The "Go Solo It" fever

[KorPoni]

I've noticed alot of people pay gil to get help. That's a straight out help right there. Offer enough for the help, then task complete. Although, for me, I did what yopop mentioned on alot of my characters, if I was in the zone, I asked people that were in the zone for help. If they didn't help, I'd just go do something else that I could do solo for awhile, and try again later. If you're stuck to where you can't move forward, like kazham keys, farm while you wait. There's many creative answers to getting the help you need.

However, none of anyone's answers seem to be putting this thread to use. You're wanting answers of what SE could do about it to see it happen. For early game, I don't see any real answers. But, let's say you're after specific bcnm drops. It would encourage people to utilize them if there was a set gil reward, so they know they're getting a reward each time they do it, even if they're trying over and over for a drop for YOU and not really aiming for anything for themselves.

Then, VNMs, gil drops, or certain nice equipment drops that are 100% droprate, would make those nice to do, even if the players just want to NPC them for the gil. What are some other areas you are wanting to look more into?

[Sovereign]

You've gotta realize that FFXI is a MMO... the whole idea behind it in the first place is multiplayer, and beyond that it's forming bonds with the people you play with. I figure that's the entire reason we have linkshells. I've known and played with the same group of people for many years. I know their real names, where they live, seen pictures of them, heard their voices on Ventrilo... even actually met a few. I'd go as far as to say some of these people may know me better than many of my real life friends. And because of those bonds I've created with other players, I've since never had an issue finding assistance for the things I want to do in game.

Players arent just going to come out of nowhere to help you unless you have a common goal. On the same hand, random people you see walking down the street arent going to go out of their way to help you, either. The idea behind this is you need to create friends first, and then your friends will bend over backwards and take time out of their schedules to help you out. Then you must reciprocate the favor. Thats what friends are for.

No one can really teach you how to make friends with other people. You've gotta do that on your own. But other people can offer advice, and I'll try to give you some now that might help you out with finding a group.

> Join a linkshell, and be sociable.
If you're a new player that has yet to achieve a high level, chances are you're going to end up in a social linkshell. All you can really do is be sociable, and of course the same set of social rules apply here as they do in real life. You wouldnt walk into a bar full of people you dont know and start acting a fool, talking shit to people, and being downright ridiculous. You'd get your ass kicked lol so just because you're behind a keyboard doesnt change the game.

> When you're ready, join an event linkshell, and do what you can to participate.
Being sociable is fine, but nothing creates bonds between players like doing something together. Any decent linkshell should never exclude anyone wearing their pearl, so this is your doorway into a group that can help you. An added bonus is that most event linkshells these days utilize a voice server, such as Ventrilo, and being able to put a voice to the characters you play with is an exceptional way to learn who these people are, and for them to learn about you.

> Avoid having multiple linkshells.
I know some players may disagree with this, but I think it's a key factor in building relationships with other players. Think of it kind of like your local bar... If you show up to the same place every day to hang out, people there will begin to know you. They'll know your favorite drink, what channel to turn the TV to, or even what you're going to order off the menu. But if you split yourself up, and go to different bars all the time... you'll always be anonymous.

> Give it time.
Just because you've got a pearl to a linkshell doesn't really make you a member of the group, if you know what I mean. You need to build trust with the people in your linkshell, and many times sacrifice the things you want for the things they want. Spend time with them, make friends and help them do things, and they'll return the favor when you ask. Thats what friends are for.

> Form smaller statics for common goals.
Event linkshells that work on the alliance level can sometimes be overwhelming... there are just so many people you dont always get the opportunity to really work closely with a few players. Outside of your event times, try creating smaller groups with a common interest. For instance, you can create a group that might Salvage together. Or maybe create a group that'll explore the storyline missions together. The game has enough content that I'm sure you can find a million things to do with other players that will benefit everyone involved.

[Greatguardian]

Biggest piece of advice I can give anyone new seeking help for things:

Never, ever start off asking for help on smaller things while you're idling in a city. If it's something that can potentially be completed solo, try to do it before asking others for help. If you fail once, don't give up right away. Many of the older FFXI players have gone through some incredibly frustrating times in this game, and we've all pushed through them. Personally, I've gone 1/100+ on multiple NM drops, and instead of begging people for gil to buy the AH-able version or trying to get others to camp with me, I simply kept at it until I got a drop. Old players love seeing this kind of dedication.

Don't expect your hand to be held. There are a lot of nice players out there, more than many people give credit for. But many players are sick of people expecting them to do everything for them. Be as self reliant as possible. Visit community sites and *read* before posting. Use resources like ffxiah and ffxiclopedia for basic information. If a mission walkthrough is unclear, and you've read it and are unable to find a cutscene or something, feel free to ask about it. If you haven't even looked up the mission you want to do, and want me to guide you through it step by step, I'm sorry but I'll pass - I've done it hundreds of times already and my head will explode if I have to do it again.

