About the current situation on the server for returning players.
Hai :)
Tbh I didnt knew if I should post this at the suggestion forum or here. Since I wanted to make a suggestion, but also I wanted to know the general opinion of everyone here, since I may be wrong :P or maybe im looking towards things in a different/bad angle.
Well... since 1.18 many people I know (irl) incluiding myself... are trying to come back and give FFXIV a fair shot. In my personal opinion, the last patch kinda gave me more hope :). I was so happy when I discovered I didnt had to "spam" one key, when I found out that the battle system feels like its "turn based" but it isnt. And im glad to see that I can use my brain (LOL) to actually fight , instead of just a regular spam attack button battle system. Im also expecting the swimsuits LOL! and dont let me get started with chocobos :P
Anyway, I have been trying to make a come back, but unfortunatly I have found some small issues on the server.
First as its was kinda obious, my LS died... In fact it was already dead LOL when I was playing...
I have been trying to meet new people, and try to find an active group to hang out in the game. My main concern is that it has been extremly hard. Im not the "social" type of person, but this is my first time in a MMO that its kinda hard.
Its kinda like a strange feeling, when I log into uldah I see everybody doind their own bussines, being AFK or just ignoring everyone. It feels liek a ghost town.
I think maybe it can be due to some factors:
*Almost everyone already have at least one rank 50 job. Meaning they have been here since the beginig.Therefore having already a setted up group of friends in game.
*Almost all the LS have been through rough patches in terms of survability. Making them tighter and closer.
*Its hard to trust people who isnt high level, due to the fact that you dont know if they are going to stick to the game.
*There isnt really new people... in terms of people going to gamestop and buying the game. And the game advertisement is not really at its best.
*No LS management system. Why would a LS leader is going to waste a space on somoene who might quit or go poof! the next day.
*If u dont have a rank 50, people may think ur a mule (smurf account made with a buddy pass).
*Servers are empty. With less people in game, less chance u get to know new friends.
Well those are the "reasons" I can think about why theres this feeling of solitude in the server.
Why I think its this a big deal?
-Well for starters I think that the major "concerns" about FFXIV are already being addresed. I cant expect 1.18 to be a miracle and fix a game in one night. But at least the last patch was a step towards the right direction. Meaing all they have to do is continuing workings that direction.
-Unfortunatly a game its not all about "gameplay, and game content". I think this is a solid truth when you are playing an MMO, in which, you as a player, expect some kind of "social gaming". You expect to get to meet new people, and do dungeons and level together. I have been in game that are really bad in terms of gameplay, but since they focus on the "social" part they get incredibly funny not because of the game itself, but because of the "friends you meet there".
Well tbh I thought this was kinda like "my own personal" experience and that maybe I was trying hard enough (even though I dont want to be pushy, when im trying to seek for a party LOL). I talked to one of my IRL friends who also happens to be playing FFXIV (he plays in Cornelia, and I play in Fabul). The point is that we agreed that our situations were kinda similar. He got bored really quick by trying to do everything by himself, and feeling like playing a XBOX RPG game. (If he wanted to play a 1-single player RPG he would have played a 1-single player in his console LOL). But I think everyone here , we at least expect some interaction with other players, specially when we are playing a MMO-RPG.
Anyway, here are my posible solutions:
*An "tutor themed event" in which high rank ppl get some reward by helping some underleveled player achieve certaing goals.
*Some quests of the main story, that require you to help a random underlevel player.
*LS management system. (Im not inside an LS and I do feel the need for one LOL).
*Allow us to change servers (so we can play with ppl that we know are in other server) (No I dont want to re-do my char, even though its not really high level, I had to re-do it first for the onion helm, then a third time for the asuran armgloves, I refusee to re-do my char again LOL).
*Server merge??? (I know ... its really drastic, and tbh im not so sure about how good will it make, but I think its worht a small mention).
I think that its time for us "the community" of FFXIV to start making this server, welcoming enough for all returning players, and for all the new players. Hopefully we can help the game succed if we continue building a good, mature community.
Well those are my suggestion, and opinion about the topic :)
It would be great if the community, can at least give their opinion, since maybe im looking at this at the bad angle, or maybe it was just a bad experience for me and my friend. Also it would be great if u guys can like put some suggestions and hopefully a dev can see this :).
Ty all for reading this. I know its kinda hugeee.
Arlekiel Dukiel
Fabul