What can we do - Solutions to the community problems

We've seen a lot of threads focusing on the problems with our community. I want to do something different and focus on solutions, I believe this is one of the first steps to improve our community, let's not focus on the bad things but instead on how we can improve on them.

To begin with, I actually want to state my personal opinion in this. I don't think it's as bad as some people make it out to be. I think we have great potential compared to other gaming communities. Now why do I think this? Well most of us had a good time playing with others even through DF up until 50. I believe there are some bad apples but I believe that it's not a bell distribution of bad apples rather a downwards slope distribution, that is lower levels are scarce with bad players but as you approach 50 the number increases unlike a bell curve where you'll have congestion at the average and then scarcity at lower and higher than average.

Anyhow enough about that, I want to together with you guys, discuss and brainstorm some solutions with FOCUS on what we can do, of course ideas for Square Enix are welcome but the upside of community managed solutions is that we can implement them directly.

With that said here are some of my ideas:

1. Proactive ostracizing; Have a community driven Wall of shame website. Players can submit complaints against other players with proof of course and then those offending players would be added to a database where others can look them up when they get into a DF group with them.
2. Reactive ostracizing; I believe this is key right here, and it's one of the easiest things to do. If people show attitude, refuse to play with them, leave or refuse to go on with the dungeon until they leave. Not only will this make the rest of the group pressure the offender it will in the long term lead to them either improving or finding themselves unable to play with a group. Since I read what the JP players are doing I've personally made it a habit to take after them whenever I go with a DF group I greet them with "Hello!" and when I leave I say "Thank you for the group!" regardless on the outcome of the dungeon.
3. FC leaders organize, codify conduct rules and guidelines make sure that people know that they can contact you if any of your members are in violation of these rules and that the offenders will be dealt with.

These are just my ideas, I'd be happy to hear yours!

It'd be great if the designers could implement some game mechanics and rewards that foster positivity.

The current DF system doesn't really foster positivity because of the anonymous nature of playing with other people who may not even be in your server.

I think they should add a "comrades in arms" social list where you can add people you had a good experience with in a group. It would be awesome if you could use this social list to form future groups with these other good players. They could even add a small stat/exp boost called "battle buddies" or something that stack the more you play with the same people. It's like an in-game reflection of your deepening relationship with the people you go to battle with.

These are just some off the cuff ideas for game mechanics that could foster a better community and empower more types of players to find good groups.

Stop letting people walk over you, make your own groups, and stop giving douchebags the time of day.
Unfortunately, a lot of people feel they have no choice in the matter... DPS, especially.

I really think that this is a problem with negative bias more than anything else.

For example, I just PUGed Chimera yesterday and it took us 6 tries. The composition was not too great: 2 warriors, 1 paladin, 2 white mages, 1 black mage, 1 summoner, and 1 monk. We were all new except the paladin I believe. Some people had problems with lag. When we wiped, we just joked around a bit and took breaks when we needed to. Everyone had some suggestions. We made progress and completed it eventually.

From the forums, you would think that this would just be impossible.

I feel what we really need to do is just be patient and honest when we're doing runs. If it doesn't work out, just try again: try to figure out the problem. Excuse people for making mistakes.

In the real world, you often can't afford to be nice (or honest). This is why I play this game. It's fantasy XD

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Originally Posted by Vaen

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I've been thinking about something like this. Maybe some kind of badge system where you can rate other DF players and if they get a good rating they'll get extra tomes or XP or gil or something.

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Originally Posted by Feathery

I've been thinking about something like this. Maybe some kind of badge system where you can rate other DF players and if they get a good rating they'll get extra tomes or XP or gil or something.

