world wide would like to accomplish like a /shout can. We have to manually stop what we're doing to go through each and every single comment if we want to know what's happening with each player listed throughout. That's very inefficient, and can take a bit of time away from "Playing the game". This, in my opinion, is why the /seacom is rarely used by a majority of players. It also falls short of the solution since it can not "Automatically Filter" the type of commented activity you wish to stay tuned into as it is added by players.

The Problem:
I believe there is no way to add such a functionality such as /world, /zone, and /area-like "shouts" without people abusing and cluttering up those new airways which would potentially cause 90% of players to just /filter out + /turn off these channels due to being annoyed. Even with a timer set to how often folks could /shout, it would only take a handful of people not interested in anything else other than /shouting about /random mess to start a now "/world wide" poop tossing fight lol. It really wouldn't benefit those that truly want to listen out for valid pickup happenings to have to /filter out these channels based on such buffoonery each time.

A Possible Solution:
I suggest revamping the /seacom's abilities to feel like it's a special Link pearl that has the ability to filter out content based on how that content is plugged in.

-Include a new way to quickly type in the /shout-like messages similar to how we would if we wanted to compose a /shout currently but via a new "/seacomshout EXP" or "/seacomshout Abyssea" so it would only be displayed in the chat logs of those that are tuned into those /seacom channels. This way we could be automatically updated in our chat log on all things Abyssea in terms of "Pickup happenings" while freely continuing to play the game. The /seacom shouts would be instantly added the appropriate /seacom channel based on the subject listed in the shout(Example: "/seacomshout (subject)" ) accompanied by perhaps an ending command like "<comment>". So a player composing a "/seacomshout EXP" message would have the message displayed to all those tuned in to EXP /seacomshouts both in a player's chat log and within the /seacom "EXP Party" channel listing as if they put it in using the menus. The amount of time the the comment remains in the listing could possibly be altered to a timed system in which the comment will disappear from the listing should only one /seacomshout be issued. Each time the same player repeatedly inputs the same /seacomshout message, their comment in the appropriate listing could be bumped to the top of the list so as to not create multiple listings for the same comment.
--------
-Additionally, include an intuitive method of tuning into multiple "/seacom shout topics" at the same time. This way, players could filter in Missions, Quest, Magian, and Abyssea "/seacom shouts" at once all while fishing or killing a NM. Truly, a simple toggle ON/OFF for each /seacom subject would probably be the most intuitive. Simply going down the /seacom comment list and toggling "ON" for all the channels you wish to stay tuned into would suffice. If you no longer wanted to hear the /seacom shouts, simply toggle all of them off. Alternatively, adding a quick "/seacomshout OFF" command would be nice and sweet too. ^^ Adding a "/seacomshout ON" command would tune a player into all /seacom subjects, allowing them to hear /seacomshouts for every topic.
--------------
-What then would stop a player that is hellbent on tossing out drunken conversation into the mix via /seacomshout (subject) at will? Please also include either a special filter that targets individual players within this new shout ability such as "/shoutfilter (Player's Name)", so nothing they attempt to /seacomshout reaches your chat log or your comment listings from that point on, or just make sure /blacklist reaches them through this system :)

So long as the method feels like a natural /shout or /linkshell message when typing it in or receiving it, I think a modified /seacom system could be the answer we're looking for.

Thanks again for listening guys /salute

[Zumi]

Region wide chat for jeuno really needs to happen soon.

On the weekend again Port Jeuno got 750 people and locked out. Because of being one of the servers that had people merged into. The reason people stay in Port Jeuno is because they want to see shouts for pugs.

[Burningskull]

Don't know if this has been said but why not make it so that while in a city you can hear the shouts from any other city. But, once you zone to any none city area, you only hear shouts in said area. Example would be say... you outpost warp to zi'ta, you only hear shouts in that area and no longer shouts from Jeuno.

[Mirage]

oh, it has been said many times.

[Sarick]

I'd like world shouts but absolutely they must limit the player to the number of shouts to every 1-3 minutes and level 10 plus to reduce spamming. Hopefully that would make make people post well thought out shouts instead of spamming. Also if this info could be set to hidden yet still received so its only visible when checking view log it would help tremendously.

If they wanted to be really simple a world pearl could be sold at the NPC but, I'd rather have it as a sub-command.

[Mirage]

Maybe shouts with a huge range should be disabled for trial accounts. Not that I have heard any RMT tells in a long time.

[Starcade]

Bad Bad BAD idea.

It basically reminds me of a WoW stream I was watching (a charity marathon) and the chat (in-game and out-of-game) was so immature that I couldn't stomach the stream nor the game.

Reminds me of more than a few FFXI players I've seen over the course of time.

[Mirage]

Then you could just turn it off.

[Rakam]

Only 1 think to do, /shout should be see in all the 30 city zone at once. And there already a filter for /shout.

[Nevens]

I support this idea
the widest range of /shout, the better

Ability to find people with ease will make this game much enjoyable
for the haters, just turn on your /shout filter, and let others players having fun partying together

[Catsby]

A wider shout would be nice. Perhaps a /broadcast to region or a way to access these boards while inside the game.

[Skyrocket]

ok well i think SE should just connect Port San d’Oria,Port Bastok,Heavens Tower,Port Jeuno and maybe whitegate with a special shout so they can speard people from Port Jeuno.

[darkvision]

if they doen a region/serverwide shout i'd disable it full time, i dont wanna see drama when i am busy with LS events etc, i leave port jeuno pecifically coz of the drama

[Mirage]

Then do so.

[Starcade]

if they doing a region/server-wide shout i'd disable it full time, i don't wanna see drama when i am busy with LS events etc, i leave port jeuno specifically 'coz of the drama

This. *grumbles about the massive necessary proofreading*

[Starcade]

Then you could just turn it off.

So you get to dictate, once-again, how the rest of us play the game...

Well, I guess someone's going to get to dictate to somebody...

[Mirage]

What the shit does that even mean? I'm dictating how people play the game because I suggest that people turn off shouts they don't want to see?

[Nevens]

seriously, some people are depressing
I dont understand. /shout bothers you, set your filter, problem solved (less than 3 secs..., mind you)

I want to enjoy the game whenever I can play. I want to be able to log and setup a party easily and quickly.
/shout is a tool to meet some people. How do I find people for a mission fight? How do I find people for abyssea ?
Being able to reach/being reach by the widest audience will make these tasks easier.
This game is hard because it's hard to get people. Actually most of fights are easy, the hard part is gathering a party.
It shouldn't be this way.

[Gwynplaine]

This game is hard because it's hard to get people. Actually most of fights are easy, the hard part is gathering a party.
It shouldn't be this way.

Exactly. FFXI emphasizes grouping more so than many other MMO's but it does a bad job of helping you easily do so. Good luck to anyone trying to get through CoP/AU/Wings/Addons/Assaults or any of the other niche crap that are nearly impossible to find help on.

[Starcade]

What the shit does that even mean? I'm dictating how people play the game because I suggest that people turn off shouts they don't want to see?

Effectively. The only reason I haven't globally disabled shouts is for events where shouting basically is the only means of effective communication to everyone in the area.

[Mirage]

Just like the game currently dictates that you must idle in port jeuno if you want any sort of PUG for anything. Do you seriously not get it? The only difference this thing would make is that not every goddamn player looking for a PUG has to idle in port jeuno.

Turning off the region chat to get some peace of mind is practically the exact same as leaving port jeuno is now.

[Saenomo]

I think we just need a place easily accessible to people regardless of city preference and capable of containing shouts away from people who don't need to hear them. Why don't we all start a petition to move all shouting to the Chocobo Circuit. After all, with the exception of Bonanza marble purchase, when is the last time you went into that zone for anything after your first hour of frustration with the race system?

