Is it too much to ask for a social FC or do I need to lower my expectations?

I seem to have found myself stuck in an FC hamster wheel I can't seem to get out of. I played without an FC for a very long time, but things got lonely and I enjoy the social interaction, whether it's just shooting the breeze or discussing game-related things and just simply having people to run content with you can rely on.

However, I have no been in three FC's over the past two months that are just simply not social. They advertised as being social and engaged. Yet, it's like talking to a brick wall.

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored.

Now, I understand being new to an FC people have to get used to you and such, but why have an FC if barely anyone talks to anyone?

I don't know...maybe I should lower expectations? It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DynnDiablos

I seem to have found myself stuck in an FC hamster wheel I can't seem to get out of. I played without an FC for a very long time, but things got lonely and I enjoy the social interaction, whether it's just shooting the breeze or discussing game-related things and just simply having people to run content with you can rely on.

However, I have no been in three FC's over the past two months that are just simply not social. They advertised as being social and engaged. Yet, it's like talking to a brick wall.

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored.

Now, I understand being new to an FC people have to get used to you and such, but why have an FC if barely anyone talks to anyone?

I don't know...maybe I should lower expectations? It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

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I agree, I've been in this stunt before. It's worth recognizing we're in the most barren portion of the expansion and a lot of people arent actively playing unless they're raiding or hardcore crafting.

I've found my resolution was to just keep trying new FC's and talking new folk, eventually you'll find people that want to socialize in game.

Joining a FC is a two-sided experience, you check the FC and the FC members checks you. If it doesn't work, you both part ways.

I'd suggest you make your own FC and recruit like-minded people, or keep searching until you get the good one for you.

make sure they don't have discord and if so pop on. some folks will pop on discord but have no mic or don't use the mic so they use fc chat at that point. As pointed oout keep searching for the FC that fits you or make your own with like minded folks :)

You've come to the decision you want an active Free Company, one that's social, right? You now know what type of thing to ask or talk about when you look for an FC. You might have to be more discerning when checking it out.

How did you get recruited or how did you search for your FC?

Are you interested in only in-game FC interactions? Using social media to chat like Discord?

By social, what are you interested in? People who are always talking or people who will help you when you need it?

I decided back in December ish to just go out and find a Free Company that I thought would fit me. I looked in the Ads, on the subreddit but also looked into the forums dedicated to the servers here. I saw an FC I thought I would like and sent a message to the recruiter who incidentally was also the FC leader. Talked to the leader. Asked about play times, what do the people do. What's the age group like? Are people younger, more working adults or all in college?

Never regretted that decision. I'm probably the happiest I've been in an FC. I'm having fun and really enjoying my time.

You need to watch out for those FCs that recruit on a whim. They don't tell you that most of their actives are on break until xpac and they recruit on a whim because they're bored themselves. They talk to you for the day and then...that's all you get.

My recommendations:
-Join an active, social linkshell. It's basically a better chat pool than an fc, without the fc buffs and typically more members than a fc. If you still want fc buffs, join one that has buffs regularly activated.

-If you're still set on FCs over LS, try to join one that's more or less preparing itself for upcoming xpac. Those are the ones where most members will continue to play right up to patch date and beyond.

-Don't be afraid to ask the right questions before joining: How many people are actually active on a daily basis? Do they have social events/activities? What kind of content do they do?

Hope this helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DynnDiablos

I seem to have found myself stuck in an FC hamster wheel I can't seem to get out of. I played without an FC for a very long time, but things got lonely and I enjoy the social interaction, whether it's just shooting the breeze or discussing game-related things and just simply having people to run content with you can rely on.

However, I have no been in three FC's over the past two months that are just simply not social. They advertised as being social and engaged. Yet, it's like talking to a brick wall.

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored.

Now, I understand being new to an FC people have to get used to you and such, but why have an FC if barely anyone talks to anyone?

I don't know...maybe I should lower expectations? It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

---

Game is oversaturated with FCs, most of them just there to fill up numbers. I'd recommend making some friends in your world, if you get to hang out with their FC then you can get to know them as well and if you all click then you could join theirs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SenorPatty

You need to watch out for those FCs that recruit on a whim. They don't tell you that most of their actives are on break until xpac and they recruit on a whim because they're bored themselves. They talk to you for the day and then...that's all you get.

My recommendations:
-Join an active, social linkshell. It's basically a better chat pool than an fc, without the fc buffs and typically more members than a fc. If you still want fc buffs, join one that has buffs regularly activated.

-If you're still set on FCs over LS, try to join one that's more or less preparing itself for upcoming xpac. Those are the ones where most members will continue to play right up to patch date and beyond.

