The Psychology of Joining a FC

[arctic]

What makes you want to join a Free Company? It’s a simple question, but it produces a lot of complicated answers. Some people just join with a random invite, others like to join after a good run, some like to play hard to get and won’t join till asked after x-many times, some just like to join whoever looks the biggest.

So what’s your story? What makes you want to join a FC?

[NyneAlexander]

When you succeed and see your friends succeed, it makes the game experience that much more enjoyable. Much more so than succeeding with a bunch of strangers whom you may never see again.

[FrogDog]

My primary motivation is raiding so that's what I look for. In the past I would always find my guilds from running dungeons. I'm hoping that strategy becomes possible once the same-server grouping thing gets implemented, as I like to have some sense of how the people I'm going to raid with play. Guilds that have people running dungeons generally means they're in the early stages of gearing for raids too which I like. I prefer to get into a new guild.

I'll never take a random invite whether there's a whisper that comes with it or not. I'm also past the point where I'm willing to sign up to a site or fill out an application to join a guild.

[Scratchs]

I like to join guilds/fcs that accept everyone and have a lot of people. I think it's a good way to meet players and it's no big deal if you don't like it and decide to leave. I like the idea of everyone being equal and valuing everyone regardless of their armor, skill, experience, and level.

[Coolname]

I'm hoping to find a FC with other Baby Boomers like myself. Both my girlfriend and I play. We're both 56. I played FFXI for a few years back starting in 2006. She's completely new to gaming and having a blast. Nothing against younger generation at all. Would just like to find my peer group. Takes a lot of pressure off of doing everything perfectly.

[mmcsky]

I think and I will always believe that FC should be used as a method of cooperation, of course, not every FC member will see this and go about their business as usual.

I have found few people in and out of FCs willing to help out and it always helps to have that cohesion of group and of course loyalty that will help you feel indebted to your FC and make you do the best you can for them.

Again cooperation is the key to an FC, and it is something that everyone will benefit from in the long run and with greater impact than just doing things our way.

[Alaray]

Usually, to meet cool people to play and do things in the game with. People who're more fun-oriented, laid-back, and who chat a bit to make the game feel more alive.

Finding a nice guild that works for you (or, FC in this game's case) can take some time, though.

[KitCat]

I was talking in shout about how I didn't want to join a FC with 200-300 players, feeling like it'd be no different from just talking in /sh to the rest of the people on the server. Wishing for a tight nit group of 40-60 people like I had in FFXI. After a friendly conversation, A free company leader sent me a /tell describing how they felt the same and asked me to check out the web page and try them out.
So I did, and it feels pretty homey People are still getting stuff done, but I don't need to try and schedule my real life around the game and have some friendly people to talk to and do things with.

Turned out pretty lucky.

[kirottu]

I wait until a FC invites me after playing with them in a dungeon. I'll only join if they appeared to be skilled players, though

[Avalon_Albrook]

As one of the American pilgrims to a JP server during EA, I knew that I was hoping for a FC that was for English speakers-- other pilgrims like me. Thankfully, there are a bunch to choose from on Ultima, but what sold me on my current one was that it not only had a huge population of English speakers on at all times of the day, but was very chatty as well. I love quick, playful interaction, and this FC has exactly that.