[MarkoTurn]

Actually we have a similar but different system for that. The only promblem is that mostly Japanese use it.

Its called the search comment :) If u need something u can always write it in the search comment and ppl can look for you. Ppl are just too lazy to search.

[Mirage]

That's not comparable at all. People are asking for another, wider chat channel, not a passive search system.

[Bulrogg]

Actually we have a similar but different system for that. The only problem is that mostly Japanese use it.

Its called the search comment :) If u need something u can always write it in the search comment and ppl can look for you. Ppl are just too lazy to search.

^This quoted for truth


Some people are too lazy to set comments so they want to shout to the server for setting something up. Then again some people are just too lazy to read and disregard any /seacom you may have set. Maybe they don't understand what /seacom is and how to /search with it? I don't know.

What I do know is...

I want to see shouts while I am in the city, not while I'm doing some random event. That's why I go to the city in between events and adjust my /seacom as needed.

[Camate]

Howdy!

As mentioned previously, the development team has been hard at work creating a new mode of chat that will allow players to be heard across all the areas within your current nation! I bring with me today a sample of what they're currently testing and planning to implement in the upcoming version update! :) I give you…the “Yell” feature!


242

243

*For the initial settings, the text color is the same as shout

The yell feature will start with support in Jeuno so that we can monitor the effects it has on server lag. After examining the situation for a bit (and assuming no problems arise), we'll expand the yell feature to cover area-wide communications within San d'Oria, Bastok and Windurst.

Now you'll be able to yell for parties while keeping your chocobo fed, expanding your Gobbiebag, or just listing up your bone chips on the Auction House!

[katz]

Interesting concept. World chat log tab to stop it interfering with normal chats, that you could be looked at via a menu. Additional chat command worldchat to add to the menu chat log could see that working and not interfering with the current location chat screen.

[Jar]

Interesting concept. World chat log tab to stop it interfering with normal chats, that you could be looked at via a menu. Additional chat command worldchat to add to the menu chat log could see that working and not interfering with the current location chat screen.

that looks like the UI to change the color at the bottom i think it works just like /shout but it will be /yell

[katz]

I got that and the bit about it being regional based to start with, I am expanding it a bit further to remove the filter from the current chat screen and make it like a news feed that covers the world server that people can check out as and when they need to.

[Coldbrand]

Where's the dislike button?

[Kimble]

So now I have to leave Jeuno to get away from people shouting dumb crap in port. Awesome.

[Airget]

You guys are aware it possible to turn off shouts right? So why would it be any different with Yell, if you don't like it just disable it lol.

[Byrth]

Please add a separate filter for Yell

[Annahya]

The yell feature will start with support in Jeuno so that we can monitor the effects it has on server lag. After examining the situation for a bit (and assuming no problems arise), we'll expand the yell feature to cover area-wide communications within San d'Oria, Bastok and Windurst.

Now you'll be able to yell for parties while keeping your chocobo fed, expanding your Gobbiebag, or just listing up your bone chips on the Auction House!

Will this /yell channel penetrate Mog Houses, or will it still just be outside in the cities?

[Bulrogg]

If it does penetrate(gigitty) the Mog House someone left the windows open. <.<

[Darkwizardzin]

Hey Camate are there any plans to make this cover whitegate as well? (Al Zahbi, Aht Urhgan Whitegate, and The Colosseum)

I know many people don't go there anymore... but as far as I feel (and im sure many others) that is just as major of a city as the 3 nations and jeuno.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Where's the dislike button?This.

Superfluous text.

[Paksenarrion]

This.

Superfluous text.

For some reason, I find it humorous that the guy with a sig stating to remove PS2 support because it's holding the game back hates things that advance the game.

Anyways, great feature that's been needed for a long time. When you expand it to reach the other nations, will it only be inside that nation alone, or will the nations all have some form of unified chat? Because I'd really like to sit in San d'Oria while I listen for yells. Because I like access to my outpost warps.

And I know at least one person disagrees with this from the replies, but I'd like to see it reach inside my mog house. That way, when I'm trying to dig stuff out, I can sit in my house and listen.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

This feature is not holding the game back, it is openeing a new gateway for unwarented spam. It's going to push people away. It is not needed. These are the kind of updates that lead to AF weapons being storable instead of seals.

[Unctgtg]

Make sure you add a filter button too for this.

[Coldbrand]

Can I breathe underwater indefinitely now considering I have the lung capacity to yell across an entire multistory city? This feature sucks and I'm glad the game is being changed for wow-kiddies so we can hear people shout racist crap all over town or brag about their unimpressive achievments and put down anyone asking for help. Oh, and let's not forget the "I'm soooo high right now" garbage that I go to ru'lude to avoid in the first place.

[Ezrin]

You guys are aware it possible to turn off shouts right? So why would it be any different with Yell, if you don't like it just disable it lol.

Agreed. +1

[Kari]

Can I breathe underwater indefinitely now considering I have the lung capacity to yell across an entire multistory city? This feature sucks and I'm glad the game is being changed for wow-kiddies so we can hear people shout racist crap all over town or brag about their unimpressive achievments and put down anyone asking for help. Oh, and let's not forget the "I'm soooo high right now" garbage that I go to ru'lude to avoid in the first place.

You say the game is being changed for wow-kiddies, yet you definitely complain like one.

I see nothing in this feature that hurts you.
You don't like stupid shouts?
What do you do to avoid them?
Ignore them? Change zones? Turn off shouts?
Guess what, it's the same easy solution to avoid stupid yells, and likely yells won't be allowed as often as shouts.

I'm glad SE attempts to implement features that help organizing groups with any means they can, considering how terrible it is to organize a group for a specific task without shouting for members. Yelling only improves that.

Seriously, grow up. It's sad that some text on your chat log is enough for you to want to idle in a different section of town as-is.
At least give some suggestions toward the meaning of this feature, rather than QQing about the minor details that bother you personally.

On the topic of the feature itself, I'm slightly disappointed that it'll only reach the region of the Nation you're in. The goal with this feature should be to allow people to set their Home Point in their Home Nation, and see the Jeuno shouts for organizing groups. Seeing Port Jeuno shouts in other parts of Jeuno, isn't extremely beneficial. Also, making the color the same as Shout for default, will cause a LOT of confusion upon implementation.

[Yinnyth]

This is a good idea which is long overdue. However, bazaars were also a good idea, and those are largely abused to the point where I hate browsing them. 90% of the bazaars I've seen lately have nothing but items listed for the maximum amount. A similar thing will happen with yells. They'll be abused by players who care more about expressing themselves than they care about how much time you waste trying to find what you're looking for.

It will still be useful to many people, I imagine, but it probably won't be long before I filter the channel out so I stop getting spam about what some random newb ate for breakfast.

[Alhanelem]

Please add a separate filter for Yell
Why wouldn't there be one? SE isn't TOTALLY stupid, you know?

A city-wide chat channel is long overdue. This way people don't all have to cram in the same area or repeat shouts in every area in order for people to see them.

Be sure to add yell support between Whitegate and Al Zhabi as well.

I'm fine with yells only being within the city you're in, but I think it should simply be active within whatever region you're in, city or no.

[kingfury]

Don't like what someone is /shouting or /yelling about? Someone hell bent on spamming obscenities or other random crap that tick you off? Don't want to leave the zone you're in just to have peace of mind?

/blacklist the player(s), and have some chill time. The world is now back under control for ya.

