Patch 1.15a Outline (01/27/2011)

[xopher]

http://images.encyclopediadramatica..../Trollface.png

If this was facebook I would "like" this.

[Lucavi]

^ Bravo. Seriously.

[Riposte]

It is sort of amazing that people are surprised/impressed by the ORIGINAL "trollface" image given how popular that face is.

I assume the strategy is the more FFXIV looks like an average MMO the more likely people will think it isn't a below-average one.

[Grey Jorildyn]

Pretty much. The closer this game gets to feeling like WoW, the more people that will play it. Sad story is sad.

[Corrderio]

Not too bad, I was hoping for some more drastic UI changes (AKA: Put things client side that should have been since day one) however that's probably something he'll rebuild entirely.

SP changes are are going to be great, although I'm not fond of how fast my gear is going to break up. The real question on my mind is if we'll get any updates on the search system being changed, since even if they fix party SP it doesn't change the fact the search system is pure shit.

[Grey Jorildyn]

The search system is shitty because the recruitment is passive. Lack of global channels really kills recruitment in that sense. You just sit with a recruitment flag up trying to draw people to you; not a very good system.

Of course the SP system would undergo a haul soon after I dinged glad, but I am really happy to see that it will be fix for future jobs and friends making their way up now too. It was inevitable and hopefully they will make vast improvements over the current grinding situation post 40.

[Corrderio]

There's seriously a LFG flag in this game? News to me.

Either way, hopefully he brings back something like the XI system. I miss being able to type a command like /sea all GLD 36-40 inv find a tank in my level range.

[Grey Jorildyn]

Not quite. You basically put up a request for membership. you become a pseudo-leader seeking other players for a party that has goals (you set parameters like rank range, objective, and location) and then cross your fingers and hope people see it in the search. Generally you want to keep it as open-ended as possible though, which is one of the reasons the system blows.

A party flag and then being able to search for seekers is fine too, but I would rather have both, but with a visible UI for all parties currently being sought on the entire server with classes in party and amount of players in party already and a button to send the leader a tell automatically too. Just makes sense.

[Corrderio]

I'll have to see how lulz worthy it is. Either way I think I'll stick to leves only for a bit. The time I'm not XPing is nice to try and get my crafts up, even though I'm struggling to keep those up to repair gear.

[Hyan]

I don't think it's that bad, takes away some responsibilities from the leader which is important to me at least. But when there's not a) enough people playing and b) grouping is not seen as a productive enough activity people won't do it voluntarily (if you're not a JP).

[sruon]

The recruit system isn't bad, but it would greatly benefits from having a LFP option. Would end up like Aion system which I found to be decent.

[ReliTurino]

overall I think this will be a decent update. can't really ask for too too much as the team just got in the door. but we'll see.

[Grey Jorildyn]

b) grouping is not seen as a productive enough activity people won't do it voluntarily (if you're not a JP).

Which is a damn shame. My leve group went from 30-50 and we grinded for 1-4h after leve were done. We have information on so many exp area for various level ranges in there, including ideal party size, makeup, routes, and all that kinda shit. We seriously wouldn't have gotten 50 in a month otherwise. You just gotta grind if you want to make it there quick.

Plus, it's not that inefficient. It's not 20k/h or even 15k/h most times, but you can push it cut out a whole set of leves every 2-3h worth of grinding and get great loot for your linkshell crafters while doing it and that right there makes it worthwhile.

[Hyan]

Well, in a leve group things may be different but I think the activity should be made more productive for random pick up groups as well. Which it seems is going to happen, maybe. Makes things even better for established groups, but there's nothing bad about that.