Level Sync needed ASAP!

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...tch-1.19-Notes

Enemy Type
As the variance in strength between enemies has been reduced (see below), enemy type will not influence EXP yield.
* The exception to the above is those enemies deemed extremely weak or strong.

[dev1027] Enemy attributes have been adjusted.
Certain varieties of enemies who were disproportionately strong for their level have been adjusted in order to make an enemy's level a more accurate indication of it's strength. Based on this revision, enemy characteristics such as strong attack or defense will be kept to within the bounds of level.

The difference in mob strength is basically uniform between all mobs. Only difference is abilities used. If you are lv 40 and a lv 40 mob hits you for 150 dmg, all lv 40 mobs will hit you for 150 dmg. You won;t find one that only hits for 75, or one that hits for 300. Unless it's a NM.

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"Kept within the bounds of level" does not mean "made identical."

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Originally Posted by SniperRifle

I remember doing Level 20-75 on 2 classes in only Qufim Island in FFXI post level synch because it was optimal sp/hr. Some find this to be positive, some find it negative.

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Why? There were TONS of other viable pt area, esp with [s], toau areas, MMM and on and on. I only pt in the dunes 12-19 and qufim 19-26ish max then moved on to higher camps. Not only was exp per hr fantastic in other areas but it helped ur skills from getting gimped. If you stayed in qufim to 75 you really needed to explore more.

lv sync yes, please..

btw when it out please make some merit point or something that who lv 50 can use very hard to get it still ok if that can get just like 1 point per 100000 xp and can use this point to some boost item from craft or gathering or exchange ex-skill that come from merit or .upgrade old skill idon't mind if effect skill very low just better then normal that possible call ppl back to PT low lv with other if it become to merit PT and no one back to help low lv just make it limit point per day -3-b

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Originally Posted by MicahZerrshia

Why? There were TONS of other viable pt area, esp with [s], toau areas, MMM and on and on. I only pt in the dunes 12-19 and qufim 19-26ish max then moved on to higher camps. Not only was exp per hr fantastic in other areas but it helped ur skills from getting gimped. If you stayed in qufim to 75 you really needed to explore more.

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Because in XI we had this weird practice of putting up a seeking party flag and taking the first invite we got? Hopefully this won't be the case for XIV, though. Like I said earlier, I'm not against Level Sync totally, I just don't think we need it for a long time--let alone ASAP.

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Originally Posted by Zezil

lv sync yes, please..

btw when it out please make some merit point or something that who lv 50 can use very hard to get it still ok if that can get just like 1 point per 100000 xp and can use this point to some boost item from craft or gathering or exchange ex-skill that come from merit or .upgrade old skill idon't mind if effect skill very low just better then normal that possible call ppl back to PT low lv with other if it become to merit PT and no one back to help low lv just make it limit point per day -3-b

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english mustnt be ur first language ^^ took me a couple reads to get it, but I did lol

I think a merit system would be good but we most likely will not see this until they cap our lvls as far as they plan too, like 75 in xi. With 1.21 it seems like they are going to be rolling out quite a bit so even tho some of us have all 50s we will still have tons to do. Hopefully this trend will continue from here on out ^^

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Originally Posted by Mychael

Because in XI we had this weird practice of putting up a seeking party flag and taking the first invite we got?

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We wouldnt even bother to invite someone 30+ to a lvl 20 pt and no one ever really did since the answer was 'no thanks' 90% of the time. Maybe its a by server thing but if you were lvl 65 and lvling in qufim u were kindda looked down on as a gimpy noob by the majority. imo the only jobs that had to take what they could get were jobs like pup, cor, blu and thf since ppl generally didnt invite them. Other jobs like brd pld rdm sam and so on you had to hide info or get invites with no flag up so u could be esp picky

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Originally Posted by MicahZerrshia

We wouldnt even bother to invite someone 30+ to a lvl 20 pt and no one ever really did since the answer was 'no thanks' 90% of the time. Maybe its a by server thing but if you were lvl 65 and lvling in qufim u were kindda looked down on as a gimpy noob by the majority. imo the only jobs that had to take what they could get were jobs like pup, cor, blu and thf since ppl generally didnt invite them. Other jobs like brd pld rdm sam and so on you had to hide info or get invites with no flag up so u could be esp picky

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Level 20 party, no. But if it was a party on ladybugs/colibri in East Ronfaure [S]? Hell yes, we'd invite everyone up to 74, and sometimes 75. And more often than not, they'd take it. The whole bit about some spots being better than others--no one said that the lowest spots were better than others.

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Originally Posted by Mychael

Level 20 party, no. But if it was a party on ladybugs/colibri in East Ronfaure [S]? Hell yes, we'd invite everyone up to 74, and sometimes 75. And more often than not, they'd take it. The whole bit about some spots being better than others--no one said that the lowest spots were better than others.

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Ok, u never would have gotten a 74-75 in er[s] camps on my server lol, no one after 45 would really take them unless they were helping a friend or desperate lol they would move on to faster higher lvl kill camps so as not to have to go back and skill later. Imps, Colibri, Puks and what not from 40-65. In the high 60s-70s we would be killing beastman and other high lvl mobs in places like Mamook or Mount Zhayolm and exp per hr was always great and by the time we capped exp at 75 our skills were usually capped as well.

must just be a by server thing

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

I'm shocked Level Sync wasn't made a top priority along with the battle reforms.

