Why does SE keep doing this?

So, this is of course about the hunts, and I will also mention at least one other thing. Brace yourselves, because all of the bu**hurt is coming your way right about now.

To begin with, the hunts. A fun "casual" thing that you can do, except there are a large amount of groups constantly hunting the enemies, keeping track of spawn timers and such that the actual casual people don't have a fair chance.
That's just because the hunt system is broken. However, what I want to talk about is not simply that the system is broken. It also rewards people for being in groups, meaning that if you're a solo player, getting anything but a miniscule reward is next to impossible because of the hunts going down in a matter of seconds, unless they happen to be S rank, and even then, you won't get a lot without being in a group.

So, what's the reason behind this?
There's of course the participation score, which in a group takes each individual and adds them together. Why? Because they want to promote doing things together.
Why is this a bad thing? It sounds completely reasonable to want the interaction between players going.
Yes, it's completely reasonable. The problem is that the ones who can't get into a party are severely handicapped. This is however not a problem with the parties collecting score together. It's because there are just way too many people doing the hunting.

Square Enix keeps doing this, where they are reducing the amount of enjoyment a solo player can get out of the game. Why not just join a Free Company then, you might ask.
Some people don't enjoy being in a group of people, and especially not bound to them. I am one of those. I recently left the FC I was part of because of a particular incident, which is of no concern to anyone else but me. I was part of that FC because my girlfriend had joined it, and I just tagged along.

However, it doesn't end there. The chocobo raising is something you can't do solo. You need a FC with an estate, with the stable. I'm not interested in that at all, but it is still very concerning to me that solo players basically have to play this game without getting as much enjoyment out of it as those who aren't.

I've seen and been through a lot of discrimination, and it happens everywhere. There is a certain player on the server I play on who became very disliked, and could therefore not get a group for hunts. That person is no less worth than anybody else, pays the same amount of money to play the game, but has access to a lot less. It's not even that the player is mean to others. They simply decided to dislike him/her.
It finally went down, but people still don't really treat that person with respect.

Additionally, there's the individual rooms you can have. They are bound to your FC, something that is completely insane in my opinion. If they would be bound to your character, that's fine. However, even then, you won't be able to access it unless you're a part of a FC, which at least I am not very keen on. I don't work well in such groups because I've got Asperger's Syndrome and also suffer from dysthymia, so I'm not so pleasant to be around all the time either. However, the game forces me to join one if I want to have as much fun as others. That in itself is a horrible system.

If you have anything you want to add, or something you want to question, feel free to do so. However, any disrespectful comments will be reported, no matter who they are directed at.

Just ask people for a party invite while waiting to pull the mark. Heck I have had people ask me to join their party while we are waiting to pull. Then leave after its done. People do it all the time.

It's a MMORPG. So you need to expect there to be a lot of Multiplayer content. If you struggle or dislike playing with other people I would most definitely recommend staying away from multiplayer games.

>>>It's a MMORPG. So you need to expect there to be a lot of Multiplayer content. If you struggle or dislike playing with other people I would most definitely recommend staying away from multiplayer games.

That's a little rude, you don't have the right to "recommend" that someone avoid FFXIV just because s/he doesn't like socializing. People seem to forget that this is a Final Fantasy game, not some side FF game either, it's a numbered title in the main series. Some people are here just cause its a FF and they shouldnt be forced to socialize just because others do nothing but socialize. People have to remember that everyone is different and just because some want this game to be multiplayer only doesnt change the fact that many play this game solo. Playing on offline game is not a substitute for playing FFXIV, most games don't come close to how great this game is and people shouldn't be punished for not following the crowd and being independent.

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Originally Posted by Excalibur-Aegis

>>>It's a MMORPG. So you need to expect there to be a lot of Multiplayer content. If you struggle or dislike playing with other people I would most definitely recommend staying away from multiplayer games.

That's a little rude, you don't have the right to "recommend" that someone avoid FFXIV just because s/he doesn't like socializing.

