Group content with FC 's

[Jimmymagic]

So I just started a new alt on Exodus and was looking for a FC. No problem got a a/tell 5minutes after initial starting quest in Limsa.

I asked the inviter about the FC, size, activity, raids etc. This person answered all my questions invites to join so I join.

First day everyone is generally friendly and offer help with anything. So I told the members I wasn't exactly new despite the sprout symbol and started this new alt

I then used story skip so I could do end game content. Most of the FC was at ShB or completed it.

We do roulettes, raids and leveling. Tbh I was surprised how friendly they were and then, a common occurrence in MMO's, Day 2 silence no one talking or saying hello or responding.

I asked many times if there was anything I could do or would like to join in roulettes or other dailies - no response - this FC had 75 active members when I joined and not one response.

So getting to my point, I understand people have friends and perhaps only feel comfortable conversing with them. So why bother increasing your FC size just to ignore someone new. If your busy and cant do anything atm just say so but no response with this ghosting stuff is huge pet peeve of mine and frankly is the opposite of what MMO are suppose to be imo.

Thoughts....or better any ideas how to improve Group content with FC's (Communication?)

[Shougun]

Some FCs are more talkative that others, you might even find yourself a FC that talks too much lol. Or talks about stuff you don't want to read. Like you don't want your hunt LS to be massively chatty if you've got 3 of them, you just want them to announce hunts and be quiet otherwise .

I think you're facing potentially a combination of three issues.

1. They could just not be as chatty as you'd like, they've got nothing against you or anyone else and they're not ghosting anyone as much as they just don't feel like talking in general. Which can be exaggerated quite a bit if you've got a lot of people who view the FC as social backdrop rather than a front and center feature. Like how some people don't want to bother putting together a party but enjoy the idea that they're in a live group, just silently doing things with other people- sort of a quiet social feeling (don't want to be alone, don't want to talk, let's just do this content together, my brain is unwinding right now).
2. They're already doing something together and you're not part of the "in" "in" group yet. This can be hugely negative or mildly negative depending, on the treatment of others. From just real life friends who'd love to hang with others to that lovely super drama of the FC leader trying to court a GF and will burn everything down to make it happen lol. I see that happen more often for raid groups and stuff where you can't really share time as well (because rewards and learning are invested into that particular group).
3. They've a discord and they're chatting there.

Personally I imagine #1 being a core part of it, with just a smidgen of the other two. Especially since you said they're nice. Usually it's pretty obvious if #2 is active, if it's the more active form then there is little hope lol. Of course there could be other factors, not pretending I've made the whole list but I find those likely and peaceful listing- like you could add #4 in which they don't want to play with a person because they're not fun / so awful at the game they required to be carried but that's not a very exciting concept to entertain lol.

So imo probably nothing against you, just not very chatty people silently bumping shoulders and existing in the world together as each other's "living" backdrops.

Can improve it by keep trying for a while and if you succeed you can change the fabric slightly and find particular people who are willing to step out of the living canvas, or finding a more active FC lol.

[Omymy]

This is the harsh reality about FCs:

They are small and closed groups of friends of which you probably won't end up being a part. So to speak and no matter how bad it sounds, you are just another number.

At first they sell you the idea of super-friendship and good vibes, but that dissolves faster than cigarette smoke.

I've been in this game for two years and as many years in MMOs. Normally clans, fcs and so on are more a tool for the owner to make money than a social group.

My advice is that within the same try to meet someone and from there you start some friendship. But normally the group of people that make up the FC won't even call you to walk the dog unless they really need you for something.

[linay]

Speaking for myself, sometimes I feel a bit presumptuous answering someone even though I know they're asking in general, but I've tried to get over that thinking and will respond in the negative if I see no answer was given.

The other thing is I spend most of my time in instanced content or looking at a second monitor, and I'm not good at keeping up with chat, so most of the time I just don't see it or don't have time to respond. But if I see someone asked a question, and I can answer and no one else has answered, then I will try to answer.

Oh, and of course there are questions that I can't answer. Sometimes, for those questions, and if I see no one has answered and it's not prime time, I'd tell them to ask again when more people are online.

But yeah, it can feel bad if no response if given, not even to a question, but a simple greeting. I try to do my part sometimes when I'm online, but I can't speak for others and they may have their own circumstances that are not necessarily just about simply ignoring you.

[SpiritedMare]

Y'know, I like just being chatty in FCs but I have really bad social anxiety and I *HATE* running group stuff.

For a long time, if anyone asked about doing group stuff and got nothing but crickets, I would say something like "Aww, I'm sorry I can't help because I'm really uncomfortable with that stuff, but I'm just responding because I hate people feeling like they're being completely ignored, and I hope you find a run soon! ^_^"

Cue me being badgered/guilted for the next twenty minutes straight about being uncomfortable with running group stuff, until I either just log off to escape it, or else end up running the group thing just to make them stop, doing a horrible job (getting hit by everything because my nerves make me freeze up and kills my reaction time) and feeling like a complete useless piece of garbage afterwards.

So, I am now one of the people who accidentally "didn't see you" ask to do group stuff. Oh, I was surely AFK in the can, certainly not intentionally ignoring you because of my past experiences. Sorry about that.

[Sebazy]

So I just started a new alt on Exodus and was looking for a FC. No problem got a a/tell 5minutes after initial starting quest in Limsa.

I asked the inviter about the FC, size, activity, raids etc. This person answered all my questions invites to join so I join.

Giant FCs that just hoover everyone and anyone have never worked out well. This has been the case as long as MMOs have been a thing tbh. You're guaranteed to get personality clashes and cliques in that environment, not really the ingredients you want for a healthy and active environment in the long term.

The best trick is to go with an FC who's focus aligns with your own interests and that also has a mature, strong and stable leadership that isn't going to crumble or fall under the sway of cliques, gold digging partners or whatnot.

[NessaWyvern]

I find it's best to join what ever FC has a friend of yours in it, that way you have at least one person who talks to you and helps you.

[Hasrat]

So why bother increasing your FC size just to ignore someone new.

My assumption has always been that it helps amass the credits to spend on actions or buffs or whatever.

[Leareaux]

I think FC-exclusive content could fix this. SE did a great job making this a game where an FC is by no means required.

It used to be that only FCs could buy houses. Now an individual can.

You used to be able to use the FC airship to go into Diadem, but you could just as easily find a group in PF.

The problem with this is FCs are made more obsolete in a game they were barely relevant in.

My suggestion?
FC exclusive mini-games and dailies for rewards you cant get anywhere else. Give us bizarre guildhest-like instances with bonus objectives and where you can unlock/use crazy FC-Limit Breaks with varying effects like summoning a swarm of fat chocobo to aid you. The rewards could make overworld easier for a time like FC buffs, but better.

[Daemic]

It took me a long time to accept the fact that FCs are in no way similar to guilds in other MMOs. I'm certain it has to do with the lack of class distinction due to static skillsets. No builds, no creativity; carbon copy classes that no group needs more than one of.