Party recruitment interface, done right [SUGGESTION]

I know there's a thread already about the new "seek party" addition, although that covers more about how it works than suggestions to improve it.

Here's a very simple way to improve the system without removing what we already have SE. It's been said a million times before by many players.

• Add a "seeking party" flag

Don't be scared to take ideas from FFXI, it was your game after all. Allow people to toggle it on and off, and make a visual cue on the screen to show people are seeking a party. Further enhance the visual cue when we target them, showing which classes they are seeking on (more below.) Each class has its own icon already, should be pretty easy?

• Improvements to the above system:
  
  Allow us to search for parties by individual class. For example: I have a 25 THM and a 40 MRD that I want to join an exp party with, but I want to fish while I wait for an invite. I toggle those 2 on and when people search for members they see a 25 THM and a 40 MRD available. Once I join a party, my "seeking party" flag disappears for both classes. This way we are not locked to one class while seeking, and can seek for multiple classes at the same time.
  
  Adding a purpose section for each class would be nice as well. Can range from: Unspecified, EXP, Leves, Missions, Dungeons, etc, etc. Also include the option of adding our own text.

The interface used for seeking a party can be very simple. Menu > Party > Seek > select the class you wish to seek on and it's purpose > Click OK. I'm thinking mini pop up windows for purposes, each time you click on a class, but there's probably better solutions.

• Add a "search for members" option

Again, don't be scared to take ideas from your previous MMO. Allow us to search for seeking players by: All, Class, Rank, Area, Purpose, Name, etc, etc.

• Improvements to the "search for members" function:
  
  Give us the options of sending an immediate invite, automated invite message, and /tells.
  

  The immediate invite would be the same as FFXI's and FFXIV's current versions, automatically sending an invite to the player who then just has to /join as we currently do.

  The automated message would send a automated message to the player, translated in their language. Something like "Meowy Wowie wishes to invite you to her party. Respond with CTRL+R" When the player hits CTRL+R they can send you a tell to inquire about party setup, location, etc, before agreeing to join.

  The chat feature I think is self explanatory. Basically you just send a /tell to the person, asking if they would like to join your party. To me, this is the most courteous way to invite someone, by speaking to them directly, but again that's just me.

Again, the interface for this can be very simple. Menu > Party > Search > Select the parameters > Select the player > Invite / Auto Request / Chat.

In conclusion, I think those 2 additions would almost complete the party seeking and recruitment system we now have (Yes, Yoshi-P, no more "fix party recruitment" threads!!) Don't remove the system we already have, as it's good for what it's designed for, just rarely used.

FFXI had a great community for a reason, and FFXIV has a "mute" community for a reason. FFXI forced us to party and interact with each other, while FFXIV makes it very difficult to do so. They are near complete opposites at the moment. There's no reason we can't reach a middle ground. Don't force people to party, but make it easier for those who wish to do so.

Some may wonder why I didn't suggest just adding a /search feature that searches even those not seeking for a party. I thought about it, but realized that it would hardly be effective as you would not be able to see a person's total class layout, only the class they are currently on. IMO this addition is far better. Another reason might be because SE does not want us to know the server's current population, although they could simply just not show it. Don't get me wrong though, I would love to see /search implemented, but there are better ways to improve party recruitment.

Ideas, thoughts, suggestions? Please share.

/signed i want to see this happen i love to party and meet ppl

yeah, but correct "party finder", shout for hours each class is tedious and boring
lol you made your pt in 2 hours, your go camp for mobs and mage need to leave in half hour

Bump

I expected this to get buried pretty quick because of all the other important and productive threads trending recently. But hopefully enough people will see this and join my cause.

FFXIV needs a push in the right direction from SE in order to improve our seemingly non-social in game communities. I think this would be a great start.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

• Add a "seeking party" flag

---

This was already done in 1.18. You don't get a little icon next to your name, but the seek invite flag is there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

Allow us to search for parties by individual class.

---

Again, you can do this already. When you pull up the window to look for a party, you are able to look for any job you have leveled to see if someone is looking for you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

Adding a purpose section for each class would be nice as well. Can range from: Unspecified, EXP, Leves, Missions, Dungeons, etc, etc. Also include the option of adding our own text.[/LIST][/INDENT]

---

Yet again, this functionality is already in the current party search interface.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

[LIST][*]Add a "search for members" option

---

Yep, it's there already. Take a closer look.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

Give us the options of sending an immediate invite, automated invite message, and /tells.

The immediate invite would be the same as FFXI's and FFXIV's current versions, automatically sending an invite to the player who then just has to /join as we currently do.

