Are static groups simply the now accepted reality for endgame progression?

[Murugan]

What exactly is a static group?

A static group is organizing with 7 other people to do content exclusively together on a routine basis.

This is as opposed to the typical oldschool endgame organization of joining an endgame community wherein you would be swapped into a roster larger than the current player cap on content (to allow for absences and different class setups). Guilds or Linkshells (in the case of XI) would gear eachother up, doing farming runs and prioritizing spots based on group need, who needed that particular drop etc.

This was made possible by large group sizes, and much less restrictions placed on farming.

Even in 1.0 with all its flaws it was more possible than here in ARR. I could have weekly events and play with everyone in my FC in one night helping everyone progress at the same speed, and farm needed gear. Here it seems to me like if you aren't in a static you are just plain doing it wrong.

The game would be pretty funny if every PUG could down BCoB turns. I personally am glad to see the game shift from DF to tight knit groups of familiar players towards the very end.

Communities can be tight knit. In fact if we weren't tight knight I wouldn't be flumuxed about not being able to play with them all. Most endgame communities I see in this game are bloated monstrosities with such variations in player skill, and seemingly very little commitment by player or community. The opposite of promoting close knit endgame experience, it's all encouraging of the "me me me" personal progression whoring.

Let me tell you something about being in an close knit community, that is when the whole LS run entire raids for one person's item and when they get it you feel just as good about it as when you got your item. Close knit used to be synonymous with endgame communities, but with static based progression I don't see that being the case anymore. Maybe you care about your little static (for now, while they are useful to you), but even if you did care about the rest of your FC the game restricts you in the ways you can play with them.

I'm not asking for anything to be made easier (where did I comment on difficulty at all) just maybe a little less restrictive for endgame communities who maybe don't want to splinter into a bunch of separate little tiny static groups.

My fault I guess for having more friends in an MMORPG than 2 tanks, 2 healers, and 4 DD that I want to play with exclusively for the rest of my endgame experience here...

I was originally promised 24 person raiding at launch, and now the only real endgame is kind of a slap in the face to how I choose to play MMORPG's because of the many limitations placed on who I choose to play with (not just group size, but itemization, phasing and lockouts as well). Maybe I'm living in the past, I just wanted to know if anyone else felt the same way because a lot of people in my FC are shocked about this as well. Are we just "getting too old for this shit?"