What happened to players?

[AccountBanned]

I remember when I was getting into multiplayer games that people were a heck of a lot nicer, helpful, and tolerant. I can't tell you how many times in FFXI I finally found an exp group and they told me to come to where they were (which took 10-20 minutes to travel) only for me to die half way there and have to start that journey over. Every so often I'd get a tell saying "are you still coming?" and I'd tell them how I died and I was trying to come back...eventually, almost an hour later, I'd get there and find a spot still open and ready for me in the group and I'd be greeted with "welcome!"

Now, people in duty finders are absolutely rude and act like they've played this game for 15 years and if you're not doing things a certain way then you should just log off the game.

I got online this morning after working my butt off for two back-to-back 12 hour shifts and asked nicely over a popular linkshell where the level 40 levequest was. One person replied nicely and another offered me a website to go to. I respectfully declined the website offer and just said that thanks but I don't trust outside webpages (honestly very polite) and the response was "You're f****** retarded"

I just don't get where people think it's ok to speak and act like this from the safety of their home.

I'm the guy who spends hours of my time not progressing further on my own character and sits in revenants toll shouting "Relic Monk willing to help those without gear or experience with anything they need" These people aren't my "friends" and I've never met them before, but I think it's great to be able to help someone through the game in parts that I may have originally struggled with.

Even these forums, it's like someone comes up with a pretty interesting idea and people race to say things like "The game has too many other problems, your idea is irrelevant". Even this post will have someone who is just searching the forums for a chance to leave a negative dent in a topic.

I don't know if I have a real question or a point to be made other than I guess my own little rant....but what happened to players? I almost wish after what I experienced today that I didn't pay for another 3 months and I just got a single player game instead.

[VahnValbosce]

The world of MMO's has forever changed.

I honestly wish there were more players like you, but I'm not getting my hopes up. In reality I'm thinking of moving to a server where there is low population or something maybe that will help. In all honestly things need to change and the only thing I can see happening is people need to be vigilant in cutting off childish behavior before it begins.

Asking for help = "Just Google it"
Joining a party = People disbanding without ever saying a word (somehow this is social behavior?... or online games mean "anti-social is acceptable")
Need help with a fight? = Pay us 300,000Gil to run you through.

[Vagrant-0]

WoW happened. Endgame and E-Peen became the entirety behind playing, and everyone who wasn't at max level and in top-end gear is treated as being worthless. The number of duty finder exploits that people have been using to be carried through instances without any effort doesn't help matters. Then add the usual trolls and ninja-looters.

Of course a game would have a toxic community at endgame. Those people who are taking their time and are actually still enjoying things are still in their 30's and are in no hurry.

I challenge you and anybody else to offer 30 minutes to an hour of your time to sit in a low level area...

I don't know about others, but when I leveled my conjurer up I spent more than a few hours queuing for lower instances and trying to help new players out even though my main class was well beyond that point. The players I encountered ranged from utterly hopeless to competent and willing to learn. In general it was a good experience even if I didn't end up getting very much from it.

Point is, not everyone out there is standing around with their thumb up their butt focused entirely on grinding out tomes. More over, most quality FCs will try to help out lower level members or occasionally do some sort of public service to try and promote their FC. There are some good people out there... They just don't usually hang around Revenants Toll since they're usually out doing other things.

[AccountBanned]

The world of MMO's has forever changed.

I honestly wish there were more players like you, but I'm not getting my hopes up. In reality I'm thinking of moving to a server where there is low population or something maybe that will help. In all honestly things need to change and the only thing I can see happening is people need to be vigilant in cutting off childish behavior before it begins.

I challenge you and anybody else to offer 30 minutes to an hour of your time to sit in a low level area and offer help or shout in revenants toll that you're willing to help any group that could utilize your class/job. Think of how many times you've just ran around doing something stupid because you were bored...maybe that's a good time to offer someone a little bit of your time.

[Esira]

From my experiences with MMORPGs and people in general, when there is challenge and struggle, people come together to overcome that. And when there is very little, people tend to do their own thing.

It just seems like on a place like the internet, where anonymity is an impregnable shield people don't feel the need to be pleasant or kind to others, because there is no risk of reprisal. You can hide anyone you don't like, and the community is so large that there's little risk of you earning a name for yourself, neither positively or negatively.

There are some good ones still, but they're hidden in the brush and few and far between.

[VahnValbosce]

Those people who are taking their time and are actually still enjoying things are still in their 30's and are in no hurry.

This is not true. Just because some people can level fast, doesn't mean they are toxic players. It's really a bad stereotype that is causing this problem. Skillfull players are also somehow being labeled "automatic jerks" just for being good at the game or playing more than most.

There is no reason why I can't be a nice person and also be good at the game or play more than most people.

[Kyriea]

XI did have these players but they were very hard to find and most of the time you didn't have to meet them which was great. Seems that a lot of players are like that now though. I'm hoping that it's because the people who are already level 50 (given that the game has only been out 5 weeks) are just the type to act like that and that the people taking their time will eventually get to 50 and be a lot more laid back.

People now want to be the best at these games but do not enjoy getting there, which to me is very wrong. If you don't enjoy the game, why play? Personally I don't find this game to be as fun as XI though. Mainly because they now focus on dungeons that are so cliche and easy that there's no real enjoyment. It's designed to be done as fast as possible whereas XI had puzzles and challenges in their "dungeons".

They had wide open spaces like Dynamis where you had to fight your way around and kill designated targets. It was always a rush to get from one mob to the other but it was fun to rush. They also had more interesting mechanics like sneak/invisible to give you more room for tactics. I do love this game but it does seem like it's gone back in time rather than forward, and is catering to the wrong type of player.

[aswedishtiger]

I would love to rewind time and replay 6 glorious years with EQ1. even with all the time sinks and such. the game promoted a community by forcing you to make friends. whether a mage or druid for teleports or SoW. or simply making an item and or learning the area. duty finder? wtf is that, didn't exist. game forced you to immerse yourself, explore, ask questions and take risks.

my question is, what happened to MMOs?

[Renytenz]

Honestly, this seems more of an endgame problem. I have 35 dragoon, 26 MRD and around 17 gladiator, mostly level via dungeons. Now I can count the instances when somebody in my party was someone with really bad attitude. Usually polite, more or less friendly (less counting when they do not speak or greet, rare, I think most of them are on ps3 and just dont want to bother with typing with controller, I know I wouldn't). They offer tips for new players and thank for tips I give them, while apologizing for making mistakes. If everything is that bad at endgame, where do people disappear that are nice during low level dungeons?

[Hysterior]

In game, I have close to 0% problems, I love the people I play with and I have almost no problem with DF parties. I get some heals when I fight in the environment and I do the same if I see someone could need some help finishing a mob.

The only trouble can come from the places you need to grind 100+ times because people at that point are bored to death but still need those equipment so they force themselves to run this dungeons they hate because they have no other choice to progress and they want to make it as quick as possible

On the forum, it sound like this game is hell, that everybody is trash and people have no idea why they are playing since there seem to be OH SO MANY problems. But in game, you don't see that many complains.

If you want a great experience:

• Stay away from the forum
• Stay away from CM/AK at the moment (the worst gaming habit you could find will be in those 2 dungeons)
• And if you really want to do those CM/AK run NOW, then brace yourself, toughen up and tell yourself is probably temporary