How does this game have such a fantastic community?

[Viritess]

That's the thing; I've had just as many friendly experiences like you describe in other MMOs as I've had in FFXI/XIV. There are jerks and friendly people in every game; I've had more fun experiences than I can count with strangers, joking around and working through challenges, in every MMO I've played. I'm just saying that FFXI/XIV is not unique in this respect.

Don't get me wrong, I've had lots of good experiences with players in XI/XIV, but so have I in every other MMO. Likewise, I've had plenty of terrible experiences with jerks in XI/XIV, just as I have in every other MMO, with about equal proportion. I just don't approve of the repeated meme around this community that FFXI/XIV is this sort of "oasis of politeness" in a world full of jerks, because I just don't believe it to be the case, and it seems to be intended to back-slap ourselves into thinking we're better than the rest of the world. That's all.

I pretty much agree with this. I've been in alot of games and meet alot of good people, and bad jerks. its doesn't really change. Every game community thinks their the best because they are in that community.

I also am not totally sure that group contant always = better community. Sounds kinda like the old group finder destroys community rote. Heck some times its even easier to meet new folks when neither side as an automatic expectation that the conversation will end with, " Can you help me do X Y and 5 runs of Z for A drop" etc.

what i personally do belive though is that inter dependant crafting that has a large hand in endgame tends to pull communities closer due to the inherent need for eachother. For example despite the end of SW: Galaxys before the "improvement" end game depended on crafters, and crafters needed end game mats, and every one needed everyone else for stuff to craft. Communities truely grow when the people as a whole need eachother, not 8-24 people at a time.

That said FF14 players thus far have been good. but i wouldn't say far beyond every other MMO community i've been in ^^

[Chain]

from 9 years of MMO experience: official forums+dedicated fan sites ftw ... no matter what you're playing. the rest is usually haters, banned idiots, greifers, exploiters, and failures that want to bring you down.

Official forums are just as bad, one of the best things about XI community was no "official forum" BG was the closest thing they had which was full of elitism and drama, try to deny that.. Alla was full of noobs but was also 99% friendly.. go figure.

P.S I know XI has a forum now, I was speaking of when the game was actually relevant.

[Vanguard319]

I'm sorry, but if you think that the FFXI community was somehow universally friendlier or more polite than other MMO communities, you're kidding yourself.

Here's a little story from my Vana'diel days:

I belonged to a Dynamis LS like many people, and one member disappeared for several months right about the time I joined. As I was a Ranger, I was often called upon to pull statues, and over time, I got good enough that I could do so without disturbing the other mobs. Several months pass, the member who was on hiatus comes back. (Turns out he is an anal dynamis millitant, who has to have everything done his way.) We do Dynamis-Xarcabard, he starts ordering me around and telling my how to do my job, despite being a main job Blm who never played Rng ever. He is literally /t shouting me so much, that I screw up on the first pull, and bring the whole group down on us. I die of course, tell the LS in chat that they just lost thier puller for the night and quit the run without another word.

One would think that was the end of my membership in that LS, but people started to /t me almost immediately, asking what happened, all of them were concerned that I ragequit so suddenly. After explaining what happened in further detail, many seemed to side with me. I permanently blacklisted that person afterword, one of only three people in my /blist over five years of playing XI.

My point being, that you will find assholes in just about any community, (and not just MMOs) XI was just lucky to have very few compared to other popular MMOs.

[BobbinT]

I could considered myself very lucky. Not only I joined some of crowded LS, some member of it really nice enuff to even help me to the extreme.

I don't play MMO before this one, but I already feel FF14 has great community IMO.

I even lost counts to days when I logon just to chat since it is so crowded in many interesting dabble. (and never even leaving inn)

One thing I need to obliged is to improve much better so that I can giving something in return not only to new players, but also those above that supported me.

[Darkillumina]

The Dunes around launch were hilarious. It was a smorgasbord of death, mismatched jobs (we didn't know any better), crowded camps and goblins lining the entrance to selbina.

Good times.

[JackDaniels]

The Dunes around launch were hilarious. It was a smorgasbord of death, mismatched jobs (we didn't know any better), crowded camps and goblins lining the entrance to selbina.

Good times.

Whatever, my redhead female elvan blackmage rocked that sh**

[Ryuko]

Just some advice to you, or anyone that wants it really:

Like many of you, I came to this game with a certain group of people to play with. I already had friends and a linkshell I fit into... mostly from my FFXI days. Because of this, it's easy to get isolated and ONLY do things with LS members. That's why I think it is important to answer 'shout' groups and help complete strangers out once in a while. You'll make some great friends. After helping out with a few random AF quests, I have a bunch of new friends that I have bumped into many times after that. It brings back the feel of the community that was FFXI (where everyone on the server knew each other).

[Spy]

Just some advice to you, or anyone that wants it really:

Like many of you, I came to this game with a certain group of people to play with. I already had friends and a linkshell I fit into... mostly from my FFXI days. Because of this, it's easy to get isolated and ONLY do things with LS members. That's why I think it is important to answer 'shout' groups and help complete strangers out once in a while. You'll make some great friends. After helping out with a few random AF quests, I have a bunch of new friends that I have bumped into many times after that. It brings back the feel of the community that was FFXI (where everyone on the server knew each other).

I'll find random people to help once in a while when I'm not helping my ls mates out. You're right ^^ Not only do you meet interesting people, but it's actually rather fun =)

[YuriSan]

This game just wouldn't be the same without you lugs.

I love you guys.

I love me too ^^

[Veltaine]

One thing I've always wondered is why it is, in general, so quiet in towns? Aside from /sh for doing things, there is no /say talk.

I find it pleasant since i'm not bombarded with information I don't care about, but to others, it makes the game feel... dead.

you should be on Balmung, the Rp'ers make the /say in the common areas very lively. i wont participate personally becaues its a bit much for me, but its really kinda neat to sit and watch sometimes


as for the FFXIV community. i love it here. ive been around since day 1, ive made some awesome friends here, ive made some awesome new friends too. i feel this game is a lot morre laid back than more other MMO's and leaves a lot of flexibility for players to enjoy from
HARDCORE (EXTREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEME IFRIT)

to chop chop chop! smoke smoke smoke! foods done

The Dunes around launch were hilarious. It was a smorgasbord of death, mismatched jobs (we didn't know any better), crowded camps and goblins lining the entrance to selbina.

Good times.

i wish i could have experienced this. hahahaha