All the tools are there to filter out stuff, so I still to this day can never understand the hissy fits folks have about such a thing. I'm interested to see how it goes, but I still say they could have altered/tweaked the "Search Comment" functionality to achieve world wide communication without the hassles of worrying about the server strain so much. It already has built in channels that would be easily adjustable if we could use a /Seacomshout (subject) command (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/8498-SEACOMSHOUT-%28SUBJECT%29-Command-%2AAll-Server-Wide-Shout-Threads-Compiled-Here%2A). Glad to see the Devs making the effort, but if this "/yell" business doesn't work out as planned, target the Seacom system next. ^^

[Byrth]

Why wouldn't there be one? SE isn't TOTALLY stupid, you know?

The post made it sound like a rush-job that might come out in the same "channel" as /shout, hence the same color text that he mentions. If it's in the same "channel" then it might not be uniquely blockable. There are times when I want to hear shouts, but there are also times when I go hide in Upper Jeuno so I don't have to see shouts. I'd rather not have to go change my filter setting every time I move zones.

[Norycat]

Mocchi needs to check his e-mail and messages.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

/blacklist the player(s), and have some chill time. The world is now back under control for ya.Problem is, this is not a viable soloution. You have now just given licence to the person to say what ever they want behind your back, only now it's right in front of your face and you can't see it.

[kingfury]

Problem is, this is not a viable soloution. You have now just given licence to the person to say what ever they want behind your back, only now it's right in front of your face and you can't see it.
-------------
But why would you care about what someone that you've already determined as being "annoying" is saying behind your back? If they've successfully made it onto your /blacklist, you should just leave'em (along with your cares about them) to the wind.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

-------------
But why would you care about what someone that you've already determined as being "annoying" is saying behind your back? If they've successfully made it onto your /blacklist, you should just leave'em (along with your cares about them) to the wind.Any number of reasons up to and including slander of your name without you even knowing it.

[kingfury]

Any number of reasons up to and including slander of your name without you even knowing it.
-----------
lol Slander? Like name calling? Are you telling them that you've in fact /blacklisted them 1st before doing it? Again, why would you care? If they're a kid brain player, let'em go nuts with the dribble talk. They'll wear themselves out eventually.

[JiltedValkyrie]

SE is stupid, eh? And yet you pay...

[Annahya]

Any number of reasons up to and including slander of your name without you even knowing it.

They could still do this in /party or /linkshell if they wanted to - it is not giving them any "license" they didn't already have.


I'd like to see it reach inside my mog house. That way, when I'm trying to dig stuff out, I can sit in my house and listen.

Agreed.

[Zumi]

This long over due because everyone hanging out in PJ just makes the zone very laggy to be in. Now people can make groups no matter what part of jeuno they are in.

If you don't like it so much you can simply turn on the filter.

[Rhianu]

This feature sucks and I'm glad the game is being changed for wow-kiddies so we can hear people shout racist crap all over town or brag about their unimpressive achievments and put down anyone asking for help. Oh, and let's not forget the "I'm soooo high right now" garbage that I go to ru'lude to avoid in the first place.

I thought the FFXI community was supposed to be more mature than the WoW community? I mean, that's what all the FFXI players always claim, at least...

[Juilan]

Howdy!

As mentioned previously, the development team has been hard at work creating a new mode of chat that will allow players to be heard across all the areas within your current nation! I bring with me today a sample of what they're currently testing and planning to implement in the upcoming version update! :) I give you…the “Yell” feature!

237

238
*For the initial settings the text color is the same as shout
*We will update these with EN images very soon! Apologies for the Japanese!

The yell feature will start with support in Jeuno so that we can monitor the effects it has on server lag. After examining the situation for a bit (and assuming no problems arise), we'll expand the yell feature to cover area-wide communications within San d'Oria, Bastok and Windurst.

Now you'll be able to yell for parties while keeping your chocobo fed, expanding your Gobbiebag, or just listing up your bone chips on the Auction House!
Some times the japanese makes more sense to me than the english but "The yellw feature will start... we'll expand the yell feature to cover area-wide communication within san d'oria, bastok and windurst" i dont know what server these guys play on but on mine no one yells in the nations... if you want people out of jeuno you'd have to expand the jeuno yells to the nations, eve if you cant yell back

[Runespider]

This will have a filter, there is nothing to complain about with this at all.

The only thing I don't like about this is it appears way too limited currently, unless it's extended to cover jeuno & all 3 starter nations combined it's still only a small fix for the congestion/communication problems. Anyway I like it a lot and I'm happy to see it's going to be added, long long overdue.

*also awesome sig king^^

[Zirael]

Howdy!

As mentioned previously, the development team has been hard at work creating a new mode of chat that will allow players to be heard across all the areas within your current nation! I bring with me today a sample of what they're currently testing and planning to implement in the upcoming version update! :) I give you…the “Yell” feature!

237

238
*For the initial settings the text color is the same as shout
*We will update these with EN images very soon! Apologies for the Japanese!

The yell feature will start with support in Jeuno so that we can monitor the effects it has on server lag. After examining the situation for a bit (and assuming no problems arise), we'll expand the yell feature to cover area-wide communications within San d'Oria, Bastok and Windurst.

Now you'll be able to yell for parties while keeping your chocobo fed, expanding your Gobbiebag, or just listing up your bone chips on the Auction House!
Thank you for taking the time to improve player means of communication. I hope this feature having a dedicated filter will help those who don't wish to use it.
Also, by reading replies in this thread I hope you've realised there is a demand for enhancing means of player communication (especially not having to idle in cities in order to find PUG group) and you'll consider expanding on the idea in the future.
Considering all the voices against, I'd stress out that /yell and /shout are totally optional and can be turned off any time one does not wish to interact with other people. Same goes for /tell, /say, /linkshell etc. If you don't want to talk to anyone in game, the features to allow you that are already in there.

[katz]

Can we also get the yell to include the Beseiged messages, Im tired of waiting hours for the trolls to get here when I know they have started to attack.

[Kiroko]

All we need is "Scream" So we can hear shouts in all areas.

[Gropitou]

So now I have to leave Jeuno to get away from people shouting dumb crap in port. Awesome.

Ever hear of filters ?

[Romanova]

I love this feature, and think it's a step in the right direction.

I agree with others that if possible in the future I hope the devs can increase this so all cities use the same yell system. I would love to sit in my nation to access my mog storage/chocobo/etc. without needing to run to jeuno to see shouts.

[Raxiaz]

Such a huge addition to the game that was desperately needed for many years and should have been in the game from the start. It's very nice to see SE is testing this function.

[Anathiel]

I love this announcement. I've been wanting this for the longest time! I can now not miss out on NM's, pick up events, and other things just because I want to go skill up somewhere...sweet.

[Venat]

I supoort this idea.

[Bumbeen]

screw this. give me an invite channel. ugh.

[Sargent]

Adding a filter is one thing, but you'd probably want to hear /yells if you're in say, Port Jeuno without having to turn the filter on and off everytime you zone in. So, please add an option to filter /yells from other zones.

[Gades]

This is without a doubt the worst idea by far, ever.

You KNOW this channel would be spammed continuously by trolls and therefor would be rendered an annoyance rather than a utility. Why would you even propose such an idea?

-edit- my question was rhetorical, don't try to answer it.

[Yinnyth]

Yay for hyperbole. While we're at it, the common cold will KILL US ALL, tax money has NEVER DONE ANYTHING GOOD EVER, and trolls are CONSIDERED HUMANS as long as they call other people a troll in their post. Worst idea ever? Have you ever watched jackass?

Yell will be abused just as shout, /seacom, and bazaars are abused, but it will serve an important purpose for many of the people who are willing to sift through the turds to find a diamond.

