The current find/setup party system is great

[Zkieve]

You can take that approach with the current system too: go do something else if you don't see a party forming up to full within minutes, because there clearly aren't enough people around. That's basically the approach you took with the flag system, why not repeat it here?

I don't like the current party system either, but you can't defend the flag system because of something you did when you could be doing the same in our current one. You're seeing differences because you want to.

I'm sure they'll add flags sooner or later, enough people seem to want them.

No you dont know if there is people available now.How ?
You could form a party in 5 min or decide is not going to happen with flags easily.
In here you can only wait wait and wait.if you engage while looking , people cant join.If you to far while looking .People will have to wait.Hell , with flags you can even go and do thins in Duo while enough people are available in your rank to party , even on a different class.
I really dont see why people cant see the difference.

[solracht]

There is a difference between the systems, I'm not saying there isn't (or didn't mean to). However, there's not a difference between the systems with the approach you're taking.

You log on to FFXI, you search for around 5 minutes. If there are people around, you invite them and form a group. Otherwise you go do something else.

You log on to FFXIV, you stand around for 5 minutes. If there are people around, they'll end up in the party. Otherwise you... stand around doing nothing? Why?

If you tell me: "because I don't know if someone could join after I decide to give up..." - how is that any different than a tank showing up right after you stop searching?

Again, the systems are different, but it doesn't make any sense to me why they're different for someone who took that approach in FFXI.

[Abriael]

The current party recruitment is functional. But it definitely has much room for improvement. At the moment it doesn't even have a "leveling/grinding" option as party objective.

The addition of "looking for party" flags, icons and lists, a /sea function and quite a few other things would make party recruiment much easier. Also, there needs to be more awareness in place, educating players to use the party search/recruitment function, since many don't even know about it.

[Zkieve]

There is a difference between the systems, I'm not saying there isn't (or didn't mean to). However, there's not a difference between the systems with the approach you're taking.

You log on to FFXI, you search for around 5 minutes. If there are people around, you invite them and form a group. Otherwise you go do something else.

You log on to FFXIV, you stand around for 5 minutes. If there are people around, they'll end up in the party. Otherwise you... stand around doing nothing? Why?

Again, the systems are different, but it doesn't make any sense to me why they're different for someone who took that approach in FFXI.

You cant look for members while doing somethin else in a party.
lets say i whant a party to grind.I put party sea up nobody joins , o well i go duo my leves.While im duoing my leves I WONT BE ABLE TO SEE IF PEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE.

With flag you can STILL DO THINS IN PARTY and be able to look for members and when rdy meet up at designated location.

Is just one small example . Im completely agaisnt mechanics that includes watch paint dry .

[Abriael]

You cant look for members while doing somethin else in a party.
lets say i whant a party to grind.I put party sea up nobody joins , o well i go duo my leves.While im duoing my leves I WONT BE ABLE TO SEE IF PEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE.

With flag you can STILL DO THINS IN PARTY and be able to look for members and when rdy meet up at designated location.

Is just one small example . Im completely agaisnt mechanics that includes watch paint dry .

Actually with the current party system you can leave your party recruitment up while you do other stuff, and people will join. I do it all the time and it works, so the current system doesn't involve "watching the paint dry" unless one is completely dead set on going out with a certain number, in which case it's the same for both systems.

That said, it doesn't mean that integrating the flag system and/or a list of party-seeking people wouldn't *improve* the current system, and improvement is always good.

[solracht]

Your problem would be fixed if they allowed party members to join parties while the party is engaged, it's not really a matter of flags vs. the current system, but rather about our current system having to deal with a lot of dumb mechanics.

XIV's system in XI would've worked, for example, since people could join groups mid-battle.

Either way and like I said, I liked flags better too.

[Abriael]

Your problem would be fixed if they allowed party members to join parties while the party is engaged, it's not really a matter of flags vs. the current system, but rather about our current system having to deal with a lot of dumb mechanics.

That's not really much of a problem to be honest. If i try to join a party and I can't, I just send a tell to the leader and ask him if they can stop fighting for a second. There are reasons why you can't join or leave parties while engaged (and it'0s like that in many MMOs), as the possibility opens the way for exploits.

[Zkieve]

Im not saying we should get rid of this system . Im saying we need a flag system or similar .The current system does not give you a lot of freedom while making parties , you dont see what is available .All you can do is wait and hope for the best.
I always took pride on how fast i could make parties in ffxi , in here this function just compromise you to trust other people to join you.

Im fine with whoever whants to use it , but i need more control when making parties .When and how i want them.Giving to much into the "luck" factor that your party might work out okay is something im not a fan off.

yes i am an over control freak.

[Abriael]

Im not saying we should get rid of this system . Im saying we need a flag system or similar.

Need is a big word. That said, it would definitely be beneficial, and useful options are always great to have. As long as they are integrated in the current system, that's a pretty solid base.

I see no reason why some would NOT want further options. It's not like the current system is incompatible with party flags/lists.

[solracht]

There are reasons why you can't join or leave parties while engaged (and it'0s like that in many MMOs), as the possibility opens the way for exploits.

Actually I think it's done this way because cutting the arm off was easier than bothering to work around it. There are workarounds without inconveniencing players the way the current system does: you can simply look at games like WoW or even FFXI. What you do is you isolate the rooms or encounters where there should be no interference once the battle has started.

Not every encounter needs to be like this, so you don't completely have to remove the ability to invite people like they did here.

If you need some examples: In WoW's case, the boss's door to his room usually closes, or something along those lines. In XI's case, the event either transports you to an isolated event area where new party members can't enter, or puts a debuff on the party at the time of engaging in order to let you attack the enemy (the Confrontation system).

I implementing these things takes time, however, which seems obvious they didn't have. I'd be surprised if you still can't invite people mid-battle by the time the year ends (not counting those specific times where they actually don't want you to).