Best way to use Party Finder?

So I'd like to start using Party Finder to make my own parties for some dungeons / primals instead of using Duty Finder. I've never really used PF before, but I know whenever I look at it, I'm bombarded by the "MUST BE EXPERIENCED" messages. I'm still learning my way through the game and would like to make parties of similar folks who either would like to help folks like me learn the Dungeon / Primal, or folks of my same experience level who'd like to learn as we go.

My question is, what's the best way to go about doing this?

Thanks for any and all help everyone :)

hi!
From my experience, it works great! because I, like you, am still learning the game and trying to make it to end game content. You just check all the boxes that you want in a party like "slow & easy" or "newcomers welcome" and in the message box I usually write things like "need to clear for storyline progression!"

I got a lot of nice and exp. ppl join in and help, and some new players and some of which are also leveling alt classes which I don't mind at all. I form all my parties through PF now.

Give it a shot, you like it way better than douchebag finder. :o

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Originally Posted by RuruKun

Give it a shot, you like it way better than douchebag finder. :o

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Well you officially just sold me on it. :) . I'll be giving it a try for sure!

Thanks!

I have never used it before, I am extremely intimidated by it. I don't even know why!

*EDIT* Also, I hate that there is a limit to how much you can post on these boards. I was having some good convos in the General section and now I cannot reply. GRRR

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Originally Posted by Dagger_32

I have never used it before, I am extremely intimidated by it. I don't even know why!

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This is the common perception of PF by many newcomers (and some older players, too). Learning parties actually fill up very quickly. There's more people out there willing to learn, but are just afraid of how they might be portrayed. Use come catchy phrase to get people into it and know your intention, like "Do player attitudes at end game frighten you more than the Primals themselves? Come get some experience in <dungeon>, exp players always welcome."

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Originally Posted by CodeCass

Can I steal that line? haha

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Of course! I remember using that one specifically for Ultima HM. It was mine and 5 other peoples' first time, and 1 experienced player thought it was funny and decided to help teach some noobies ^^ We all got to the last phase, just make sure you're very open and willing to take any advice, and be polite even if someone says, "my FC needs me".

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Originally Posted by ruinedmirage

Use come catchy phrase to get people into it and know your intention, like "Do player attitudes at end game frighten you more than the Primals themselves? Come get some experience in <dungeon>, exp players always welcome."

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Can I steal that line? haha

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Originally Posted by ruinedmirage

*snip*

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Oh I like that! I might take it as well! My main problem is that I am on PS3, I have a tiny keyboard that attaches to my controller...but it is not back lit and I make horrendous typos, ALL THE TIME! It is so difficult to communicate, plus, I do not know what to expect. Maybe I will be brave and try it out.

Party Phrase: "N00bs afraid of Party Finder, LET'S DO THIS!"

Of course when I try to type it: "N0ps afrrrrd Paty Find, LTS OOO TTTHIS!"

GAH! LOL

I know there are lots of busy people and things to do, especially with the new patch, but if you set up regular learning parties daily or weekly (even if you're experienced with the fights), it really helps people out and builds a stronger community. You begin to build a reputation as a helper by making sure players can push through the content and most importantly, WANT to push through it instead of being carried.

It takes lots of patience and a level of altruism, but having more people that can clear content in the end really helps EVERYONE out. It's a much longer and more involved process than any relic quest will ever be.

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Originally Posted by Dagger_32

Party Phrase: "N00bs afraid of Party Finder, LET'S DO THIS!"

Of course when I try to type it: "N0ps afrrrrd Paty Find, LTS OOO TTTHIS!"

GAH! LOL

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Make sure it doesn't come of as derogatory in any way, or people might not be as inclined to join.

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Originally Posted by Dagger_32

I have never used it before, I am extremely intimidated by it. I don't even know why!

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No don't be, the reason why I switched to PF is because I had quite a few nightmare-ish runs with parties done in DF and feel like it only gets worse as the dungeons/trials get harder. Through PF, I'm recruiting like-minded players, or players who are looking for the same kind of atmosphere that I look for in a party, and I did! my best runs were done through PF but thats just my personal experience. ^_^

Yeah, another reason I am intimidated by PF. I am not a people person, lol. If someone thinks what I posted above is derogatory, I don't want them in my party. I can't handle people who get offended that easily!

Side note: I have 2 step-kids, 5 cats, 2 bearded dragons, and a parrot that doesn't shut up. I work 9-12 hours a day, when I get home it is chaos. I may sit down intending to play for a few solid hours, 15 minutes in all hell breaks loose. When you join/start a party is there an expected amount of time you are supposed to play? Is it rude to start a party then have to unexpectedly leave? While I don't anticipate it happening ALL the time, I know it will happen every now and again.

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Originally Posted by Dagger_32

Side note: I have 2 step-kids, 5 cats, 2 bearded dragons, and a parrot that doesn't shut up. I work 9-12 hours a day, when I get home it is chaos. I may sit down intending to play for a few solid hours, 15 minutes in all hell breaks loose. When you join/start a party is there an expected amount of time you are supposed to play? Is it rude to start a party then have to unexpectedly leave? While I don't anticipate it happening ALL the time, I know it will happen every now and again.