[Scuro]

I think a good idea for this, is instead of creating a yell that is heard through out the area, and being barraged by things, also so that you can be in god knows where Castle O or something and still hear shouts in PJ. Of course it would be annoying as hell to be in such an area and getting yells for tele's, noobs asking if they can buy Beastman Seals, and people shouting for yaanie. My solution? Release an item in the game that acts as a vanadiel chat room of sorts that is accessible in game. Much like the Magian Specs. Allow this item to be used freely so that one can see all the shouts within vanadiel and allow this to be regulated so that you can pick certain areas or continents to hear shouts from. This way people can stop crowding up PJ, and maybe actually spread out. I know if I had this type of item i would gladly set my HP back to Windurst and be a lot more happy. I think this would solve crowding in areas, as well as allow people to pick and choose which events they would like to, with out having to sit in PJ all day and be selective on what shouts they jump into.

Also people might actually find better turn outs on shouts if they don't have to be in PJ in order to hear them. I would love to see such an item implemented and I can imagine how many people would love to have such an item. This kinda ranks up there next to my idea of having a home nation warper (much like Windurst's War Warlocks) being stationed in every nation within your home nation's respective embassy so this way you can get back to your home nation. EX: in Bastok a W.W warper in Windurst's Embassy, in Jueno a W.W warper in Windurst's embassy, etc.

I feel these suggestions would greatly increase travel in the game, reduce hassle, reduce congestions, and increase participation within the game.

[katz]

Yells wont make more or less trolls, trolls can do that for themselves under the current shout systems.

[Monchat]

The yell feature is welcome because it will divide Port jeuno lag by 2. I like PJ because it has home point, AH, Abyssea NPC and mog house very close to each other. I hate if for the crap shout of idiots who chat in ./shout, or of pseudo elitist beliitteling people doing rightfull /shouts for help, or bragging about how they can duo X NM when that guy is shouting for 6 members, as if kiling any mob in abyssea ( with 2 or 10 ) was an achievement.

Along with this feature I'd like a blacklist capacity upgrade. the 200 or so limite is insufficient, tired of emptying the list every month.

[JackDaniels]

Will this /yell channel penetrate Mog Houses, or will it still just be outside in the cities?

I wonder if it would increase or decrease lag if the /y included mog houses.

[Raxiaz]

Yo we hear you liked shouting so we put a yell in your shout so you can shout while you shout.

[Miiyo]

*hides in corner in the fetal position* I hear stupid people... all the time... @.@

[Zoner]

I'm hoping for a delay between each use, something like the global chat in Aion

[katz]

Not a bad idea. I know when I shout, I set my own timer between shouts. Messages 5 mins apart with a cut off for when the event will or will not happen. So recently I was killing Sedna looking for members I told people I was starting in 30mins and shouted 5 times reducing the start time as I shouted. I do wish other people would use this. Id rather not be standing in port jeuno in a hook up party for hours waiting for the said party to start their event.

[Runespider]

The yell feature will start with support in Jeuno so that we can monitor the effects it has on server lag. After examining the situation for a bit (and assuming no problems arise), we'll expand the yell feature to cover area-wide communications within San d'Oria, Bastok and Windurst.

Now you'll be able to yell for parties while keeping your chocobo fed, expanding your Gobbiebag, or just listing up your bone chips on the Auction House!

This means 4 seperate yell zones right? That is a total waste of time, nobody shouts in starter cities anyway. The only way extending it to starter cities will be worthwhile is if it is 1 combined /yell for all zones.

[Earwig]

If you could add language filters and make a 15 second "cooldown" before you can shout (or yell) again, I think a region-wide shout wouldn't be an issue, but I don't like the idea of a server-wide shout. Port jueno is very annoying, and I would not want to have to deal with that in every zone in the game.

[Zyeriis]

Applying this to just one city is relatively silly, as it doesn't actually solve the problem it's trying to fix (not entirely).

I don't see why they can't just make the yell command reach all the "Ports" in the game: Port San d'Oria, Port Bastok, Port Windurst, and Port Jeuno. I'd add Whitegate to that list, as it is also a "port" (in fact, it has 2 ports) but neither port is an airship port and I'm keeping it down to 4 options in this suggestion as thats the max number of zones per city (and how many Jeuno has, so it wouldn't stress the servers any further than it would if they only added it to the 4 Jeuno zones).

Summary: Don't do it for Port Jeuno, Lower Jeuno, Upper Jeuno, and Ru'lude Gardens, make /yell apply to Port San D'Oria, Port Bastok, Port Windurst, and Port Jeuno instead. This way, everyone can be in whatever city they want, and hear it.

[Octaviane]

Please no /yell, anywhere. /sh is bad enough with all these little 2 year olds screaming profanities. However, thank goodness for chat filters.

[chubrocka]

Great, now we get all the /sh BS and the gambling houses. There are to many stupid people who have nothing to do better then /sh crap all day. I turn of my /sh function all the time unless I need to hit Port jeuno and find others needing what i need. I guess now it will always be off. What an idiotic Idea, really

[Kavik]

Really guys, if it's that much of an issue for you there are 4 zones RIGHT out of jueno. Personally i think this is a wonderful ide. And to those of you who claim that there are too many people shouting nonsense, this is true, there is a lot of nonsense that goes on in shout, but i ask... why are you sitting in port jueno listening to their nonsense when the other zones provide the same things? as a subdivision of the last statement... if you don't want to hear whats going on in jeuno GO TO YOUR HOME NATION! They now have the EXACT same AH, or go to tavnazia (same ah for yrs if your not so lazy that you never did CoP, w/o the lvl cap that is now the only reason not to have done it) If for some reason you need to go to jueno for something, turn the filter on before you even get there, run and turn in your gobbie bag or whatever you need to do there, grab a choco or whatnot, zone, and turn the filter off. Or just leave it on all the time. All this bickering does is make the dev's think that all people will do is abuse this, but it WILL help players who are trying to get something done, For instance, now when i'm changing to whm and using the porter mog in lower jueno, i can see that person in port jeuno that is /yelling for a teleport - altep and not getting one. I can be in lower jueno or upper, where the lag is less and see those people yelling for the body seals i need. What we need for the yell/shout nonsense is a stupid filter, like the one that filters gillseller tells and other spam messages. Really though, if you don't want to interact, don't.

[Aleste]

Looking forward to being able to hear shouts in the nearby jeuno zones. It might help ease the amount of people who sit in port just so they don't miss shouts; however whether it will be a help or a hinderance will depend on both the way it is programmed, and the people using it.

Here's hoping for a /yell feature that covers all of jeuno, whitegate and the 3 starter nations. Maximum 1 yell every minute.

[Rafien]

Bad idea. no server wide shouts. This would be abused and there is no real logical reason to have it.

[Unleashhell]

Personally I don't see how this will cut down any lag in Port Jeuno. People hang out in Port Jeuno because they want to join shout pts for Abyssea. One way or the other the abyssea NPCs are still in Port Jeuno. Why would anyone hang out in other areas waiting for Abyssea related things to happen when they have to go to Port Jeuno anyway to warp to the maw. This makes no sense to me. People leave Port Jeuno to get away from all that shouting. Sometimes you just want to read the shouts for a couple minutes to see what is going on, then move on with your day. Why should someone have to constantly turn on and then off shouts or yells?

Server wide shouts / yells will be terrible, especially in mog houses. You want to hear shouts exit your mog house. People go into the mog house to get away from all that crap outside so they can craft, move items in inventory etc etc. Once again why should someone constantly turn on and of these features. Its more annoying then anything. So every time someone wants to bazaar they have to turn on the filter, then when they are done bazaaring they have to turn it off? Its much nicer having people bazaar in upper Jeuno and keeping chat separate from each zone. But it really doesn't matter what we all say because SE is obviously implementing this whether we like it or not.