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How is that rude at all? It is an MMO after all, do you know what that means? This is just the type or game it is and Yoshi-p said from the start it encourages you to play with friends you make online and that that is the most fun aspect of mmos. You are way out of line for berating him for no reason. This is a forum and he actually is completely in his rights to recommend something to someone if he wishes.

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Originally Posted by Firepower

It's a MMORPG. So you need to expect there to be a lot of Multiplayer content. If you struggle or dislike playing with other people I would most definitely recommend staying away from multiplayer games.

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I don't know if I'd say 'stay away', but it is a MMO, and SE has to design content around groups.

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Originally Posted by Elliott

Additionally, there's the individual rooms you can have.

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It's not Individual Rooms, its FC Rooms which is suppose to be tied to Free Companies. You want Personal Housing, which will be coming soon so there's that problem solved.
And I agree it sucks that Hunts are the way they are atm but apparently they are tweaking the daily hunts so I suggest wait & see what they do with that. I usually don't agree with the forum community on things but I do agree that the only reason Hunts are so popular right now is there really isn't much for ppl to do endgame wise atm. If you've done Coil 1 & 2 and at least tried all the EX primals once, there isn't much left to do other then do Hunts to ready your gear for the next update.
It'll die down soon, hell it kinda already has (at least on my server not nearly as bad as it was).

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Originally Posted by Firepower

It's a MMORPG. So you need to expect there to be a lot of Multiplayer content. If you struggle or dislike playing with other people I would most definitely recommend staying away from multiplayer games.

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Yes, it's a multiplayer game, so I expect there to be a lot of multiplayer content. That doesn't justify actively punishing people who prefer playing solo, which is what Square Enix has been doing.

Yes - It's a "casual" alternative to raiding to get sands/oils... but you have to raid in a party too.
If you happened to come across a hunt monster first, you couldn't solo it - they are build around having a full party to kill it. Just because there are other parties already there doesn't mean you still shouldn't be in a party.

It's not hard to shout and get in one either - takes 2 seconds, and you can do it when you're zoning in before the loading finishes. Usually my screen is still black when I request party, and by the time I see things, I have a party invite waiting.

Just because something is easy to get, doesn't mean you shouldn't still have to put effort into it.

The groups are usually full, and the people who are shouting for invite are usually too far away to contribute. I'm not saying it's wrong, but I'm saying that they are with several things punishing people for being solo. I'm not saying that it's reasonable for a solo player to gain as much as a group, but that you shouldn't be actively punished.
Still, even if the hunts are justified, everything else isn't. And the individual rooms in the FC house is stupid, since you're investing money in that particular FC, which I'm not too fond of. It's just a whole mess, and I don't think it's healthy.

MMORPGs are *designed* for group play. MMO stands for Massively Multiplayer Online. Massive = consisting of or forming a large mass. Multiplayer games allow players interaction with other individuals in partnership, competition or rivalry, providing them with social communication absent from single-player games.

Why does SE keep doing this? Because the developers of Final Fantasy XIV (the Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) do not care about making content for you and your cat. They are paid to design and execute content meant for small and large groups of players. If you don't like to play games with other people, why are you playing MMOs?

"Discrimination"? Really? Is this real life?

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Originally Posted by Deelo

"Discrimination"? Really? Is this real life?

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Apparently you've never seen a person being denied a group over and over again. It didn't happen to me, but I've seen it happen. Either way, what I'm saying is, yes, encourage people to play in groups, but don't destroy the experience for solo players just because of that. Don't you get what I'm saying, or do you simply not care?

Its not a solo game, its a mmorpg.
That stands for massive mutiplayer online role playing game, incase you missed that part. That said I am casual, but when I roll up to a hunt I just ask for an invite, parties always want to be full so I always get in. Maybe you should play a ffx, I think you can do that one solo.

If you always get into a group, you're lucky. I get into a group half of the time, at most. Half of those are when I invite people myself. So if the people on your server is that lucky, good for you. There's still the problem about there being too many people at the hunts.

