I have 0 friends on my friendlist. Is it my fault? No.

[Razzle]

But with all of these new mechanics and easy content (at least pre-50), it makes it difficult for me to make friends pre-50. In FFXI, I had made friends even before endgame.

There is your answer. FFXIV: ARR is built like that that pre-50 don't really matter. The game starts at 50. Pre-50 is just a filler, for that same reason, lvling is super fast and you get to 50 in no time, and at 50 you start to need parties for content like coil and "strengthen bonds" with other players to beat said content...

That's just how the game is designed...

[Hycinthus]

Maybe it's your server not very active? when i had no FC when i started i got so many random inv it was bother sum and to this day i get random link shell inv :P but like others are saying join a FC or do party finders easy to meet ppl there seems to me your just not trying very hard

I have a FC, and again, I do try my best, but perhaps you are better at making friends than I do, and that's fine. The whole point of my post is pointing out how FFXI made it easier for me, but FFXIV made it harder for me to make friends.

There is your answer. FFXIV: ARR is built like that that pre-50 don't really matter. The game starts at 50. Pre-50 is just a filler, for that same reason, lvling is super fast and you get to 50 in no time, and at 50 you start to need parties for content like coil and "strengthen bonds" with other players to beat said content...

That's just how the game is designed...

I agree that this may be the main cause, that I have not reached end-game yet. However, I just don't like spending all of my time levelling without having to meaningfully interact with anyone. I could have, but I was not forced to, so I did not. This may be my fault, but I was just playing through the game, how the game is designed, and that design is not conducive for pre-50 friendships.

[Fayto]

So you have to go out and make friends yourself? Who knew?

[Shikiseki]

although people already made valid points that make it bit harder to make friends, I personally don't see a problem with it.
Of course I'd like to have more social interaction between the players such as mini-games and hopefully the golden saucer will solve that a lil.

Still, FATES and Questing gave me a lot of friends, as well as just helping them out as healer. Even duty finder brought some nice friends (if you're lucky enough to be on the same server). Sending a friend request usually gets accepted - I have yet to see someone not confirming my request. This game's community just seems to be a little passive. And of course FC's are the way to go.

But being silent and complaining about 0 friends is just not helping you out either - people just see you as an NPC that way with no personality or anything!

Try it, go to a crowded area like Limsa Lominsa, and just observe where the crowd is or chills out - I know at least at Odin, there's one particular bench around the Aetheryte Plaza that's like a social hotspot there!
Even if you don't want to talk, doing some emotes etc, it's usually enough to break the ice.

[Demetirus]

-snip-

I've had similar experiences on Odin! It's pretty easy to talk to folks on our server, isn't it?

[shadowrell_d-_-b]

Its funny I tend to just make friends after almost anything I do online, I do something called chatting and it tend to make ppl feel more comfortable with me and before you know it I just made a new online friend!
Fact is if you act like a loner online you naturally going to be "lonely" getting an FC to run with or even a group of online friends to play with is a simple as opening your mouth and saying "HEY".

The grind to 50 tbh shouldn't need other players its after 50 where you start needing to be more social and meeting new ppl! unless your server is just dead in which case id switch to a more populated server.

[Suellen]

Part of the issue too is that mmos are now mainstream. When I first started FFXI back in NA release it was a bit of a niche market. 99% of the people I ran into were in college or of that age. 90% of them watched some anime like me. Connecting with people who had the same interests as me and in the same time of their lives as me was incredibly easy. I met a lot of cool people.

But now I'm older. I'm married and my husband and I are talking about our first house purchase. Some people I meet online are around my age, dealing with similar things. Some are much older; some are younger. Some have kids; some are kids. Some watch the stuff I watch; some don't. Finding common ground, common interests, common personalities types is just a lot harder.

I feel like I'm wading through a sea. And in this sea unfortunately can be a lot of garbage I have to sift through. And so the socializing aspect becomes more and more of a chore. There are a few people I have met and glad I have met but more and more I find I play with the cliche of friends I had gathered years ago and just don't spend much effort meeting new folks.

[mikecoby]

FC's rock for making friend's that last a lifetime

[Casper]

I've over 100 people in my friendlist. Don't remember the exact amount, might have to check if i don't get too close to the limit at some point. Problem is definitely you -- i made tons and tons of friends in my leveling process. Now things are slower, because i already have an existing group anyway, so i just befriend people that i pug with on PF and that are nice. Still a steady increase.

[Doo]

I've over 100 people in my friendlist. Don't remember the exact amount, might have to check if i don't get too close to the limit at some point. Problem is definitely you -- i made tons and tons of friends in my leveling process. Now things are slower, because i already have an existing group anyway, so i just befriend people that i pug with on PF and that are nice. Still a steady increase.

Are the 100 people really your friend? Do you run content with them? Help them out?