Level Sync needed ASAP!

[indira]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET OUT OF THE XI MIND SET AND GET INTO THE MECHANICS OF XIV!

FFXIV is going to be a theme park type of MMO so its gonna be a grind in a instance like WoW and wow was the only theme park mmo that survived the longest. so were looking at another wow clone or a ffxi clone by 2.0 sad days ahead if it gos that way.

[ChiefCurrahee]

So on the class you want to level you click a button and instantly;

1) A Comment Box appears in the middle of your screen where you leave a very brief description of what you want, PT Lv20-25, anywhere but Gridania region. Materia O, Food O. (example)

2) Once you finish the comment box you are now in the LFG search and anyone (any lvl/class) who is also LFG will be in that search, which can also be viewed by the simple click of a button.

3) You craft/farm/idle while rechecking the LFG list every few minutes, and the class you are LFG on will still remain the same.

4) If you want to level multiple classes, you can either;
a) LFG on the one you want to level most
b) a new feature is implemented where you can LFG on multiple classes (infact I think we have this right now) and it is shown in the LFG list.

5) When you log off it removes you from Queue.

6) There is a little hrs/mins highlight stating when the person first queued LFG.

7) As well as everything I listed, include everything that worked automatically (not manually) in previous search systems like language, nation, rank, name (maybe even Linkshell), current zone location.

8) Above all else, and I stress this as much as possible, make it quick, easy to use, and user friendly. When people log on, after that opening cutscene, it should be the first thing that players are accustomed to learning. Just bam, some NPC walks up to you baddass/seductive/cutsiepoopsie (depending on starting class/region/race) and tells you how to use the search feature. The NPC can emphasize REMEMBER! IF U WANT EPIC FUN MMO N LEVEL FAST WITH FRIENDS THEN MAKE SURE U USE UR LFG BUTTONZ ERYTIME U LOGON! NOBODY WANTS TO BE A LONER!. And if people like to solo, who cares, nothing anyone can do and it doesn't hurt anyone, but the point is to encourage party play. And if the game does not make party play easily accessible or rewarded adequately, why the hell would anyone do it?

.

You pretty much just decribed the current LFG system.

you can flag yourself as seeking PT, What job you want to get XP on, even seek on that class while playing another, and it's fairly easy to use.

Like others have suggested yes, higher server populations will help with the problem of finding pt members. But that still no excuse to not have some type of system to match a lower level to play the game with them.

Level Sync didn't hurt XI, sitting in jeuno for hours/days seeking PT hurt XI. EXP is EXP is EXP no matter where you get it, at least you're playing the game.

If you're opposed to level sync in XIV, sit in Ul'dah all day and craft, or go solo you're leves. Or leech from a PL. But don't let it ruin it for people who want to play with others in a multiplayer game.

like it or not, Level Sync will ultimately do more good than harm for XIV.

p.s. Level Sync is coming. I'm just saying it should have more priority on implementation before ver 2.0

[Rhomagus]

I'm for level sync and I've seen the disadvantages from not having it in XIV.

Right now there is a great disparity in levels and people lfg (this includes Besaid). The only thing a new player can hope for is coming during a large influx of new players or on the coattails of new class releases. If a new player enters during a time when the majority of the playerbase is outside of the level range (now until 2.0) it doesn't matter the server population. 10 people who are outside your level range is the same as 10,000 people outside your level range. You can't play with any of them.

I'd much rather have level sync rather than the current PL system. My roommate just started the game and there is no one his level on Besaid during his playtime he can feasibly party with. He really just wants to play with me but he has to level at least 30 levels before he can. The only alternative I can find is to level a whole new character with him, show him how the game works, and then switch over to my main. Fortunately for him I'm willing to do that. Unfortunately for every other new player they will only be able to enjoy low level party play when 2.0 is released and that's not even really a guarantee. I honestly don't think 2.0 is going to be XIV's rapture as much as we think it will be. Level sync doesn't require 2.0 to be a gaming/advertising miracle for two players at different walks on their path to enjoy each others company and reap a mutual benefit from each other.

Other new players I know are only concerned with getting a class to level 50 and I don't blame them. With the PL system the way it is, it negates the "not trained" criticism that level sync would "supposedly" bring. Level sync, at the very least, would still encourage the presence of the gamer to control their avatar. I don't think anyone really wants to "play" a game they can just walk away from.

I'm for an XI style level sync system as the criticisms against it in XIV's context do not apply.

[Riv]

My friend joined the game. Quit after a couple months cuz all my stuff is 50 so we couldn't lvl up anything together....and since leveling is the only thing to do in the game, yeah. Level sync would be nice.

[Xeonerable]

FFXI had so much grinding and level-sync made the grinding less annoying at times. Seeing how FFXIV is also grinding I was surprised that level-sync wasn't included in this game from the start. lol

Seeing as how all my classes are 50 now though.. well it would be nice to level with others and since I don't need the exp my equipment could spiritbond. :P

[Teuciont]

Level sync completely removes the whole point of seeing your character progress and grow. Oh, these dodos that I can one shot can suddenly two shot me. Oh wait, now I'm super powerful again.

It was a poor idea in FFXI that led to the further casualization of the game and removed the "journey of leveling" from any new players. I think there's a middle ground to be had here, being that you'd have to have at least one 50 to be able to perform level sync. I'm not against playing with your new friends, not one bit. I agree that Totorak would be more fun if experiences with your friends who are new. The only reason I dislike level sync is that it takes away the journey to level cap from new people in favor of min-max grind camps in 1, maybe 2 spots. Which removes the need to venture to new zones to xp. Yes, there'll still be "best camps for level range," but it'll be more diverse than if everyone was able to bring friends in to the game and blow past all the content on their first character. What kind of experience is that for them? It's terrible, that's what. I agree that "the journey" becomes repetitive after the first time. That's why I'm saying you should have access to level sync AFTER the first time.