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Originally Posted by Elliott

Apparently you've never seen a person being denied a group over and over again. It didn't happen to me, but I've seen it happen. Either way, what I'm saying is, yes, encourage people to play in groups, but don't destroy the experience for solo players just because of that. Don't you get what I'm saying, or do you simply not care?

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Anyone being denied a party by EVERYONE on the server (as you so claim) must be a colossal elitist douche so they deserve it. If it's that bad, transfer and try being cordial to the people there.

I completely understand what you're saying, I just find it mind-numbing. This is not a solo game. Why are you upset that there is little to no solo content in a game designed for group play? Why? This is not a solo game. This is not a solo game. Why do people like you feel so entitled? Would you go to McDonalds and demand filet mignon? Oh my God.

You're completely misinterpreting me. It isn't that there is little to no solo content. It's that some things aren't even available to solo, or is more or less pointless as solo. That there is no option.

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Originally Posted by Elliott

You're completely misinterpreting me. It isn't that there is little to no solo content. It's that some things aren't even available to solo, or is more or less pointless as solo. That there is no option.

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It is not a solo game. Why would there be? I seriously feel like I'm feeding the trolls now. You really cannot be serious at this point.

Oh, I just noticed your Lala.
That could be it.

It's not rude.... It is the truth. Content in a massively multiplayer game.... Tends to be just that.

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Originally Posted by Elliott

. ...That there is no option.

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Lets look at the first rule of FF you seem to forget... FF is not a solo game, you are always in a party of 3 or members(well except periodically) with 5-10 other charters on stand by you can use at any time. Gear wise most i90 crafted and overmelded gear is better then i100. levequest and fates give same or more xp then doing dungeons. You play an MMO and refuse to socialize, and then complain because of this. You are choosing to be antisocial. There are many FC's that all you have to do is join, and donate some gill once in a blue moon. That gets you FC buffs, room, stable and other perks. Even not being a social player I know ppl who simply paid several players to help them start and raise a fc, get super high rank, and then leave. Leaving only 1-4 people in the FC, with all FC benefits. You simply choose not to do this. Majority of your complaints is also already addressed by a different live letter, letter from the producers, and answers from developers as coming out in 2.35(1 day), .38, and .4;

Could you link those? Because I haven't been able to find it. As for everything else, I was in a FC until a certain incident happened, perfectly happy with the situation I was in up until then. That didn't make think otherwise.
I felt forced to join one, and even though I didn't mind joining that particular FC, that was still there. You're simply FORCED to be there, like it or not. I don't find that to be a healthy system.

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Originally Posted by Urielparadox

Majority of your complaints is also already addressed by a different live letter, letter from the producers, and answers from developers as coming out in 2.35(1 day), .38, and .4;

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"In the event a player discharged from a free company has purchased a private chamber, rights to said private chamber will be relinquished automatically, and any furnishings held within will be removed."
"Chocobos automatically removed from chocobo stables will only retain changes to their name and feather color since the last time they were stabled. Any experience points gained through training since they last time they were stabled will be lost."

"The HP of rank B elite marks has been reduced so that they can be defeated by a single player."
BUT!
"Rank B elite marks will no longer yield rewards upon defeat."
Therefore, it is only useful for elite marks, which to be fair, is quite kind of them either way. The hunt system is as you people have said, something you're supposed to do in a party after all. I agree with that. They are supposed to be strong monsters. If you were able to solo them, then that wouldn't exactly be the case anymore, would it?
This is the only fair change I've seen. However, I don't find the other two being all that bad, but I still find them being an issue, and wouldn't be if the rooms were bound by character and not FC, and the chocobo stables were available outside of the FC.

So, I still think the problems are more or less the same, but the hunt change is good. Now people won't go crazy over somebody pulling a B rank anymore at the very least.

As for the rest, I still haven't found anything about what you were talking about.

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Originally Posted by Firepower

It's a MMORPG. So you need to expect there to be a lot of Multiplayer content. If you struggle or dislike playing with other people I would most definitely recommend staying away from multiplayer games.

