I don't find players friendly.

[LilPink]

Hi,

I am really new to this game. I was always told great things about how friendly the people are but I'm having a difficult time believing it now that I'm playing and experiencing it first hand. I joined and FC but they are very cliquish (I suppose they've all been playing together for quite some time). I don't talk with anyone and the little I do say, often gets ignored. I don't ask for help because I don't really want it but I do enjoy chatting and I feel ignorant when I ask a question and get sarcastic answers- so much so, that I find myself just not bothering when Google gives me unclear results. I have a learning disability and it is difficult for me to retain information so I wanted a guild that was both active and friendly towards new players.

I am wondering if it is like this across the whole game; that there isn't much welcome for brand new players. Am I wrong in this assessment or did I just choose the wrong FC and server?

[Anova]

It sounds like the wrong FC honestly. Each FC's culture is different, so I would look around a bit more for a FC that suits you better. If you have 1 or 2 players you hang out with, consider asking them for social linkshell recommendations. They should be able to give you 1 or 2 recommendations and you can build from there. Eventually, you'll probably find a FC you like from those (i generally don't trust spammed recruitment messages, but they do let you network with a lot of players if you have nowhere to start).

There's several ways cliques form, but it is generally associated with a younger player age. Also, some FCs (like mine) don't spend too much time in the player chat and do most of its conversations in a VOIP. If you're not in the VOIP (which is public), you tend to miss out on a lot of conversations and socializing. It's just some food for thought on whether you're contacting them through the right channels. FCs usually advertise the chat channel if they have it and make that information available to all members.

Also, what kind of questions are you asking and what kind of answers do you get back? It's odd that a FC will only give sarcastic answers to an honest question, and it does suggest some deep-seated problems. I don't know what happened between you and the FC, but I will say if they're antagonistic towards you, you should probably leave. It's not good for anybody to be around people that hate each other.

[Risvertasashi]

Joining a group (and this applies to any game or similar) of friends that already know each other... occasionally, it can be great. If they are very welcoming. Most aren't, they just want to talk to people they already know.

Now if they're outright giving you sarcastic answers... Yeah, ditch them. I've found most people in the game pretty friendly but as with any generalization, it is nothing more than a generalization.

[dementiondrive]

with how the game is set up and who it brought over from all walks of life. this is sadly the result. there is little to no consequences. pull out duty finder and you will see a huge influx players whine and see on a server by server of people now getting blacklisted for troll, attitude, etc. when we had 1.0. there was nothing of duty finder and a lot of other things were way different. that is where a lot of people will say the community was actually friendly. we had to help each other out or not even progress.

now though people just do not care.

so my advice is to look around. ask for FC that are helpful and recruiting. i did not thrive with people across the server. i server changed 3 times till i found a actual FC that we do things together. answer questions and just have fun on a regular basis.

so keep looking and do not give up.

[AskaRay]

Sounds like some jerks, unfortunately.. I'd never give a newbie sarcastic answers (sometimes I do that to friends, but I know they've been playing for a bit so they should know the answers... anyway). I mean, you're still learning the game you aren't a two-year veteran.
I also say drop the FC and find a new one, if you want. I personally didn't join an FC for a long time; it depends on what you want socially from the game. If you have made any friends in this current FC, then start a linkshell group and add them that way, so you can still talk to them.

But FCs are mainly for help and if you aren't feeling comfortable asking for it, it's time to move on.

Good luck

[Malicewolf]

Yup, what everyone else has said so far. I think the FC you're in just isn't the right fit. I suggest moving on to another place. Don't feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask questions. I know my FC is very friendly, but we also mostly all know each other IRL. So if someone new joins, we don't necessarily go out of our way to cater to them. If they ask however, we will help if we can help (most of time, we can). Sometimes being quiet when you need help is more harmful than helpful. But sometimes, it's just not the right fit.

[LilPink]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses, everyone.

I don't have anyone to play with in the game that is a friend irl. My husband doesn't seem to be interested in playing as he is still raiding content in WOW, playing Fallout 4 and Battlefront in his free time. I really enjoy this game, it's new to me and after 8 years of the same game, that is a novelty that I don't think will go away for sometime. I'm a shut-in and don't get out much so the computer and games are a way for me to communicate with people. When I'm rebuffed in the game, it hurts my feelings and gives me a bad vibe. I have been trying to concentrate on learning the content but my brain can only allow me to go so far and I learn from engaging, not reading big walls of texts!

[dementiondrive]

ya. the FC i got in with after awhile of searching are all strangers when i first came aboard. some were in Brazil, U.S, Canada, and a few in Germany that i play with in my FC. the England ones are not always on my time when i do log in. which is fine. when i do get on with them. when asked for help from either person. we go and run if we are not busy. we all want to be in a stress free environment enjoying the game how we see fit. so just keep moving and you will find what you are looking for.

when it comes to groups and cliques though. some have been together playing since meeting in FF11, WoW, and further back in the years. i met a few groups that stayed together since ultima online was a thing. they have been together for a long time and enjoying FF14 now.

[Atoli]

About learning:
There are lots of visual guides on youtube. For most people, that is at least more helpful than the big wall of texts, so they might be easier for you to work with, too

About your FC:
If they give sarcastic answers to your questions, they aren't exactly "newbie-friendly". Like most people suggested, try a different FC maybe.
In my experience, small, social FCs are a lot more helpful, patient and easy to get close to than big FCs that advertise themselves as "newbie-friendly". Those tend to be very...anonymous and all they provide is EXP buffs and stuff like that.

About cliques and the like:
One thing you have to realize is that people online are still real life people. When you get transfered to a new workplace or school, even if people are friendly and invite you to tag along and stuff, you WILL feel left out at times, because they have known each other for a long time already. They have inside jokes you don't understand, places they hang out at that you don't know about, etc.
It takes time to become part of that, and the most efficient way to do that is to be outgoing, talk to people, don't be shy to ask them things, to start a conversation, to have fun together.
You said you don't talk with anyone in your FC and feel left out - but conversation is key to get close to others in the first place, so maybe try changing your own behaviour a bit and see how it works out
After all, maybe your current FC isn't all that bad. But if you never socialize with them and all they ever see of you are rare requests for help (answering a question is some form of help too, btw), they might feel like you are only using them.

[Kaurhz]

How'd you even come across such an FC? Generally the unspoken rule is Don't join an FC if it's a random invite.

As mentioned each FC has their own 'culture' so you've just stepped on a bad one. Same experience with my first FC. Then again, I didn't really have much insight as to what an FC was.

Best advice is leave the FC, no point in feeling guilty about it. Advertise on here for a sociable FC or on the Party Finder. Assuming you've completed the quest for Sastasha.