For the sake of new players, returning players, and current players with classes below rank 40, get level sync into the game ASAP!

It is so discouraging when someone in LS says "anyone with a level 25-32 want to form a PT?" and all the replies are "sorry, nothing below level 40" "Would love to but everything is at 50"

Allow us to play with our fellow gamers!

I want to invite my friend to join XIV, but I know he'll be largely on his own til he hits level 40, or unless he gets PL's (but that not playing the game).

Level Sync in Ver 2.0 is too late. We needed this YESTERDAY!

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I have to agree with the OP. I'm not as determined to have it in the game as he, but I fully understand the good use of level sync for friends and fellow users in FF XIV. It would definitely make getting exp parties even easier with the new search function. Easier and much, much faster for all players.

The reason I really loved level sync was because it allowed my two cousins, who had played FF XI for quite a few years, to party up with me and my friend and allow us to level/skill up without any worry about an exp loss or a loss in challenge.

I started playing FF XI late in the game, 2009, when level sync was already in the game, so I was born into the FF online atmosphere with that attached. The lack of it in XIV over a year ago was a bummer, since me and the same exact cousin who helped me in XI now got left behind due to my progress on XIV. I couldn't really go back and help unless I used a lower job, which I was not interested in doing at the time, more concentrated on getting my lancer to be first to 50.

In today's game, all my war/magic jobs are all 50. So in retrospect, all I can really do now is spiritbond parties with other 50s or PL someone. I'm not upset about it, but it would be nice for players to have the option to level sync down to someone's level, get more exp parties going, and spiritbond at the same time, so it gives you some incentive.

No level sync :)

We currently don't have many players at the moment which is why it's difficult to find a party. However there is solo content that allows you to level up~ even though it's a bit slower.

You can solo until you find a group using the search function :D

It's already so easy to level... I mean you could argue that it's hard to find groups on some servers when you're in a weird level range, but it's not like level sync would really fix that.

There's already so few useful places to camp at, why reduce that number even more with level sync?

I think it's just one of those things that sounds great in theory but once you put it in the game it's just not as cool as you thought.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

Says the guy who got all his DOM/DOW classes 1-50 in just over 2 months.

How much of that was power level and how much of that was solo?

How about this, how much of that was from normal pick up exp PTs?

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When you are unemployeed for 5 months its easy. Furthermore it was a lot of shouting and actually taking the time to finding the players who wanted to level their class/jobs. Its called work and it seems like everyone but a few dont want to put the time in. Leves with the added bonus works well if you take the time to actually use them. It was much easier to get parties going before billing, but even after we lost players due to billing level sync isnt gonna help. This is a new game and is being relaunch as 2.0 next year. The only reason people cant level is A. due to billing and B) they dont want to take the time and work by shouting and actually looking for players who want to level, and than of course there is C) refuse or dont want to solo leves.

Also I would like to add I dont mind SE and the devs useing things from FFXI to improve FFXIV, BUT if players want this game to be like FFXI after aby we dont need it. FFXIV needs improvements as well as content, what we dont need is level sync and the likes that pretty much destroyed FFXI. This game is way too young to even consider something like this, not at least for another 5 years

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Originally Posted by Yellow

No level sync :)

We currently don't have many players at the moment which is why it's difficult to find a party. However there is solo content that allows you to level up~ even though it's a bit slower.

You can solo until you find a group using the search function :D

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The community is divided. If anyone logs in to play and says "Hey I want to level my Glad, it's lv 36 anyone want to join?" Why shouldn't their lv 50 LS mates be able to sync down to match that person level so they can play the game together?

Last I looked we are playing a MMO. Not a single player game.

Not having level sync is making finding a EXP PT when ever desired a very irregular occurrence. Being able to create an EXP PT should be routine in an online multiplayer game.

This game needs to unite the player base across the board, not present any new or retuning player a giant wall to over come just to be able to play.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

Are you purposefully misquoting me with this here? I no where near said anything like that. nice try.

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Nope, just fixed that Sentence for you.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

If you want to turn this into a pissing match of opinions fine.

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That is what you started with your first Post, so you are mad someone giving it back?

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

I never once was forced or was required to join a level sync PT to level or merit any of my several jobs in my 8+ years of FFXI.

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Lucky you. Does that make it a fact that noone had to join those stupid Jungle/Quifim Parties? No, it doesnt.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

Each and every time I joined any level sync PT as a job higher than the sync its self I did so voluntarily. Usually I joined not to advance myself, but to help advance LS mates who where otherwise having a difficult time leveling their jobs.

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Lucky again. Since your first Post you are trying to make your personal opinion a simple Fact, but its not. So no matter how you trying to look at it, you wont change the fact that certain People dont like Level Sync. And according to that: No, Level Sync is not a "must have".

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

So for once I'm asking people to stop thinking about themselves and think about potential new or returning players who find such a disparity in level gap that they soon quit.

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A Note to yourself? Seriously.. before you give an advice what other People should do, you seriously should do it yourself, no?

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

Would a system that allowed high level players to temporarily match their level to other players to help them level up fill that void? YES!

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No. That is just your personal Opinion and like i said allready, it doesnt make it a fact.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

From a game play stand point tell me what is the difference as a level 30 character joining a level 20 sync grp?