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If you don't like it, leave..that attitude right there is what actually kills MMO's.

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Originally Posted by Seoulstar

If you don't like it, leave..that attitude right there is what actually kills MMO's.

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OH MY GOD! you are completely right! the ability to recommend staying away from an mmo when 1) you dont like group content 2)you dont participate an any groups, including FCs and 3) complain that there isnt any solo content, that definitely killing MMOs, totally true

everything that the original poster has said is stupid(as an opinion, it is completely in my rights and is debatably correct for me to say this). hes playing an MMO solo, or do you not know what an MMO is?

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Originally Posted by monochromicorn

OH MY GOD! you are completely right! the ability to recommend staying away from an mmo when 1) you dont like group content 2)you dont participate an any groups, including FCs and 3) complain that there isnt any solo content, that definitely killing MMOs, totally true

everything that the original poster has said is stupid(as an opinion, it is completely in my rights and is debatably correct for me to say this). hes playing an MMO solo, or do you not know what an MMO is?

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I think you guys are being a bit too rough, yes its an MMO but there are plenty of other MMO's that offer single player content for all levels of the game and not just for groups.

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Originally Posted by Elliott

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The daily hunts were supposed to be a solo friendly version of the hunts, as I stated SE did address that today. By changing the way B rank works to be mobs for solo players; Also reworking the daily bills to drop enough to be worth doing, which they did. So solo players are no longer locked out of hunt gear, just progress slower. for personal houseing, http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...81#post2251581 ;

It sounds like this issue is coming from the incident you had with your FC. My recommendation is to switch servers to Brynhildr, a smaller server, and join an FC where we are all adults that treat each other like family, my girlfriend and I run it and nothing immature goes on. The problem with MMOs is different people from all over the country/world, different views on life, opinions, we will not always agree. We can always work through those situations feeling better about ourselves, helping each other in the end and laughing about it later. At the end of the day, we are all just trying to have fun, get our moneys worth. If no server switch, don't worry about that player, he/s might be in the exact same boat, their only "winning" by getting the better of you. Walk away with a smile and see the good in the game :) more importantly, see the good in yourself, find something better. If you decide to switch servers, send me mail. Good luck! P.S I really do hope to see you on Brynhildr!

First off, I want to say this. I do not object to group content. I object to content being locked away from people. It doesn't matter if being in a FC is a big deal or not. As for the hunts, while I don't know what it looks like live, it does sound a bit more reasonable on paper than what it was like before.

Also, monochromicorn, where did I ever say that I want this to be a solo experience? Aren't you the stupid person here, who acts upon prejudice?
What I've been saying from the beginning is that this game locks people out, unless they are in groups. I never said that they can't join one, or that I don't want them to. As of now, I'm currently not in a Free Company, and I have no interest in joining one in quite a while either. I'm having fun playing together with my girlfriend, farming once in a while, doing some dungeons, jumping into Coil every now and then, some extreme primals. The only thing I'm missing out on is being in a raid team. Something that being in a FC certainly helps me with, but at the same time, is far from needed.
I am also not interested in the Chocobo breeding. I am not interested in housing. The only thing I've actually mentioned in this thread that I'm actually interested in are the hunts. However, I actually join groups for the hunts, the times that I manage to at the very least. That doesn't stop me from addressing these problems, does it?

I don't want certain features of the game being locked away and I dislike the way the individual rooms in the FCs work. There are a load of other things that I dislike about how they are doing things. As for why you aren't seeing the problems, I'm not sure.
You could at least do me a favor and read what I write instead of assuming that I think a certain way. What I've written is what I think. Nothing else. There's no hidden reason behind everything. They are simply facts, and if you dislike, like or tolerate those facts, that is entirely up to you. It's the way the game works, and the way Square Enix has made it. That's the reasoning behind the title of the thread. That's the reasoning behind the content of this thread.

Now, please go ahead and read. There is a lot of discrimination, like it or not. If you think it's a serious matter or not, that's also up to you. However, being ignorant is the one thing you shouldn't be.

