Now that leves will be gone from our main exp function...

[Kiara]

Hi Gath,

Great topic.

I agree completely that it's great to move the focus of Party-based SP'ing away from Guildleves, and it's a bold step for Yoshida-san and his team.

Party-based SP "in the wild" so to speak, in a wide-open environment can definitely help players improve their skills and learn more about better ways to utilize their various Abilities, Traits and Weaponskills, and eventually learn about the new replacement for the Battle Regimen.

Dealing with accidental Adds (beyond the annoying simple Mitelings or Diremites), being careful about Pulling and where you position yourself in a small area (if there are more dangerous, aggro'ing mobs nearby) all are good practice in preparation for more strategic, dangerous content (Raid Dungeons, eventual End Game, etc.).

As for how to gain SP in Parties?

It could be that Yoshida-san sees players putting in Solo Time to get their SP in (and via the new Side Quests with SP Rewards he mentions), while Party-based stuff is more about grander rewards and goals (Raid Dungeons for tough NM Fights, Rare Treasures, etc.).

I can also see Behests being developed (and he mentions they're still being "reformed") as another way to get Party-based SP in. Hopefully the Behests turn out to be more challenging and interesting, with more exciting "Bosses" at the end of them.

Ideally, there are Side Quests that also offer tasks for a Party to complete that are challenging and offer good SP Rewards.

And I still hold out hope for Party-based SP possibilities via the Grand Companies of Eorzea. Besides the Raid Dungeons, I hope they also have smaller "Quests" or "Challenges" that a party can go and tackle, to gain some SP and more Grand Company Reputation Points (progressing through their Ranks).

Perhaps The Maelstrom sends you off to random, various parts of Eorzea to fight back sudden Garlean Empire incursions? An example:

Je'ala of The Order of the Twin Adder tells you: "Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna and her battalion are currently under heavy attack by a Garlean Assassin Team at Twinpools! All members of the Twin Adders should head over there immediately for a rescue operation!"

and off you go to Twinpools to battle back the Garlean Invasion, get some SP and you're rewarded some Grand Company SP in the process.

Maybe if you beat back the Invasion in that skirmish faster, you get more SP or Reputation Points for the entire Party, etc. To reward more efficient party play, and encourage people to focus and improve and play better?

I can also see other content being developed for Party-based SP'ing via each of the nations (something like a Conquest, or battling the Beastmen). Yoshida-san has mentioned we're getting Beastmen Strongholds (can't wait!), so maybe we'll get some good Party SP there as well.

Lastly, just pure, Mob-based Grinding Parties would be the default for now I think. There's nothing wrong with that, if they increase the number of areas to get SP in Parties. And we know they're revamping the maps (major revisions), so hopefully we will get our own interesting versions of The Boyahda Tree, Castle Oztroja, Xarcabard, and other unique areas to SP on.

I don't mind fighting mobs for Party SP, as long as we have variety of mobs and areas to go to.

Overall, I can't wait for 1.18 and 1.19 now. Exciting!