Content sellers and Party Finder

[Purrfectstorm]

I have no problem with mercs selling runs, though I have no plans to partake. I also don't believe that only gilbuyers buy runs - folks have listed plenty of good reasons why an honest player would pay mercs for clears.

That said, it seems obvious to me that paying mercs for clears is likely to be a VERY common reason for purchasing gil. There's not much in this game that is expensive, and SOMEONE is buying gil (otherwise the gilsellers wouldn't be here). Merc services are probably the most pricy thing in the game outside of buying a Free Company house. I won't sully the argument with made-up statistics, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that the great majority of folks who buy gil buy it to afford merc clears.

A lot of things are expensive actually. Melding material to all your crafting/gathering jobs for one.

I make 400k a day and EX Primal sellers are charging around 400k. So I can spend 3 hours wiping w/ pugs or 3 hours crafting. What's the difference? It really depends on how you feel about selling runs in general. I would suggest that everyone read David Sirlin's book "Playing to Win" especially the part where he talks about the rules of a scrub.

Basically, the rules of the scrub are made-up rules that are not enforced by the game. Someone that says "I will not buy runs because of x, y, z" but for whom it is clearly more efficient to buy said run is playing by those rules. This is not the same thing as gilselling/gilbuying which are clearly against the rules. Buying/selling content clears however is not.

Also, as some have said, you can be competent and still not find 7 other players who are. It's not as simple as "go join another FC" because maybe you happen to like your FC. PF doesn't really solve the issue. People lie about experience. Putting up 2 strikes parties doesn't help. And you can't just kick the people who are messing up, filter out the weaker players and keep the strong, because usually when the group wipes 2-3 times, it completely breaks up, regardless of if the problem is just on one person's end.

TL;DR I'm fine with buying/selling clears - they don't violate the rules of the game and they allow both casuals and hardcore players to have fun... OH NO! lol

[Sapphic]

Step 1: Make a LInkshell.
Step 2: Start a PF advertising for players to learn.
Step 3: Run content whilst noting names of who are progressing whilst ignoring those who dont.
Step 4: After party falls apart PM those who did good and played well and ask them to join the LS for the purpose of finding more
Step 5: repeat from step 2 until you have enough people to form a full party.

Then organise with in the LS a time where all can join to put in an hour or so a day on the content until it's cleared.

Done!

[Kerowyn]

snip

Yeah people that don't like or support "Merc" or "Carry Service" are scrubs just cause they voice and opinion that anyone that buys their way through content is too lazy to do it on their own or to anti-social to find and join an FC and put in the time with a group of people to learn the fights.

[Purrfectstorm]

Yeah people that don't like or support "Merc" or "Carry Service" are scrubs just cause they voice and opinion that anyone that buys their way through content is too lazy to do it on their own or to anti-social to find and join an FC and put in the time with a group of people to learn the fights.

Yeah basically. Limiting yourself by rules that don't exist makes you a scrub.

[Raxion]

Yeah basically. Limiting yourself by rules that don't exist makes you a scrub.

Do people really still find Sirlin's opinion to be valid?

Nobody is setting rules here. People that pay their way through content, usually have reasons. Some of which do hurt the end game community.

If someone buys a clear due to lack of personal ability, that's not good. If someone buys a clear because they can't find a capable group, but are capable themselves, then it's fine. The problem is, it's usually the ones that lack personal ability that buy the runs. The capable players usually find a way to down content legitimately.

"Scrub" hardly applies, as this game isn't competitive by nature.

[ForteXX]

While I don't like it myself, they're actually using PF for a party (like people using it to recruit for coil statics). I do wish they'd make it against the rules to use it for non party stuff, like selling items though

[SarcasmMisser]

It may be a slight tangent, but there may be some interest itt so if anyone on Tonberry is interested our carry service is always looking for customers! We sell everything that isn't second coil, we are fast and consistent and won't waste your time, pst me in game for prices and become one of our many happy customers!

[skaterger]

Ethically there is nothing wrong with selling carries. On the personal level though the idea is distasteful and I would never consider it. Its no different from typing blacksheepwall or activating god mode. The victory is hollow and there is no sense of satisfaction to be had.

[RumiP]

the idea is distasteful and I would never consider it.

A couple million gil flavors the idea quite well for me, from a selling perspective.

[Yurihyuga]

Well to be honest I am actually some what glad people like them are around not that I can afford to really use there services atm.

The reason I like to know there around is because
people like me, I have studied the fight, practised plenty however can't get the kill no matter how many times I have tried even with party finder raising ilvl and asking for experienced people with the fight. Changing FC soon as also no one is really willing to help.

This is usually down to other people, I know the fight and I know what I am doing.

Using the service in that manner personally to me is fine.