[[ Why do we miss the old FFXI community ]] What made it special ??

[Aegis]

Couple of dozens? I guess you never been to Bismarck.

No, Ifrit server.

The community was forced to do this on their own because of SE lack of creating separate servers for Dynamis. I don't see the point you're trying make here because most of the time if you can't do the Dynamis run you want to do you either do something else or the event is canceled.

That they could have been competitive and screwed each other over, but instead they worked out an equitable system between themselves so that everyone got a turn at a congested event. That's an example of an excellent, functioning community, was my point.

In FFXI there is a lot of "JP only PT", a race to get the best exp/merit camping spot, no one wanted PLD, DRG, BLM, or PUP. Not mention everyone and their mommy wanted a BRD and RDM in the PT or else no PT. I guess its the same crap but different flavor?

Well, JP/En only or whatever exists even more in this game. Not even did they split up the servers, they also gave people the option to choose never to play with JP/EN/DE/FR through the Duty Finder options. As far as camp compeition went; it was very heavily frowned on to camp over other parties so people found alternate camps. Remember sending people to scout Bhaflau (or was it Wajaom?) to see if any of the Colibri parties were clear? Or the Puk/Mam/Dragon camp? If they weren't clear, people didn't go.

Party composition favouritism is an area I kind of agree with you on, having said that, my first job was DRK, followed by THF and BLU none of which were FOTM in the entire time I was playing and I kept up with my friends just fine. Probably because (perhaps I flatter myself here) I built up a reputation as a solid party member, always using food, keeping gear up to date etc. Being able to build up a reputation as competent was one of the benefits of having a functioning community.

The devs are aware of this and are working on ways to counter these malicious acts.

Which will be great if/when it ever happens. However, you are relying on the devs to step in and sort out squabbles on an ad-hoc basis because the design of the game doesn't discourage these behaviours and players currently feel unaccountable for their actions to the wider community.

I am curious though; how do you think the devs will sort people dropping from Ifrit because there's no BLM/SMN in pt?

The elitist part of XI affected all the end game content in the game because it is the only thing to do in that game besides story missions, and leveling up.

I certainly never saw it in 4 years of endgame in Sky/Sea/Ein/Nyzul/Dyna/Salvage. In fact, the memory that stays with me the most strongly were times when players who willingly gave up lots on gear they needed to help gear the less well-geared members out in dynamis. And a THF not lotting on Homam pants because they were more useful to the PLD even though the Thief had lotting priority. Even in Sky there was a spirit of friendly competition, /cheering on other linkshells when they got claim before you (while preparing to take claim if they wiped).

I remember when camping Charybdis (after getting ToD from a competitor), losing claim to a NIN+BRD duo, /cheering them as they fought, taking claim when they wiped after only knocking Charby down to 85%. Did they rez, come back and cuss me out as I killed Charby? No they /cheered as I fought too.

I remember the JP player who switched to 75 WHM after dunes exp party and got all of us our magicked skulls.

I remember the NA player who lent me a Bronze Bed to start the mog-house quests and taught me about the secret exit quests.

I remember the NA players who would donate hours of their time to help complete strangers through Prommies just to help them get tavnazia access.

I remember my linkshell helping me through Genkais, AF fights, attestation farming etc and me paying it forward to newer members of the shell.

Now I'm not saying my experience is any more or less typical than yours, but when someone tells me XI had a toxic community it absolutely jars with what I've seen. When someone tells me XI's community was the best they have ever experienced they almost always have stories similar to mine.

Late Edit: I just remembered another good community thing from XI which I know existed across servers: The BST code.

BST used to share a lot of camp sites near where parties used to exp (sometimes the same site even). The code was simply that you would put where you were and what you were fighting in your /seacom and whether you were amenable to grouping up. That way, when parties or other BSTs /sea the area (remember doing that so you didn't overcamp people? Good times) they knew whether or not the camp would be free and if they could party up with the BST if they were free. Overcamping was strictly verboten.