Party search and lack of people that use it

[Jinko]

I haven't played 14 much since the previous update however I could easily find how to set my status to seeking party and enter a comment "looking for exp party" Just by playing around with the search thing it took me like 15 sec to find where it was and start seeking.

But after a good 8 hours of no invites this thing doesn't work. It similar to FFXIs search function, only that you have to go through another menu to get there.

I don't know what they can do if LFG tools don't work because a majority of people just flat out refuse to use them.

Ok maybe you are one of the few who know its there.

There has to be a good reason why people aren't using it.

1. People are unaware of it
2. People are too busy doing new content (moogle/achievements/quests etc)
3. Population is too low for it to work (which is unlikely)

I'm guessing its a combination of all 3 though.

The only reason I knew it was there was because I read the patch notes from top to bottom and I spent time to play around with the new search settings etc.

SE need to fix this fast or its going to end up another feature which players won't use, once people think something doesn't work they wont' use it (just like the previous search)

Community dev could do with making the dev team aware that the party UI still has search and recruit options. (this could be confusing some)

Edit:- Did a quick search and it seems people are using it on Linblum, only 10 people seeking though.

[Zumi]

Is it really worth it to solo exp if there is no other option?

I mean there is only a handful of people in my range according to the search tool around 10 usually. Probably missed the leveling train, the main town I picked Gridania is pretty much a ghost town. I have a linkshell of a 2-3 people who played FFXI but they are already got their job to 50 so can't exp with me.

I can't do any of the new content because I am not 50. Sure I would love to get 13 more levels and do the new stuff they added but its not really happening at this rate.

Takes around 8 hours to get 1 level, it feels more like work then relaxing playing a game.

[lackofwords]

I reckon less than 20% of players know you can seek for a party, SE did a lovely job hiding that feature, d'oh.

I'll quote myself from a different thread.

That is not flag for party. The one you've pointed out only sets your search comments. Like FFXI search comments, and does not flag you as searching for party in the party search feature.

To flag seeking for party you have to go to Party menu, Recruit, Purpose drop down menu and select Seek Invite.

[Jinko]

That is not flag for party. The one you've pointed out only sets your search comments. Like FFXI search comments, and does not flag you as searching for party in the party search feature.

To flag seeking for party you have to go to Party menu, Recruit, Purpose drop down menu and select Seek Invite.

No you go to the window I pointed out and change your Online status to seeking party.

[Zumi]

It works like this

1. Click your name.


2. Go to online status and click that button


3. Click the box that says seeking party switching you from online to seeking party


4. Type in a comment if you want, and click accept


5. Your yellow ! is now lit up and you are seeking party

[lackofwords]

I figured you guys wouldn't understand the two different systems, so I was putting together some screenshots.

Here you go;
http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...entry?e=288462
(I wonder if this works, if not then just head to the blog post)

...if you were to change your status on "Search" to "Seeking Party". It will be listed under "Search" ONLY, and not listed under "Party" search results.

From here you can click on the results to see player details, send tells, and invites. The player does not need to have flagged "Seeking Party" for all those features to be available for anyone. E.G. Someone just marked as Online would still have all those options open.

However, the players marked as "Seeking Party" are not listed for Party search results.

As you could see, Party and Search does not share the Seeking Party and Seek Invite results.
You can use either to tell people you're looking for a party, but they do not work together.

[Medura]

How is shouting easier? Whenever I am in a main town I don't see any shouts at all but I am really only there to pick up leves then I teleport out to do them. I am not going to stand around in a town wait for a shout on the off chance that someone my level might do a shout, which probably would be very unlikly to happen.

just saw your in rrabanastre.. go to carnival.guildwork.com apply to my ls just say medura sent you or something :P since im at work for 6 hours more

[Jinko]

As you could see, Party and Search does not share the Seeking Party and Seek Invite results.
You can use either to tell people you're looking for a party, but they do not work together.

They aren't supposed to work together, the party search/recruit shouldn't even be in the game anymore IMO, I'm not sure if its an oversight from the dev team or they didn't have enough time to remove it.

It's a big part in why people are confused as they don't know which system they should be using.

[lackofwords]

That was what I was referring to in my first post. Maybe I should have quoted "Party" and "Search", but you get the point now.

Either way the two systems offers similar LFG, but just executed differently. "Search" is similar to FFXI methods where you as a party leader are responsible for finding people, hence search as the term. "Party" is for, at least how I see it, people looking to join into a party. 'Seek invite' was an addition onto "Party", which now is left in and should (but doesn't) co-exist with 'seek party' of "Search", because it is asking the same thing; LFG.

It is almost the same problem google has, how google chat programs can't chat with each other seamlessly; e.g. Google plus not listing same google mail contacts. It is suppose to be the same, so why isn't it?

[Zumi]

The old one doesn't work with the new one. In fact they probably should just remove the old one.