Show initiative, dedication, and self-reliance, and you'll find more help when you don't ask for it than you would have if you had asked. Older players know what is beyond your ability to do, and what is not. If we did it years ago at your level, chances are you can do it now. If we know it's highly unlikely you can beat something at your level but you're trying anyways and not giving up, well you'll find me sending you a party invite before you know it.

[Flunklesnarkin]

It's not anything new.. game has been like this a long time.. majority of people aren't helpful..

Big reason my first job was bst lol.. by the time i started playing everybody was lvl 75 and fully merited.. nobody wanted a noob around to leech >_>

Game really is a loooot easier tho....

Only time i see people getting shit and being told to solo something is when they should 99% for sure be able to solo it...

lot of the mission fights you can toss a jugpet and afk if you are lvl 90.. helped friend out with the windurst rank 10 fight like that a few weeks ago.

Done the Cop Airship fight (both of them) like that multiple times since they uncapped it. (easy 1500 exp )

I'll try to convince somebody to solo something sometimes to show them they are capable of it.. and i'll help after if they fail fail for some reason

[Yopop]

I want to reply to the "Social" aspect that a lot of people are repeating over and over.

Back in the day before all this speed leveling you go to know people through experience parties. There are very few of those now a days compared to what was.

Socialization here is very hard. People log in and do everything so quickly that names pass like ships in the night and you think you know the name or it looks familiar, but you can't remember.

I was lucky, before CoP we had a lot of great places to experience, then CoP came out and we had even more, and so on. Even when ToAU was introduced it was faster experience but the parties still lasted long enough to learn player styles and something about people.

With this Abyssea it's go from entering the zone and people do not really party they just run in and click and attack a mob. There's no funny lil things that happen, no mistakens that wipe the whole party that gives you something to talk about for the next hour because Exp was so slow and boring

Abyssea really did a lot of damage to the social aspect of exp parties. It takes no skill or effort in Abyssea and thus people just drone their way through it. After 45 minutes they end up losing their attention and they stand around or leave

[Kjara]

Yeah I agree making friends is harder nowadays due to new game mechanics, I'm lucky I got most of my stuff done pre-level cap. But here I'm talking about mostly newcomers that join the game and then quit in a few weeks because they won't feel welcome. This is why I'm not telling anyone to dedicate to babysitting more, but maybe add more things to help socialize more would help. The boot camp and OP 'hostel' idea was good, but I don't think SE will do something so drastic as introducing totally new areas just to chatter (nor I feel most of people would welcome it either, sadly). But I'm sure an option would be found to help people find the assistance that eventually we all need in a MMORPG. If nothing really can help revive exp parties, then maybe something can be done in some other field. Like, introduce skill ups in campaign battle (I realize this would put Besieged attendance on the brink but I can't really find another idea to help campaign battles revive) and set it so that those with allied tags are automatically put in party/alliance together.
People are too afraid of running into morons to try socialize. I've seen too many people saying stuff like: "Ugh he's rank 1 I won't invite him." "Gimp gear, must be new." "Have you looked at their subjob? We can't trust him to be our healer." etc...
There's a difference between newbie and noob and people often forget it. Noob is he who knows but will refuse to learn (the rdm who will keep spamming dia on slept mobs to skill up even when told not to.)
Newbie is he who just joined the game and has yet to learn how things work. We have all been through that and should try to not be afraid of new people. If approached nicely and assisted, these people could turn into great players that will return the favor one day.

[Frost]

"Go Solo it" is the new "Google it"

SO tired of googleing stuff only to get results that are forum posts titled EXACTLY what I am looking for, only to find someone asking the same question I am, and the only response being "Google it".

But that's neither here, nor there.
Carry on.

[rog]

"Go Solo it" is the new "Google it"

SO tired of googleing stuff only to get results that are forum posts titled EXACTLY what I am looking for, only to find someone asking the same question I am, and the only response being "Google it".

But that's neither here, nor there.
Carry on.

lern2google? 99.99% of the time you can easily find an answer to a question faster by using google than you could by asking on some forums.

[Frost]

lern2google? 99.99% of the time you can easily find an answer to a question faster by using google than you could by asking on some forums.

Reread what I posted. I believe you missed the part where I said:

"Go Solo it" is the new "Google it"

SO tired of googleing stuff only to get results that are forum posts titled EXACTLY what I am looking for, only to find someone asking the same question I am, and the only response being "Google it".

But that's neither here, nor there.
Carry on.

[Tezz]

"Go Solo it" is the new "Google it"

SO tired of googleing stuff only to get results that are forum posts titled EXACTLY what I am looking for, only to find someone asking the same question I am, and the only response being "Google it".

But that's neither here, nor there.
Carry on.

It's also along the lines of "Wiki it". It's hard to get direct information from someone these days because we rely on the internet to the point that we do not retain the information ourselves. It's that and laziness.
If you ask a LS member for some information they try to shrug it off by making you rely on something else because they may have forgotten a small piece of that information that could be crucial (like, wait until next gameday etc).

The easiest way around this is to try to be hostile and make the person seem unacknowledged on the matter. This typically challenges them to "look it up" themselves and from that point on, they will parrot the information back to you.

And then you don't have to alt-tab and look it up yourself!