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If you didnt learn this in your 8+ Years of FFXI, then you never understood Level Sync at all. A Level 30 Character wont have the posibility of using certain Abilities, since he is dowend to Level 20: Fact. So he wont know how to use certain Abilities in certain Situations until they appear and he have to relearn an allready leveld Job: Fact. Should i keep going?

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

You have less skills to choose from, but you get similar style play and actually actively take part in.

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Which is limited, due the fact of Levelsyncing your Job down. If you are telling me you will learn the whole Class and it Skills while ranking it up to the Top in a lowlevelsync-Party, then you are blind.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

Instead currently we have a system that encourages power leveling. Where players invite and kick a high level person, who then kills all the rounded up mobs. 1-7 people take absolutely no part in playing thsi game during that time. They level 1-35 this way in a lot of cases.

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Guess why it took Place in this Game? NA-Forums were whining about how hard ranking is.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

So tell me a system that encourages players to actually team up and level the way developers intended us to isn't needed.

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Really i have to? The way it was before they added the "PL-System". Since then i never really had SP-Parties again, while i had tons of Parties before that.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

Also enlighten me, on how level sync with XIV mob strength and EXP mechanics would force anyone thats under level 40 to join a sync style party?

We get a 10 level gap difference to obtain EXP.
Monster strength is balanced to level, not mob type.
There are in each camp location mobs that range from equal level to +9 meaning at a level 20 camp you can find mobs in groups from lv 20 - 29, at a lv 30 camp you'll find mobs lv 30-39 and so on and so on. There are no preferred leveling spots like in XI due to monster strength discrepancies.

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Did you ever read Producer Letters or did read the Roadmap of V2?

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

So your turn. What do you propose to be done about the clear rift between current established players and new or returning players that may trickle in until ver 2.0 is released and then see a higher influx of players?

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Change it back to how it was, before SE added the PL-System due all the whining Posts on the NA-Forums. Simple.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

Last I looked we are playing a MMO. Not a single player game.

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You never checked, huh? FFXIV is a Game which was intended to support Casual/Soloplayer.

Again, just because a mechanic worked in XI (arguable, I know plenty of people that just hated it), doesn't mean it'll transition perfectly to this game.

I'm all for taking the good parts of XI and putting them in this game, but I just can't stand the crowd that keeps insisting, even more than a year after release, that every mechanic in this game has to be a copy/paste of XI. It's starting to get ridicolous.

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Originally Posted by Colino

Again, just because a mechanic worked in XI (arguable, I know plenty of people that just hated it), doesn't mean it'll transition perfectly to this game.

I'm all for taking the good parts of XI and putting them in this game, but I just can't stand the crowd that keeps insisting, even more than a year after release, that every mechanic in this game has to be a copy/paste of XI. It's starting to get ridicolous.

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Liked this.

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Originally Posted by Nero

You never checked, huh? FFXIV is a Game which was intended to support Casual/Soloplayer.

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I think that Yoshi changed this view imo. In his letter he still sais 'We also want to support the solo players', but more & more content is aimed for groups. And imo, that's the way he should go. We play a MMO for multiplayer, if you want to play solo, you better buy an RPG.

But OT: I loved level sync, and I think it would be a good thing to help lower lvl players lvling up. At least we don't need to PL them anymore then XD we can just play together.

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Originally Posted by Finalfreak

I think that Yoshi changed this view imo. In his letter he still sais 'We also want to support the solo players', but more & more content is aimed for groups. And imo, that's the way he should go. We play an MMO for multiplayer, you can buy an RPG to play singleplayer.

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Yep, because SE is realizing that most People want Group-based Content over Casual Content. I never said i like the Casual/Solo thing, but it was how FFXIV was designed in first Place. If they going to change it way more into Groupcontent or hell Alliances! im all for it.

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Originally Posted by MicahZerrshia

Why?

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Originally Posted by SniperRifle

optimal sp/hr.

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10characters

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Originally Posted by Nero

Yep, because SE is realizing that most People want Group-based Content over Casual Content. I never said i like the Casual/Solo thing, but it was how FFXIV was designed in first Place. If they going to change it way more into Groupcontent or hell Alliances! im all for it.

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I agree with you but they should at least leave some solo content this way we dont have to deal with what they did to FFXI in the last couple years. Than again some casual/soloer will complain, about something else.

Two of my friends who had retired in the early months after the game's initial release tried to come back to the game. They both had really high hopes and were very energized over the idea of rejoining the community and even were ok with paying the subscription fees.
They both quit again after a week of playing because neither could find anyone in the low level ranges to form a party anymore. Sort of a product of low server population in addition to everyone being max level in basically everything by this point in time.

Sure, we could have exploited the claim system to power level them up, but some people play a MMO for the journey not necessarily the numbers. And if you can't participate with your friends (or make new ones) through out all aspects of the game, what is the point of playing a social game at all? I know that the dev team has promised us a level sync system in 2.0, so I just wanted to highlight the importance of it if they expect to to have capped people and new or returning people coincide merrily.

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Originally Posted by Kio

Sort of a product of low server population in addition to everyone being max level in basically everything by this point in time.