[Aleste]

One way or the other the abyssea NPCs are still in Port Jeuno. Why would anyone hang out in other areas waiting for Abyssea related things to happen when they have to go to Port Jeuno anyway to warp to the maw. This makes no sense to me.

Actually, they implemented additional versions of Horst and Joachim in a number of locations since the last update.

Traverser Stones may also be obtained from Gilburt in Port San d'Oria, Erich in Port Bastok, Fabricius in Port Windurst, Jerrett in Heavens Tower, and Fabien in Ru'Lude Gardens. - Wiki

[Unleashhell]

Actually, they implemented additional versions of Horst and Joachim in a number of locations since the last update.

Traverser Stones may also be obtained from Gilburt in Port San d'Oria, Erich in Port Bastok, Fabricius in Port Windurst, Jerrett in Heavens Tower, and Fabien in Ru'Lude Gardens. - Wiki

I'm aware of that but hardly anyone hangs out by those NPCs. There has been no decrease at all with those NPCs put in place. There are still seldom system messages that come up saying Port Jeuno is too crowded, and to please move to another zone. So back to what I said above, people still will crown Port Jeuno. I makes more sense to stay in Jeuno either way, because after you do an Abyssea run you still have to go back to Jeuno to turn in your armor. Now if they put trial moogles in the towns, maybe that would help congestion a little bit being people will have no reason to go back to Jeuno or set their home point there.

[Aleste]

You do have a fair point with all the Magian Moogles being located at Jeuno (specifically ru'lude); I forgot about that scenario. They did place a abyssea-warp NPC in Ru'lude, but people don't appear to hang out around him and I'd assume that's because all the shouts seem to happen in Port.

I usually leave a mule sitting in Port for the sole purpose of catching /shouts, whilst my homepoint usually resides at North San d'Oria for convenience. It's usually less laggy, and I've better access to teleport/warp NPC's, at the cost of taking a few moments longer to reach the AH... However, I still find myself running through back through Jeuno to complete trials and gain access to my assorted seals/crests.

I feel that there is room for this new feature to be abused, but it's a another (referring to abyssea-npcs located in home towns and linking of AHs) step in the right direction to freeing everyone from Port Jeuno.

[Myrrh]

I GREATLY APPROVE OF THIS NEW CHAT.

[Gwynplaine]

Looks great so far :) It will make putting together parties and pickups to finish your goals a easier and cut down on congestion.

To everyone who thinks this is a bad idea because "annoying people" will use it; the fact that this thread being discussed on the internet, of all places, is proof positive that the usefulness of a tool far exceeds any consideration for what irrational types might care to misuse it for.

Many people will surely find it to be a useful and more convenient way to accomplish goals that are difficult to find groups for (hello addon scenarios or WotG). But of course that's more abstract, not readily visible or immediately apparent. The idle chatterers you see everyday are right-there immediate and easy to notice so they seem to get more attention. Douchebags are eternal, just turn yell filter on you dregs.

[Camate]

Sorry for the delay, but I updated my previous post (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/7841-Server-wide-shouts?p=136892&viewfull=1#post136892) with the English version of the images ^^

[Zyeriis]

I'm gonna repeat myself from page 14.

This should be applied to areas that begin with port, not to the entirety of Jeuno. Why?

1) Theres 4 areas that begin with "Port", the same amount of areas as Jeuno: 4, so the server lag/issues would be relatively the same.
2) Those 4 areas are Port Jeuno (Jeuno), Port San d'Oria (San d'Oria), Port Bastok (Bastok), and Port Windurst (Windurst). So, you would be able to hear /yell in any nation, and thus could set your home point in any nation without missing out on /yells.
3) There are abyssea NPCs in all 4 of these zones. Joachim/Horst (Port Jeuno) Gilburt/Ivan (Port San d'Oria), Erich/Ernst (Port Bastok), and Fabricius/Willis (Port Windurst). So, it would make more sense to have /yell affect all of these areas, as they're equally good hubs.
4) Wouldn't have to apply 4 separate /yell areas in the world (1 for each nation) like you're planning to. And thus, not stress the servers as much.
5) Would be able to escape /yell without leaving the nation you're in, like many people would like to be able to do without having to toggle filters constantly.

The only reason I can think of for not taking this direction (aside from not thinking of it, which I doubt) would be that these areas are in different regions and however you need to code /yell has some bearing in the areas being of the same region (some sort of coding limitation that we cannot possibly comprehend).

I feel this is a better solution overall, though I'm unsure how many people are willing to agree with me on it after being so adamantly against it in the last few pages. I only got 1 like on my original post, and no one commented on it so, I figured I repost it as it was at the bottom of page 14.

[Kristal]

Port Windurst and Port Bastok would not be good areas, since there's very little to do there. No AH for one. Windurst Woods and Bastok Mines are the places to be in that case.

But really, there's very little reason to spread /yell outside a city. (Or even add yell 'zones' in the starter cities. Aht Urhgan though, is a different matter.)

Perhaps SE could make a YellShell (or ShYell) where a NPC repeats all shouts/yells in the Jeuno area so players could tune in where ever they are.

[Zyeriis]

Port Windurst and Port Bastok would not be good areas, since there's very little to do there. No AH for one. Windurst Woods and Bastok Mines are the places to be in that case.
There's things to do in Port Jeuno?
The auction house part has merit though. Not that they couldn't just add a npc or two to either of those two zones that you can access the auction house from (like in Tavnazia Safehold, Rabao, Norg, Upper Jeuno, and Nashmau).

That being said, they'd at least be options rather than clogging Port Jeuno/having to be in Jeuno in general (as there are auction houses in other zones of those cities). Port Windurst, while it doesn't have an auction house (though it could be added, unless they run into issues like they did with adding the abyssea NPCs in windurst to begin with), does have the outpost warp NPC (and the explorer moogle when that tablet power is active) in it (which none of the other Ports have). Port Sandy, while it doesn't have the outpost NPC, has the auction house (which only Port Jeuno also has). Port Bastok, while it doesn't have the outpost NPC nor the auction house, it has the whitegate warp NPC (which none of the other ports have).

While Port San d'Oria doesn't really have anything special about it, it is in San d'Oria, which is the easiest city to get around (and thus access the other things such as the outpost NPC: by mog house exiting to North Sandy, short walk) and the whitegate NPC: by mog house exiting to South Sandy, short walk). The ports are somewhat balanced in terms of being good hubs but having different aspects as to why they're good hubs.

[Paksenarrion]

As one of the few people I personally know that actually like this concept and have repeatedly stated that it's been needed for a long time, I can see people's issues with this, and have my own ideas.

1. Put a delay on communication in this channel. Like a yell a minute or something. That would cut down on people who want to clutter it up with spam and bacon polls and whatever nonsense. And speaking of polls, do not allow polling in this channel.

2. Add a way to report someone for spamming up chats and issue suspensions based on severity. This isn't just for the yell channel. This is for ALL channels. WoW has a report spam feature, and they suggest you use it for people that are being bad in their public channels. Because FFXI wasn't made for the mouse, I think the best would be to add in a command "/reportspam 'name'". This would issue a report to GMs with a timestamp so that they could look at the data and decide what needs to be done. Maybe hire a special person to do just that, because I can only imagine the amount of reports they'll get.

3. I like the above idea of linking the four Port zones and Whitegate together, but I have a feeling they can't do it because of how regions are coded. It's the same reason you can't invite someone from outside of your region.

That's all I got for now.

[Camate]

Just like all the existing chat features, you will have the option to set a filter for the new “Yell” feature, so don’t worry about having to listen to cross-area banter if you’re not feelin’ it.

