Now that leves will be gone from our main exp function...

[Seraphita]

They really do need to add more party grinding like that was in FFXI and make it worth while so people actually do it. I loved partying with people in FFXI and it was probably the reason why the community was so tight knit. I loved all my friends in FFXI, yet for some reason i feel alienated from my fellow adventurers in FFXIV because the only time i ever get to play with my linkshell mates is the guildleve spams, the rare occasion we camp an NM, or if they happen to be at the same behest camp. Its just not the same as grinding parties where you form a bond with players and truely learn their style of play.

[Dreamer]

The fact that people are asking for grinding at all says multitudes about the mindsets of the posters here. You shouldn't be asking for party grinding at all, you should be asking how the devs can make character progression both efficient and enjoyable.

[Anathiel]

So (just so I understand) for party quests you would want something like the ff:xi country missions? But with better rewards? Or exp reward?

[Kafeen]

The cap should be removed as it is one of the main reasons people do not group up and party. You can solo some mobs that are 10 ranks higher than yourself and certainly duo/trio them, this makes being in a large group kind of pointless and also makes fighting tougher Mobs that challenge the group pointless.

I'd say being able to solo mobs 10 levels higher than you is more of a problem. The balance of the mobs is completely off, something that much higher should be near impossible to take solo. We seem to have the exact opposite problem that FFXI had in its early days.

Mobs of a similar level to the player should offer a suitable challenge. Equipped with HQ gear or rare NM drops, perhaps you can go a few levels higher. Equipped with low rank, outdated equipment, perhaps only a few levels lower.

This should apply to high ranks too, trying to fight the level 99 mobs (that shouldn't really be there at all) should be like trying to kill level 50 mobs at level 1. 1 hit kills all around.

[Delmontyb]

I really hope that the best way to get exp is in a party. I'm fine with leves becoming a solo or small pt game but if party exp isn't the best way to level then everyone will just solo again and no one will want to party.

Now, having said that, I'm happy with what Yoshi-p talked about, but my only fear is that the exp will be better for solo then it would be for a party. I'm hoping we get more info on party based content for leveling be it raids, mob grinding, party quests, or whatever. I'd just like some clarification on what they plan in terms of parties.

[AlexiaKidd]

The fact that people are asking for grinding at all says multitudes about the mindsets of the posters here. You shouldn't be asking for party grinding at all, you should be asking how the devs can make character progression both efficient and enjoyable.

This thread is about coming up with multiple way to progress so instead of focusing on the aspect you don't like why not offer solutions to other forms of progression. The fact is some people do want grind parties to be one of those viable forms and as they are trying to caterer to everyone they should make it a viable option but not the only option.

I'd say being able to solo mobs 10 levels higher than you is more of a problem. The balance of the mobs is completely off, something that much higher should be near impossible to take solo. We seem to have the exact opposite problem that FFXI had in its early days.

Mobs of a similar level to the player should offer a suitable challenge. Equipped with HQ gear or rare NM drops, perhaps you can go a few levels higher. Equipped with low rank, outdated equipment, perhaps only a few levels lower.

This should apply to high ranks too, trying to fight the level 99 mobs (that shouldn't really be there at all) should be like trying to kill level 50 mobs at level 1. 1 hit kills all around.

Completely agree I do think it is ridiculous that we can solo mobs 10 ranks higher than our own and have suggested they look in to that but some people just prefer it that way so that is why I suggested raising/removing the 10 Rank cap as an option to get around that.

[SuzakuCMX]

I really hope that the best way to get exp is in a party. I'm fine with leves becoming a solo or small pt game but if party exp isn't the best way to level then everyone will just solo again and no one will want to party.

Now, having said that, I'm happy with what Yoshi-p talked about, but my only fear is that the exp will be better for solo then it would be for a party. I'm hoping we get more info on party based content for leveling be it raids, mob grinding, party quests, or whatever. I'd just like some clarification on what they plan in terms of parties.

They should be the same IMO.

Party because it's fun and sociable, not because it's the quickest way to level.

[Physic]

This thread is about coming up with multiple way to progress so instead of focusing on the aspect you don't like why not offer solutions to other forms of progression. The fact is some people do want grind parties to be one of those viable forms and as they are trying to caterer to everyone they should make it a viable option but not the only option.