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I cal shenanigens, not everyone has all clases to 50. Most don't even have most classes to 50 .The server population part, though, I can agree with. I quess I am lucky on besaid, as we have enough of a population that I stil see people registred on search or shouting for 15-20 level range groups. So far, everytime I got to party on my lower level range classes I seem t ofind groups in reasonable amounts of time.

I am against level syncs. Especially when its so easy to PL. Both of which I am against, personally.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

I'm shocked Level Sync wasn't made a top priority along with the battle reforms.

For the sake of new players, returning players, and current players with classes below rank 40, get level sync into the game ASAP!

It is so discouraging when someone in LS says "anyone with a level 25-32 want to form a PT?" and all the replies are "sorry, nothing below level 40" "Would love to but everything is at 50"

Allow us to play with our fellow gamers!

I want to invite my friend to join XIV, but I know he'll be largely on his own til he hits level 40, or unless he gets PL's (but that not playing the game).

Level Sync in Ver 2.0 is too late. We needed this YESTERDAY!

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I agree with you 100%! It'll also be useful since there's only one dedicated healing class in the game for now.

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Originally Posted by Kio

Two of my friends who had retired in the early months after the game's initial release tried to come back to the game. They both had really high hopes and were very energized over the idea of rejoining the community and even were ok with paying the subscription fees.
They both quit again after a week of playing because neither could find anyone in the low level ranges to form a party anymore. Sort of a product of low server population in addition to everyone being max level in basically everything by this point in time.

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Originally Posted by Coglin

I cal shenanigens, not everyone has all clases to 50. Most don't even have most classes to 50 .The server population part, though, I can agree with. I quess I am lucky on besaid, as we have enough of a population that I stil see people registred on search or shouting for 15-20 level range groups. So far, everytime I got to party on my lower level range classes I seem t ofind groups in reasonable amounts of time.

I am against level syncs. Especially when its so easy to PL. Both of which I am against, personally.

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It's Kio's scenario thats exactly what I'm talking about. These players arrive or return to a environment where they are the odd man out. They then leave soon there after because they just can't stomach leveling any of thier classes which are low level due to such a shallow selection of other players of a similar level.

Coglin, you might be correct that most people don't have everything @ 50. I don't. I still have Mar @ 37 Pug 39 and Conj 47.
I have a few LS mates that have a few class scattered around in the 20's a few in the 30's level range. But this is the kicker; Most of the levels are out of PT range so between 6 people we might have something like this:
lv 19 24 29 32 33 37.
Under XIV rules you could take the 19-29 and make a PT (hope the 29 doesn't level before the 19!) then the 32-37 people could form up and EXP.

But Wouldn't it be nice if you could just all sync to 19 and play together? Isn't that what community is about?

This is a game, We are meant to have fun and play together.

between the low populations and the disparity in level ranges it keeps people divided for too long of a time.

Level Sync is a good system to unite the player base.

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Originally Posted by Coglin

I cal shenanigens, not everyone has all clases to 50. Most don't even have most classes to 50 .The server population part, though, I can agree with. I quess I am lucky on besaid, as we have enough of a population that I stil see people registred on search or shouting for 15-20 level range groups. So far, everytime I got to party on my lower level range classes I seem t ofind groups in reasonable amounts of time.

I am against level syncs. Especially when its so easy to PL. Both of which I am against, personally.

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I respect your comment, but I can't help but feel your point of view may be skewed a little bit by being a citizen of a blessed server. The rural ones who don't get advertisement for newcomers or stayers by popular websites have a harder time maintaining social groups. The end result typically a sieve effect, where casual players slowly migrate out of the game for various personal reasons and only hardcore completionists are left behind. The problem with our population is that not enough new players are added in mass to balance out the sifting effect. So we always just end up, at the end of the day, with the same circle of players who've already "been there, done that" for the most part. Doesn't mean that every single active member on Trabia is already 50 in every class that they'd like to level, but it doesn't bode well for new players if it takes a solid week of trying to put together an actual party to be able to do so. There just isn't enough people to participate and maintain a healthy early content spread.

Granted, I'm not exactly sold on how level sync will work other than being a niche device of helping your friends out. In XI it was lovely because you had the motivation to continue to xp for merit points and expand your character more. This game lacks that, unless you count materia which is rather weak motivation in my book. You have to first have a lot of disposable gear to work with, and also the means of obtaining your goal is still better suited for a level 50ish party.

More players to play with would solve this problem. A level sync would not be needed if we had people to create parties with.

Level Sync, yes please.

Using a low server population as a reason isnt valid since we will be having server merges

your problem will then be fixed

Bring it back, who cares. Too easy to pl and no achievement or satisfactin in ranking up either.

Just reinstae weaponskill levels as a countermeasure. Nerf the people who want an easy life on their way up and give those of us who put the effort in to do things properly some reward for playing the game as intended. Quested weaponskills spring to mind, WSNMs, with additional effects or aftermaths - anything to deter people from begging constantly for a shortcut.

