Is there any reason to focus on 'solo' players..?

this game is defenetly going toward the smaller groups, yoshi or whatever his name is said servers are smaller then ffxi ...they already droped our party groups to smaller ones, they talk bout 4 and 8 man dungeons to come witch i think is a mistake. since it's the first endgame why not make it like sky? u can have full ls's running around doing it and u can do it all day and nite not some dinky dungeon u can only do 2times a week and then be bored again.

search function is fail but on top of that so is the population of all the servers, if they aren't expecting them to be full then they are removing the ability of ease. it's why people are rather solo then party, if the pop was packed like ffxi launch and stayed like that lol, every inch of all the zones would be packed and even solo players would walk in like ok i'll party. it was very easy for first many years to keep a party of 6 going in any zone and rank and was easy to keep it going all day and nite, even the crazy hours wasn't horrible.

if u just like solo in general, or u'r casual and only want to play a few hours then it will just take u longer to do, it makes sense, that's how math works. even if they make it casual to shit u'd probably still be complaining that someone else did it in a day rather then a month like u. u'r not complaining that u only have 2hrs a day, u'r complaining that u don't have years to invest in a game, people not casual do. hell go buy some gold or a pl and we all win lol.

but like someone said it's basically t3wo groups trying to push the games towards what makes them happy, and i don't know what is truth to who makes these companies more money, but i picture most casuals like locust hoping around game to game not really staying long for any of them, less it's the repetitive endgame they only want to repeat over and over with a larger group?

the problem i say is that these mmo's are just not being made right, they need to change it up so it works for everyone and they need to remove all the bullshit in them, make grouping up easy as showing up somewhere, stop with the hours of running places to do things(we get it u waist lot of resources making it pretty for us but like the casual would agree, theres a pretty real world out there we can look at, i can give two shits if it was stick figures long as the content was good.)

if the imaginary score to beat the game is 100hours of game play, make it 100hours for both party play and Solo = win
if it take 2hr/100 then don't complain that is how many hours u play, if i can do it in a week then good for me, if we both do it with or without a party, we still did it. and done.

i still not sure why they make it so we can't even grind half the mobs in the game either, guess the point is too give jollies to like 20people in the mmo world that like to think i was first one to figure it out witch mob to kill? then what? that fits offliners not onliners any who.

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Originally Posted by Kilta_Firelotus

jan have you ever tried forming a party?

in reallity guys. in my first year of ffxi i could only play 2 hours a day. I manged to get parties. I managed to get at least rank 4.
How? I asked questions, set up times, shouted for help.

ffxiv does have stuff to do solo. side quests, killing things, farming mats fir crafters. the ffxix story shouldn't be solo able that is not the ff way. It never was. Should a game of stuff one can do solo yes. But nothing that is a major part of the game. If I can play ffxi for 2 hours a day and get stuff done. In the ps2 launch year might I add. Anyone can do solo stuff in ffxiv A slightly casual friendly game.

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I just ask that you understand some ppl want to play solo on this game and they have consistently said the want to keep the casual/solo player in mind. I think they can have a nice disk based FF style storyline that allows friends in if you want them that can play right alongside party oriented mechanics without screwing up the game for anyone. I think that this game want's to encompass all the previous mmo architypes in it to be the most versatile MMO we can have presently. The ? of have i partied on 14 is of course a yes. Jang is my second character and I have played solo and in groups. At the moment I can do either and I like that. Keep up the great work devs and dont leave the solo player out to dry!

I for one enjoy being solo. I guess it comes from the whole elitist attitude that came about in FFXI. I got tired of being made to feel like less of a player because I didn't have the 4mil weapon or because I didn't carry 60 different types of gear for this and that and everything else. I also got tired of seeking parties for hours on end with nothing to do in the mean time. I think solo content is as important as group content. I don't always want to be around people in a party setting and would rather be alone and find it relaxing and therapeutic. I have no problem joining groups from time to time but do not want my game play dictated to me and made only possible through group play in order to get anywhere in the game like it was in 11. I mean we pay to play or at least at some point we will and it is unfair if there is not something for everyone. If this game turns out to be nothing but group based then I will sure be leaving it.

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Originally Posted by Janglo

He talks about keeping casual player in mind you are correct.

