It's almost impossible to level a new character now. What gives, SE?

[Cycloptichorn]

Over-exaggerate much?

I PT with random people all the time, never seen anyone kicked, ever. Even the people who do crappy jobs don't get kicked.

It's still solo-friendly, you just need to adjust your tactics a bit. I also wonder if your gear is correct for your level? It makes a big difference now...

[kensredemption]

I can't even get any decent gear because I don't craft often, and even if I did it wouldn't sell. Maybe to the vendors at least, for what THAT'S worth. Anyway, I've had bad experiences before with PTs on all the MMO's I've played. I'm a competent player, but having to put up with random booting and unnecessary criticism doesn't sit well with me.

As for how I'm doing solo, I can't chain mob because I get so easily overwhelmed, but I can kill consecutively with non-aggressive mobs (eg. Funguars, Marmots, etc.).

[Jynx]

Isn't friendship magic?

I had a good laugh at that.

[Wolfie]

Wow, the amount of people defending the state of low level play right now is astounding. People are literally trying to re-created the hostile environment of ~2005 FFXI. This game is FUBAR.

[Oscillate_Wildly]

I'm actually more surprised to hear this coming from you than anyone, but I do agree. Even later on in parties when things are linking, I do not find it challenging to instead of using single target cure spells, to instead spend every free second in the fight gaining mp to use Curaga to keep my entire party from wiping as things start linking halfway across the map.

I also do not find it challenging when about 5 things that I'm farming suddenly link together like incredibly hyper children after candy. To challenge does not mean 'double the mobs beating your ass'. Especially when it comes to areas like Nanawa where you're trying to avoid things that will WRECK YOUR SHIT but link anyway to a completely unrelated mob.

Leveling has become far more tedious than it was and even far less enjoyable. This isn't even XI-2, this is something else all together. I don't remember mobs in XI linking like /this/. Especially ones that are friendly, or won't aggro on sight.

[Biggs]

You don't get any decent gear while leveling until ~20. Using high level gear penalizes you too much.

Your stats are terrible until ~20, so you have to rest every 1-3 mobs. It's also nearly impossible to fight any monster more than 2 levels above you.

You cannot complete any leve that isn't below your level. The linking mobs will destroy you. Leves now occasionally fail if you die.

The money rewards from leves, chesta, and quests at low levels makes it impossible to purchase any items via MW, unless you take up a gathering/crafting class and try your hand at marketing.

Have you done any thorough testing on your patch, SE?

I just started a character on Selbina a week before the patch went live. Having only leveled crafting jobs before the patch, I have had ZERO trouble leveling any of the combat jobs, getting gear, obtaining gil, or doing anything else at low level. Oh, and there are 4 people in my LS the same level as me so I have had ZERO help leveling. Its only tough if your lazy and want everything handed to you.

[Biggs]

I can't even get any decent gear because I don't craft often, and even if I did it wouldn't sell. Maybe to the vendors at least, for what THAT'S worth. Anyway, I've had bad experiences before with PTs on all the MMO's I've played. I'm a competent player, but having to put up with random booting and unnecessary criticism doesn't sit well with me.

As for how I'm doing solo, I can't chain mob because I get so easily overwhelmed, but I can kill consecutively with non-aggressive mobs (eg. Funguars, Marmots, etc.).

Change servers then man, I used to be on Kashuan and its one of the lowest populated servers in the game. There is a TON of people on SELBINA and the wards in uldah have been so full, i cant always find spots to put up my retainer. Have had ZERO problems selling low level items.

[Kailea_Nagisa]

It has nothing to do with wanting the game "hardcore" but really I don't get a lot of people (this goes for any MMO) They want now now now, quick, easy. I dont want to play an MMORPG that I can "finish" in 3 months -.-
I played FFXI for 7 years, and loved every day of it, the only reason I quit was the same reasons I mentioned above, the latest minisodes to be exact. Leveling from 30-90 in a few days and making 75% of all the older content pointless?...... no thanks

[Akashi]

I agree, but people on the forums want things to be "hardcore" and any admissions of wanting the game to be "easier"(particularly leveling and questing for some reason) will get the usual bullshit response: "It's good that the game is getting hard!"

Well, the game isn't getting hard. It's becoming tedious just like FFXI was. These are also probably the same people who solo leveled ever job to 50 on Coblyns, but now that others want to be able to solo efficiently it's a problem. The same people also equate time spent with challenging and rewarding content. Is it really hardcore if I level every craft to 50? No, it just takes forever. Is it hardcore if character power at low levels is completely out of whack? No, it's just annoying for new players.

This game will eventually need new players because all of you bittervets can't sustain it. Right now, being a new guy isn't much fun. I'm sure you'll say something stupid like, "It weeds out the noobs!"
It does, but not in a good way. EVE Online weeds out the noobs, FFXIV will just frustrate them to the point of quitting.

Spot on. If I wanted to play FFXI, I would. Leave the tedium in the past.

[Dyvid]

I think this patch just shows how broke the game was/is. You can't find any low level gear because people didn't bother making it since you could equip anything you wanted. Now we have a real penalty in place. Also if you need to breeze through lv.1 ~ 49 just to have content that's a big red flag right there. The goal should be to fill up game with all level content otherwise they might as well start you off at lv. 50.

PS. If you think this plays like FFXI go ahead and swing over there to see what book burns and aby is all about. That is boring content IMO.