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While my plate isn't NEARLY as full as Dagger's, I'm curious about this as well. With 9-10 hour daily work schedule, not to mention optional duties (DM'ing tabletop games with friends, working out, and general tomfoolery) I'd like to know what's considered an appropriate amount of time to spend with a party made in PF

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Originally Posted by RuruKun

No don't be, the reason why I switched to PF is because I had quite a few nightmare-ish runs with parties done in DF and feel like it only gets worse as the dungeons/trials get harder. Through PF, I'm recruiting like-minded players, or players who are looking for the same kind of atmosphere that I look for in a party, and I did! my best runs were done through PF but thats just my personal experience. ^_^

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I also just based PF off my experience with Duty Finder, which has been VERY mixed and you are correct, the higher level you are, the more people loose their "nice and willing to help" exterior.

Ok, I will just take the plunge and try it out tonight. I will update tomorrow on how it goes.

Every action you do and every party you make will have a reaction by everyone else who's in it. The intimidating thing can be if you're new to the content, you have to show improvement along with everyone else, and be open to sharing what you've learned, no matter how obscure. The other thing is resolve. As long as there is someone new to your group that wants to learn, feel obligated to stay with them the whole duration of the timer (unless gear breaks). Of course, there are exceptions to that rule, but it shows how true your intentions are and you pick up friends VERY quickly and get asked to help out again.

There's no RULE for how long to stay in a PF group, but be ready to show a lot of patience! The longer you practice with a single group instead of ragequiting and picking up a new group, the more development and understanding you'll see.

This was an extremely helpful thread. I think I'll be giving PF a try now. I honestly had no idea what it really entailed and, until now, sort of ignored it XD

I'm curious about the major difference between the two.

PF vs DF

As I understand it, duty finder and the roulette pushes you into a guildhest with others randomly (around same level) and you just go do the mission.

With PF does it find a group and then everyone has to run to the location of the quest, or will it also push you into the instance with a group of people?

Am I misunderstanding it altogether? I'm new =)

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Originally Posted by Nephele

This was an extremely helpful thread. I think I'll be giving PF a try now. I honestly had no idea what it really entailed and, until now, sort of ignored it XD

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Agreed! Thanks to all who have responded and helped! I'll be testing this out tonight as well!

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Originally Posted by munkt0r

I'm curious about the major difference between the two.

PF vs DF

As I understand it, duty finder and the roulette pushes you into a guildhest with others randomly (around same level) and you just go do the mission.

With PF does it find a group and then everyone has to run to the location of the quest, or will it also push you into the instance with a group of people?

Am I misunderstanding it altogether? I'm new =)

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I am curious about this as well. Does every person in the party have to be in the same location? Who chooses what we do? Does it work the same for dungeons/fates/guildhests?

When you open the PF and you meet the requirements set by the person who set it up (minimum ilevel, role opening), you can join their party no matter where you are in the world. It will be just like any other party invite, and you can communicate with every other like-minded player interested in the PF listing via party chat (/p).

Typically, the PF listings will tell you what they intend to run, such as trials, a dungeon, Atma, treasure hunts, etc. But sometimes you can put up a PF listing for "Farming HM primals for vanity gear, will decide when party is formed" or "Learning party for coil, let leader know what turn you're on". After you get a group of players, the leader (the one who put up the PF listing) decides which content they will run, and when he/she queue's up for the content, the rest of the party is automatically queue'd up as well so all they have to do is confirm going into a dungeon.

This means you don't have to wait on queue times like the DF. If you have a party of 8 (or 4 for the 4-person content), you'll be instantly put into the instance without having to wait no matter where you are, but everyone must have the ability to queue for the intended content. For example, if you want to do a Garuda Extreme learning party, everyone in your party must have Garuda extreme unlocked and able to queue it in their own DF.

It's best to get to know your party first before you queue up as the leader. Ask what they're intentions are for joining, if they have any experience, decide on how loot will be distributed (I've mostly seen Need only if it's an upgrade, Greed or Pass for vanity/not your class, but it's up to the party to decide. Sometimes the leader even says he has full rights to anything that drops since he set up the PF, which I think is a bit conceited, so make sure you talk first).

Having a Linkshell and being in an FC help fill up your PF faster with people you know already sometimes. Just say, "Hey guys, I have a PF up, anyone wanna join?" And a little common sense, always thank everyone you run with after the dungeon run, no matter how it goes!

AHHHH why have I not taken advantage of this system!?

I can't believe I haven't asked these questions before! This has been soooo informative and helpful!

It really is a great system, but many people use it in a demeaning way, in my opinion. It's not only for end-game raiders, experience only. Always assume there are people willing to learn out there, everyone wants to at some point. Treat the system with respect, show respect, and it'll respect you back. I guarantee it! ^^

Ah, everything was WAY too laggy last night. I did not get to try out the party finder. When I did look to see what was available it was all end game stuff.

I tried again this morning and the server (Coeurl) went down before I could make any progress.