Friends Helping Friends with Aether Currents?

So, one obvious use for Multi-Player mounts is to run a friend all over a map to get their Aether Currents so they can fly as quickly and easily as possible. And of course, one can bring up a map on our second screens to help do that.

But it seems to me that there is a needless "bug" that is in the way of doing this efficiently.

The Aether Compass cannot be used by a Player riding another player's multiplayer mount. The "Master" player can use the Aether Compass, but of course in an area where they can fly, that does not help. But the player who needs the help can do most other interesting things while on the mount, like bring up the dialog that shows how many Aether Currents are left to find, but cannot use the Aether Compass.

Let's fix this, shall we? Let all players on Multi-player mounts use their Aether Compass's.

Are there other issues where little things get in the way of Friends Helping Friends with Multi-player mounts?

Maybe I should point out that my friend and I were "talking" while in game to make this efficient. I'm not asking for voice chat in game. That's a solved problem. But the fact that we were talking the whole time might clarify why we found this minor issue to be annoying.

wg

I'm certainly not opposed to 'fixing' this (though I have no idea how hard that would be in terms of the backend), but aether current locations are readily available online.

Could this be fixed? Yes.
Could it be fixed easily? Hard to say. They have a bunch of spaghetti code in dumber more useful and needed systems. Glamour.
Is it necessary to fix? Not really. It's annoying yes, but over in 20-40 minutes then not a problem till next expansion.

You can pull up a map and way-marker all the aether currents. It's the most efficient way to get people their flying, and a LOT faster than trying to use the compass.

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Originally Posted by LisSquid

You can pull up a map and way-marker all the aether currents. It's the most efficient way to get people their flying, and a LOT faster than trying to use the compass.

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Sure. We've used maps. There has been some confusion, however, over the order of the numbers on the map, when there are numbers. Sometimes the numbers just appear to be wrong. But Sure. We use maps. I'm just say'n. Hey, if the "Master" of the MP mount can use the compass, why not everyone on the mount. Seems odd, don't we think?

Might be easier to just get SE to mark your maps after you unlock one and to change the color from green to maybe a light blue so you can also still see it out in the world afterward.

I mean a better solution would be to just remove the Aether Current system since it's terrible and pointless. Or just keep the quest and MSQ dependant "Aether Currents". For exploration we already have Sightseeing Logs, so Aether Currents serve no purpose than waste 10-15 minutes of your time per map once and then never again.

its only annoying if you collect them all at once afterwards. dont see a problem with it. and never liked people being pulled through content (which it kinda is) it just pushes most of the work to another player.

Or they could get rid of map aether currents completely since their only function is to waste time.

They don't make you explore any more of the map than the MSQ and Blue aether current quests do and only serve to pad things out for no good reason.

I just use google and write down the coordinates to each one and then use my 8 person mount to fly them there.

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Originally Posted by Conundrum

Or they could get rid of map aether currents completely since their only function is to waste time...

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It all depends on your 'opinion' of what 'wasting time' is to you.

Playing a game is wasting time to some people.

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Originally Posted by hynaku

I just use google and write down the coordinates to each one and then use my 8 person mount to fly them there.

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This but i have done it so many times I have remembered the locations.

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Originally Posted by Tyjacon

It all depends on your 'opinion' of what 'wasting time' is to you.

Playing a game is wasting time to some people.

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Not going to lie I think you will be hardpressed to find someone that willfully defends aether currents. Many tolerant it but I doubt anyone will be like yes the game is better for them.

I'd like to see this changed as well if it's possible.

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Originally Posted by Awha

This but i have done it so many times I have remembered the locations.

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Same with me but most players don't have such good memories for locations, especially if they're only done it once or twice.

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Originally Posted by Tyjacon

It all depends on your 'opinion' of what 'wasting time' is to you.

Playing a game is wasting time to some people.

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Generally, yes, but in this case no. It's not a matter of opinion.

Aether currents could only serve 2 purposes: 1) encourage exploration outside of the MSQ path or 2) gateway so that you don't zoom across the map while doing MSQ

Except 1) is done a lot better with Sightseeing logs, hunts, job/role quests, sidequests, beast tribe quests, etc. and Aether Currents don't tend to be too far off from the MSQ path so you don't end up exploring much (best examples would be Churning Mists were the entirety of the top of the map is left unexplored)

And 2) you can achieve exactly the same result by unlocking flight at the end of the MSQ for a particular area, which is kinda what currently happens since a most of zones in Stormblood and all in Shadowbringers have the last MSQ of a zone giving you the last Aether Current.

So as you see, Aether Currents are a waste of time due to the facts I've described. Facts are not opinions.

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Not going to lie I think you will be hardpressed to find someone that willfully defends aether currents. Many tolerant it but I doubt anyone will be like yes the game is better for them

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I enjoy them. Small terrain puzzles and explore the map at the same time. Loads of fun.

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Originally Posted by lezard21

Generally, yes, but in this case no. It's not a matter of opinion.

Aether currents could only serve 2 purposes: 1) encourage exploration outside of the MSQ path or 2) gateway so that you don't zoom across the map while doing MSQ

Except 1) is done a lot better with Sightseeing logs, hunts, job/role quests, sidequests, beast tribe quests, etc. and Aether Currents don't tend to be too far off from the MSQ path so you don't end up exploring much (best examples would be Churning Mists were the entirety of the top of the map is left unexplored)

And 2) you can achieve exactly the same result by unlocking flight at the end of the MSQ for a particular area, which is kinda what currently happens since a most of zones in Stormblood and all in Shadowbringers have the last MSQ of a zone giving you the last Aether Current.

