Server choice / Hello's / Foreveralone looking for mates (Phoenix) / Errors & Updates

[Elvisan]

Greetings,
to start with, yes I am very low level, yea I started to play the last day, don't mention it.

1. - Server choice, how does it matter? Since there are no informations upon world selection, I'm not quite sure - does the population between servers differ much? Is the economy on each very different or more or less the same?
Economy I can save for later, but after being stuck in Duty Finder for 3:40 and totally unable to continue my main story thanks to this, I'm a little bit worried about the population there.

2. - On that note, anyone else around from Phoenix around? Some nice, cozy and social FC perhaps? I'm having a hard time finding people to play with and the game migh be more group-focused than I actually thought. All FCs I encountered so far actually blocked me after asking "What do you mean, my ilvl?".

3. - Technical issue - each time I try to update the game, the update stops at 100mb-1gb with "server not responding" - I actually had to download the game on my laptop and copy it to my desktop (both have the very same internet connection and securitytho) to be able to play. Strangely enough, once I'm in the game, I have no DCs or any lag to speak of, so does anyone know about some software that would block the updater, or somethink that would make the updating process ... erm, unique?

Either way, sorry for this lame post in advance.
Cheers,
Elvi

[Anova]

1) This is a Census of all server populations as of the end of October. I am not certain how the economy is affected on different servers, although I know prices to be higher on legacy servers. The dutyfinder will contact and create groups from players across all servers, and if you fiddle with the settings, will even cross in to the japanese and euro zones for you.

2) The game does become very group-focused starting from lvl15. I would recommend you look on your server for a lowbie-friendly FC. You can check the forums to see if there is anyone offering that, or you can shout in one of the major cities and hope someone notices you. In regard to ilvl, that is only relevant for endgame content only. Each item has a level assigned to it, from 1 to 90. You will need an ilvl of 80+ for endgame raid content. The fact you do not know this means the other player assumes you're just an ignorant lvl50, or is only exclusively recruiting well-geared lvl50 players. If you tell them you're a lowbie, but experienced in other MMOs, they may be willing to accept you.

On the other hand, you might ask to join a linkshell (LS). Those are closer to social groups and they might be more friendly than FCs to help you level up. Again, check the forums for any advertisements for friendly FCs or LSs. If you can't find any, I might recommend joining Leviathan server. We've set up a couple friendly LSs for lowbies to network and group.

In all seriousness though, dutyfinder presents a big problem, especially for dps classes. They're trying to fix that in patch 2.1, and it will help, but I'm not sure how big of a help it will be. For most DPS at end-game, the average wait time is 30 minutes. For lowbie dungeons, the wait time is much much longer. You will want to find a party with a tank or healer class to speed you along. Finding a FC or LS interested in lowbies will help you find members before queuing.

3) I would doublecheck the specifics on your antivirus, firewall, and power settings and compare them to make sure they're exactly identical. Otherwise, I have no idea what might be causing the problem.

[lordkabal26]

1. Duty finder is across all servers.

2. I'm on Lamia and I'm an officer of one of the largest FCs on the server, we welcome any and all levels provided you're not rude or obnoxious.

3. It could be your antivirus causing an issue, for most games when updating/installing they suggest you disable them for the process.

[Teirafon]

Im on Phoenix as well. If you want to join a decent, mature FC try Vagabond Knights. Also im on a linkshell called Phoenix Lodestoners who have some nice people as well.

[Elvisan]

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Hey, it was a mere jest, of course I know what ILvL is (how much I "like" that great rating system aside), but you adressed my point nontless - it is what I meant, most people just seem to give you the middlefinger as soon as they learn you aren't level 50 job with Coil-ready gear. Then again, if I know my luck, I just keep meeting people who are huge walking and talking anuses.

Either way, I had no idea duty finder is cross-server, that makes me even more confused, since I'm hanging on story quest to kill Ifrit for about 8 hours total trough the last 2 days. I actually started to level Conjurer before I went to work, because it felt like it might be faster to get healer to viable level than actually getting a group as an Arcanist.

