you know what grinds my gears?

[Malakii]

This is has got to be a troll. OP can't be serious. The thing about all this is no matter what, people are going to play this game the way they want. If they want to be hardcore elitist pricks then they will. If they want to just have fun and fuck around then they will. It's cool that you don't like this but, it's not ever going to change! Their really isn't much to be hardcore about till now, since relic are out. Got to remember if that link shell is still up and running then enough people are okay with what is going on. Also applications are such a good way to learn about someone at anytime and you can easy check to make sure they have this and that leveled. So while i think your over exaggerating this a lot or you are trolololing. I appreciate your opinions, I have to disagree with you and say this is an internal problem "you" over everyone else.

[Mirage]

Social Shells also do events and are 100x more prone to do what she wrote in the OP, least on some servers. I know my brother said some he been in they act more elitist than end-game shells lol.

If they're 100 times more likely to take applications than an endgame shell, then maybe they're not really a social shell, or what?

[HiirNoivl]

Hey there squiggles!

I can sympathize a little with your points, but you're not doing yourself a favor with this thread unfortunately. ^^;;;

The root of a lot of linkshell problems is the terrible system itself.

Question #1: Why do linkshells need applications in the first place?

Answer: Because at the moment there's no way to boot a member unless he's online. The only way to boot someone who quits game or doesn't log in is to break and remake a shell, which is like moving IRL. Everyone hates doing it and it usually costs the LS a lot. There's no real content to measure skill in the game either. Truly challenging content has only just been introduced. So all the processes of elimination and testing is scooted up to the beginning, the only time when the LS has any real control of itself. It's really sad.

Question #2: Why does class favoritism happen?
Answer: This is a flaw of the game. The LS may have a lot of membership to help get through content. Going through the content in the most efficient fashion benefits the LS as a whole. Your secondary question: Why won't they train people to do a class you won't play? Well, did it not occur to you that maybe someone else in the LS doesn't want to play that class either? Otherwise, wouldn't it make sense to recruit within their own ranks to fill holes in parties? Most LS'es have many members who play multiple classes and rarely recruit at all.

Question #3: Why does loot favoritism happen?
Answer: Because your friends stare at you after the party is over. You may have gone home happy after gaining that Darklight Drop, but sometimes, avoiding drama in the LS is worth offending someone you probably won't see again. A lot of times, drops will get passed to /random winners regardless of whether or not they use/want the item, because LS system has NO features for wishlists in the game or the LS is not organized properly. Or maybe they just don't like you. No one passes good gear to people they don't like!

I hope that helps you understand why LS are so picky and irritating. I'm hoping that LS features and free companies introduced in 2.0 will help solve a lot of problems.

In the meantime, be nice and flexible.

[Nero]

Hey there squiggles!

I can sympathize a little with your points, but you're not doing yourself a favor with this thread unfortunately. ^^;;;

The root of a lot of linkshell problems is the terrible system itself.

Question #1: Why do linkshells need applications in the first place?

Answer: Because at the moment there's no way to boot a member unless he's online. The only way to boot someone who quits game or doesn't log in is to break and remake a shell, which is like moving IRL. Everyone hates doing it and it usually costs the LS a lot. There's no real content to measure skill in the game either. Truly challenging content has only just been introduced. So all the processes of elimination and testing is scooted up to the beginning, the only time with the LS has any real control of itself. It's really sad.

Question #2: Why does class favoritism happen?
Answer: This is a flaw of the game. The LS may have a lot of membership to help get through content. Going through the content in the most efficient fashion benefits the LS as a whole. Your secondary question: Why won't they train people to do a class you won't play? Well, did it not occur to you that maybe someone else in the LS doesn't want to play that class either? Otherwise, wouldn't it make sense to recruit within their own ranks to fill holes in parties? Most LS'es have many members who play multiple classes and rarely recruit at all.

