FFXI dying or in a dry spell?

[Arbalest]

I don't agree with this......I'm not trying to argue that whether VW is fun or not since it's subjective, but I disagree with that only DDs "have fun" everyone else ZZZ besides buff/proc.

Healer just there to buff? So basically your DD will never lose HP from nukes and spikes, never get para, never get slowed, never get slept, never use soul eater?

Ppl in proc pt can still DD. BLM can still nuke and deal dmg, BLU NIN can all deal dmg if it's not higher tier. It's really your choice if you choose to ZZZ until a proc is called. But BLM, BLU and NIN in proc pt can do exactly the same as DDs in DD pt, that is to deal dmg.

Voidwatch is boring because 9/10 fights are spamming procs and riding your temps to victory. A good VW run will almost always involve taking NO damage at all, because of Fanatics - when your fanatics is down + you have hate, you're usually dead too fast for healers to touch you. Overall, VW is boring content with a poorly-designed drop system that desperately needs addressing.

on-topic: I came back to this game in the middle of the summer, and I had a blast getting myself up to date with most of the content. However, I can hardly bring myself to log in anymore. I don't find much about the game fun, and the only times I really have to log on are when nobody is around and I'm usually left to my own devices. I came back to play the game with friends, and meet new faces and all that idealistic crap, but it's boring when you're left playing solo.

For now, the game is in limbo for me, but I'll think about coming back when a couple of unknowns finally reveal themselves - those two being FFXIV: A Realm Reborn, which I've patiently awaited for 2 years now, and Seekers of Adoulin. If Seekers is no good, I'm done with FFXI probably for the last time. And I'm hoping that FFXIV: ARR will be my next big MMO to play, but there's always the chance it'll be no good either. Only time will tell.

[Chocobits]

None of the problem listed are OP's problem though and idk why you bring them up. OP's problem is that he/she can't find anyone to pt with to do stuff.

I think you missed the crux of my point. The point is, SE allots $0 in advertising to bring in new players to this game. The only way people would even stumble upon this diamond in the rough is by word of mouth from present/former players. If the burden is left to us to advertise for SE, what do we have to tell our potential victims? Everything I just mentioned? Who would play if they read/heard/saw any of that? Nobody, that's who. Nobody in their correct brain.

The game is new player unfriendly and without a constant influx of new players, all you have left is exactly what we are seeing - a dwindling populace.

I'm not saying the game is not fun. Obviously I still play. But I've already seen the best and been given the opportunity to get hooked when the game was in its prime. I'm not fanboyish enough to say that other than the job/subjob system and the immersive storyline, the game isn't woefully behind the curve in all other aspects. Graphics, raids, large scale content, PVP, guild vs guild/world vs world, adequate direction for newbs and general questing, satisfactory reasoning behind grind quests.. and in almost no other game does randomized timer crush your dreams on a regular basis.. Also, most other games REWARD players for their time spent playing (or not playing, in the form of xp multipliers). The time sinks in this game reflect a strategy that by design was meant to keep only a small but dedicated playerbase hooked for years and vehemently cast aside the casualcore player, and a strategy that is now so dated that when that dinosaur MMO comes out, we all might actually get unearthed and cameo in the game. It's ironic that relics have become one of the most popular and most accessible forms of content in the game.. it's a symbol of what the game has become.

I still don't think it's too late to turn all that around, but it would require a complete reshaking of the game from the ground up.

TL;DR - Yes, the game is dying, and will continue to do so. Because no matter how many times you swap captains, you're still left with the same crew. A crew that might be a mighty swashbuckling force to be reckoned with in the offline single player RPG realm, but are woefully in over their heads in the MMO world.

[Emilja]

this game is all about playing together I can't find anyone to play with me I can't do everything solo and my anglais is poor so I'm taken a break for now ; ;

[Afania]

I think you missed the crux of my point. The point is, SE allots $0 in advertising to bring in new players to this game. The only way people would even stumble upon this diamond in the rough is by word of mouth from present/former players. If the burden is left to us to advertise for SE, what do we have to tell our potential victims? Everything I just mentioned? Who would play if they read/heard/saw any of that? Nobody, that's who. Nobody in their correct brain.

The game is new player unfriendly and without a constant influx of new players, all you have left is exactly what we are seeing - a dwindling populace.

I'm not saying the game is not fun. Obviously I still play. But I've already seen the best and been given the opportunity to get hooked when the game was in its prime. I'm not fanboyish enough to say that other than the job/subjob system and the immersive storyline, the game isn't woefully behind the curve in all other aspects. Graphics, raids, large scale content, PVP, guild vs guild/world vs world, adequate direction for newbs and general questing, satisfactory reasoning behind grind quests.. and in almost no other game does randomized timer crush your dreams on a regular basis.. Also, most other games REWARD players for their time spent playing (or not playing, in the form of xp multipliers). The time sinks in this game reflect a strategy that by design was meant to keep only a small but dedicated playerbase hooked for years and vehemently cast aside the casualcore player, and a strategy that is now so dated that when that dinosaur MMO comes out, we all might actually get unearthed and cameo in the game. It's ironic that relics have become one of the most popular and most accessible forms of content in the game.. it's a symbol of what the game has become.

I still don't think it's too late to turn all that around, but it would require a complete reshaking of the game from the ground up.

