I just want to play Frontlines...

[NorthernLadMSP]

I'm on Famfrit, Maelstrom. Played a bunch this weekend. Got from rank 8 to almost 18.

However, queue times were hugely varied. At times, I would maybe wait 7-9 minutes, on up to over 30 plus minutes at it's longest.

I do not believe your job has anything to do with queues. I tried queueing as both DPS and healer during the long wait times, and it made absolutely no difference. Many times I would get in as summoner or bard and there wouldn't be a single healer in the group, and I would have to switch.

[Insipidus]

NA Goblin server here, Rank 25 Maelstrom.

Last few weeks, queue times have been 30+ minute wait times consistently, and that's not just for me. I've queued by myself and have long wait times, I've queued with my brother (Rank 24) and have had long wait times, I've queued with one FC member (Rank 1) and have long wait times, and I've queued with 3 other FC members (each Rank 1) and have had long wait times. Everyone I speak with on my server about it seems to have the same long wait times. It's really demoralizing and just makes you want to NOT play PvP, which is sad because I really enjoy it.

I queue as BRD, SMN, or SCH and it doesn't seem to matter. As of late, I've been waiting 5-10 minutes and then I re-queue, but it always seems to still take the typically 30+ minute wait, if it even queues (I get impatient and give up). No idea what the issue is. Now it's even more difficult to play the rest of the game, as the tears in my eyes from these long waits blur my vision too much.

I would LOVE to get the sweet PvP gear for my character, as well as the GC mount. At this rate though, ranking up and getting to 100 wins for the mount will take a year+ to complete (not to mention that Maelstrom sucks when it comes to PvP it seems...). Something is not right.

[NorthernLadMSP]

I agree with everything you've said except that Maelstrom sucks at PVP. After sitting around for 30+ minutes each and every time (no matter what job), when I finally do get in we usually come in first place.

[Blubbers]

With the new patch the average queue time is now actually accurate because it takes your Grand Company into account. Before my queue time would say 30+ mins every time, and now it says 7 mins and is usually accurate within +/- 3 mins. I believe grand company has the largest effect on queue times, and for the least popular grand company you are are just waiting for more in your grand company to start queueing and that's the bottleneck.

From what I've heard Maelstrom has the longest queue times, and that makes sense. They have in my opinion the most convenient city (market board right next to aetherite) and really cool looking allied seal GC armor. My theorey is that while starting city-wise there is an even distribution across all grand companies, later on the more experienced lvl 50 players who are most likely to play frontlines tend on average to gravitate to maelstrom.

[NorthernLadMSP]

The most frustrating part about it, is if I wanna switch to say Flames, I lose my 20 levels of rank.

[Insipidus]

I agree with everything you've said except that Maelstrom sucks at PVP. After sitting around for 30+ minutes each and every time (no matter what job), when I finally do get in we usually come in first place.

Really Northern? Then I need to transfer servers, because Maelstrom on Goblin is pretty bad. Out of the 12 games I got into last week, 2 were first place wins, and then 3 second place and 7 third place. It's really frustrating. :/

I was a level 14 Adder before switching to Maelstrom because Adders were always losing. Hmmm... Maybe it's just me. :'(

From what I've witnessed on Goblin, the Immortal Flames seem to be the best GC for Frontlines, as they typically win. Adders aren't too far behind.

@Blubbers - Forgive me for misunderstanding, but why are you saying Maelstrom has the longest queue times? I think you're saying that it's because GC's who are least popular have the longer wait times, but then you seemed to say that Maelstrom is one of the most, if not the most popular GC.

[Blubbers]

Hey Insipidus -

Sorry for the misunderstanding. What I was trying to say is that the most popular GC's have the longest wait time while the least popular GC's have the shortest.

Here's an extreme example that only assumes there are 24 people queueing for flames, assuming people re-queue immediately after each match:

96 people queueing for maelstrom (A=1-24, B=25-48, C=49-72, D=73-96)
48 people queueing for adders (A=1-24, B=25-48
24 people queueing for flames (only 1 team of 24)

In this case, as soon as the 24th person for flames queues, 24 people from each GC enter frontlines. During this time you still have:

72 people queueing for maelstrom (Teams B, C, and D)
24 people queueing for adders(Team B)
0 people queueing for flames

As soon as the first match ends, everyone re-queues and it pops instantly for all flames, Adders B team (20 min wait), and Storm B team (20 min wait).

Next match, everyone re-queues and it pops, exact same flame team has no wait, Adders A team (20 min wait), and storm C team (40 min wait).

Next match, everyone re-queues, exact same flame team has no wait, Adders B team (20 min wait), and Storm D team (1 hour wait).

From there onwards, storm is always waiting 1 hour, adders are always waiting 20 mins, and flames has instant queues.

Sorry I made this so confusing here

[NorthernLadMSP]

@Insipidous I'll give you an example. When I logged in last night, I looked at my weekly rank. I had completed 15 campaigns. 9 of those were first place wins. 4 were second place wins and 1 was third place. I had a 62% first place win rate. The drawback though is as Maelstrom, I wait longer in queue than people who play Adder or Flames.