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At first glance, Question 3's results look to be an overwhelming desire for party-based play, but looking closely at the regional breakdown, Japan in particular has a strong showing of players who prefer rolling solo. I imagine for many people it might go something like this: real life obligations at school or work → can't play for prolonged periods of time → log into a game with mostly party-based content → spend time looking for a party → end up losing actual game time. I'm well aware of these issues, and promise not to let vicious cycles like this dominate FFXIV's gameplay. I'm on it. ☺

Though we're revising the battle system with a focus on making it fun for parties, the solo/party orientation and recommended ranks of game content will be clearly defined, and future adjustments and additions will take all types of player lifestyles into account. To take guildleves as an example, there is a certain comfort in knowing that if I go to this aetheryte or that counter, there is something to do. I'm of the opinion that there is nothing better than the ability to pick up the game and play even when you only have a little bit of time to do so, and this will continue to be an important element in the future. Of course, to make party play as enjoyable as possible, we're going to be coming up with some new specs and begin implementing them when possible.

In case you missed that part of the letter, it seems pretty obvious they working on casual/hardcore/solo/pt development.

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Originally Posted by Wobble

I for one enjoy being solo. I guess it comes from the whole elitist attitude that came about in FFXI. I got tired of being made to feel like less of a player because I didn't have the 4mil weapon or because I didn't carry 60 different types of gear for this and that and everything else. I also got tired of seeking parties for hours on end with nothing to do in the mean time. I think solo content is as important as group content. I don't always want to be around people in a party setting and would rather be alone and find it relaxing and therapeutic. I have no problem joining groups from time to time but do not want my game play dictated to me and made only possible through group play in order to get anywhere in the game like it was in 11. I mean we pay to play or at least at some point we will and it is unfair if there is not something for everyone. If this game turns out to be nothing but group based then I will sure be leaving it.

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or if you were healing in a duo or low man setup against something hard and then your pt tells the story as if they did it without you b/c they don't respect healing classes. There are a million reasons from 11 to want to play solo. I just kinda don't want to be left to stand around on the game ever, even if i don't feel like building a pt. I also don't want it to be kinda soloable i want to be able to play whole game with npcs if can.

I love soloing, been soloing in every mmorpg I've played so far so soloing on this one shouldn't be a problem. In fact, it isn't, THE ONLY bad thing is that soloing won't give you as much exp. as being in a party and sharing leves with other, that's the only bad thing about soloing :/

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Originally Posted by Martin

I love soloing, been soloing in every mmorpg I've played so far so soloing on this one shouldn't be a problem. In fact, it isn't, THE ONLY bad thing is that soloing won't give you as much exp. as being in a party and sharing leves with other, that's the only bad thing about soloing :/

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At the moment ya but if they keep the best rewards away from solo access itll start elite players up again who are in charge of groups, etc, etc. From 11 we know how that turns out.

all this talk bout solo and party play and right now party play is almost absolete in the game, no one wants to party with more then 3-4people outside of leves, and getting 3-4people usually takes forever and almost not worth trying. if the game is gonna be solo and party play they need to make party play the 8players kind not some dinky 3-4people, or at the very least not make it so 8people isn't better then solo or 3-4people or no one will want to do it. if u don't think u'll get bored solo'ing everything for 3-5years? u must share what drugs u taking while playing with me. by the time everyone gets one max class they will be ready for a new game, it takes long time to hit max on a ff mmo. took over year for my first in ffxi, and though i hit 50 on con and almost on thm, it has been 6months, but we are not at max this is probably a half way point with all the updates and raising our caps. i can't imagin solo'ing all that or even tiny group grinding and not wanting to be leveling another after. it was always the party play that kept me going like probably alot of players.

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Originally Posted by weeble

all this talk bout solo and party play and right now party play is almost absolete in the game, no one wants to party with more then 3-4people outside of leves, and getting 3-4people usually takes forever and almost not worth trying. if the game is gonna be solo and party play they need to make party play the 8players kind not some dinky 3-4people, or at the very least not make it so 8people isn't better then solo or 3-4people or no one will want to do it. if u don't think u'll get bored solo'ing everything for 3-5years? u must share what drugs u taking while playing with me. by the time everyone gets one max class they will be ready for a new game, it takes long time to hit max on a ff mmo. took over year for my first in ffxi, and though i hit 50 on con and almost on thm, it has been 6months, but we are not at max this is probably a half way point with all the updates and raising our caps. i can't imagin solo'ing all that or even tiny group grinding and not wanting to be leveling another after. it was always the party play that kept me going like probably alot of players.