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Originally Posted by monochromicorn

OH MY GOD! you are completely right! the ability to recommend staying away from an mmo when 1) you dont like group content 2)you dont participate an any groups, including FCs and 3) complain that there isnt any solo content, that definitely killing MMOs, totally true

everything that the original poster has said is stupid(as an opinion, it is completely in my rights and is debatably correct for me to say this). hes playing an MMO solo, or do you not know what an MMO is?

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I guess you must not know how to read since I didn't recommend that. I was simply stating what the other person was really saying. Go freak out on someone else.

It's great to hear you have found happiness Elliot :) Statics are very fun but as you said, nothing necessary. I would try to get one together for the second coil content though, just a pure recommendation, this goes with your biased that it locks solo players out. This will never be done with a pick up group. You gotta find guys and gals that are willing to work a few days a week to learn the fights. The feeling of completing each one is a very a unique reward in itself though, not just the loot. It is however in a darker, more stressful part of the game lol, but it doesn't come without those great rewards. I'm playing 2.35 right now, and it seems you could get away with doing hunts solo if you wanted, 50 seals for the weekly, another 50 for all the dailies. A bit slower but get's you away from the angry mob of people lol

isn't the REAL reason people are annoyed that fact that idiots pull early and kill it before a lot arrive?

why don't SE just add a 5 minute timer for A and 10 minute for S during which you can't engage.

something along the lines of:

"you take some time to gaze on the magnificent beast"

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Originally Posted by djbenny1

isn't the REAL reason people are annoyed that fact that idiots pull early and kill it before a lot arrive?

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Yeah, but that's not why I'm annoyed. However, the hunt situation is... slightly better, although there are still way too many players, and you can therefore not even see the hunts at times. That's because of how the system is built. It was broken when they released it already. They simply didn't expect this to happen, as usual I might add. Also, a lot of times, the monsters have already been up for that long before people find them, or even get their own group to it. It won't help.

As for everything else, it's still not that I can't access the content. Still, what people have still failed to see is the fact that the things that I've mentioned are things that you should be able to do without being in a group. Chocobo breeding, solo experience. Needs FC. Individual room, it's bound to your FC, even though it's your character who got it. I get the whole "you bought an additional room to the FC" deal, but I dislike the fact that it's basically wasted money if you decide to sometime switch FC. I simply find it highly discouraging to get one for that simple fact. To say that it's a personal room that you can ACCESS from your FC house, that is fine. It's supposed to be an additional room. However, I think it should be bound to character, not FC.

I'm honestly not that bothered by any of these things personally. I go mining once in a while, I play some WHM, PLD and BLM, just doing some trials, Coil sometimes, and when I feel like it, I go hunting for monsters, where I get what I need. That is the one thing that does affect me though. The times that I don't get a group, and barely get a reward from it, while some who have simply tagged it and is in a full group gets full rewards. I'm not saying it should be the same for solo as for parties though. Being in a party should have benefits, other than being in a party. However, I think it should give you a bonus to your personal effort, not add up everything from the party and act as if it's Christmas all over again.

To be honest, I am pretty confused with what Yoshi vision for this game. It's great that he emphasize solo player and casual style, this is very very nice feature. But at the same time, he fails utterly when it comes to promote each server community activity - which honestly he should focus on this 100%. Duty Finder is great feature and really helps people to log and play - but the Hunt reward ration renders dungeon run a moot point... Hunt is suppose to be server community activities but the way they handle this is very bad.

And the saddest part is, SE has the perfect solution already, in their other online game called FFXI. They already created "Voidwatch" in that game. An alliance based activities, where you get your key item (which they can use levee as a way to obtain a key item). Then you gather an alliance of players who all have the same key items, and go pop Notorious Monster at specific location that is only accessible for your alliance. They can set up a tiered system where it gets progressively harder. And because the reward is "seals" - this system can be easily updated with future rewards that are meaningful. This way it is not going to die just because level goes up as long as they keep the reward relevant. It will force people to join a specific LS and build each server community.