TL;DR - Yes, the game is dying, and will continue to do so. Because no matter how many times you swap captains, you're still left with the same crew. A crew that might be a mighty swashbuckling force to be reckoned with in the offline single player RPG realm, but are woefully in over their heads in the MMO world.

All MMORPG would face the same fate after years of release, that it can no longer attract newer players. That's just the way MMO goes, you got new player when it launch, after 1~2 years you will get a lot less new players. Making newer super awesome content simply slow down old player leaving, but it isn't going to get a lot of brand new players no matter what.

Majority of FFXI players still plays due to the community and experience I belive. If FFXI release in 2012, it's not going to live this long. But it's been established for years and a lot of player simply just keep playing because of community, not because gameplay is super awesome. I played FFXIV sometimes, but never spend more time in 14 than 11. It's not because 11 is more fun(14 is actually more fun IMO), but simply because I'm more connected in 11's community than 14. I have more friends in 11, have more advanced character in 11, understands 11's mechanics more, and easier to do stuff in 11 if I want to.

[Sp1cyryan]

I can't find anyone to play with me

Guess the one referenced in your signature did not give you friends to choose from after all. :P

[Tsukino_Kaji]

I recently came back. SoA was too much temptation and things went really good for awhile. Now it seems you can hear the crickets chirp most days.

Lvling is done mostly solo as book burns are few, even the FC pts have come to virtually a stop. VW /sh have become few and far between (took me 2 months to get the 3 cities and Im still stuck on Jeuno 1 for progression, the other paths I have no hope for). Havent heard 1 /sh for meeble burrows yet or any other form of endgame. Nearly impossible to get ppl for CoP, ToAU, WotG missions and so on. Even empy item and seal pts are nearly impossible to fill. I have tried setting up pts for all the above and after at least an hr I give up.

Where the heck is everyone?

They jumped ship because there's nothing left to do besides rewardless grinding.
Also...
School started back up.
Additionaly...
You're a little early for SoA. >.>

[Elphy]

You're a little early for SoA. >.>

Yes I am BUT, need the time to catch up.

From a returning players perspective it looks like this...

Getting a job I HAVE to lvl up...boring/slow/mostly solo'd or costs gillions
Getting +2/top gear/empy...boring/slow/mostly solo'd or costs gillions
+
Repeat above for jobs I actually WANT to play
+
Getting into any decent linkshell/endgame content without the above...lol think again


SoA = pure endgame, already stated by by SE and not going to be used to attract new players

Hence need to return early for SoA or come back before it starts and not even find the rare vw /sh much less anything else

Those who have been around through it all or have reliable ls of course are going to white knight things, but the simple matter is if you are just coming back/starting, don't really know anyone, have lolgear and need to burn your way up its difficult right now and SoA promises to make it moreso.

Also so many ppl commented on my whm status. Im ONLY whm cause its the easiest job to lvl, kill maat with and break all lvl caps. The thought of having to lvl/skill/gear 1-2-3+ more jobs I dislike just so I can lvl 1 I do makes even WoW look good. And that says ALOT

Not sure if Im going to make it. This game has morphed into a whole different entity and the change has not been good for the most part. Most likely will just jump 100% to ARR and if that fails, well there is always GW2 and the new Elder Scrolls MMO coming out next year.

[Zagen]

Not sure if Im going to make it. This game has morphed into a whole different entity and the change has not been good for the most part. Most likely will just jump 100% to ARR and if that fails, well there is always GW2 and the new Elder Scrolls MMO coming out next year.

I get you came back and seem to have done is solo. Been there done that, Zagen is my 2nd character and I came back and made him when getting to level 75 took a month if you were hardcore about your playtime. I started new because I wanted to leave all the bad associated with my last character which meant losing the good just to be certain.

If you think the game is bad and my suggestions of going BST to make gil, get seals/+2 items isn't to you liking then lead. If you don't want to lead and can't find someone to lead your sheep self (don't get me wrong I love sheeping it up from time to time) along then don't waste your time coming back.

I know I'm coming off as an @$$ but in reality I'm being honest. If leveling and using a job you don't like because it is a means to an end isn't your thing, if leading a group of people who may have 0 idea of what you're about to get them into isn't your thing, if you can't find anyone else who deems you worthy enough to bring into their groups well you're SOL.

[Demon6324236]

Well I did offer you a pearl to my ls back on page 1, about all I can do for the most part. Seals you either have to shout for a party, or pick up on one in most cases, nearly everyone has the seals they need already done, +2s arnt so bad because doing Emps with people is an easy way to go about that. DD jobs you can gear easily as well, simply get some +1/2 from Abyssea along with some of the Haste pieces you need(Goading Belt, Zelus Tiara, Ace's Leggings) and a nice lv90+ weapon, and you should be ok for things like VW. Shout parties or a linkshell are your best methods of getting these things done besides soloing.

[wildsprite]

if its down to advertizing FFXI I wouldn't count on it, I suspect once ARR launches they will put all their money into advertizing it, they will keep XI alive till the interest dwindles enough that they can no longer justify the cost of keeping the servers alive, if you think about that, it isn't really that bad for a game as old as XI is....maybe after ARR is finally launched they will advertize XI again but I wouldn't count on it since advertizing costs a considerable amount and unless they can get returns on it with some sort of guarantee most companies wont even consider it, still with a new expansion on the horizon it could renew life to XI we will have to wait and see