Repetitive grind parties should NOT be the main source of leveling

[Ventus]

This is a topic I'd really like us to hash out on the forums to get a good idea on where we as a community want the leveling system of this game to go. So let's get down to this discussion and have a good, heated debate where we can fight for what mode of leveling we feel should be implemented in the game (my bias should be clear at this point based on the title ).

My Opinion:
Since the beginning of my MMO trek I've never understood the appeal of repetitive, endless grinding where a group fights the same monsters over and over and over again until they reach the level cap (usually throwing away hours a day). What good does this do the player? Yes, you get really good at killing common monsters about 1000+ times, but how is this content or an acceptable way to explore through a game? Maybe this GETS you to content but the means do not justify the ends. It only promotes reproducing a dim and dull task countless amount of times to reach an end goal. To me this only proves one's ability to have patience and resilience in the face of menial labor (like pulling the same lever at a conveyor belt for your job at a factory every day).

When we play an MMO we want to explore content, immerse ourselves in the story, and feel a sense of community to our fellow players. Grinding can bring us together, but it really becomes something you have to MAKE fun after a while and it becomes mindless and less engaging for a group. People say "oh well you just aren't being creative, we used to play games like 'pull the hate off the tank' or fight really tough mobs' to see if we wipe". These examples should be things we can do REGARDLESS of grind parties and a game shouldn't have its sole basis of leveling made fun by imaginary games invented by the players. There should be some structure.

Mixes of dungeons, group quests with fun objectives, leve parties, and grinding can be great in an MMO but grinding parties alone as the only feasible way to level up fast will only bring back ex-FF11 players who logged around 7 years into the game and no new crowds that can bring this game a healthy population .

To be honest I'm embarassed when I tell people about games like FF11 and FF14 because when I get done talking about all their cool content I cringe when I have to bring the brutal truth of their endless xp grinds that some say make them seem like "work".

I don't understand the appeal to grinding as a main source of leveling, but I'm sure you guys have plenty to say so feel free to bash me down or agree with me. Whatever floats your boat.

Now I want to know what you guys think

*edit
a lot of you seem to think I want solo play to be the best, and most profitable way to level, but I don't. I do believe group methods of leveling up should yield the highest amount of growth =).

*edit #2

Originally Posted by Doho
i disagree with the OP, grind parties should be a viable and respectable option for ranking up. that's all I have to say.

I do not in any way believe that grinding should be eliminated among the many OPTIONS to leveling up. I just want to make that clear. I'm about steering grind parties away from being the only efficient and quick way to level up as it seems now and in FF11.

Thanks for all your comments btw guys ^^

[Dubont]

I prefer grinding mobs over grinding leves. I just wish SE would set up actual camps where a party could grind old school: Everyone sit at camp, puller pulls mob, people kill mob.

[MeowyWowie]

I prefer to play with other people. And because it takes more effort to form a party, that effort should be rewarded.

But, to each his own I guess.

[Sonic_the_Hedgehog]

I agree, it shouldn't be the main source and it looks like the game is moving towards what you think anyway.

To be honest I'm embarassed when I tell people about games like FF11 and FF14 because when I get done talking about all their cool content I cringe when I have to bring the brutal truth of their endless xp grinds that some say make them seem like "work".

I felt that XI was more of a grind than XIV, maybe because I had grind for long periods of time to actually do anything in XI.

[Ventus]

I prefer grinding mobs over grinding leves. I just wish SE would set up actual camps where a party could grind old school: Everyone sit at camp, puller pulls mob, people kill mob.

Instead of taking from two things we already have in the game, wouldn't you like to figure out a newer way to level up that's more intuitive.

It would just feel like FF11 all over again if we found ourselves grinding a lot like we did before.

[Sonic_the_Hedgehog]

Also let's not forget this poll, where 19.3% of people wanted to level up in a party.(of course that came from a majority of the English players)

[Ventus]

Also let's not forget this poll, where 19.3% of people wanted to level up in a party.(of course that came from a majority of the English players)

I'm not sure that's interpretable for the purpose of this discussion O.o. All it says is that 19.3% of NA poll voters felt there was a "Lack of party-based battle tactics" which doesn't directly imply they want grind parties.

It can imply they want other things to do with a group besides leves and grinding (and as a result we got dungeons).

Not trying to be snooty or anything just pointing that out =/.

[Sonic_the_Hedgehog]

I'm not sure that's interpretable for the purpose of this discussion O.o. All it says is that 19.3% of NA poll voters felt there was a "Lack of party-based battle tactics" which doesn't directly imply they want grind parties.

It can imply they want other things to do with a group besides leves and grinding (and as a result we got dungeons).

Not trying to be snooty or anything just pointing that out =/.

Huh? Scroll down to the 4th question. "4. What types of game content would you like to undertake while in a party? (up to three answers)"

But in that same question PVE won out overall, so you're right with the dungeons and all.

[Ventus]

Huh? Scroll down to the 4th question. "4. What types of game content would you like to undertake while in a party? (up to three answers)"

But in that same question PVE won out overall, so you're right with the dungeons and all.

While it does mention 19.3% wanted to group for ranking up it still doesn't mean grind parties.

[MeowyWowie]

Also let's not forget this poll, where 19.3% of people wanted to level up in a party.(of course that came from a majority of the English players)

I agree with Ventus. Those results do not in any way reflect how people want to grind. If they had asked a question like "How do you prefer to rank up?" it would be another story.