XIV does not need level synch. The concept will destroy the hard work put in to creating all the brand new camps and party locations. Who here remembers having to stay camping r15 Worms in Qufim Island until they could get a synch at level 30? Waste of time. And if if MUST be instigated then it should create nerfed results. Undertrained, unskilled charcaters played by people who don't know what they're doing. All these unskilled players then spill over into the endgame scene, complain its too hard and time consuming and give The Dev Team another excuse to make the game too easy. Viscious cycle, waste of time. If you can't handle the fact that an MMORPG should exist to require your time and effort, perhaps you shouldn't be paying for one. The time-sink element is what keeps people connected to the servers in an MMORPG. The anticipation of achieving something is what gets them to connect in the first place. Put level synch in place in this system and watch both of those gameplay keystones crumble.

Rather, the most important thing is keeping the servers breathing. Merging, advertising, patching; these three things keep players signing up and playing together. More people to play with means more parties. This is the Dev Teams priority, not "adding level synch yesterday."

I apoligise to those who feel the tone of this post is too stern for these forums, but imho the aggressive, nonsensical manor of the OP was just the sort of thing that this game does not need.

No cliff notes cause even I forget what I wrote.

I like some of the points being made clear in this thread. That FF14 is an MMO and that multiplayer should be encouraged. Rightfully so, they could have a simple, efficient, basic, easiest-thing-in-the-world-to-pick-up search system. Like, one button on the UI that allows you to see what anyone would typically want to see. I had all my DOW DOM at 50 thanks to leve cancelling, so I can't give an accurate scenario. But for instance, you just got out of like 3-4 hours of content grinding with your LS, and you're all a little worn out and no one really wants to level a lowbie. So on the class you want to level you click a button and instantly;

1) A Comment Box appears in the middle of your screen where you leave a very brief description of what you want, PT Lv20-25, anywhere but Gridania region. Materia O, Food O. (example)

2) Once you finish the comment box you are now in the LFG search and anyone (any lvl/class) who is also LFG will be in that search, which can also be viewed by the simple click of a button.

3) You craft/farm/idle while rechecking the LFG list every few minutes, and the class you are LFG on will still remain the same.

4) If you want to level multiple classes, you can either;
a) LFG on the one you want to level most
b) a new feature is implemented where you can LFG on multiple classes (infact I think we have this right now) and it is shown in the LFG list.

5) When you log off it removes you from Queue.

6) There is a little hrs/mins highlight stating when the person first queued LFG.

7) As well as everything I listed, include everything that worked automatically (not manually) in previous search systems like language, nation, rank, name (maybe even Linkshell), current zone location.

8) Above all else, and I stress this as much as possible, make it quick, easy to use, and user friendly. When people log on, after that opening cutscene, it should be the first thing that players are accustomed to learning. Just bam, some NPC walks up to you baddass/seductive/cutsiepoopsie (depending on starting class/region/race) and tells you how to use the search feature. The NPC can emphasize REMEMBER! IF U WANT EPIC FUN MMO N LEVEL FAST WITH FRIENDS THEN MAKE SURE U USE UR LFG BUTTONZ ERYTIME U LOGON! NOBODY WANTS TO BE A LONER!. And if people like to solo, who cares, nothing anyone can do and it doesn't hurt anyone, but the point is to encourage party play. And if the game does not make party play easily accessible or rewarded adequately, why the hell would anyone do it?

Now I know the game isn't this extreme, but for instance, if the second someone started an MMO the game said Pssst, I don't say this to anyone, it's a secret, but if you solo, you'll get infinite money, gold, bragging rights, and are 10000x stronger then any other player, and they won't even know because it's a secret, they'll just respect you and assume you did everything they did but just better faster and smarter. Then I'm sure there would be atleast, a slight increase in players who prefer to solo over party play. And like I said the game isn't this extreme but using the same context, if the game explained easy to use party play, taking pride in your character, meeting new players w/ similar interest, showing respect, and frowned upon LS hopping, bad pug manners, playing for solely your own benefit and not the friends/players who helped you achieve your goals, then the community would probably be molded into something we'd all like to see.

And no, no one has to abide by these rules, which isn't even the proper word. It's etiquette. Which people who have only sunk a fair chunk of time into MMOs can recognize and follow. Instead of having new players come in trying to level up and give up somewhere down the line because they didn't know getting into a party would be faster, making a positive name for themself on the server would be beneficial to getting PT invites/quality LS, making friends who play the game the same hours they do would come in handy.

There always will be players who stick to their small group, players who solo, and players who spontaneously do w/e it takes to get what they want. However, if there was a proper form of efficient grouping that players could easily hop in and out of while maintaining a good rep and not waste time then it would be a pretty close secondary style of play for those players who primarily stay in small groups, solo, LS/PuG hop to the top.

Some things to note are the system we have now probably does work perfectly fine, the server populations are just so low it difficult to evaluate grouping features.

I'm assuming, popular self-questions are asked when thinking about playing FFXIV;

Why level when you don't have a proper LS to do content w/ consistantly?
Why level when the game has no content, and will not have content til 2.0? (feel free to argue 1 week of killing a moogle or running through a 25minute dungeon is content, i really don't care lol)
Why level when the game is unfinished, going through a massive overhaul, the classes are unbalanced, and it will probably be 10fold more fun, easier to group, with better rewards and unlockables in 2.0?

It's only my assumption that 2.0 will be a success because if it isn't, there is no FF14, and if you're assuming 2.0 won't be a success and playing just because FF14 is in it's optimal year of play currently, then you'd be crazy (yet still entitled to your own opinion). With that said, I'm implying we all have the same perspective on 2.0 and FFXIV as a whole, that doing anything in game until 2.0 is miniscule in comparisin to the grand scheme of things.

