It seems backwards to me to implement UI features before text commands. In a dev environment, doesn't it make more sense to have the text command first, then implement a UI feature that calls on the command?
theres not really any problem with the search other than people not using it. The only real way they can change that is probably by incentivizing using it for a time, or by kind of instructing you to do it. They could also do with a few more visual cues like how ffxi had the big seeking party flag, seeing that up people wondered how they too could do it, and thus familiarized themselves with the system.
and while text based is in fact faster, it is also way less obvious which is not say it isnt useful, but i think that the issue right now is that people arent used to seeking parties, and dont think people actually use any search features, which is completely accurate.
The biggest helps i could see into making party search tools more common
visual icon by the name showing people who are seeking a party, and those who are making a party
notifications when new people seeking a party pop up if you are making a party
a tutorial type quest or something similar for the party search features
an event that gives you some crap for making or joining parties with that feature for a while. A seasonal event may have been the way to go for this.
key is you want everyone to know its there and how to use it, as well it being more intuitive. because no matter how good it is, people wont type commands or go in thier menu if they arent that aware of the feature. and if people dont use it, the people that do will stop because no one is using it.
Yeah, I had no problem with finding people outside my area when I tested it.
holy christ are people really complaining nothing surprises me on this forum anymore
This system is useless until the game can bring up a ton of new players. The old players left all have multiple jobs at 50 and can just get someone to PL them. Not to mention, its been one day and most of us have been without this feature for over a year. Can't expect everyone to take right to it in a day. I did think it was totally weak sauce that you couldn't use it to see how many people were playing on your server in total like you clould in XI. Way to hide the numbers SE
Odd, I logged in and search within 10 mins of the patch going live. Found like 60 people.. Then a half hour later 200..
People were not seeking yesterday because they were exploring the new patch. This New Search Feature is very simple and effective. No way around that. Text commands would be nice, but they have already said they are coming.
Example of it's effectiveness:
Since 1.19 I have been trying to get the level 25 Ifrit Achievement for only partying with my own GC. It was impossible. On Saronia, there are only about 60 members of The Order on at any given time. Within 1 hour of 1.20 going live, thanks to this search feature, I had a party and had it done.
That is efficiency.