How does FF14 compare to WoW? (And other MMOs)

[Iscah]

Ah the 'Sprout Icon', I can only imagine the terror that strikes in the heart of an experienced player who joins a group only to be surrounded by 'Sprouts'.

The sprout icon is basically meaningless at this point. You keep it right up until the end of post-Stormblood at level 70, and (by the current pattern) will probably get raised to level 80 when the next expansion comes out.

[Jeeqbit]

The sprout icon is basically meaningless at this point. You keep it right up until the end of post-Stormblood at level 70, and (by the current pattern) will probably get raised to level 80 when the next expansion comes out.

While it's possible to play for years and still be a sprout because of going through the story slowly or to be an alt character, I find it an extremely good indication of what to expect from the player. I have occasionally seen sprouts in Stormblood dungeons that don't understand stack markers. This is usually something you learn in Heavensward but it's possible to see it but not understand it earlier on. It tells me they may not be the most experienced healer, or will probably trip up on the usual mechanics that get people on their first time through that dungeon.

In fact I would argue the sprout icon doesn't last long enough into Shadowbringers content, where the mechanics can trip people up a lot. I think it should last until the current expansion's patch is complete as well so they can continue to ask questions in the Novice Network about what to do at max level.

I just consider them a sprout if they haven't been at the very end of the main story for an extended period of time because everything before that point is synced and nerfed to be a lot easier than it is at max level, where you usually need some guidance on how things like gear progression work.

[Iscah]

In fact I would argue the sprout icon doesn't last long enough into Shadowbringers content, where the mechanics can trip people up a lot. I think it should last until the current expansion's patch is complete as well so they can continue to ask questions in the Novice Network about what to do at max level.

I just consider them a sprout if they haven't been at the very end of the main story for an extended period of time because everything before that point is synced and nerfed to be a lot easier than it is at max level, where you usually need some guidance on how things like gear progression work.

Different takes on what the sprout implies, I guess. I see it more as an indication of how generally familiar someone is with the game - by level 70 they should certainly have a good idea of how the game basically functions, even if they don't know how to perform in a particular fight, so it doesn't make sense to keep them with the same icon as someone who is level 1, fresh off the boat in their starter gear.

Perhaps it needs to be split into two icons - one for a true newbie sprout (lasting until the end of ARR perhaps) and one for "not new but still progressing".