Also, many of you have been asking about whether it will be possible to yell from one city to another, however, the development team does not have any plans of expanding this feature to encompass this.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Sorry for the delay, but I updated my previous post (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/7841-Server-wide-shouts?p=136892&viewfull=1#post136892) with the English version of the images ^^The dude in lower jeuno is a terrible example as it would have just been done in tell.
Just like all the existing chat features, you will have the option to set a filter for the new “Yell” feature, so don’t worry about having to listen to cross-area banter if you’re not feelin’ it.

Also, many of you have been asking about whether it will be possible to yell from one city to another, however, the development team does not have any plans of expanding this feature to encompass this.Please concider the delay option people are asking for since you seem wholeheartedly intent on implementing this bad idea.

[Kwate]

Bad idea. no server wide shouts. This would be abused and there is no real logical reason to have it.

The logical reasoning is to alleviate Jueno congestion.

[Unleashhell]

Still see no point in this feature. If you do a /yell in Bastok for instance you will only get people interested in parties that are somewhere in Bastok. What happens when you don't get enough people? Oh I know, you will go to Jeuno and yell. So we end up back in the same situation we are in now. Everyone will STILL be in Jeuno waiting for shouts / yells for Abyssea or w/e else people want to do. This will do nothing but create more server lag and we will continue to see masses of people in Port Jeuno. This will solve nothing. Put more trial moogles in the towns so when people get all their seals or +2 items they don't need to go to Jeuno. I don't see the point in setting my HP in my home nation when I constantly have to go back to jeuno over and over to turn in Emp. Weapons or Emp armor. Might as well just stay in Jeuno to begin with.

[Paksenarrion]

we will continue to see masses of people in Port Jeuno.

Not necessarily just Port Jeuno. Now I can sit in Ru'lude or somewhere more peaceful and listen to my chat log.

And I still have yet to find a reason to set my HP outside of my home nation. This still isn't it.

I'm not sure why the devs wouldn't look into cross-nation communication. That would make this feature even more useful.

[katz]

Just like all the existing chat features, you will have the option to set a filter for the new “Yell” feature, so don’t worry about having to listen to cross-area banter if you’re not feelin’ it.

Also, many of you have been asking about whether it will be possible to yell from one city to another, however, the development team does not have any plans of expanding this feature to encompass this.

This isnt going to sort out the mass of people in port jeuno then. If they are going to an event set up they will wait by the teleporters which will still be in port jeuno. and if the people are in port jeuno, then the bazaars will be in port jeuno.

[Rhianu]

Please consider the delay option people are asking for since you seem wholeheartedly intent on implementing this bad idea.
This idea is awesome and a forced delay function would ruin it.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

This idea is awesome and a forced delay function would ruin it.This idea is bad and people will ruin it. If SE thinks this is a solution to congestion, they are very wrong and should concider reimplementing the tax first.

[Avina]

The dude in lower jeuno is a terrible example as it would have just been done in tell.

>.> …

It was meant to demonstrate how the yell feature will look and appear in the log (Name(Zone)). It accomplished its goal. Somehow you missed the very obvious.

I think this feature is a good idea. I don't know if it alone will fix PJ congestion but it is a step towards that. I think bazaars though are really bringing it down... but if they introduced heavy heavy taxes in PJ and left other areas of Jeuno tax free then I think the bazaars would move.

[Defiledsickness]

this is a great idea, it means i dont have to sit in PJ to find seal groups or w/e else i need. it means less people in PJ which is good! hope that it will move some of those dang people who insist on just crowding all over PJ and not moving (and i can use an AH without lagging like crazy and actually type without my text lagging)

[Kari]

Just like all the existing chat features, you will have the option to set a filter for the new “Yell” feature, so don’t worry about having to listen to cross-area banter if you’re not feelin’ it.

Also, many of you have been asking about whether it will be possible to yell from one city to another, however, the development team does not have any plans of expanding this feature to encompass this.

Sorry Camate, but even I think the feature will be almost useless if people can't set their Home Point in their Home Nation and hear these from Jeuno. Logically it wouldn't make sense, but you guys are the ones who named it "Yell" after all.
This isn't at all what we asked for. I can almost guarantee it would be a waste of effort to make it Region based.
IMO if the Dev team doesn't want to make a method of optionally hearing shouts from Port Jeuno when I'm in, say, Bastok Mines, than the effort is being wasted.

To those who keep QQing about the feature [namely, Tsukino who is always posting for that post count], just turn the filter to off and pretend it never existed.

[Kwate]

This idea is bad and people will ruin it. If SE thinks this is a solution to congestion, they are very wrong and should concider reimplementing the tax first.

What do you propose to alleviate congestion? I know this idea would keep me out of Port Jeuno alot more.

[Johnblaze]

If they are going to an event set up they will wait by the teleporters which will still be in port jeuno.

I don't think enough people realize that there are teleporters in Ru'Lude Gardens. Which makes this idea perfect for me because that's where I normally teleport out from.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Somehow you missed the very obvious.I would say the same to you. I said it was a terrible example, not that it did not demonstrate it's use.
What do you propose to alleviate congestion? I know this idea would keep me out of Port Jeuno alot more.I already did. Tax.

[Alhanelem]

Please concider the delay option people are asking for since you seem wholeheartedly intent on implementing this bad idea. Please consider using the filter they will be giving you instead of adding an unncessary chat delay.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Please consider using the filter they will be giving you instead of adding an unncessary chat delay.Again, how a filter will simply cause you to lose any pertinent information contained therein.

[Alhanelem]

The fact that people won't listen and wont use it if it gets flooded with stupidity is the very thing that will prevent it from being flooded with stupidity.

Also, with the fact that most people in Jeuno are clustered in one area, this won't result in a substantial increase in chat volume from shouts.

[Unleashhell]

I already did. Tax.

Tax will do what exactly? There used to be a tax and everyone crammed into Rolanberry Fields. I don't know about your server but I see WAY more non bazzaring people in Port Jeuno then ones that bazaar. In fact not enough that even if they bazaared in Upper Jeuno would make any difference at all in port.

People will continue to stand afk or talking to LS people in Port Jeuno because most of them just want to show off their nice new Empyrean Weapons or Empyrean gear. If you stand by the NPC to Abyssea in Port Jeuno and look at your compass it will turn solid blue from all the people AFK at the NPC, and almost NONE of them have a bazaar.

[Kwate]

I would say the same to you. I said it was a terrible example, not that it did not demonstrate it's use.I already did. Tax.

So if I'm camping for shouts, tax is going to prevent me from this? If so please explain, I'm trying to honestly understand your logic when so many people agree on the current thread topic.

[Yugl]

I hope this feature gets people to afk in their damn MH instead of outside when they're not even bazaaring stuff. Even then, they should gtfo the main path and make a small district so people can move freely.

[Kwate]

I hope this feature gets people to afk in their damn MH instead of outside when they're not even bazaaring stuff. Even then, they should gtfo the main path and make a small district so people can move freely.

Ya know even if they somehow can't implement or somehow some unforeseen complication arise on server shouts, allowing shouts to be heard while in the MH is a giant step in the right direction. It would alleviate the MH road block as well as the abyss NPC road block quite a bit.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Tax will do what exactly? There used to be a tax and everyone crammed into Rolanberry Fields. I don't know about your server but I see WAY more non bazzaring people in Port Jeuno then ones that bazaar. In fact not enough that even if they bazaared in Upper Jeuno would make any difference at all in port.I see more bazaars more then anything. All the time, everytime.
So if I'm camping for shouts, tax is going to prevent me from this? If so please explain, I'm trying to honestly understand your logic when so many people agree on the current thread topic.You fail to see the logic you didn't read. He was arguing that /yell would aliviate congestion, I on teh other had am stating that it will not. He asked that I proposed a different solution, to which I had already said tax. What you fail too see is that tax has nothing to do with what you're saying.