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I appreciate that you think it takes drugs to solo....but i dont see that as reason to not let us solo.

If you want to lvl up with a group of people, search around the server for a linkshell with English-speaking people, there you go.

Alternatively, sit around your main city, shout that you need a linkshell with English people and that's it :P

i not saying not to solo, i'm saying they need to work out a system that works for both, but in a way where it makes it worth while to get a party going or no one will do it. only people that will be having fun in this game are solo's and people with real friends in the game or people who like statics rather then like me that probably play with new players, english and jp like 99% of the time in ffxi. had 8class 75 and most merited, that is alot of exp and all in party and all with new faces, made the game lot more enjoyable then with the same group.

like i said earlier, make each mob sp dependent on all the factors, solo or in party. not one or the other. most of ffxi player base had multiple classes by the end and i doubt they will even have them in this game if it was all about the solo.

though i do think making a game that keeps players trying the game and loving it is important and maybe being able to solo is part of that mix in the future. they def got the graphics up high enough for this. i think the problem is having a sp system for both solo and party separately is too much work or too complicated to do? i not sure cause i'm not a tec nerd or computer savvy for that matter.

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Originally Posted by weeble

i not saying not to solo, i'm saying they need to work out a system that works for both, but in a way where it makes it worth while to get a party going or no one will do it. only people that will be having fun in this game are solo's and people with real friends in the game or people who like statics rather then like me that probably play with new players, english and jp like 99% of the time in ffxi. had 8class 75 and most merited, that is alot of exp and all in party and all with new faces, made the game lot more enjoyable then with the same group.

like i said earlier, make each mob sp dependent on all the factors, solo or in party. not one or the other. most of ffxi player base had multiple classes by the end and i doubt they will even have them in this game if it was all about the solo.

though i do think making a game that keeps players trying the game and loving it is important and maybe being able to solo is part of that mix in the future. they def got the graphics up high enough for this. i think the problem is having a sp system for both solo and party separately is too much work or too complicated to do? i not sure cause i'm not a tec nerd or computer savvy for that matter.

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I'm fairly sure the sp system already accounts for solo/pt yeah?

also being in a ls that speaks u'r language doesn't help, i'm in a very large ls, pretty much full and it is still hard to put together more then a few people to grind, we are all different ranks. in ffxi the population took care of it all, was very easy to put a party together, if u was lfg for hours u probably should of took 5seconds to make one cause it always had players seeking. besides that and all love to my linkshell but i don't want to party with the same group for years, i'll get to know them threw the years, and i'll happily party with them, but the concept that i am gonna be party'ing with the same 6-10people for years is obserd. i don't think in a full ls in ffxi i party with my ls in 5years more then 5% of the time, and most of that time they were probably half afk, and leechers in them cause they think its ok to waist ls members time cause we all friends. this might be a notch for the solo, but i doubt half the players on our servers would get half the sp without there parties lmao.

to janglo, the answer is no. there is an account to having full 8man link leves or the very least enough people to make full links for bonus.

but for regular grind it don't seem enough to make people want to do it, less is more sp. and the mobs are still dobs and small mobs rather then the big ones. i've had a problems getting more then a few players everyday, and 8people = way less sp then same spot with 3-4people and hourly sp is way more with the lesser.

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Originally Posted by weeble

to janglo, the answer is no. there is an account to having full 8man link leves or the very least enough people to make full links for bonus.

but for regular grind it don't seem enough to make people want to do it, less is more sp. and the mobs are still dobs and small mobs rather then the big ones. i've had a problems getting more then a few players everyday, and 8people = way less sp then same spot with 3-4people and hourly sp is way more with the lesser.

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Ya the levelinking does allow for pt players to get better sp than a solo can still though right? I was hoping for a balance or closer to it. Also I'm not a solo player that expects to go as fast as pt just to be able to not feel like im grinding to death.

oh and on top that like say for instance a few days ago, we had a party of 5on dobs, sp was decent, but then with 4 was better, still killed the same, and with 3 was even better and still killed the same. having really good dps and a healer probably all that matters right now, 2archers and a thm or con can do more then any group set up with a tanks in my opinion. it's a zerg no matter how many or how few players there are.

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Originally Posted by weeble

it's a zerg no matter how many or how few players there are.

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And this is what broke 11 for me at the end. It was all about a bunch of people whacking at something and must have a brd and rdm. If you were not a straight DD, brd or rdm you were screwed out of a party.

