Where has the skill gone??

[Bakthi]

I've actually seen people state that they feel equipment swapping is like...improper, or something. Not because of the blinking issue (which is not usually a problem anyway), but they actually feel like swapping equipment so often is wrong/bad, like opening someone else's mail. Something about how that's doing "too much". Not "I'm too lazy to do this", but "nobody should be doing this."

I'm not sure there's enough Drano in the world to get me to the point where I can begin to imagine the frame of mind that would produce such a thought.

[Zarath]

The only thing I have against gear swapping is the sheer amount of room it takes, looking at you COR/RDM/NIN/PLD >=(. Personally I like gear swapping between idk... my melee set, my range set and my Quick Draw set...

Cause sure, I can go all round and be somewhat useful with r acc while I melee, and having acc for slug, cause acc is all the same for everything, AMIRITE?! What the kind of fucked up logic makes gear swapping into a bad thing...

[Tajin]

I know somebody already mentioned it here, but seriously what is wrong with exping in old school areas? (when everywhere else is crowded at least)

I got an invite yesterday as RDM63 to a lvl 65-67 pt (lol) NIN, DRG, DRK, COR, DD, me, leader suggested Bibiky for xp, and a few minutes later the NIN disbanded because ZOMG OLD BIBIKI SUCKS. Fortunately the party disbanded (kinda sad because i was willing to main heal and get less xp, as long as it was a different area to xp).

Later i got a JP party in Mt. Z very awesome party i must say. BRD, PLD, NIN, RNG, BLU, me. Makes me just want to xp in JP time

[Izzy]

I know somebody already mentioned it here, but seriously what is wrong with exping in old school areas? (when everywhere else is crowded at least)

I got an invite yesterday as RDM63 to a lvl 65-67 pt (lol) NIN, DRG, DRK, COR, DD, me, leader suggested Bibiky for xp, and a few minutes later the NIN disbanded because ZOMG OLD BIBIKI SUCKS. Fortunately the party disbanded (kinda sad because i was willing to main heal and get less xp, as long as it was a different area to xp).

Later i got a JP party in Mt. Z very awesome party i must say. BRD, PLD, NIN, RNG, BLU, me. Makes me just want to xp in JP time

Yea, I don't get why people wont XP in old school areas. When my NIN was 63-65, we did Bibiki and got 9-10k/hr. You can't tell me that's bad for that level range.

[Maaglin]

I would also like to experience in the RoZ/CoP zones from time to time. I love that ToAU gave us new zones to use but it gets old using the same zones over and over against the same mobs. It's really the same complaint people had prior to ToAU, but now that there are viable opportunites to exp all over Vana'diel, people won't move.

I can't say I always blame them as the exp in ToAU is amazing. But sometimes (not always, but sometimes) I want a more relaxed exp atmosphere with the ability to take short breaks (1-5 mins) from time to time. I tend to focus more if I can get a 5 mins break every 60-90 mins or so instead of getting chain #100 or just going non-stop for 3-4 hours.

[Kyreth]

I can't say I always blame them as the exp in ToAU is amazing. But sometimes (not always, but sometimes) I want a more relaxed exp atmosphere with the ability to take short breaks (1-5 mins) from time to time. I tend to focus more if I can get a 5 mins break every 60-90 mins or so instead of getting chain #100 or just going non-stop for 3-4 hours.

I'd rather have good experience without chain triple-digits. Meriting as RDM nonstop for hours got freaking tiresome. Give me mobs with higher individual exp values and fights that actually require things like, oh Enfeebling the mob, or taking extraordinary damage from WS/MBing. ToAU is like the fast-food diet of experience points. It's left a lot of the playerbase fat and stupid.

[Amele]

if it didn't take 2 trips to 75 worth of exp to put a pretty good dent on the amount of available merits, I might agree with you;

there's too much exp to get in merit mode to make it worth trying to have an engaging time in merits, sorry. most people would rather go do things that actually keep them interested in playing the game.

[Septimus]

I've actually seen people state that they feel equipment swapping is like...improper, or something. Not because of the blinking issue (which is not usually a problem anyway), but they actually feel like swapping equipment so often is wrong/bad, like opening someone else's mail. Something about how that's doing "too much". Not "I'm too lazy to do this", but "nobody should be doing this."

I'm not sure there's enough Drano in the world to get me to the point where I can begin to imagine the frame of mind that would produce such a thought.

No, they can disguise it as "nobody should be doing this" all they want, but in the end it is always "I am too cheap/lazy/stupid to want to play my job correctly". These are most likely the same people who think that WAR/WHM and RDM/DRK are perfectly viable in regular XP parties.

[Alistaire]

I've actually seen people state that they feel equipment swapping is like...improper, or something. Not because of the blinking issue (which is not usually a problem anyway), but they actually feel like swapping equipment so often is wrong/bad, like opening someone else's mail. Something about how that's doing "too much". Not "I'm too lazy to do this", but "nobody should be doing this."

