Player search feature update. Supposed to be a joke from SE?!?!?!

[Altano]

I honestly have to say that XI's "/sea all inv (job low-high)" was so insanely simple to use, I really don't know why the XIV team insisted on doing this differently. I'm glad the new party search function has moved in that direction, but in all honesty the interface did not ever need to become a high-functioning menu system. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned but it seems like the "user-friendly" style of XIV menus for everything (which can't be opened or bypassed with basic text commands) is more difficult than it needs to be (hello linkshell management, or lack thereof). The interface doesn't need to be shiny; it just needs to pick up people who are flagged and give the options to /tell and /pcmd add right from the menu.

I love XIV as a game and the concept driving it, yet I can't help but just see clutter when I see the on-screen display and menu UI. Then, every once in a blue moon I load up XI (before being reminded by Abyssea why I haven't logged in since the last blue moon) and lament what I wouldn't give to have the simplicity of XI's interface in XIV. No clutter in the display. Straightforward menus. Perhaps it's bland, but it gets the job done and gets me back to playing the game, which is what I actually care about.

I sincerely hope this new interface and function catches on, because I feel like I've seen the movie where XIV tries to do something new and different in the UI just for the sake of doing something new and different dozens of times by now. And we all know how that story has ended every time.

[zaviermhigo]

New search function is simple and just as easy to use as xi's, it has almost all the same options xi does, just in a menu format instead of typing it into a chat bar. On Selbina it works just fine with people using it already, leveling parties and end game shouts still exist also, but I'm sure until more people are using the system, you supplement some party slots with shout people.

[viion]

New search function is simple and just as easy to use as xi's, it has almost all the same options xi does, just in a menu format instead of typing it into a chat bar. On Selbina it works just fine with people using it already, leveling parties and end game shouts still exist also, but I'm sure until more people are using the system, you supplement some party slots with shout people.

BTW XI had a search interface, search filters as well, but no one used them, because its not as fast or as easy as typing into the chat.

Doesnt matter about how alike it is with options or if it has more. Its about efficiency and ease of use.

Not to mention at least XI has a Toggle Seek button....

[Altano]

I agree that it is simple to use. I just think that it can look intimidating and unintuitive (despite being quite the opposite), which is exactly what caused the failure of the original search system. Menus with dozens of clicks and submenus are really not the best way to go. Yes, text commands and XI's system are not elegant, but honestly they are workhorses that you can depend on (assuming you can type coherently).

Also, can I please just have a command for "/inv <class/job> on" to flag?

[KenJammin]

Most players have 4 jobs at level 50 and don't care about partying, seriously everyone thats been playing had at least 50 characters PLed to 50.

[Liham]

OP : Give a little time to people to actually coming to play and discovering the feature maybe ?

I just try a little search and it seems to works great !!! There will certainly have some adjustments but it's normal.

GG and Thanks SE !!

[zaviermhigo]

I feel like we should have the text commands along side the menu, yeah xi's menu did suck :/. But obviously its hard for them to pump out the commands with the menu at the same time ever....idk why. There should just be an option to do both. I just knew people who played XI for 6 years and didn't know the text commands I did, its all how "techie" they think they are. Damn I knew people who didn't even use macros in xi....I know...I gave them the "what?!?!" look too.

[Rowyne]

I agree that it is simple to use. I just think that it can look intimidating and unintuitive (despite being quite the opposite), which is exactly what caused the failure of the original search system.

Agreed.

I do think it's working wonderfully (for those who are using it). I actually like the new dropdowns and visual interface, as they don't feel as clunky as before. I think they did a good job of integrating both a recruitment search and looking for party search. Once you play with it for a couple minutes, it stops being so intimidating. It's a good groundwork and will be fantastic with some tweaks.

But I still see some major issues:

1. Why are both party search interfaces (old and new) active? People are going to the old interface and getting frustrated because they think it doesn't work. It's confusing.

2. Some people don't realize that they must click the top area of the interface that says, "Your settings" to set online status (to flag LFP) and preferred class. Maybe a button or a mouseover tooltip that says, "Click to set status" or something to that effect.

3. I think a field to search for a player by name should have been included. If not in the party search, then give me an option to search in the social menu without having to add someone to my friend list. And in that case, I would want to see more info (location and online status).

[MACEenyo]

The big issue I have with the player search feature is that it's not server-wide. You have to be in the same area as the other players looking for parties. This isn't an issue if all you're doing is staying in Uldah like everyone seems to be doing (due to the poor region/city design). You can't be soloing off in Camp Bald Knoll and bring it up, as it'll come up completely empty if no one's in there looking for parties.

Otherwise, I don't know what problems you're having with the party search.

Actually, it is server wide.

[StateAlchemist]

There are about 320 people total on my server right now.