Combat GC restrictions in frontlines

[RobesP]

1. Allow you temporary GC status of whoever the party leader is that is queueing for frontlines.

2. Make frontlines FC based off grand company affiliation

3. Remove the PVP rank reset penalty for changing grand companies

I agree that all of these options would be valid ways to deal with the issue of GC restrictions. 1 and 2 would definitely make it easiest for the players, but I wouldn't be opposed to 3 either. For me it's not so much about the process of switching GC's, since this can be done fairly easily/quickly, but more about losing out on all of the pvp ranks that I have accumulated if I'm required to switch GC's in order to play with my friends. Honestly if I'm not able to participate in frontlines with my friends without switching GC's and having to rank up again, or convincing my friends to switch to my GC and do the same, then this is a major turnoff to something that I was getting pretty excited about.

[Vexar]

I figured it was an obvious choice when first getting into the game. Eventually the FCs would fight eachother in some form or another, at least the choice isn't permanent. I like it the way it is already set, it was obvious to anyone who signed up for a GC.

[Tandy]

I think it's been fairly plain to see it's going to be this way. Is it totally smart? Probably not. Will it hurt queues? Probably not....the 3 are "mostly" even.

They should make rank transfer and be done with it though, since apparently people inexplicablely missed the myriad clues that your GC matters in pvp. Personally I don't think it could have clearer unless they emailed you with "THIS MATTERS" in the subject line though.

[Poka]

I like it just the way it is.

[Rose-Wild]

They need to make it totally random ignoring the GC.

[niwaar]

I remember switchig GCs wasn't all that hard.
Run a few dungeons etc.
Nothing big, just grab a few friends and do it.?

There are problems with this idea...


#1) GC Gear is restricted to the GC that it came from.
For example, If you purchase the Lominsan Soldier's Boots and use them as a Glamour, switching to a different GC makes them un-usable.
#2) PvP Rank is GC related.
I have a friend who is currently Rank 17 with Twin Adders, and its taken him months to get that back since he was rank 18 with Maelstrom before he switched.
#3) There is an Earth Time restriction to switching.


Bigger issues have to do with... Queue Time Balance and Playing with Friends. Currently it is known that there is a great imbalance across all servers towards 2 of the 3 Grand Companies. While this will not directly effect match play, it will create further complications for those having to wait longer. It is known that MMO players will almost always choose the path of least resistance. Meaning if one side's queue times are significantly longer then people will start switching GCs and it will worsen over time.

FFXI understood the realities of playing with friends. Ballista allowed players to join any team they wished in order to play with friends. I really hope that YoshiP&Co. figure this out quickly.


--

Oh and no Glamours in Frontlines? Seriously... With the loss of Moral on gear (which I am on board with to some extent) the PvP gear we will be earning is purely Glamour bait and we can't even use them in Frontlines? Come on now...

[TokyieRage]

snip

Really not the point. Point is people want to play with their Friends, FC, LS and now they can not. Not without going through the hurdle of getting everyone to change anyway. No one knew at level 21 starting out new in this game that GC was gonna matter, Especially with no pvp in the game. There was very little hint of this besides a very old 1.0 live letter and concept art. And at level 21 it's unlikely you will have the same amount of friends or the same friends at all you have at 50. I.e. I didn't meet most of my in game friends until I was 50 so there was really no way of knowing they were going to be Maelstrom or Twin Adder at level 21 when I chose Immortal flames.

[niwaar]

RNo one knew at level 21 starting out new in this game that GC was gonna matter

No one knew because they flat out told us GC did not matter. That it was purely a personal choice and that the only thing it would control is which GC gear you could purchase/wear and what colors your chocobo barding would be. (and what mini pets/titles/etc but those are a pure vanity choice)

[Tandy]

No one knew because they flat out told us GC did not matter. That it was purely a personal choice and that the only thing it would control is which GC gear you could purchase/wear and what colors your chocobo barding would be. (and what mini pets/titles/etc but those are a pure vanity choice)

I remember way back in beta being told it would impact PVP someday with frontlines, but for NOW it didnt matter aside from cosmetics. Since you can freely change your GC, that was a true statement at launch. But they have always talked about it impacting PVP and now that day is here. Yoshida gave interviews dated april 2013 talking about it, they talk about in game. The PVP windows in game make a deal out of which one your in.

Now I do agree it is annoying. I understand all the cons of the situation. I just dont understand the ruckus at this point when its been clear for a long time. People need to ask for rank to swap with your GC, which is a valid point and stop acting like its the end of the world and this makes no sense cause its been planned this way since beta.

[Nalien]

You know...

Since Morale does nothing, there is no reason to have Rank to equip it.
I've been told repeatably that AP differences mean next to nothing.

So... What's the problem? Just switch Grand Company for Frontlines. Your Rank stays with the Grand Company right? If you switch back it isn't reset, is it? Just organize with your friends which to join, it's not like Rank will mean anything for the next few weeks, seeing as Wolves' Den is going to have terrible queue times until the Frontlines hype dies down.

I'm not particularly worried about differences in the number of players in Grand Companies given it's taking from a pool of servers and the census data, albeit outdated;