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no offense but it seems pretty stupid to give extra rewards to people that are positive players, but bad at what they do. Its just some people that take it to the extremes, some people just being trolly because they have a sarcastic sense of humor, and others trying to be serious. If you joined pugs the same thing would happen, its up to you to have weak skin or strong one. but i think alot of the truly negative players will dissapear soon because of sub, or their bored until more content comes out

I agree with this. The OP says most of the "bad apples" are around 50 now, mostly because they have run the content countless times by now and find it cumbersome when other 50's aren't playing their role or haven't researched a fight (which I can kind of understand, even though I'm still mid level).

When the subs begin to take effect, there will be a decrease in population, which I can only speculate will include mostly lvl 50's that rushed to the end and got bored after saying "first!!!11!" in the comments. It might then take a few months to weed out the negative nancy's and debbie downer's, but in the end (as with most MMOs), it will be a population of the more die hard fans; the ones that want to play for entertainment, not because they jumped on a bandwagon.

Just give it some time.

You know what I've found the worst about DF? Even those in my FC that have always been friendly and helpful become pricks in a DF pug. Something about it turns even decent people in to dbags.

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Originally Posted by ventlus

no offense but it seems pretty stupid to give extra rewards to people that are positive players, but bad at what they do. Its just some people that take it to the extremes, some people just being trolly because they have a sarcastic sense of humor, and others trying to be serious. If you joined pugs the same thing would happen, its up to you to have weak skin or strong one. but i think alot of the truly negative players will dissapear soon because of sub, or their bored until more content comes out

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Let me get this straight.. Are you saying that if you are a positive and friendly player you automatically have to be bad at playing? Also.. What should we reward players for? Playing good? Or helping to contribute to a positive game experience? I don't care if I wipe if I'm playing with my FC friends I know we will make it into a fun time even if we wipe 20x times.

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Originally Posted by Feathery

Let me get this straight.. Are you saying that if you are a positive and friendly player you automatically have to be bad at playing? Also.. What should we reward players for? Playing good? Or helping to contribute to a positive game experience? I don't care if I wipe if I'm playing with my FC friends I know we will make it into a fun time even if we wipe 20x times.

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You know.. with the reaction you come remarkeble close to the people you are complaining about.
First of all, she isnt even remotely implying friendly =bad player.
2nd your blacklist idea is horible, its a doorway for exploiting. You are making it easier for toxic players to grief you.
WE are the community, we lose this batttle only if we let these lesser elements get the better of us.

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Originally Posted by Panthan

You know.. with the reaction you come remarkeble close to the people you are complaining about.
First of all, she isnt even remotely implying friendly =bad player.
2nd your blacklist idea is horible, its a doorway for exploiting. You are making it easier for toxic players to grief you.
WE are the community, we lose this batttle only if we let these lesser elements get the better of us.

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How?

Also, obviously if we did have a wall of shame it would have to be moderated strictly, I don't think it would be abused much however.

- Stop using the DF to improve your experience with other players. I've had plenty of rotten DF parties, but all my pre-mades are quite pleasant, even when they fail.
- Avoiding the forums would get rid of a lot of negativity in general
- Ignore anyone who's being a wad. Eventually you'll weed many of them out, and they can play with people of their own kind or eventually end up alone.
- Find a FC with friendly folk. It's not that difficult and improves your experience drastically.

Ran titan for approx 1.5 hours last night with 2 FC members and 5 people we shouted for. We didn't win, but got quite close after many attempts and learning the post-heart phases. After we decided to call it quits, I ended up with 5 more nice people on my friends list. We may have lost but we all got some good experience with the fight and had fun doing it.
All the DF attempts I've tried have ended up with someone throwing a temper tantrum and then the group disbanding after two wipes.

I have another 4th option:

Force feed everyone a fantasia potion and turn their race to japanese. That would solve it, yea...

Well honestly I level pretty slowly. This is literally my highest level char right now. I'm not an end game player. The most I want is my job armor, and to progress the awesome story and I am probably one of the nicest people you can meet. If I get my Conjurer/White Mage to 50, then I'd simply start leveling one of my other classes. No interest in darklight stuff personally.