-Don't be afraid to ask the right questions before joining: How many people are actually active on a daily basis? Do they have social events/activities? What kind of content do they do?

Hope this helps.

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How do you find a social LS?

Wish I had an easy answer for you, FCs, guilds what have you can be hard to integrate your self into. They will already have had members they are used to and some folks are just afraid of strangers. Have you tried...

Making jokes.

Chiming in to their conversations.

Being helpful to other members.

Asking if anyone would like to join you doing roulette.

Insert yourself slowly in the above fashion. If you find these things aren't working g you might just have gotten a dud and it's time to move on. But do so in a mature way. You never know when you might end up grouped with them!

Of course yeah you may need to lower your expectations.

Joining a social linkshell is another great idea, this game you don't really -need- a FC but again make yourself known to them Like in RL you can't expect strangers to suddenly become your BFF.

Hope some of this helps you. Nothing worse then feeling lonely surrounded by people.

*One other thing ask if they use discord. Some FC use it a lot to the exclusion of those that don't. That can sometimes account for weird silences.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ExKage

You've come to the decision you want an active Free Company, one that's social, right? You now know what type of thing to ask or talk about when you look for an FC. You might have to be more discerning when checking it out.

How did you get recruited or how did you search for your FC?

Are you interested in only in-game FC interactions? Using social media to chat like Discord?

By social, what are you interested in? People who are always talking or people who will help you when you need it?

I decided back in December ish to just go out and find a Free Company that I thought would fit me. I looked in the Ads, on the subreddit but also looked into the forums dedicated to the servers here. I saw an FC I thought I would like and sent a message to the recruiter who incidentally was also the FC leader. Talked to the leader. Asked about play times, what do the people do. What's the age group like? Are people younger, more working adults or all in college?

Never regretted that decision. I'm probably the happiest I've been in an FC. I'm having fun and really enjoying my time.

---

I've been trying to read the FC's description and then when I reach out tell them what I am looking for. But as others have commented, I may need to take some time getting to know people in the FC and be more diligent or go for a LS instead.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DynnDiablos

How do you find a social LS?

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Try looking here http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/f...Group-NA-EU%29 for your server they may have some to join or you may need to ask about one.

Some people join FC's and never say a word. It's beyond me how some people don't even meet the minimum for sociality. On the other hand I can see how it can be hard at times when FC members are busy doing other things and not responding quickly to new members. Best of luck finding one that works for you.

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Originally Posted by LaylaTsarra

Some people join FC's and never say a word. It's beyond me how some people don't even meet the minimum for sociality.

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Some do not like to talk randomly in the chat unless they get addressed by someone.
The sheer activity in chat or otherwise could be enough for them to feel part of it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LaylaTsarra

Some people join FC's and never say a word. It's beyond me how some people don't even meet the minimum for sociality. On the other hand I can see how it can be hard at times when FC members are busy doing other things and not responding quickly to new members. Best of luck finding one that works for you.

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Really depends on the vibe the FC gives off.
I'm very anti-social, and I've joined 2 FCs.

First FC I joined I kinda sat quiet in, and when I finally talked - I ended up just getting sass from the same group of people who were always circle jerking each other in the chat, and from then on I didn't talk to the FC before I left. One person completely spoiled the FC for me.

I'm pretty active in the FC I am in now, because the group of people in it seem friendly.
Honestly, it all depends on how people interact in the FC.

Some people also join FCs so they stop getting constantly messages about joining them, and really don't want to be in one. Hell, I've made one before to stop that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DynnDiablos

How do you find a social LS?

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Someone already answered about using the worlds section on the forums so that's one suggestion. If that doesn't pan out for you, you can use the shout ingame to find out. Even better now is that with world visit active, you can find LS or Cross-World LS all over.

I sincerely hope you find one to your tastes. Good Luck :D

Helluuuuuuuuuu

It's a bad time for this sort of thing since it's right before a major expansion but I've experienced this before. I joined 2 FCs, both were heavily inactive but tried to pretend they were. In-game chat was very rare and nobody would talk back. I ended up finding a third FC which was the perfect one for me. Always active, plenty of people online 30+, and people would converse, help each other, etc... People in the FC also make their own little groups in linkshells to talk to their closes FC mates on a more personal level too. These kinds of FCs exist, you just have to hop from one to another until you find one.

Mmmm I think there’s fcs out there that are social like they advertise. I know with my fc we are social. Chat is slightly more quiet in game than normal due to the content drought, but people still talk. A lot of us keep in touch through discord until more content comes out, and people come back from playing other things. I think you just gotta find the right group of people. I’ve been with my fc for over 4 years now and am still happy with it (:

Sometimes people are in a dungeon and might not see what you said. Right now it'll hard to find one that's real active because of the content drought. There are some FC though that I swear mostly chat in voice chat. Heck I miss things in chat because I'm crafting like a crazy person or gathering like one. Not to say there aren't any bad apples out there.

