The new player experience...

[Pixela]

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

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

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

@Babekeke

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

[Lithera]

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

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

[Xantavia]

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

Thats really......weird. You would figure all the 2nd stage Trusts would have the same requirements.

[Damane]

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

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

@Babekeke

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

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

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

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

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

[Babekeke]

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

This is already available.

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

[Zarchery]

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

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

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

[Pixela]

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

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

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

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

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

[Xantavia]

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

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

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

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

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

[Zarchery]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Babekeke]

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

This vvvvvv

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