[katz]

If the whole point of yell is to move people out of Port Jeuno, then move Joachim and Horst away from the AH. Put them in the chocobo racing area. Without the ah people wont crowd around them and the chocobo racing area is pretty empty most of the time. Nice big area for people to spread out easy access for all nations to go visit to listen to shouts.

[Aleste]

IDK, I guess the most we'll see is a small shift of people from port jeuno to Ru'lude gardens with the /yell feature...

If it's not possible (due to mechanics) to extend a shout across a large enough area selectively, then would it be possible to have a PC (or NPC if required) that listens to shouts, and transmits that information to 3-4 'gossip' NPCs who then repeat what was transmitted to them in /say (or shout)?

Example:

1 NPC that listens located midway in port jeuno
3-4 NPCs capable of /say; 1 located in each respective port (or whitegate)

Playercharacter Bob yell/shouts '{Ballista} {Do you need it?}'
Listening NPC hears Bobs yell/shout and sends that message (along with who shouted it) to the appropriate Gossip NPC in San d'Oria.
Gossip NPC Loudmouthlarry repeats the message in /say '{Ballista} {Do you need it?} - Bob

You could probably say something along the lines that Loudmouthlarry has a linkpearl and is getting fed the latest gossip from town... if you clicked him, he'd tell you to hush down as he doesn't want to miss anything.

[JovialRat]

maybe one day the dev. can improve on this shout feature in terms not having to be in the same "area" to see a shout.
ie, /sea all yells/shout port jeuno
this would definately help with the amount of ppl in PJ.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

God this forum is full of moaners, they only added this as so many people asked them to do so. Now you're complaining that you don't want it, make up your mind.

[Aleste]

Au contraire, it's a decent starting point... but if their intention is to get people out of Port Jeuno then it's unlikely to have the effect on the scale that they're looking for.

If I was willing to guess the main reason people hang out in Port it would be because:

Access to a number of locations
Auction House
Abyssea-related NPC's
Shouts
Bazaar (no-tax, high-traffic area)
lesser extent: signet/BCNM orb NPC' and nearby access to Magian Moogles

Recently, they've linked the auction houses and moved copies of the Abyssea-NPC's to alternative locations... although the problem lies in that the majority of people still hang out there to listen to and participate in shouts.

By allowing the shouts in port jeuno to be heard in the likes of Ru'lude, we might see a shift of people from Port to Ru'lude. However, this will hinge on whether or not the majority of players will use /yell rather than /shout, if insufficient people use /yell, we'll see a number of people returning to port on the grounds that they'll hear more.

It seems like the majority wants to be able to listen to shouts, irrespective of where in the world they are... whilst at the same time being able to escape from it inevitably being spammed with spam.

I personally feel like this is a progressive step, but it's not going to be the fix SE believes it to be.

[kingfury]

IDK, I guess the most we'll see is a small shift of people from port jeuno to Ru'lude gardens with the /yell feature...

If it's not possible (due to mechanics) to extend a shout across a large enough area selectively, then would it be possible to have a PC (or NPC if required) that listens to shouts, and transmits that information to 3-4 'gossip' NPCs who then repeat what was transmitted to them in /say (or shout)?

Example:

1 NPC that listens located midway in port jeuno
3-4 NPCs capable of /say; 1 located in each respective port (or whitegate)

Playercharacter Bob yell/shouts '{Ballista} {Do you need it?}'
Listening NPC hears Bobs yell/shout and sends that message (along with who shouted it) to the appropriate Gossip NPC in San d'Oria.
Gossip NPC Loudmouthlarry repeats the message in /say '{Ballista} {Do you need it?} - Bob

You could probably say something along the lines that Loudmouthlarry has a linkpearl and is getting fed the latest gossip from town... if you clicked him, he'd tell you to hush down as he doesn't want to miss anything.
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Cool Idea Aleste /

The current area messages from Campaign cities that update certain battle outcomes come to mind when thinking about this type of functionality in how it could look on screen. I could definitely see there being a cooldown timer between the "Loudmouthlarry" NPC dialogs to prevent NPC spam though. Maybe like 30secs to a minute depending on how much information they need to pass on. The biggest problem I can see with this is the unnecessary information like conversational shouts getting processed along with the pertinent pick-up, exp, crafting, etc. shouts and clogging up the gossip channel.

An alternative solution along these lines might be placing 3-4 NPCs throughout each city zone that allow players to input their "gossip" (such as pick-up event, exp, crafting, etc. related dialog) directly to these NPCs via text pop-up windows for distribution to other cities and towns. This way players could be prompted to construct their messages using an intuitive subject oriented communication menu that could possibly help filter out the unwanted spam, conversational shouts/yells, and possibly even bridge some communication gaps between non-english speaking players.

Example: Player Bob clicks on a "Gossip NPC" in Lower Jeuno and begins to construct his message via the suggestion menu.
• Possible Gossip Topics: Exp, Magian, Missions, Quest, Synthesis, NMs, and Battlefields
Bob chooses Exp »
• Subject (Exp)/ Location Select: This could possibly either use a drop down list or the use of the auto-translate system
Bob chooses Abyssea Altep »
• Subject (Exp)/Location (Abyssea Altep)/ Request Select + Current members obtained: Choose from multiple sayings that detail possible party request and any event related information you want to add, along with the current party member count.
Bob chooses Dominion Ops + (4/??) »
So the Player Bob would confirm his message:

Bob » Exp Abyssea Altep Dominion Ops (4/??)

And the Gossip NPCs would do the rest in terms of getting it to every other zone that houses a receiving Gossip NPC such as major cities and possibly towns. Coupled with a cool down timer, and multiple spots to construct and receive these messages throughout multiple zones, this could help in the directions of alleviating congestion in Port Jeuno.

I would opt for allowing players to be able to use a "repeat recently constructed message?" option to streamline the process, as well as an "Edit recently constructed message?" option should they wish to change anything. Perhaps even the ability to check through current/recent messages via a list menu supplied by the shouter NPCs. This could also lead to the option of "Use this constructed message?" and then editing the message to fit one's purposes to again streamline the process.

So long as the menus are intuitive, fast, and well thought out, it could be pretty helpful.

[Kwate]

Gossip NPC's are a good idea, however....

I feel the appeal of Port Jueno is the AH, MH, Abyss NPC's, synergy furnaces (which I use while camping) etc are right there in 1 convenient location. So in other cities, unless they place them between AH, MH or a good location I'm not so sure how that will catch on. But I think it's a step in the right direction.

Being able to hear /shouts while skilling up, doing mission, seal farming etc. You don't get the feeling like you're missing out. I can't tell you how many times I solo'd on low level jobs or skilling up, just to by impulse rush back to Port Jeuno because I felt I missed some good shouts.

edit: At this point I'll take anything, but server-wide is the true fix on this.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

then move Joachim and Horst away from the AH. Put them in the chocobo racing area.

There already are Abyssea stone/teleport NPCs in the Chocobo Circuit. The fact that you don't know that shows how well it's working.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

At any rate, my own two cents is that /yell is a band-aid measure, designed to treat the symptom rather than the disease. In this case, the disease is an ineffective /search and /seacom system. Yes, it's a bit of a Catch-22, but the reason people like to stand in one gathering place and /shout is that trying to find players with the same or similar interests is all but impossible with the /search feature, and people generally don't use /seacom to actually find a group because it's never actually worked for them in the past.