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Originally Posted by Arrius

Some do not like to talk randomly in the chat unless they get addressed by someone.
The sheer activity in chat or otherwise could be enough for them to feel part of it.

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Not everyone is social that's a given but some won't even say hello when addressed in FC chat. That's simply common curtesy in my opinion. To each their own but FC are meant to be social animals after all. FC's should do their best to make new members welcome and not ignore them. Helping new members is what a FC should be about as well.

I have lots of experience joining fc's

Altogether, all alts on different servers, I have joined about 50 different fc's give or take a few. Mostly to stop the nagging from random /tell in cities. really didn't want to join, but what the hell right. It has been the same pattern on all servers, on all worlds, the first day you join you get some people who want to help, chit chat a little bit, maybe run some roulette or help out with other content. And then....nada...

Of course I am not picky obviously, joining so many Fc's, however, I think the prudent thing do which has already been suggested tom me in the past is to give an fc about a 2 week to a month window to get to know other players, actively participate in events, etc.....

What ends up happening is ask questions or if anyone needs help with anything and get no response. Ok maybe there busy then that's cool I understand. If they consistently ignore and do not give responses im out. Its a little difficult fitting in to because most of these fcs have well seasoned players and don't really need any help so then its like how can I help the guild?

Finally point and most real for me is me. I have a weird personality and that can be abrasive and piss people off. I am a huge fan of FF games been playing since black screen dos ff1. This is my second MMO, however, and im not used to being groups all that much. So its not always that FC's are antisocial, its me not participating or giving a fair chance to the group.

This is an awesome player base sometime personalities and defects of character can get in the way. Best of luck.

Thats how things are for me too, I never ask to join a guild I always allow them to ask so i dont feel Im imposing myself upon anyone, I allow then to show interest first. I reject silent offer popups because they already wont talk to you and are probably just after numbers. Likewise if they post in open chat all of the things they offer, will be because they expect you to help provide/kickstart it or are legitimately established in the boast and you arent factored into it after the superficial courtesy wears off the next day or worse yet in the next 15 minutes. lol


If they ask you to join because of your toons appearance then that newness will fade so will their interest,
http://i.imgur.com/paVrmmv.png
you can forget getting any help with quests or finding a team for dutys they are most often selfish with time, and, you will feel like a lost kid in a big city when swept under the rug of a large guild.

If they are flirting back and fourth constantly with one another, get out quick!
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ThirdSpeed...restricted.gif

If they are constantly cursing or crude, get out quick!
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CA4z-gEq6...og_goblins.jpg

If they are praising the guilds leader often, and addressing them as "dear leader" or "boss/queen/king/emperor/god/etc" GET OUT NOW!! He is a conceded tyrant looking for new minions to serve him!
https://45.media.tumblr.com/7c4f6a8f...9s00o1_500.gif

If they are teaming often and never ask you to come along after the first day, or even ever...then they probably never will. Same goes for if you ask questions and they never answer, why even stay? I mean give it about 20 minutes encase they are busy, but if you arent worth their time, neither is their guild to you tbh. I often stay for a week to test the waters, or shorter if they are crude or make me feel uncomfortable.

I wish I could make a Fairy Tail type guild here,
https://pm1.narvii.com/6003/821c15e0...167f351_hq.jpg
but Im not a leader...thats why I like to heal, I prefer to follow and be supportive.

Thats what guilds I have come across in all of the MMO's I have played have lacked, a friendly-human approach. The Fairy Tail Zero series is what made me want to play MMO's to begin with.

EDIT: One other thing when deciding on guilds, the name! We have to ask ourselves, do we really want that tag above us...and check the description to make sure when people read up on your FC description that it describes you too so you dont give a bad first impression! If you FC is full of perverts or rude people or have crude/bad taste in humor or the outlook of others or even life, then that label will be passed down to you as well.
http://images2.fanpop.com/image/phot...65-720-572.jpg

I've been in several FCs and just decided not to join anymore of them. It's like most have an inner circle, some weird drama, and even yelling at you for declining their out of blue FC invites. I'll explain all these that happened to me.

I was offered to join a FC that promised to help new players, I decided to give it a try and it was really more of an inner circle thing. I and other new members would ask questions or if anyone wanted to run anything and no response, but seconds later someone can ask and they get several replies. This went on for over two weeks so I left.