I know, there are those of you, and myself included, who think/thought you could level up your character, make close friends and do tedious stuff together in game to pass the time til 2.0, meanwhile all benefitting your own characters and reputation in game. And come 2.0 you'll have a strong solid group of LS member who magically, aren't burnt out on playing FFXIV 5 days a week at the level cap grinding the 7 days worth of content for the span of 2-3 months inbetween patches.

Different color because this is very subjective, kind of irrelevent, and probably not worth reading. It's essentially just advice if you have a couple 50 classes and keep logging onto 14 for unknown reasons (god forbid you enjoy the game in its current state and have been playing since launch with STILL no clear defined goals to strive for)

It just really isn't worth it. Encourage your LS doing stuff outside of FF14 together to bond and that will make your LS stronger, doing things together for the fun, not the profit or the benefit. Anyone who can seriously sit and play this game with like 200 players on their server (20-30 actually active) I highly advise taking 1millmeter step back and look at wtf you're doing. 1.21 is here whenever it's here, come to lodestone once or twice a day taking a 60second glimpse if there is new info/1.21 info, then (if you planned on playing 14) go play with your linkshell mates but in a fun game. You're literally doing the exact same thing you would've been doing in 14 but not in game.

The concurrent server populations are dangerously low on all but 3 servers, so that would greatly effect the amount of xp parties, search displays 60%+ of the populations to be 50, and 40% to be 1-49. 1-10 can be done in less then an hour using 1 standard attack to hit everything you see outside any of the 3 regions gates. This isn't counting any DOL/DOH classes. You're just getting ridiculously low numbers here, for a game with nothing to strive for (unless you count being in vain). Yup, there is a server merge, and we can assume there will be slight increase in pug's after that has happened. It won't fix the game though, and it won't take away every other detrimental reason there is to leveling right now in FF14. The same can be said for level synch (even if it was just until 2.0), a slight increase in active sp parties.

I doubt thousands of players will come flocking in just for level synch, which I know, it's not the primary point, the point is to make it easier for the laughable active server population this game has left. You can go 10-20, or 20-30 easier with level synch... Which, if finding a group was as easy as level synch, players could take all 8 DOW/DOM 1-50 in game breaking times. Probably 1-50 in a single day if you had 7 people with you at every optimal xp spot from 10-50.

This brings me to the next problem, the problem w/ 14's leveling system is not just the 1-50 same zone, copy pasta environments/mobs, the ability to go 1-50 insanely fast in a PT around your level, painstakingly repetitive and boring solo (which all need to be fixed for 2.0), it's that there is no consistant/fun form of gaining SP. The fact leves are still an option as solo xp is evidence of this theory. Fun =/= Solo'ing leves. If leves are still a primary (imo secondary or tertiary as well) form of gaining solo xp the concept will fail. I'm trying to figure out what leves even serve a purpose for other then a tedious task players must endure if they choose to solo for XP, thus, in return, making them want to group xp.

Let's take a look at the leveling system as a whole in FF14. It's very brief, and boring. Using optimal methods you can do 1-50 very very fast, using the least effective methods (solo leves), it's still pretty damn fast, but 10x more boring. Essentially, you suffer through boredom which Yoshida insists on making as quick and painless as possible because he wants to focus primarly on content. Currently the game has the quick boring leveling down, it's just lacking the content, and will lack (due to server structure issues which they have stated, meaning, this is never going to be fixed until the new server arrives, meaning the amount of content we have seen in the last 3 mega patches, is going to be noticabley the same with every patch we recieve) until 2.0.

Still want to play? Okay, fair.

Prepare you and your LS for the 1 week of content (for lack of a more accurate word) that will ensue for each of the patches otw til 2.0.

I get it, a couple players can't level at the speed of 1-50 in a week in a group/level synch, and they don't want to suffer through the drudgery of 1-40 doing solo leves in 2-3 weeks, (with 40-50 being done in a single day stronghold, plus level synch wouldnt be able to change the effectiveness of 40+) so they can't get prepared for content (I don't blame them for not wanting to solo leves or put any effort into their character when there is so little to enjoy/do at the max cap). That's not the lack of level synchs fault, the game is just unfun and broken, resulting in no one wanting to play it, so the masochistic people/new oblivious players left playing have twice as hard of a time finding groups.

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FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET OUT OF THE XI MIND SET AND GET INTO THE MECHANICS OF XIV!

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FFXIV is going to be a theme park type of MMO so its gonna be a grind in a instance like WoW and wow was the only theme park mmo that survived the longest. so were looking at another wow clone or a ffxi clone by 2.0 sad days ahead if it gos that way.

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Originally Posted by SniperRifle

So on the class you want to level you click a button and instantly;

1) A Comment Box appears in the middle of your screen where you leave a very brief description of what you want, PT Lv20-25, anywhere but Gridania region. Materia O, Food O. (example)

2) Once you finish the comment box you are now in the LFG search and anyone (any lvl/class) who is also LFG will be in that search, which can also be viewed by the simple click of a button.

3) You craft/farm/idle while rechecking the LFG list every few minutes, and the class you are LFG on will still remain the same.