The automated message would send a automated message to the player, translated in their language. Something like "Meowy Wowie wishes to invite you to her party. Respond with CTRL+R" When the player hits CTRL+R they can send you a tell to inquire about party setup, location, etc, before agreeing to join.

---

The "automated invite message" sounds a little unnecessary to me. Other than that, you guessed it. You can already do this with the current interface.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again as many times as I need to. The one and only problem with the FFXIV party search interface is that nobody uses it. Instead of people whining that it's too complicated because it's different from XI's, open your minds and learn how to use it, then USE IT. It isn't complicated. It's merely different than what you're used to.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the new "seek party" addition still work backwards compared to what I'm suggesting? The way I understand it, someone needs to be "Recruiting" for a party already, and they can't search for people that are seeking. The new search option just lets you search for parties that might be recruiting your desired classes.

Maybe I'm missing something?

This I admit is a little confusing, because to put your seek party flag up you must choose "recruit" then choose "seek invite". Even though you technically aren't recruiting for a party.

You'd see what I mean if more people used it. ^_^

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eekiki

This I admit is a little confusing, because to put your seek party flag up you must choose "recruit" then choose "seek invite". Even though you technically aren't recruiting for a party.

You'd see what I mean if more people used it. ^_^

---

Hmm I will have to try this out when I get on the game then.

Still, they can do a MUCH better job at streamlining the system, people shouldn't have to make threads asking others how to use what is supposed to be a simple system.

Thanks for your input, Eeikki. If anything, maybe this thread will have more people use the current search function in this case.

So I just tested the system we have now, and I still think it's pure garbage.

You can't seek on multiple classes at the same time. You can't search for "All" classes, instead have to check each one separately. Nowhere does it say anyone's rank. The whole thing still just seems like an afterthought and people will likely never use it if it's this cumbersome.

My request still stands, even if all the basics exist already (should be easier for them then.) I can't see the current system ever really being used, it is a poorly thought at system to say the least. Seeking for and making parties shouldn't require us to think, the parties themselves should :D

Bump

This game needs a working party system badly..

Partying is the best way to SP in the game at the moment. We need an easier to use interface for creating and joining parties if this is the trend that SE is sticking with.

Well, since there are two threads going on this at the same time, I'll repost my mockup suggestion here:
http://b1.ge.tt/8b29NI6/2.%20LFG.png

It's basically a copy of EQ2 interface, adapted to FF14 armory system. It won't work with a gamepad and may lack of some precision as for the role choice (EQ2 had 8 roles, it would feel a bit cluttered here), but at least it would do the job way better that the joke of interface we have atm.

Again, most games LFG interfaces follow the same broad UI, so it's nothing really new or innovative.

I was just going to propose this exact same thing, but it looks like I was beaten to the punch. I'm atleast glad to know someone shares the same ideas I have.

I'll likely try working up a mockup of what the party recruitment *should* be.

yes this game need a more better redefine search party system. Current one is not good enough.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maxi_Irving

I'll likely try working up a mockup of what the party recruitment *should* be.

---

Feel free to use mine as a basis.

For all of those who want to try making mokups, you may be interested in the current state of art:

EQ 2, probably the most complete LFG interface existing (being able to search by role instead of class):
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/6...window1pr4.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8...window2jn5.jpg
VG SoH shares the same system. Note the ability to set yourself to LFG for lower level groups with the mentoring check (mentoring is what FF11 players call synch).

The DDO interface is well worth mentioning too (but it's simpler since there is only one role per class):
http://www.mmocrunch.com/wp-content/...08/social1.jpg
Due to the grouping required nature of the game, the interface is always used and full of groups. I'm pretty sure LoTRO has a similar system.

Interestingly WoW interface is not really well done (at least last time I checked) and Rift doesn't have any interface at all. But those two balances the problem with automated instance finder (and/or zone/level specific channels used for LFG/LFM).

I have never played Aion and would be glad if someone could tell us a bit about its LFG system.

I'm pretty sure we can work out a nerly perfect tool for FF14, then it would only be a matter of spamming it until SE notices... as usual.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nipa

Feel free to use mine as a basis.

For all of those who want to try making mokups, you may be interested in the current state of art:

EQ 2, probably the most complete LFG interface existing (being able to search by role instead of class):
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/6...window1pr4.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8...window2jn5.jpg
VG SoH shares the same system. Note the ability to set yourself to LFG for lower level groups with the mentoring check (mentoring is what FF11 players call synch).

The DDO interface is well worth mentioning too (but it's simpler since there is only one role per class):
http://www.mmocrunch.com/wp-content/...08/social1.jpg
Due to the grouping required nature of the game, the interface is always used and full of groups. I'm pretty sure LoTRO has a similar system.