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Originally Posted by Wobble

And this is what broke 11 for me at the end. It was all about a bunch of people whacking at something and must have a brd and rdm. If you were not a straight DD, brd or rdm you were screwed out of a party.

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Not true. I played on Cor and BLM fairly frequently. Cor in Merit parties and BLM (or Cor) in burn parties. PUP had pup parties. The only thing that I can really see not having a decent party high up would be PLD or NIN, which was fine because they could just level sync. It wasn't as much of a problem as people think.

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Originally Posted by Dubont

Not true. I played on Cor and BLM fairly frequently. Cor in Merit parties and BLM (or Cor) in burn parties. PUP had pup parties. The only thing that I can really see not having a decent party high up would be PLD or NIN, which was fine because they could just level sync. It wasn't as much of a problem as people think.

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It was a problem before level sync...

Hell when i deleveled with my pld i had to bribe people that i would switch to brd/sam/mnk/war/rdm after i got my level back with pld.

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Originally Posted by Wolfie

I don't understand why people, including you, keep consistently thinking that "solo" equates to "I only ever want to play alone and never group with with other people, forever" and that it's one and the same as playing single player, off line games.

The largest slice of the MMO customer pie is people who don't like having to rely on other people, but will occasionally group up with the LS/guild/friends. They like persistent worlds, they like being able to compare themselves to others, and they enjoy the social aspect of the game when it's not forced on them.

I hope for the sake of the game that they do not return to the early FFXI model of zero solo options. Something like that is going to ensure that it never recovers.

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Agreed. I play like this now in a similar fashion. I do not like forced to group with people to enjoy the game's story and content. I like having the option to enjoy both avenues. If people don't like our preferences, then that's their problem.

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Originally Posted by Dubont

Not true. I played on Cor and BLM fairly frequently. Cor in Merit parties and BLM (or Cor) in burn parties. PUP had pup parties. The only thing that I can really see not having a decent party high up would be PLD or NIN, which was fine because they could just level sync. It wasn't as much of a problem as people think.

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if a party excludes 2 classes of people from wanting them to get into the group then it is a problem. it may not have been a problem for the people doing the exclusion, but it was a problem for those being excluded.

i really didn't have problems getting in parties but i made most of mine and if u build it they will come. hell even blm was invited to parties back in day, fact i finished off my blm right round the time wotg expansion came out, my last 3lvs i made a tp burn but lol just replaced myself a blm with one of the mele. when the time was alot of players it was easy to put together and when there were few they pretty much took who ever so either way it worked.

though for merits i do still say u'r shit out of luck, i spent a couple months grinding my brd 1-75 so i can merit like a machine so i did invite what worked for the best exp per hours. but not like u can't try out one of the classes that fit that.

and yes pup and bst were the "Solo's" and smn less desperate for heals at lower lvs. probably that would be a better way to create solo, keep making enough solo classes to enchant the solo'ist as well. lv sync fixed the lack of players when the game got older, but again ffxi was packed at launch and for many many years without really needing it, there was always enough to put together parties in any ranks for the most part and at any time of the day, it's what i loved about it the most. i quit warhammer for the biggest reason, there was only real action and stuff to do a couple times a week, or maybe hours a day when the 9-5's came home or something if u got lucky. games like that are crap and fail.

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Originally Posted by Dubont

You need to understand how Square games work. Did you have a tutorial for everything in FF1? what about Dragonquest? No. How these games work is, BAM you are thrust into a world. The game becomes what you make it. Do you need a tut telling you that Tier 2 spells are better than Tier 1? No so why should you need a tut telling you other very basic things about the game? Also, if you run around for 20 ranks without knowing where to buy armor, you really should get off of the game because you haven't even made an attempt at figured out how to play. There are NUMEROUS sites with info on this game. Lodestone, FFXIVPRO, Eorzapedia, ZAM, etc etc all have guides to complex info and basic info. I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for someone who got that far without knowing anything at all. Some things I can let slide (like br's and NM tactics) but most things..like...battle...attribute points...map navigation...hotkey construction is all things that are very very easy to figure out.

Also...if you have a question...ask it. That person that went for 20 levels obviously was a troll. Why? I walked into Uldah without a clue of where the market wards were. I /sh Where are the markets?. BAM, I got a response. When I was playing in Beta, I didn't know that there were market wards so I /sh where is the AH? BAM, got a response. IT'S NOT HARD TO ASK!!!

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what does this have to do with this thread at all?