Completely agree I do think it is ridiculous that we can solo mobs 10 ranks higher than our own and have suggested they look in to that but some people just prefer it that way so that is why I suggested raising/removing the 10 Rank cap as an option to get around that.

it doesnt really matter what level people can take on, whether its their level or higher, its just cosmetic, whether its their level or higher, the real limiting factor is the upper and lower limits, and the exp reward, our current 10 level plan would be fine, if the cap wasnt 10 levels. Shifting monster balancing 10 levels would also work, but at the same time they would have to shift sp gains, becuase lets face it, fighting monsters 10 levels above you doesnt even give that great sp for most things.
The main problem with shifting levels, is it would be really jarring, and probably the balance of the drops and levels it would take to get them would go even further out of balance. for example raptor sinew, already comes late in the leveling process, players to 10 levels lower would make it even more ridiculous,

crafter needs to find someone 20 levels higher than the gear hes making to kill for said gear? Not to mention level wise, by 40 and 50 we should start fighting the interesting things, which currently we start to. efts beastmen, at 50 dragons start becoming feasible.

another solution would be to add some more difficult mobs, or like elite versions that parties would target, that give more SP.

anyhow i agree one of the main problems with combat is we are limited to fighting the things that provide interesting fights to a duo or trio.

[Zoltan]

Why remove the cap? It did away with a huge part of the problem that hit FFXI: people started overcamping everything they could for max exp/hour. This affected gearing trends and created asinine "expectations" of what people should have when grouping. It also created a stupid and pointless status quo while leveling. That's stress and pressure not needed during the leveling process.

I know that you posted after this and you made some good points, but I must disagree with you on this point.

In FF11 there were expectations of people in parties that were valid. Once you hit level 72 and were ready for partying in Caedarva Mire you were expected to know that wearing fang earrings, fang necklace and NQ Amemet mantle was gimp. If that was "stressful" then there's no way you'd make it at endgame.

It was training. The skills you learned in Valkurm Dunes and Qufim Island built up to ready you for Garliage Citadel etc. There was a progression. It may have seemed like a grind but you did get to go to new places and fight different monsters. There was a social element to it because if you were doing something wrong or were new to an area people would help you.

Yes, you could solo some jobs in FF11 like beastmaster, black mage or summoner, but coming from a Maat's Cap holder I'll tell you it wasn't easy.

That being said I have read people's suggestions and the whole FF11 vs. FFXIV debate, but since both are SE's I think that some comparison is valid. They really should take the good parts of FF11, otherwise, why name it Final Fantasy at all?

Here's what they need to fix FFXIV:

1. Experience (SP) bands or rings.
2. Signet/Sigil/Alliance boosts. The competitive nature of Bastok vs San D'oria was fun. They should do the same with the Grand Companies.
3. Remove SP 10 level cap. If you solo a red mob you should get more SP than killing a green mob. (likewise as a party)
4. Emphasize and fix party size bonuses. You shold get more SP in a 6 person party than a 2 person party.
5. Add monster kill chain bonuses. If you kill the mobs in a row as in FF11 you get SP bonuses. This encourages parties to work together to be more efficient.
6. Allow monsters to be pulled out of their wandering range. This would allow for more parties in other areas.
7. Add Fields of Valor type quests. Those were fun solo and in groups.
8. Add level sync parties.
9. Get rid of fatigue

It's really sad to see them "adjust" SP without providing concrete examples or balancing Party SP as indicated above. I'd really like Yoshida-san to tell us that when doing leve link with 3 leves you'll get 70% less SP. But that's too much to expect from SE.

[Sypherblade]

some people want quest/story based leveling cause pure grind is boring.
some people want monster grind leveling cause doing quests/leve based play is requires you to kill x mobs or collect y things then "stop killing" to go get next quest/leve thing...making it a slow processess

so maybe we need an epic storyline...one that is about that of an offline rpg.... where you level by advancing through the story. but what to do once the story is complete? would you be level 50? do you have to level with people your same exact level?

how about a chrono cross leveling system? do a quest to unlock a star...everyone is technically level one...just gear and traits add to stats...star gives you more job points to equip abilities? or need x amount of stars to equip certain gear. this of course would have to make each quest decently long in length and place NMs around the world as "bosses" and such. having the star system would mean people have to work together cause everyone wants to unlock every star. there would have to be a very large amount of quests to pull this off though.

just some thoughts