I doubt this'll be how it's implemented though. But I'd at least appreciate it as a consideration for the devs. Max level allows you to level sync. The journey is the most important part of a MMO, to me at least, and I don't feel that should be ruined for new people.

[Coglin]

I respect your comment, but I can't help but feel your point of view may be skewed a little bit by being a citizen of a blessed server. The rural ones who don't get advertisement for newcomers or stayers by popular websites have a harder time maintaining social groups. The end result typically a sieve effect, where casual players slowly migrate out of the game for various personal reasons and only hardcore completionists are left behind. The problem with our population is that not enough new players are added in mass to balance out the sifting effect. So we always just end up, at the end of the day, with the same circle of players who've already "been there, done that" for the most part. Doesn't mean that every single active member on Trabia is already 50 in every class that they'd like to level, but it doesn't bode well for new players if it takes a solid week of trying to put together an actual party to be able to do so. There just isn't enough people to participate and maintain a healthy early content spread.

Granted, I'm not exactly sold on how level sync will work other than being a niche device of helping your friends out. In XI it was lovely because you had the motivation to continue to xp for merit points and expand your character more. This game lacks that, unless you count materia which is rather weak motivation in my book. You have to first have a lot of disposable gear to work with, and also the means of obtaining your goal is still better suited for a level 50ish party.

Whats all that got to do with the fact that someone was claiming everyone in the game had all classes to 50? That the only comment I was speaking out against. So, I am unclear why you believe server population has anything to do with some pressumtuous misconception that everyone has all classes to 50.

[Mychael]

I want to highlight a couple of points people seem to be confused about:

1) Just because someone is against Level Sync doesn't mean they're pro-PL. Please don't use the "It's not any worse than the current system!" argument.

2) Because your server has a low population for the moment doesn't mean it will stay that way. Let's not make this game an overcompensation for a bad launch. If 2.0 launches and we still seem to need Level Sync, let's have this discussion again. Further, don't assume that because your server has a low population (especially as SE is most likely going to merge servers soon), everyone else's does.

3) Because your server population has most classes to 50 doesn't mean they won't add more classes for you to level. If you avoid the "OMG MUST GET ALL JOBS TO 50 ASAP FOR COMPLETION" mindset, you'll have a job to level with your friends. It's not a permanent solution to your issues, but it is nonetheless a solution until Level Sync becomes more of a necessity. Then, it's not really the community's problem for getting all jobs for 50. It's just that we have nothing else to do.

------------------
If you want to complain about "not having anything low enough," complain that leveling is too easy. Hitting 75 in XI was an accomplishment. Back in 03-04, hitting 75 made your lower-leveled friends--who would remain lower level for a month, rather than 12 hours--say "Wow!" and ask you to show off your new spells. Complain that it's possible for you to hit the level cap on all DoM/DoW jobs in a week. That's why your friends don't have anyone around their level. Not because we don't have Level Sync.

-------------------

You pretty much just decribed the current LFG system.

you can flag yourself as seeking PT, What job you want to get XP on, even seek on that class while playing another, and it's fairly easy to use.

You think he just described the current LFG system? You must be on the beta server or something, dude. I could have sworn he said "easy" and "fast," and maybe even "one button."

Like others have suggested yes, higher server populations will help with the problem of finding pt members. But that still no excuse to not have some type of system to match a lower level to play the game with them.

You are heavily assuming here. I don't know, but the most recent edition of How to Make a Cookie Cutter MMO may have included "Your game MUST include a system of allowing higher-ranked characters to lower their level to play the game with friends," but I doubt even that. Many games survive without that feature. I have yet to purchase ChiefCurrahee's Official MMO-making Guidebook, though.

Level Sync didn't hurt XI, sitting in jeuno for hours/days seeking PT hurt XI. EXP is EXP is EXP no matter where you get it, at least you're playing the game.

-ChiefCurrahee's Official MMO-making Guidebook, p. 294

I get a free excerpt?! YES! I LOVE HANDOUTS!

"EXP is EXP is EXP no matter where you get it, at least you're playing the game." EXP from soloing is the same as exp from parties...therefore, since soloing is in XIV unlike XI, you don't need level sync to "play the game."

If you're opposed to level sync in XIV, sit in Ul'dah all day and craft, or go solo you're leves. Or leech from a PL. But don't let it ruin it for people who want to play with others in a multiplayer game.

like it or not, Level Sync will ultimately do more good than harm for XIV.

Since you're so wise, explain to me how you didn't just say "I THINK IT WILL HELP SO YOU ARE ALL WRONG AND IT IS GOING TO HELP BECAUSE I SAY IT WILL?" Why can you make snarky comments about "...sit in Ul'dah all day and craft..." then QQ when someone tells you to get over yourself?


P.S. Does your character have mutton chops?! Because that's amazing.

[Zetsumei_Tsunarashi]

A game where 90% of the population has reached the level cap, and there is a very small amount of incoming new players. It's very detrimental to the prospect of increasing subscriptions. If new people have no one to play with, they will just quit.

That said, I don't know that level sync is the right thing to do, as we can see how it can be abused from FFXI. I think perhaps a better idea, would be to ease up on the additional characters a bit. Let us have 1 or 2 more characters for free. Then if my friend joins and I want to play with him, I can make a new character and play with him on that character until he catches up to my main.

I think in the current state SE is in with this game, they need to think less about they can nickle and dime you to death and more about how to make the customer happy.

[Coglin]

A game where 90% of the population has reached the level cap.

You have some sort of proof that 90% of all active accounts have all DoW/M classes to 50 ?

I think your full of crap. If you going to make crap claims like that post proof or go away.