Is it too much to ask for a social FC or do I need to lower my expectations?

[DynnDiablos]

I seem to have found myself stuck in an FC hamster wheel I can't seem to get out of. I played without an FC for a very long time, but things got lonely and I enjoy the social interaction, whether it's just shooting the breeze or discussing game-related things and just simply having people to run content with you can rely on.

However, I have no been in three FC's over the past two months that are just simply not social. They advertised as being social and engaged. Yet, it's like talking to a brick wall.

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored.

Now, I understand being new to an FC people have to get used to you and such, but why have an FC if barely anyone talks to anyone?

I don't know...maybe I should lower expectations? It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

[Nora_of_Mira]

I seem to have found myself stuck in an FC hamster wheel I can't seem to get out of. I played without an FC for a very long time, but things got lonely and I enjoy the social interaction, whether it's just shooting the breeze or discussing game-related things and just simply having people to run content with you can rely on.

However, I have no been in three FC's over the past two months that are just simply not social. They advertised as being social and engaged. Yet, it's like talking to a brick wall.

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored.

Now, I understand being new to an FC people have to get used to you and such, but why have an FC if barely anyone talks to anyone?

I don't know...maybe I should lower expectations? It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

I agree, I've been in this stunt before. It's worth recognizing we're in the most barren portion of the expansion and a lot of people arent actively playing unless they're raiding or hardcore crafting.

I've found my resolution was to just keep trying new FC's and talking new folk, eventually you'll find people that want to socialize in game.

[LalaRu]

Joining a FC is a two-sided experience, you check the FC and the FC members checks you. If it doesn't work, you both part ways.

I'd suggest you make your own FC and recruit like-minded people, or keep searching until you get the good one for you.

[MsMisato]

make sure they don't have discord and if so pop on. some folks will pop on discord but have no mic or don't use the mic so they use fc chat at that point. As pointed oout keep searching for the FC that fits you or make your own with like minded folks

[ExKage]

You've come to the decision you want an active Free Company, one that's social, right? You now know what type of thing to ask or talk about when you look for an FC. You might have to be more discerning when checking it out.

How did you get recruited or how did you search for your FC?

Are you interested in only in-game FC interactions? Using social media to chat like Discord?

By social, what are you interested in? People who are always talking or people who will help you when you need it?

I decided back in December ish to just go out and find a Free Company that I thought would fit me. I looked in the Ads, on the subreddit but also looked into the forums dedicated to the servers here. I saw an FC I thought I would like and sent a message to the recruiter who incidentally was also the FC leader. Talked to the leader. Asked about play times, what do the people do. What's the age group like? Are people younger, more working adults or all in college?

Never regretted that decision. I'm probably the happiest I've been in an FC. I'm having fun and really enjoying my time.

[SenorPatty]

You need to watch out for those FCs that recruit on a whim. They don't tell you that most of their actives are on break until xpac and they recruit on a whim because they're bored themselves. They talk to you for the day and then...that's all you get.

My recommendations:
-Join an active, social linkshell. It's basically a better chat pool than an fc, without the fc buffs and typically more members than a fc. If you still want fc buffs, join one that has buffs regularly activated.

-If you're still set on FCs over LS, try to join one that's more or less preparing itself for upcoming xpac. Those are the ones where most members will continue to play right up to patch date and beyond.

-Don't be afraid to ask the right questions before joining: How many people are actually active on a daily basis? Do they have social events/activities? What kind of content do they do?

Hope this helps.

[Bobkitty]

I seem to have found myself stuck in an FC hamster wheel I can't seem to get out of. I played without an FC for a very long time, but things got lonely and I enjoy the social interaction, whether it's just shooting the breeze or discussing game-related things and just simply having people to run content with you can rely on.

However, I have no been in three FC's over the past two months that are just simply not social. They advertised as being social and engaged. Yet, it's like talking to a brick wall.

I ask question. Nothing.
I say "hi". Nothing.
I ask for help running a dungeon. Nothing.

OR EVEN WORSE, I speak and get no response yet another member talks and it's like a flood of social commentary while I'm ignored.

Now, I understand being new to an FC people have to get used to you and such, but why have an FC if barely anyone talks to anyone?

I don't know...maybe I should lower expectations? It's just I've always been careful to join an FC that claims to be social and fun, yet they all end up being silent and almost anti-social.

Game is oversaturated with FCs, most of them just there to fill up numbers. I'd recommend making some friends in your world, if you get to hang out with their FC then you can get to know them as well and if you all click then you could join theirs.

[DynnDiablos]

You need to watch out for those FCs that recruit on a whim. They don't tell you that most of their actives are on break until xpac and they recruit on a whim because they're bored themselves. They talk to you for the day and then...that's all you get.

My recommendations:
-Join an active, social linkshell. It's basically a better chat pool than an fc, without the fc buffs and typically more members than a fc. If you still want fc buffs, join one that has buffs regularly activated.

-If you're still set on FCs over LS, try to join one that's more or less preparing itself for upcoming xpac. Those are the ones where most members will continue to play right up to patch date and beyond.

-Don't be afraid to ask the right questions before joining: How many people are actually active on a daily basis? Do they have social events/activities? What kind of content do they do?

Hope this helps.

How do you find a social LS?

[Nyvara]

Wish I had an easy answer for you, FCs, guilds what have you can be hard to integrate your self into. They will already have had members they are used to and some folks are just afraid of strangers. Have you tried...

Making jokes.

Chiming in to their conversations.

Being helpful to other members.

Asking if anyone would like to join you doing roulette.

Insert yourself slowly in the above fashion. If you find these things aren't working g you might just have gotten a dud and it's time to move on. But do so in a mature way. You never know when you might end up grouped with them!

Of course yeah you may need to lower your expectations.

Joining a social linkshell is another great idea, this game you don't really -need- a FC but again make yourself known to them Like in RL you can't expect strangers to suddenly become your BFF.

Hope some of this helps you. Nothing worse then feeling lonely surrounded by people.

*One other thing ask if they use discord. Some FC use it a lot to the exclusion of those that don't. That can sometimes account for weird silences.

[DynnDiablos]

You've come to the decision you want an active Free Company, one that's social, right? You now know what type of thing to ask or talk about when you look for an FC. You might have to be more discerning when checking it out.

How did you get recruited or how did you search for your FC?

Are you interested in only in-game FC interactions? Using social media to chat like Discord?

By social, what are you interested in? People who are always talking or people who will help you when you need it?

I decided back in December ish to just go out and find a Free Company that I thought would fit me. I looked in the Ads, on the subreddit but also looked into the forums dedicated to the servers here. I saw an FC I thought I would like and sent a message to the recruiter who incidentally was also the FC leader. Talked to the leader. Asked about play times, what do the people do. What's the age group like? Are people younger, more working adults or all in college?

Never regretted that decision. I'm probably the happiest I've been in an FC. I'm having fun and really enjoying my time.

I've been trying to read the FC's description and then when I reach out tell them what I am looking for. But as others have commented, I may need to take some time getting to know people in the FC and be more diligent or go for a LS instead.