I'm not sure there's enough Drano in the world to get me to the point where I can begin to imagine the frame of mind that would produce such a thought.

It's the idea that you couldn't do that in real life I guess. Gear up in your big heavy suit of armor to protect yourself and then *blink* you're in lightweight mobility gear? Umm... no. And as little RP there is in this game, there are still those select few that adhere to it.

[Septimus]

I've actually seen people state that they feel equipment swapping is like...improper, or something. Not because of the blinking issue (which is not usually a problem anyway), but they actually feel like swapping equipment so often is wrong/bad, like opening someone else's mail. Something about how that's doing "too much". Not "I'm too lazy to do this", but "nobody should be doing this."

I'm not sure there's enough Drano in the world to get me to the point where I can begin to imagine the frame of mind that would produce such a thought.

It's the idea that you couldn't do that in real life I guess. Gear up in your big heavy suit of armor to protect yourself and then *blink* you're in lightweight mobility gear? Umm... no. And as little RP there is in this game, there are still those select few that adhere to it.

If that were their reasoning, I guess they also wouldn't want anyone to use Cure spells on them since those don't exist in real life either.

[Maaglin]

if it didn't take 2 trips to 75 worth of exp to put a pretty good dent on the amount of available merits, I might agree with you;

there's too much exp to get in merit mode to make it worth trying to have an engaging time in merits, sorry. most people would rather go do things that actually keep them interested in playing the game.

duh. but sometimes it's still nice to take it at a slower pace, especially if all the good camps are full. either go to a different zone, or do something else. sometimes id still like to get some mertis even if not at break neck pace and have a good time.

[Amele]

wouldn't it make more sense to do something more productive? (or level a lower level job where a slower pace is more common)

[Fridell]

The latest exp sessions out static have had, been in good old Bibiki, ToAU areas are crowded as hell usually when we decide to exp, and Dhamels works great so far, easy shit, compared to damn Pecking Flurry lol. And yes, nothing wrong with old areas, i agree with that.
Just that having gimps in a ToAU Party still dont change the fact you get good exp there...sadly? Grrr...

[Dense]

You aren't a real FFXI player unless you've had to level through Toramas as DRK without the aid of sushi.

Only way I got through that was with SATA Guillotine, and ABS Dex. Seriously, that was hell. I'd make parties over at Monastic Caverns on Orcs just to avoid the pain of Toramas...

[Celebrindor]

it really boils down to two issues for me.

1. The burn mentality is completely fine at the 72-75 push, however, with the influx of burn mentalities at earlier levels there is a complete loss of party dynamics where people learn to play their jobs for maximum benefit. We grew up in a FFXI where simple 6 man dynamics translated to 18 man and larger dynamics- skillchains, hate management, avoiding aggro, link management, SATA, all the like were necessary when we leveled up our first job(s). What caused the shift? I think we all agree it started a helluva long time before ToAU:

-the anti MPK patch. This one fact removed link/crowd control from the realm of BLMs and RDMs in camps by zones. How many times did mages have to sleep off a gobbie in Yuhtunga Jungle? Now its just have your puller zone it and poof! its gone. Then people wonder why your RDMs don't immediately sleep links at events where zoning is impossible as that extra mob is pounding down on you? Link management is a completely lost art for anyone who leveled RDM or BLM post-MPK patch.

and of course the two major factors affecting burn mentalities currently:

-Sanction EXP bonus. Without this bonus, Tavnazian Rams and Perytons would still be viable EXP to be honest, as would decos/statues in sky. Would they compete equally, one empty camp versus another? No, ToAU would still win, but it would encourage more Zilart camps.

-lack of mobs suited to traditional parties that can compete with mamool/imp/colibri burns. Trees in caederva are a helluva lot of fun with PLD, 2 DD skillchaining, BLM, RDM, BRD or BLM, RDM, WHM setups, and give decent exp compared to previous zones. Nothing like the aforementioned burns though. Trolls can be done with traditional setups also, and those will give even an above average burn on decos a run for their money, but again, our standard of basis is now on a higher plane.

Hell, KRT burns took skill to reach over 10k/hour. Your mages have to work to avoid massive blood aggro links, dispelling ice spikes/silencing/erasing, your BRD had real danger with pulls, and your MNKs had better be decked out to really push to the highest chains, not to mention be able to handle the Haunts down there. When walmart brand players will little to zero skill can push within even 80% of the exp/hour that a fully decked out party can, something is severely amiss.

And finally, why does SE simultaneously release content that shuns the presence of BLMs in the party setting AND remove manaburn camps? ToAU released essentially one zone and 3 camps suitable to true manaburn setups (not counting duo/trio BLMs in the subterranae or nyzul), and took away Sea pets. So chain 300+ is ok for meleeburns but not manaburns? