Dungeon Finder System - Whats the problem?

[Wolfie]

In my case, it's more of a concern because I've not experienced a dungeon finder system before, and also because I worry as the most enjoyable part of the game for me is growing friendships over time by partying with them regularly - without the need for them to be in my linkshell. But it's a concern, not an outright rejection. I'm very interested in seeing how it all turns out, it will be an experience if anything. I have adored the Sargatanas community since I rejoined the game, and I hope that this does not impact it on any real level. Fingers crossed!

As someone who has now played two MMOs with a content finder, let me tell you that it was easier for me in those MMOs to make friends after the content finder than before. People in general wanted to play with others on their server because it meant that they would see them again. Granted I played a highly sought after role in WOW, but I would receive tells from 4-5 different people within a minute of logging in.

Content finder acts simply as a net for the people who don't have a good linkshell or friends, and who are having no luck shouting or recruiting from their local player pool.

[LillithaFenimore]

I think some people just want to complain? Kinda like my two year old...she likes to whine to hear herself whine...seriously...

Makes my head hurt.

[Wolfie]

I think some people just want to complain? Kinda like my two year old...she likes to whine to hear herself whine...seriously...

Makes my head hurt.

Some people are just anti-progress man. I think most of the people who valued their sanity left the forums a long time ago. I'm only sticking around because I'm both masochistic and because I have this valiant mission of combatting people whose suggestions would harm this game in a serious way.

[LillithaFenimore]

Some people are just anti-progress man. I think most of the people who valued their sanity left the forums a long time ago. I'm only sticking around because I'm both masochistic and because I have this valiant mission of combatting people whose suggestions would harm this game in a serious way.

Yeah I can see that...

[Loony_BoB]

As someone who has now played two MMOs with a content finder, let me tell you that it was easier for me in those MMOs to make friends after the content finder than before. People in general wanted to play with others on their server because it meant that they would see them again. Granted I played a highly sought after role in WOW, but I would receive tells from 4-5 different people within a minute of logging in.

Content finder acts simply as a net for the people who don't have a good linkshell or friends, and who are having no luck shouting or recruiting from their local player pool.

If people wanted to play with others on their server following the party finder being implemented, why would they want a party finder? Surely using a party finder is a method to party with people of other servers rather than their own? Sorry, a little confused, and perhaps a little naiive. xD

[Sol_Aureus]

I've seen multiple threads with people whining about the cross server dungeon finding system. And i really don't understand or see any of the points people make against the system as valid.

People say "It ruins the community".

THIS DOESN'T RUIN THE COMMUNITY. You can still do the same dungeons with the linkshell members or server. Hell, theres even content that specifically WON'T be world crossed, such as High NM's, Hamlet and other features they've mentioned that will be non instanced. This feature encourages play at any time of the day, which encourages more people to play regardless of time constraints. It keeps people PLAYING. More people playing = bigger communities.

Another "argument" is that you get bads in the group.

Guess what. Just because people are on your server, doesn't make them pro. WoW's dungeon finder system had a "Gear Level" requirement to weed out the inexperienced, undergeared types. It was rare that I was ever grouped with someone who didn't know the fights or griefed. And guess what, you still get that by forming groups on your own server.

Other people say "It hurts immersion".

Guess what, you can't FORCE people to stay segregated into their little shell if they don't want to. Immersion is a choice. For the less populated of servers during off-peak time (when they make new ones), having an option to play the content you need regardless of how many people are online is a pure asset and convienence.

We are living in a world where people have less time than ever to sit around waiting to assemble a party. All this feature does is bring people together.

Wether you like it or not, FFXIV is a casual game, and this feature caters to both casual and hardcore players who just want to do the dungeon without the time saping constraints of gathering a group.

Please, someone. Enlighten me as to why this feature is doomsday.

On the community aspect, I do believe it'd hurt the community aspect of the game. The whole "hey I know that guy from x" or "don't party with x, he ninja loots stuff". Where it feels like a closer community instead of a bunch of random people who happen to inhabit the same world. Your actions make much more of an impact if you're stuck on your server and people know you from stuff like pick up groups. If you ninja loot or are a general asshole, people will find out about it and you might start getting a lot less invites to groups. With content finders that are cross-server your actions make much less of an impact because who cares? You're probably not going to see these people again and you have a shiny new sword. There's much more incentive to be a selfish asshole.

In addition, content finders work well with the type of content we have now: Spam a dungeon/encounter a shitton of times with their abysmally low drop rates and weather or not you're rewarded is mostly based upon luck. I'd like to see instances with cooldown timers of like 3-4 days but the drop rates are higher so almost every time your group runs it someone will get something or at least progress towards something. With a content finder if they do implement content like this, people will bitch about how they "got grouped with a bunch of bad players" or "so and so d/c'd" or whatever so "SE should make it so if you fail there's no lockout" or "if you use the content finder there's no lockout." or just "get rid of lockouts." People would bitch so much that SE would cave and comply to their requests because that's what the player base wants. Also "the content is too hard! no one can clear it in a pick up group make it easier QQ" so difficulty gets toned down. Then what's the point of linkshells? If you can spam content finder to get a group quickly and do the endgame content and get the best gear whenever you want instead of having to worry about linkshell schedules or if the right people are on, people will just not join linkshells and solo constantly.

Granted a lot of these reasons are implications but they're not baseless, it's happened in other games. I'd like to see FFXIV stay closer to party, group and community-oriented play instead of solo play. If I wanted to play a single player game I have plenty of choices out there, but I play this game, an MMO, to play with other people and be a part of a community.

[Ruri]

I don't understand the problem either. If you want to run with friends run with friends. If they aren't available run with new people. Content finder just seems to make it easier to do the latter.

[Excer]

For those of us who haven't experienced it, it is a legitimate concern. Having never played a game with a content finder and hearing stories from WoW about people just standing in town and queuing, it does scare me that the game will turn into a lobby/full instance game.

Other than Odin, I can't think off the top of my head of any confirmed Open World content for 2.0 which only adds to the concerns. Obviously just hating something for the sake of it is stupid - as long as it is handled right I don't mind at all, but if handled wrong it is probably a deal breaker for me.

[Lyndis]

It really does hurt the community. Though I'm not going to cry too much because our community is pretty worthless as it is.

Everytime I've ever used a content finder in an MMO I never ever have spoken with the other party members. Also the social aspect of forming the party is removed. It also pushes MMOs closer to a First person shooter feel where all you do is sign up for a fight, Fight, win/lose, next fight. I thought MMOs were more than that.

[Lyndis]

Other than Odin, I can't think off the top of my head of any confirmed Open World content for 2.0 which only adds to the concerns. Obviously just hating something for the sake of it is stupid - as long as it is handled right I don't mind at all, but if handled wrong it is probably a deal breaker for me.

This is also a major worry for me.