Question #3: Why does loot favoritism happen?
Answer: Because your friends stare at you after the party is over. You may have gone home happy after gaining that Darklight Drop, but sometimes, avoiding drama in the LS is worth offending someone you probably won't see again. A lot of times, drops will get passed to /random winners regardless of whether or not they use/want the item, because LS system has NO features for wishlists in the game or the LS is not organized properly. Or maybe they just don't like you. No one passes good gear to people they don't like!

I hope that helps you understand why LS are so picky and irritating. I'm hoping that LS features and free companies introduced in 2.0 will help solve a lot of problems.

In the meantime, be nice and flexible.

Hiir needs more boobies.

[Eekiki]

Hiir needs more boobies.

So does Eekiki.

[HiirNoivl]

Yes. It's my dealbreaking feature. I will quit! *bangs fist*

Ooooww.... ; ;

[Hyrist]

A rant is a rant is a rant, I say.

Screaming out loud in frustration is often considered rude in US cultures, but it's also a way to get rid of such frustrations.

I've chafed under some of the things that aggravated her, many of us have.

But the reality is, nothing's going to change about it. You're going to get elitist players, you're going to get linkshell applications. You're going to get favoritism. Lead a shell for year and you'll see yourself become just as guilty as all the flaws in there, or at the very least get a differing perspective.

I've tried an open LS with just social interaction. People wanted to do things together and without organization, it constantly fell apart. Fights brewed and some people just plain trolled. Application process is just a door-opener. It's amazing how a few, usually inane questions can help you get a fair idea on how the person is going to interact with your members.

But finding or making a linkshell is part of the game. It's social skills. I wouldn't promote people having to force people they don't like into their linkshells any more than forcing players who don't want to conform to social stigmas into a party to level.

Content finder will be here soon for those who want to throw caution to the wind and always have a random experience. I'll probably give it a shot myself. But people will be people, which means they're going to be selfish, and they're going to not get along.

It also means people are going to rant/vent on the forums, and then belittle that rant.

I'd like to ask the community this: What have your linkshell/guild nightmare experiences been? What sort of links-hell practices 'grind your gears'? This is pretty much a rant thread, so we might as well not take it so seriously and let out our own vents.

[Ruisu]

You're making some very dangerous and stupid generalisations.

These forums in a nutshell.

[charlemagne]

I'd love to know which shells you've had these problems with. You may want to remember though that some of the endgame shells on Ridill like Crystal Tactics,Triple Spark and Tempora Heroica for example have been running since pretty much day one of the game. They have players who have learned to play together as a group, have learned which roles they are best at and which roles they know they have room for.
In all fairness which right thinking endgame shell would take somebody on who only wanted to play one or two jobs if they have plenty of people who like to play those jobs already? If they have for example blms who they have run with for months and months why would they want to reduce those peoples event oppertunities to allow some new guy in who isn't willing to be adaptable?
When you join an endgame shell you are joining a group of friends who have put in a lot of time and effort together, it's only fair they be able to choose who they want to join and how they want to choose them. They owe you nothing.

[HiirNoivl]

Oh, there's another thing that should probably be addressed for the OP. And that's commitment.

OP mentioned that he didn't want an Ls to be like a "wife" or a "part-time job". It's true, some LS want exclusive access to your time and abilities, such as by restricting you to one pearl, by not allowing fraternization with a rival shield, or by requiring you to wear their pearl all the time, not just at events. This is a bad sign. A linkshell like this has trust and drama issues. Restricting your play is not what linkshells should be about. It puts too much pressure on the LS to perform. The minute it doesn't, people will go elsewhere. It shortens the LS life.

You should be playing with a certain shield because you like them, not because you're obligated.

On the other hand, having a certain level of a commitment is a good sign. No one wants their LS to become a revolving door of leeching n00bs who come in grab loot or crafted items and then drop pearl or go AFK for months. If they recruit someone and they can't/won't come to events or don't help the LS meet their goals, then they're a waste of a pearl. If a good LS invites you, then they're going to expect something out of you. There's nothing wrong with that.