Playing "catch-up"

[GlickWick]

Do any other new/returning players have issues with this?

Getting to 50 isn't so bad, especially with the leve bonus xp changes.

However, getting your character flagged for endgame content is almost impossible. In particular, clearing Into the Dark and the level 25 ifrit quest is especially problematic. Nobody is interested in doing these (and rightly so, it's dead content for the most part), even with the GC seal changes.
Not to mention people have even pretty much stopped running AF, since it was so quick and easy to get.

I know I know, people generally just respond with "join a linkshell!". But the truth is, the game's community is so small and established that this isn't as easy as you think. The linkshells with people who do endgame content are generally full/clique-y, so it's not particularly easy to get in. The remaining linkshells are generally casual players (nothing wrong with that!) who aren't interested in this content anyways.

I guess I could level other disciplines/crafts, but I feel that if I do that I'll just end up falling farther behind as even less people will want to do this content in a month.

Is there anyone who's been through this awkward phase that has any ideas?

Is SE planning on working on any of this? There will obviously be a new player infusion with 2.0, but that's only a temporary solution. The game will never be big like some of the popular MMOs, so this is just going to repeat itself 6 months after the PS3 release.
Edit: Oh, I'm on Figaro, one of the most popular servers. I can't imagine what this is like on a small one

[Xoo]

Do any other new/returning players have issues with this? Getting to 50 isn't so bad, especially with the leve bonus xp changes.

Why you cannot get anything done. Period.

[GlickWick]

Why you cannot get anything done. Period.

What? I am 50. Yeah, I don't have every discipline at 50 yet. I doubt this is related to issues like being unable to get people to do the LEVEL 25 Ifrit quest, buddy.

[Xoo]

What? I am 50. Yeah, I don't have every discipline at 50 yet. I doubt this is related to issues like being unable to get people to do the LEVEL 25 Ifrit quest, buddy.

Sorry, I was a bit cryptic and vague. The statement was not a shot at you at all. What I meant to imply was that, yes, it is easy to get to 50 - Which everyone has, on everything. Many people have completed much of the content thus far, so they don't play as much, and a good reason why you can't get anyone to help you.

Anyhow, good luck!

[GlickWick]

Sorry, I was a bit cryptic and vague. The statement was not a shot at you at all. What I meant to imply was that, yes, it is easy to get to 50 - Which everyone has, on everything. Many people have completed much of the content thus far, so they don't play as much, and a good reason why you can't get anyone to help you.

Anyhow, good luck!

Isn't that a huge problem with the game? How does it plan to maintain it's player base?

[Xoo]

Isn't that a huge problem with the game? How does it plan to maintain it's player base?

You know, I've been asking myself this question for quite a long-- wait, no, it got answered in January with the onset of billing. People were fine to hang about the world with not much to do before, but far more than a handful disappeared that month.

I don't know what SE's plan for success is, but I would like some of whatever it is they're smoking.

[JakeRoon]

Isn't that a huge problem with the game? How does it plan to maintain it's player base?

No, because level sync is coming. And as other have mention, most linkshells are very helpful, AND the server merge is happening in a couple days, FEAR NOT!

Everything will be okay.

[Gramul]

Everyone I talk to seems to be magnetically polarized against doing Kobold and the Beautiful

[Lux_Rayna]

I know I know, people generally just respond with "join a linkshell!". But the truth is, the game's community is so small and established that this isn't as easy as you think. The linkshells with people who do endgame content are generally full/clique-y, so it's not particularly easy to get in. The remaining linkshells are generally casual players (nothing wrong with that!) who aren't interested in this content anyways.

Have you actually tried, or are you assuming? I've joined god knows how many linkshells (i meet too many ppl) and every single one of them does content and helps at any level. No joke. Even social linkshells (4 out of my 5 ls's) do that. The solution really is to join a linkshell. Read the forums or shout in uldah and i guarantee you'll have 4 or 5 ls invites in a matter of minutes. An LS is the answer to your problem, always has been.

[GlickWick]

Have you actually tried, or are you assuming? I've joined god knows how many linkshells (i meet too many ppl) and every single one of them does content and helps at any level. No joke. Even social linkshells (4 out of my 5 ls's) do that. The solution really is to join a linkshell. Read the forums or shout in uldah and i guarantee you'll have 4 or 5 ls invites in a matter of minutes. An LS is the answer to your problem, always has been.

I've joined four Linkshells at this point, and I see the same things in each. You either have players who are just interested in farming/levelling, or players who have already done most of the content and aren't interested in helping.

Yeah, I'm sure somewhere there exists a linkshell that helps with this. However, meeting people new is incredibly difficult because people generally only group up to do content you won't have access to as a new player. I guess I could join some Cutter's runs, but I'd feel like a complete dick because my character is nowhere near geared up enough for that.