Message from actual new player

[Kodabey]

Hi all,

I bought this game and played it for the first time 2 weeks ago. I've been on every day since (loving it!), and just experienced the patch. As you can see, I'm a level 20ish archer and marauder. I've played a few hours since the patch hit, and I'm completely disappointed. I wasn't even attacking mobs much higher than me before the patch, but occasionally I'd hit something 1 or 2 levels above and I'd make it through alive. Now, I get my ass kicked by mobs 2 levels below me and anything higher it's hopeless. All my hand picked gear (mostly by helpful players) isn't helping at all and the game just generally seems way HARDER. Harder than it should be..it just kills the pacing. Sorry, but I play video games for fun, not to be bored and frustrated. I was pretty happy right before the patch with the level speed, combat flow and yeah, I died now and then when I did something stupid, but now the game seems excessively hard. So all you high-level people with lots of experience, I'm glad you are having fun, but I'm going to go play Aion now. I suspect a lot of other new people like me feel the same way. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with this patch at all...it just simply made the game no-fun for me as a new player around my level. I've been severely nerfed playing other MMOs too, and it just kills the fun for me when that happens. It's like someone took away half of everything you've been building up and working hard at. Normally, that is called a punishment.

And yes, I've done nothing but group with other new players since the patch. We get our asses kicked constantly, even when 3 of us gang up on a mob 2 levels above us. Both of my friends logged out with a long goodbye and quit, both claiming they might be back after 1.20, but probably not with GW2 and SWTOR coming out. So there I was alone, at level 20 with crappy gear and nobody to play with surrounded by monsters that I can't kill. Yuck. I guess there is a form of permadeath now in this game after all, in the form of this pretty digital purgatory I found myself standing in.

[Nuru]

I think this thread deserves to be forwarded to the devs. New players are not finding this game to be fun, then there is a problem.

[Bahn]

I'm posting before the cadre of players telling you to lern2play and saying "NICE KNOWING YOU, GOOD TO SEE CASUALS BAWWING CUZ HUR DUR LEVELZ WER HANDED OUT ON A STICK" (Edit: Aw, I just missed it before the troll above me posted). I'm sorry to see you leave. Since it's only a few days into the patch, I think it's best to see what Square's response will be to the difficulty increase for those who are soloing/lowmanning. It is generally suggested to go after monsters at or below your level now - anything higher than you does require a "skilled" party (usually composed of players that already multiclassed and have skills from other classes to enhance their survivability).

There was another thread that gave good tips for lower level players: you will probably have to multiclass to get some healing skills. Pugilist, Thaumaturge, and Conjurer all provide healing skills that will extend your longevity and make things easier to handle. But yeah, at most go after stuff that's one level above you, but I'd generally just go after stuff exactly your level to make things easier.

[Bartel]

Great perspective from a new player. It's really unfortunate that you had to quit, but I certainly can't blame you. The game since the patch really doesn't cater to newer players at all. I re-rolled a few weeks ago and am now running into the same issues. I also agree posts like this should be forwarded on to the devs.

[Removed by Moderator according to the FINAL FANTASY XIV FORUM Guidelines.]

[Holland]

The game is balanced around gear with one Materia attached. While the beginning will not be pretty, let two weeks pass by when Materia'd gear is in the market. It should be easier for all of us.

[viion]

Not even just levelling, i logged into today and new players cant even understand how to buy gear past starting gear, they are confused, skint and unhappy and shouting like animals. Its sooooooooooooooooo unfriendly and uninviting, it needs serious catoring to.

[Richardd]

[Removed by Moderator according to the FINAL FANTASY XIV FORUM Guidelines.]

it was constructive advice for SE Devs. If they had a Q ~ Q bin for posts like these then they could organize the useful from useless threads on the forums.

[Nuru]

it was constructive advice for SE Devs. If they had a Q ~ Q bin for posts like these then they could organize the useful from useless threads on the forums.

Not a QQ bin then, more like a "Oh shit this is what we need to fix right now" bin.

[MrLion]

lol@TC having only one post.

Bye TC, no one will miss you.

[TonyMontana]

lol@TC having only one post.

Bye TC, no one will miss you.

Only thing is I doubt THIS is the effect SE wanted to have on NEW customers.