Now for the drama FC, This one seemed good at first, but went downhill fast.A FC member wanted to run maps so we did. The FC member rolled on an item that dropped, that the FC leader wanted, but didn't say anything about wanting it until after it dropped . An argument began and the FC member was kicked out of the FC. A lot of people left the FC not long after (me included)

Last one I was in uldah and I got a tell asking me to join a FC I told them no thanks and they just kept o,n then one of their members decided to jump in.I then got insulted by both of them just because I didn't want to join?

I decided joining a FC just isn't worth it for me, I just really wish we could block those random Fc invites. I may make a suggestion for it in the future.

Finding a good free company is like finding a good relationship: It's going to take effort and you are probably going to find a few (or several) bad apples before you find the right one. That said, once you do.... it will have all been worth it.

It's a tall order. But here on Balmung DBH is very social. Even at 1/3, it's old Size.

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Originally Posted by Angelov-Mercy

I have lots of experience joining fc's

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My sensei :)
Helluuuuu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aramina

Finding a good free company is like finding a good relationship: It's going to take effort and you are probably going to find a few (or several) bad apples before you find the right one. That said, once you do.... it will have all been worth it.

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Yup. I fully agree. I just wish guilds in general...or FC's as called in this game, where honest when advertising. It would make things so much easier when playing MMO's.

GUild 1: " We just stand around and do nothing."
Me: "have fun..."

Guild 2: " Dote dote dote dote..."
Me: " Stahp!" DX

Guild 3: "Prepare to feel like rubbish every time you log in."
Me: (flees)

Guild 4: "We are an awesome, drama free and active group, who likes kitties."
Me: "Yay! Sold!" \o/


lol

I haven't been in many FCs, but the ones I have been in, I was invited to through friends. It helps, because even if others in the FC are silent, at least your friend/s in the FC would talk to you :P

One problem I had, was that I wanted to raid in a FC. FC said "Sure, we do raiding in this FC!" They neglected to tell me, that if you're not part of their main 8 person raid group, then you won't get to raid at all.
"Make a 2nd group!" They said. *Tried to make second group, nobody shows up on raid day* *Nobody in main raid group showed up either to help with filling no-show spots, were all "busy" or "tired from their own raids"*

Happened not only in one FC, but another too. After a raiding linkshell imploded in the first week while I was asleep (someone brought their friend along for a friendly run out of raid times, and everyone bickered and leader disbanded the linkshell) I gave up on raiding in this game.

I do a lot of pvp, and found a pvp FC, where I met my husband :D Unfortunately with the changes to pvp in SB, the members stopped playing, so I am just taking care of the large FC house alone, so it doesn't get destroyed, until they make pvp fun again.

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Originally Posted by DynnDiablos

I seem to have found myself stuck in an FC hamster wheel I can't seem to get out of. I played without an FC for a very long time, but things got lonely and I enjoy the social interaction, whether it's just shooting the breeze or discussing game-related things and just simply having people to run content with you can rely on.

However, I have no been in three FC's over the past two months that are just simply not social. They advertised as being social and engaged. Yet, it's like talking to a brick wall.

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored.

Now, I understand being new to an FC people have to get used to you and such, but why have an FC if barely anyone talks to anyone?

I don't know...maybe I should lower expectations? It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

---

I feel this on so many levels. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DynnDiablos

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored.

Now, I understand being new to an FC people have to get used to you and such, but why have an FC if barely anyone talks to anyone?

I don't know...maybe I should lower expectations? It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

---

As someone who has social anxiety which carries into the game and has been through quite a few FCs on different servers:

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

...OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored...


These are huge red flags.

Even they don't know the answer to a question,busy with something, an average FC will give a response even if it ends up being something like: "Hi Dynn" "Sorry,idk" or "Busy right now."

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It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

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My experience has been if an FC claims that they are social and fun, they're referring to being social and fun within their cliques .

In addition, for many FCs, the FC chat is dead but Discord is active.

Also, I find that small FCs are better for socialising, since in medium-large FCs, you're just another face in the crowd, until you find your own clique within the FC and can ignore everyone else.

However,even in small FCs, new members need to put in the effort to get to know the regulars. I know for many people, this can be daunting. But saying "Hi,how's it going?" every time you log in can go a long way. For me personally, I offer to craft glam for FC members and unsynced ARR Ex primals pony farming.

The other downside of small FCs is that when there are content lulls, there might be hardly anyone to do stuff with. Heck, even when there are no content droughts, members of a small FC might be interested in vastly different things.

Will also second the idea that you should try to make friends outside the FC. You never know, such friends might end up leading you to your dream FC.

I essentially played this game by myself for a year and a half with basically no friends, I have 2. A lot more from just these past 2 months of finding my true fc.