[Elvisan]

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Well, as above and to the update problem, it's definitely not my AV, firewall, ISP or any other thing that comes to mind. The computers are pretty much identical from the software side too - I'm all out of ideas as for the cause and so is the official SE Support it would seem. I just thought I might as well ask here, maybe someone had similar issue and will go "Oh yea, that is actually caused by...". You never know, some pesky Win update part or pehaps a mana falling down from the sky and disturbing the process for all I know.

Im on Phoenix as well.

I'll try that when I get home from work, hopefully we'll be able to find each other and then live forever happily - or at least raid and do many not-so-productive things.

[Anova]

Either way, I had no idea duty finder is cross-server, that makes me even more confused, since I'm hanging on story quest to kill Ifrit for about 8 hours total trough the last 2 days. I actually started to level Conjurer before I went to work, because it felt like it might be faster to get healer to viable level than actually getting a group as an Arcanist.

I will admit, I am really quite gullible.

I think the major problem is that we often push this idea of pre-grouping as the most expedient way to queue in dutyfinder. The result is that many dps queue are are just waiting for a tank or a healer. That means as a solo dps, you may be passed over for larger groups simply because there are not 4 solo players of the appropriate class queued at the same time. Also, I will warn you that there are a very large number of solo dps, and it is easier to level by FATEs after level 20, so more veteran players don't run the dungeons for that reason.

The primal fights in particular are not very popular as they do not give much loot or exp, and are simply there for story purposes. There is currently no incentive for veteran players to revisit them, even if they are leveling alternate classes. Your best bet is to form a party yourself for the storymode primal fights. We might see a change in patch2.1, when those fights reward mythology and philosophy tomes, but I can only speculate at how effective it might be for now.

Also, I forgot to mention, you can join a dungeon-in-progress, which will decrease your queue time. And most DPS will do that as well, even if it means they are more likely to come across problematic players.

[Elvisan]

I will admit, I am really quite gullible.

I think the major problem is that we often push this idea of pre-grouping as the most expedient way to queue in dutyfinder. The result is that many dps queue are are just waiting for a tank or a healer. That means as a solo dps, you may be passed over for larger groups simply because there are not 4 solo players of the appropriate class queued at the same time. Also, I will warn you that there are a very large number of solo dps, and it is easier to level by FATEs after level 20, so more veteran players don't run the dungeons for that reason.

It's really quite a shame, the first three dungeons were actually fun, tho I can understand why many do not want to do the not-endgame dungeons again if they gain virtually nothing in return. Hopefully the patch will make it a bit better, when people get more than meaningless stuff such as fun and good feeling from helping others out of lower level dungeoning. But I noticed a lot of "elitist" tune floating around, so if it wont give the optimal exp, gil and reward per minute, many won't be swayed by a bit of reward.
Again, take my slightly sarcastic outlook for what it is, I don't play long enough to pass any "judgement" on community at all, it's just what I've seen in the first couple days.

And while I knew DPS characters generally wait more than support and tanks, I guess I just didn't expect that I would be in a line for several hours without any success at all, it made me wonder - and so I ended up asking/ranting here. Hopefully it's just a bad luck day on unpopular quest-dungeon.
Since you can do a whole lot of things while waiting for the dungeon, I would be ok with it generally, tho over 2 hours it starts being a little bit excessive, even more so when it's over 5 hours and on a quest that I believe holds me back from joining a company and getting a lovely chocobo (heck, that is actually why I rushed the content a little to that point).

But even in my short time here, I noticed the fate rewards make the dungeon ones (at least the first three) a bit laughable. On one hand I understand it, because you probably don't want to spend forever leveling all the classes available, on the other, it causes this lack of parties I just experienced. I'm tempted to say the respective rewards could use some adjusting, but once again, I have to spend more time around to see how well it all works in any semi-objective way.

[FFFanatic]

Ok so I recently got the game, idk a TON of stuff, but I have played MMOs and RPGs since I was able to walk it seems like, so I'm getting the hang of it decently. I've already run into a common problem among every MMO, I crave the close knit gaming groups/friends. Most people will admit that MMOs are fun, but lose their luster a bit after a while with no friends, which is why I'm here now! Lol. So I'm asking, putting my name out here in the forums with my info hoping to make some gaming buddies.

Feel free to add me in game, on PSN, or email me, I'll answer for sure. Would just like some companionship in the shenanigans :P

Thanks