4) If you want to level multiple classes, you can either;
a) LFG on the one you want to level most
b) a new feature is implemented where you can LFG on multiple classes (infact I think we have this right now) and it is shown in the LFG list.

5) When you log off it removes you from Queue.

6) There is a little hrs/mins highlight stating when the person first queued LFG.

7) As well as everything I listed, include everything that worked automatically (not manually) in previous search systems like language, nation, rank, name (maybe even Linkshell), current zone location.

8) Above all else, and I stress this as much as possible, make it quick, easy to use, and user friendly. When people log on, after that opening cutscene, it should be the first thing that players are accustomed to learning. Just bam, some NPC walks up to you baddass/seductive/cutsiepoopsie (depending on starting class/region/race) and tells you how to use the search feature. The NPC can emphasize REMEMBER! IF U WANT EPIC FUN MMO N LEVEL FAST WITH FRIENDS THEN MAKE SURE U USE UR LFG BUTTONZ ERYTIME U LOGON! NOBODY WANTS TO BE A LONER!. And if people like to solo, who cares, nothing anyone can do and it doesn't hurt anyone, but the point is to encourage party play. And if the game does not make party play easily accessible or rewarded adequately, why the hell would anyone do it?

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You pretty much just decribed the current LFG system.

you can flag yourself as seeking PT, What job you want to get XP on, even seek on that class while playing another, and it's fairly easy to use.

Like others have suggested yes, higher server populations will help with the problem of finding pt members. But that still no excuse to not have some type of system to match a lower level to play the game with them.

Level Sync didn't hurt XI, sitting in jeuno for hours/days seeking PT hurt XI. EXP is EXP is EXP no matter where you get it, at least you're playing the game.

If you're opposed to level sync in XIV, sit in Ul'dah all day and craft, or go solo you're leves. Or leech from a PL. But don't let it ruin it for people who want to play with others in a multiplayer game.

like it or not, Level Sync will ultimately do more good than harm for XIV.

p.s. Level Sync is coming. I'm just saying it should have more priority on implementation before ver 2.0

I'm for level sync and I've seen the disadvantages from not having it in XIV.

Right now there is a great disparity in levels and people lfg (this includes Besaid). The only thing a new player can hope for is coming during a large influx of new players or on the coattails of new class releases. If a new player enters during a time when the majority of the playerbase is outside of the level range (now until 2.0) it doesn't matter the server population. 10 people who are outside your level range is the same as 10,000 people outside your level range. You can't play with any of them.

I'd much rather have level sync rather than the current PL system. My roommate just started the game and there is no one his level on Besaid during his playtime he can feasibly party with. He really just wants to play with me but he has to level at least 30 levels before he can. The only alternative I can find is to level a whole new character with him, show him how the game works, and then switch over to my main. Fortunately for him I'm willing to do that. Unfortunately for every other new player they will only be able to enjoy low level party play when 2.0 is released and that's not even really a guarantee. I honestly don't think 2.0 is going to be XIV's rapture as much as we think it will be. Level sync doesn't require 2.0 to be a gaming/advertising miracle for two players at different walks on their path to enjoy each others company and reap a mutual benefit from each other.

Other new players I know are only concerned with getting a class to level 50 and I don't blame them. With the PL system the way it is, it negates the "not trained" criticism that level sync would "supposedly" bring. Level sync, at the very least, would still encourage the presence of the gamer to control their avatar. I don't think anyone really wants to "play" a game they can just walk away from.

I'm for an XI style level sync system as the criticisms against it in XIV's context do not apply.

My friend joined the game. Quit after a couple months cuz all my stuff is 50 so we couldn't lvl up anything together....and since leveling is the only thing to do in the game, yeah. Level sync would be nice.

FFXI had so much grinding and level-sync made the grinding less annoying at times. Seeing how FFXIV is also grinding I was surprised that level-sync wasn't included in this game from the start. lol

Seeing as how all my classes are 50 now though.. well it would be nice to level with others and since I don't need the exp my equipment could spiritbond. :P

Level sync completely removes the whole point of seeing your character progress and grow. Oh, these dodos that I can one shot can suddenly two shot me. Oh wait, now I'm super powerful again.

It was a poor idea in FFXI that led to the further casualization of the game and removed the "journey of leveling" from any new players. I think there's a middle ground to be had here, being that you'd have to have at least one 50 to be able to perform level sync. I'm not against playing with your new friends, not one bit. I agree that Totorak would be more fun if experiences with your friends who are new. The only reason I dislike level sync is that it takes away the journey to level cap from new people in favor of min-max grind camps in 1, maybe 2 spots. Which removes the need to venture to new zones to xp. Yes, there'll still be "best camps for level range," but it'll be more diverse than if everyone was able to bring friends in to the game and blow past all the content on their first character. What kind of experience is that for them? It's terrible, that's what. I agree that "the journey" becomes repetitive after the first time. That's why I'm saying you should have access to level sync AFTER the first time.

I doubt this'll be how it's implemented though. But I'd at least appreciate it as a consideration for the devs. Max level allows you to level sync. The journey is the most important part of a MMO, to me at least, and I don't feel that should be ruined for new people.