So as you see, Aether Currents are a waste of time due to the facts I've described. Facts are not opinions.

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This.

I would also add that they also actually screw up progression through the zone because many people will run around and do the currents as soon as they access a new zone. Therefore going to parts of the zone they wouldn't see before the story takes them there.

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Originally Posted by Conundrum

Or they could get rid of map aether currents completely since their only function is to waste time.

They don't make you explore any more of the map than the MSQ and Blue aether current quests do and only serve to pad things out for no good reason.

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No
10/chars

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Originally Posted by Snorky

No
10/chars

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Such a compelling argument as to why they aren't a trash waste of time.

Lemme guess, everything Squenix does is perfect and should not be questioned.

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Originally Posted by Conundrum

Such a compelling argument as to why they aren't a trash waste of time.

Lemme guess, everything Squenix does is perfect and should not be questioned.

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Why would I argue with you. This has been in the game for 8 years and no one has died from doing it yet. It's not broken and just because some folks want to fly instantly without putting in the effort to obtain flight I just don't agree with that. If you can't spare time exploring the world you play in why are you even here? (You being subjective) not trying to single you out. But I don't understand why you think they care about the fact your inconvenienced? Since it's been a non issue for 8 years?

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Originally Posted by Snorky

Why would I argue with you. This has been in the game for 8 years and no one has died from doing it yet. It's not broken and just because some folks want to fly instantly without putting in the effort to obtain flight I just don't agree with that. If you can't spare time exploring the world you play in why are you even here? (You being subjective) not trying to single you out. But I don't understand why you think they care about the fact your inconvenienced? Since it's been a non issue for 8 years?

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Now I see why you didn't post your argument....it's terrible.

1) No one has claimed anyone "died" from anything. So hyperbole and strawman.

2) Literally not a single person in this thread has argued for flying instantly when entering a zone, The quest currents would still be in game. So yeap, another strawman.

I’d like to remove the aether currents that are “found”, but only if something else took it’s place like an often talked about Archaeology side content thing.

Some of the locations of the currents are interesting but not particularly…picturesque like sightseeing. I’d like to be able to unlock lore information I can read/refer to in game…like putting together the general timeline in place would be nice (the different calamities etc)…as of now the only way to get good, solid info is google outside of game.

I kind of like it. It's a nice little side thing to do. Nothing strenuous. =)
But I do see why others might say that it's pointless. I would like some of them to be slightly more out of the way like deep in a cave, underwater, on a random tree branch or whatever.
Also, I would say that the sightseeing log doesn't really seem the fit the exploration thing for me anymore ever since they got rid of the riddles. The only way to find one is to happen upon it or to just google a map with them all (the former being long and most likely a little tedious and the latter just not being exploration anymore). Don't get me wrong, I like the other improvements (like not being reliant on weather anymore....that one was annoying when you also needed a time of day) but it's not really 'exploration' anymore.
For me it feels better to be looking for something than it does just to have the map there with all the points on it. If you were to do something like that with aether currents, I'd say you might as well get rid of them.

But in response to OP, I'd like to think it'd be possible but we do get told 'it's difficult'/ 'idk' when it comes to stuff like this, so I wouldn't bet on it.

Edit: I don't tend to like the sidequest ones but then I don't tend to do sidequests unless it unlocks something for me.
Edit Edit: Also, Kaynide's idea about the archaeology/ little lore tidbits would be a cool thing to add to aether currents as well.

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Originally Posted by Conundrum

Now I see why you didn't post your argument....it's terrible.

1) No one has claimed anyone "died" from anything. So hyperbole and strawman.

2) Literally not a single person in this thread has argued for flying instantly when entering a zone, The quest currents would still be in game. So yeap, another strawman.

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Dude you are the one saying get rid of it, I'm not here to argue for your amusement. I just flat out don't agree with you and you changed the subject of the thread. So I'm my eyes you are trolling. The subject is making it easier by allowing a passinger on a 2 or more person mount be able to use the compass. So yeah I agree with the OP about that change but I don't agree with getting rid of the system of finding aether currents. Don't care if you think it's strawman or what ever other buzz words you have picked up to look like a cool kid.

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Originally Posted by Snorky

Dude you are the one saying get rid of it, I'm not here to argue for your amusement. I just flat out don't agree with you and you changed the subject of the thread. So I'm my eyes you are trolling. The subject is making it easier by allowing a passinger on a 2 or more person mount be able to use the compass. So yeah I agree with the OP about that change but I don't agree with getting rid of the system of finding aether currents. Don't care if you think it's strawman or what ever other buzz words you have picked up to look like a cool kid.

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Just wondering what benefit do they offer outside of serving as a gate keeper to flying? Exploring the world? One could still do that without the currents. While I respect your opinion, I cannot help but feel your reasoning for keeping them in the game boarders one well I had to do it, so why should future players not have to.

If they game had world PvP, or threatening over world content I could see where you are coming from as a means of cheapening the overall experience. Though let us be real FFXIV over world experience is meh at the best.