Interestingly WoW interface is not really well done (at least last time I checked) and Rift doesn't have any interface at all. But those two balances the problem with automated instance finder (and/or zone/level specific channels used for LFG/LFM).

I have never played Aion and would be glad if someone could tell us a bit about its LFG system.

I'm pretty sure we can work out a nerly perfect tool for FF14, then it would only be a matter of spamming it until SE notices... as usual.

---

Why is there a bow by "Melee Damage" and a sword by "Crowd Control?"

Also I don't understand what the difference between a secondary tank and a main tank is, or a secondary tank and a melee damage character >.>

Largely inconsequential but I wanna know!

A big vote from me, I don't understand how they did not work on the Group search function from FFXI in the first place.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SuzakuCMX

Why is there a bow by "Melee Damage" and a sword by "Crowd Control?"

---

Not sure about that, I may have posted a very old version of the interface. This one should be safe:
http://rift-wire.com/wp-content/uplo...LFG_Window.jpg

Quote:

---

Also I don't understand what the difference between a secondary tank and a main tank is, or a secondary tank and a melee damage character >.>

---

A melee DPS is not supposed to be particularly able to take damage. Think of a rogue type of character (one that doesn't do evasion-tanking) for instance. Or course come melee DPS can take damage. In FF14, I imagine the lancer could be that kind of glass canon character.

A secondary tank is a character build to do damage (or something else) but that can still tank a bit when/if needed, for instance if there is a bit too much to do for the main tank, to save a stupid dps here and there or to handle an unfortunate add. Or equivalently, you can thing of a tank that can make decent damage (or something else). But more than beefy DPS, this could include a healing-tank type (heal to get aggro, share the damage to your team, steal life, do nasty things with your group hp pools) or a pet master which pet can take a few hit and who can taunt enemies to attack it. Those are called offtanks too, I guess.

But again, definitions may change depending of the game, the geographic region, the language or even the community. I'm pretty sure you can find hundred of pages arguing on the definition of offtank :)

This game needs truly a better PT Search System !

Great suggestions. I would really like to be able to search for people who even don't have their flag up though. Maybe when SE is less concerned about the optics of low server populations?

Cause I liked getting random tells when I was tooling around asking me to party... and I like being able to see who is on a specific job I want and asking them to party. I dunno, I know I would often be up for a party if someone sent me a tell but I don't always want my flag up.

Also I really like being able to set a comment. I think it can be useful for a lot of things (from showing party members what loot you intend to lot, to letting people in the area know what you are up to so they don't camp on top of you, etc)

If there was one thing I had to pick out of FFXI that I loved the most, it was the community. I played in 2008 and there perhaps weren't as many people as in other times in it's history, but it was still packed with people who would message me on the odd occasion asking if I'd like to party. I wasn't always actively seeking, but on some occasions I'd just say "You know what? Yeah, sure, I'll join in." and off I went. There is nothing to allow for this at the moment. Likewise, if I was actively seeking, I could go to a certain spot with a "Seeking party" flag next to my name and within minutes someone would be asking me to help them out. Bang! Party.

Implement an FFXI-styled search and a FFXI-styled flag, and I would be immensely happy.

Yes please!! This really, really needs addressing.

I'm liking the additional suggestions I'm seeing. As long as they keep it an easy to use and effective interface, I'm sure we'd all be happy.

Basically this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Isjgc0oX0s

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

I'm liking the additional suggestions I'm seeing. As long as they keep it an easy to use and effective interface, I'm sure we'd all be happy.

Basically this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Isjgc0oX0s

---

Lol this video is very funny.

And Meowy, of course you will have my support here.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

Improvements to the "search for memebers" function:

---

Sorry to nit pick. :)

I'm signing this because they definitely need to just dump the system that is currently implemented and create a new sytem. The current implementation is clunky and confusing. It has such a bad reputation that a whole new system is going to be needed before people will bother looking at it again.

woops lol....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rimmer

Sorry to nit pick. :)

---

Yea I caught this when I was proof reading too, must have forgotten to change it. Thanks lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

woops lol....

---

I see what you did thar. :P

I do agree that the Party search feature needs to be changed, alongside simple tutorials explaining how it functions.

Agreed. I'd very much like to see a new party search, and search function in general, put into the game. While I don't want for everything to be copy paste from FFXI to FFXIV, I must say the party seeking system on it was much easier to use. Sometimes simplicity is best.

Another person mentioned within this thread about being able to add additional classes. I think that's an excellent idea. The addition of having the ability to add multiple classes to your own "flag" for a party invite so you can potentially get into a party faster. :)