[Unleashhell]

People are still wanting server wide /yells. What is the point of that? For instance if you are currently right now in Port Jeuno standing around reading shouts, once you find someone with your common interest and you get into a party or ally you head to say Abyssea. Once you are in Abyssea or any other event that you joined from a shout /yell group why would you care about more shouts? You are already doing what you were seeking to do by reading all the spam shouts to begin with. Why load the server up with more lag from shout spam. Doesn't make much sense to me. Even if you turn a filter on, that /yell will still be lagging out the server as a whole. The more information that has to transfer the servers the more lag will become an issue whether you have a filter on or not.

If you want to relieve some of the congestion, a number of things should be done. First off put Magian Moogles in the cities. That gives one less reason for people to go to Jeuno in the first place. Next find a better bazaar system, something that people do not have to afk in 1 area for. Why cant we have something at the Auction House that lets you select to buy an item from the Auction house or from a bazaar? Or have Bazaar NPCs with the same system as the auction house where you browse through items in all bazaars.

Maybe those are kinda to far out there but its a starting point to get afk bazaaring accounts out of areas. I know its kind of hard to envision what I just posted but I'm sure one of you guys can add to it or change it up. At least maybe get the wheels turning for some of you. Also the Auction House imo has nothing to do with people staying in Port Jeuno. You can go to the Auction House in any part of Jeuno or any city for that matter. So why hang out at the Auction House just in Port Jeuno when you have so many other close by areas with an Auction House.

[Kwate]

If you look at the abyss pop items at the AH, they sell like crazy, which proves the AH is a big attraction, the convenience of having the abyss NPC's 3 steps away is almost too convenient. PJ, is just the most convenient complete zone in terms of services vs. distance.

I personally have my HP set in PJ next to the signet NPC, I get a warp scroll, refresh signet (habit), and I have a plethora of options within 50 steps, I can head to the AH, MH, I can even turnaround and zone into Sauromugue Champaign and FOV back to my home nation. Again this is my personal reasoning, considering the clutter around the HP crystal in PJ I assume the same for many others.

[Unleashhell]

Good Point Kwate.

[katz]

There already are Abyssea stone/teleport NPCs in the Chocobo Circuit. The fact that you don't know that shows how well it's working.
Thank you for the information. Im sure I wasnt the only person not to know this. I actually use Sandy as my hp and maw teleporter.

[kingfury]

Gossip NPC's are a good idea, however....

I feel the appeal of Port Jueno is the AH, MH, Abyss NPC's, synergy furnaces (which I use while camping) etc are right there in 1 convenient location. So in other cities, unless they place them between AH, MH or a good location I'm not so sure how that will catch on. But I think it's a step in the right direction.
-------------
Though it's not EXACTLY the same set up of course, all these things including the AH, MH, synergy furnaces, and Aby NPCs (via the chocobo circuit) are accessible in spots like bastok mines, and other city zones. The only thing missing at this point is the ability to hear shouts concerning pick-up happenings in high traffic areas like PJ and...well PJ.

Recently, they've linked the auction houses and moved copies of the Abyssea-NPC's to alternative locations... although the problem lies in that the majority of people still hang out there to listen to and participate in shouts.
-------------
Just to drive the fact home, starter cities have linked AH's now so you can buy all the same crap that you could as if you were in Jeuno. After reading a few post here I don't think many realized that the AH's had been linked from city to city. Again, without the ability to hear random pick-up happenings, PJ will still win out in terms of where to park your character.

[kingfury]

At any rate, my own two cents is that /yell is a band-aid measure, designed to treat the symptom rather than the disease. In this case, the disease is an ineffective /search and /seacom system. Yes, it's a bit of a Catch-22, but the reason people like to stand in one gathering place and /shout is that trying to find players with the same or similar interests is all but impossible with the /search feature, and people generally don't use /seacom to actually find a group because it's never actually worked for them in the past.
--------------
Agreed. The system simply takes too much time away from playing the game to even begin to weed through each and every comment in the hopes of actually finding something worthy to invest your time in. Usually, after enough time has passed, the comment is outdated or the player is afk.

[Chronofantasy]

Oh wow, I love that they're adding the yell feature. I'd much rather hang around Ru'lude gardens than port jeuno.

[Dimitrius]

Why dont they just make a Universal Linkshell you can purchase from an npc and equip like normal. One that doesn't have a limit on number of ppl everyone can use it.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

This feature is still a bad idea and will bring more trouble then help, BUT, that fact that it is always off everytime you login is an even worse idea.

[Catsby]

FFXI needs a lobby system for forming groups. Also, better interfaces.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

FFXI needs a lobby system for forming groups. Also, better interfaces.Maybe we'll get those in those other 2 MMOs they're working on.

[Bigtop]

I didn't read all the replies so if I am repeating let me know.
Since they added the warp npc's to all the ports why not connect all the port shouts and also add trial moogles, so less people need to go to Jueno, for anything other than doing the old quest list. to me what they did was not very effective in reducing lag issues sure it will be slightly less in port Jueno. I think only thing people will be looking for is way to do bazaar shopping because Rolenberry fields is no longer the bazaar spot

[Tsukino_Kaji]

So you're saying what you want is; that if you /yell in jeuno, you would like it to be visible in windy, sandy and lastok as well?

[Zyeriis]

I didn't read all the replies so if I am repeating let me know.
Since they added the warp npc's to all the ports why not connect all the port shouts and also add trial moogles, so less people need to go to Jueno, for anything other than doing the old quest list. to me what they did was not very effective in reducing lag issues sure it will be slightly less in port Jueno. I think only thing people will be looking for is way to do bazaar shopping because Rolenberry fields is no longer the bazaar spot
From Page 16:


This should be applied to areas that begin with port, not to the entirety of Jeuno. Why?

1) Theres 4 areas that begin with "Port", the same amount of areas as Jeuno: 4, so the server lag/issues would be relatively the same.
2) Those 4 areas are Port Jeuno (Jeuno), Port San d'Oria (San d'Oria), Port Bastok (Bastok), and Port Windurst (Windurst). So, you would be able to hear /yell in any nation, and thus could set your home point in any nation without missing out on /yells.
3) There are abyssea NPCs in all 4 of these zones. Joachim/Horst (Port Jeuno) Gilburt/Ivan (Port San d'Oria), Erich/Ernst (Port Bastok), and Fabricius/Willis (Port Windurst). So, it would make more sense to have /yell affect all of these areas, as they're equally good hubs.
4) Wouldn't have to apply 4 separate /yell areas in the world (1 for each nation) like you're planning to. And thus, not stress the servers as much.
5) Would be able to escape /yell without leaving the nation you're in, like many people would like to be able to do without having to toggle filters constantly.

The only reason I can think of for not taking this direction (aside from not thinking of it, which I doubt) would be that these areas are in different regions and however you need to code /yell has some bearing in the areas being of the same region (some sort of coding limitation that we cannot possibly comprehend).

I feel this is a better solution overall, though I'm unsure how many people are willing to agree with me on it after being so adamantly against it in the last few pages.
Would've of been better imo. Yell in Port Jeuno? Hear it in Port San d'Oria, Port Bastok, and Port Windurst as well rather than the rest of Jeuno.

[Nevens]

Filter set to on by default everytime you log make this result :
Now I need to /yell and to /shout
/shout for people in port jeuno who forgot to toogle filter after logging
/yell for people in rest of jeuno who did toogle filter and avoiding port for lag issues

Seriously, the point of this feature was to make party easier. And now the situation is worst.

I want a tool to easily meet people with the same needs than me to build a party.
Make this tool please. I was very happy about /yell, but now I'm very disapointed

[Jeez]

Wh-what!? Why does it automatically turn off? I was really hoping I'd get to use the darn thing!