Player Run Companies: a Rallying Cry

[gifthorse]

Then clamor for Linkshells to be able to build ships and houses, not a pointless feature Tanaka envisioned just because Tanaka talked about it.

In the end, they would each have the same population so there's no distinguishing feature except that Company sounds like a group that actually DOES something, whereas Linkshell sounds like a chatroom.

[Caidryn]

And I'm just asking (along with others) what a Player Company could do that a Linkshell would not be able to do, or have the added function of doing. If there isn't anything, then there is no point in having a Player Company at all.

As it currently stands, linkshells are literally chat channels. You may, and by XI's standard are expected to have multiple, and use them as small groups with which to run certain aspects of the game, be it social or what have you. In this way, it can be very difficult to make a singular connection with just a linkshell.

Take for example a linkshell bank. If you let members give and take freely, one member may then take from all of their linkshells, and be dedicated to no single one. Further, as a linkshell can be created on the fly and up to 8 may be held, if given access to player housing, banks, and vehicles, what is to stop players from making 7 personal banks and houses?

Linkshells lack any need for specific loyalty. Companies, as envisioned here as large groups of people working toward a single goal require loyalty. Were they to release companies, allow people to keep their linkshells yet join only a single company, when it comes to company events you would naturally be loyal to your company.

If you don't see what I'm saying, picture this. Say they put up a company conquest system, reminiscent to XI's nations. You're in multiple LS's. Which LS should your progress be awarded to? These kind of scenarios could arise with all sorts of potential company content.

Further, linkshell size and controls are very limited. The very definition given of companies implies they will be larger groups. For my linkshell, we are rapidly nearing the LS cap. We have a strict app proccess and break the shell routinely to remove inactives, and at this point, we have roughly 20 spots remaining (Including the inactives to be trimmed) before we're entirely out of space and entirely filled with only active members. As such, we are not a zerg LS that takes anyone and everyone, so no, that is not why I'm nearly out of space. I do, however, wish to hold true to my statement that there will always be as many slots for more to join us as there are good people to fill them. Companies would allow and cater to larger groups of players, where linkshells may be anywhere from 8 to 80 active players for content, Companies would be designed around more.


All of this, however, is entirely irrelevant to the question at hand. I merely wish to know if they are still in the works. People can say there would be no content for them, but that's because they aren't implemented. Sort of a chicken and the egg kind of thing. If launched, I imagine they would be launched in the far future along with content.

[Krausus]

And I'm just asking (along with others) what a Player Company could do that a Linkshell would not be able to do, or have the added function of doing. If there isn't anything, then there is no point in having a Player Company at all.

Well my understanding is linkshells are supposed to only be a means of communication across great distances, where as companies are more of a clan or guild of like minded individuals where being a member of such clan/guild provided perks suchs as group crafting, housing, and battle content. I remember reading that there would be company content that you would use ships/airships to get to. Also companies would not have the ridiculous player cap that LS's have as well as more functions such as ranks, the ability to remove folks if need be, pretty much all the functions LS's are lacking.

It doesn't take a genius to see the difference between companies and linkshells.

[zaviermhigo]

Honestly what would a company do? This game is moving towards smaller linkshells, less people less drama. You at max need 20 people, meaning 10 people actually logged on and 20 total in ls, to do anything. We don't really have "events" or raids for non-xi folk. I doubt we'll get anything about an alliance system for a while (year to three years), I just don't see what a player run company would accomplish. I would rather have npc run companies, that could possibly give me besieged type content, campaign type content, dungeons, ties to my nations like rank missions in XI. And then add better features to ls e.g., ability to kick members without being close to them(seriously stupid idea to have us have to be near them to kick), a roster list that tells you where in the world that person is, so if that person is on and acting afk you can potentially tell where they are and if they are ditching out on things. And add a /sea all function (but w/e our population is low and SE doesn't want other mmo companies to know)

[darkstarpoet1]

Honestly what would a company do? This game is moving towards smaller linkshells, less people less drama. You at max need 20 people, meaning 10 people actually logged on and 20 total in ls, to do anything. We don't really have "events" or raids for non-xi folk. I doubt we'll get anything about an alliance system for a while (year to three years), I just don't see what a player run company would accomplish. I would rather have npc run companies, that could possibly give me besieged type content, campaign type content, dungeons, ties to my nations like rank missions in XI. And then add better features to ls e.g., ability to kick members without being close to them(seriously stupid idea to have us have to be near them to kick), a roster list that tells you where in the world that person is, so if that person is on and acting afk you can potentially tell where they are and if they are ditching out on things. And add a /sea all function (but w/e our population is low and SE doesn't want other mmo companies to know)

no i much prefer my linkshell i am in with if being over 100 members. no matter what level you are you always have people to party with and enjoy time with.

player ran companies would be a good way to get different linkshells together to work as a whole towards something larger. that's the way i would use the companies. it would add to the community, which at this time, is very lacking.

[zaviermhigo]

no i much prefer my linkshell i am in with if being over 100 members. no matter what level you are you always have people to party with and enjoy time with.

player ran companies would be a good way to get different linkshells together to work as a whole towards something larger. that's the way i would use the companies. it would add to the community, which at this time, is very lacking.

What you said actually helps what I said, I'm just saying current linkshell you have flexibility to be in 100 man or 10 man ls, personally I was in larger ls, but do not want to deal with more than 20 peoples differing opinions, I'm not willing to deal with drama in a game in this state basically, so I can have small linkshell. But lets say you find 100 great people, you can still have 100 people. There's no need to add a public company, because linkshells can have massive amounts of people.

[Krausus]

What you said actually helps what I said, I'm just saying current linkshell you have flexibility to be in 100 man or 10 man ls, personally I was in larger ls, but do not want to deal with more than 20 peoples differing opinions, I'm not willing to deal with drama in a game in this state basically, so I can have small linkshell. But lets say you find 100 great people, you can still have 100 people. There's no need to add a public company, because linkshells can have massive amounts of people.

Cap is 120 that isn't massive amounts. And just because you have drama with more then 20 doesn't mean everyone does, we have approximately 80-100 active members there is practically zero drama, and we are still seeing approximately 10 new applications a week. We dont want to have to turn away good folks because of the 120 limit or split the shell into 2. Player ran companies was a major feature of FFXIV we just want to know if it is still being planned or not.

It sounds like you are saying "I dont want to deal with more then 20 people, so no one else should be able to." I can see why you have drama issues.

[Caidryn]

I just really hope this gets answered. Something tells me its been seen but not replied to, which actually worries me more.

[Bayohne]

Spoke with Yoshida and got confirmation that Player Companies are still in the works.

(I like how the post above and this flow together so naturally)

[Delmontyb]

Spoke with Yoshida and got confirmation that Player Companies are still in the works.

(I like how the post above and this flow together so naturally)

Awesome, Bayohne, thanks for the info.