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Originally Posted by Kio

I respect your comment, but I can't help but feel your point of view may be skewed a little bit by being a citizen of a blessed server. The rural ones who don't get advertisement for newcomers or stayers by popular websites have a harder time maintaining social groups. The end result typically a sieve effect, where casual players slowly migrate out of the game for various personal reasons and only hardcore completionists are left behind. The problem with our population is that not enough new players are added in mass to balance out the sifting effect. So we always just end up, at the end of the day, with the same circle of players who've already "been there, done that" for the most part. Doesn't mean that every single active member on Trabia is already 50 in every class that they'd like to level, but it doesn't bode well for new players if it takes a solid week of trying to put together an actual party to be able to do so. There just isn't enough people to participate and maintain a healthy early content spread.

Granted, I'm not exactly sold on how level sync will work other than being a niche device of helping your friends out. In XI it was lovely because you had the motivation to continue to xp for merit points and expand your character more. This game lacks that, unless you count materia which is rather weak motivation in my book. You have to first have a lot of disposable gear to work with, and also the means of obtaining your goal is still better suited for a level 50ish party.

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Whats all that got to do with the fact that someone was claiming everyone in the game had all classes to 50? That the only comment I was speaking out against. So, I am unclear why you believe server population has anything to do with some pressumtuous misconception that everyone has all classes to 50.

I want to highlight a couple of points people seem to be confused about:

1) Just because someone is against Level Sync doesn't mean they're pro-PL. Please don't use the "It's not any worse than the current system!" argument.

2) Because your server has a low population for the moment doesn't mean it will stay that way. Let's not make this game an overcompensation for a bad launch. If 2.0 launches and we still seem to need Level Sync, let's have this discussion again. Further, don't assume that because your server has a low population (especially as SE is most likely going to merge servers soon), everyone else's does.

3) Because your server population has most classes to 50 doesn't mean they won't add more classes for you to level. If you avoid the "OMG MUST GET ALL JOBS TO 50 ASAP FOR COMPLETION" mindset, you'll have a job to level with your friends. It's not a permanent solution to your issues, but it is nonetheless a solution until Level Sync becomes more of a necessity. Then, it's not really the community's problem for getting all jobs for 50. It's just that we have nothing else to do.

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If you want to complain about "not having anything low enough," complain that leveling is too easy. Hitting 75 in XI was an accomplishment. Back in 03-04, hitting 75 made your lower-leveled friends--who would remain lower level for a month, rather than 12 hours--say "Wow!" and ask you to show off your new spells. Complain that it's possible for you to hit the level cap on all DoM/DoW jobs in a week. That's why your friends don't have anyone around their level. Not because we don't have Level Sync.

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Originally Posted by ChiefCurrahee

You pretty much just decribed the current LFG system.

you can flag yourself as seeking PT, What job you want to get XP on, even seek on that class while playing another, and it's fairly easy to use.

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You think he just described the current LFG system? You must be on the beta server or something, dude. I could have sworn he said "easy" and "fast," and maybe even "one button."

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Like others have suggested yes, higher server populations will help with the problem of finding pt members. But that still no excuse to not have some type of system to match a lower level to play the game with them.

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You are heavily assuming here. I don't know, but the most recent edition of How to Make a Cookie Cutter MMO may have included "Your game MUST include a system of allowing higher-ranked characters to lower their level to play the game with friends," but I doubt even that. Many games survive without that feature. I have yet to purchase ChiefCurrahee's Official MMO-making Guidebook, though.

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Level Sync didn't hurt XI, sitting in jeuno for hours/days seeking PT hurt XI. EXP is EXP is EXP no matter where you get it, at least you're playing the game.

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-ChiefCurrahee's Official MMO-making Guidebook, p. 294

I get a free excerpt?! YES! I LOVE HANDOUTS!

"EXP is EXP is EXP no matter where you get it, at least you're playing the game." EXP from soloing is the same as exp from parties...therefore, since soloing is in XIV unlike XI, you don't need level sync to "play the game."

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If you're opposed to level sync in XIV, sit in Ul'dah all day and craft, or go solo you're leves. Or leech from a PL. But don't let it ruin it for people who want to play with others in a multiplayer game.

like it or not, Level Sync will ultimately do more good than harm for XIV.

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Since you're so wise, explain to me how you didn't just say "I THINK IT WILL HELP SO YOU ARE ALL WRONG AND IT IS GOING TO HELP BECAUSE I SAY IT WILL?" Why can you make snarky comments about "...sit in Ul'dah all day and craft..." then QQ when someone tells you to get over yourself?


P.S. Does your character have mutton chops?! Because that's amazing.

A game where 90% of the population has reached the level cap, and there is a very small amount of incoming new players. It's very detrimental to the prospect of increasing subscriptions. If new people have no one to play with, they will just quit.

That said, I don't know that level sync is the right thing to do, as we can see how it can be abused from FFXI. I think perhaps a better idea, would be to ease up on the additional characters a bit. Let us have 1 or 2 more characters for free. Then if my friend joins and I want to play with him, I can make a new character and play with him on that character until he catches up to my main.

I think in the current state SE is in with this game, they need to think less about they can nickle and dime you to death and more about how to make the customer happy.

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Originally Posted by Zetsumei_Tsunarashi

A game where 90% of the population has reached the level cap.

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You have some sort of proof that 90% of all active accounts have all DoW/M classes to 50 ?

I think your full of crap. If you going to make crap claims like that post proof or go away.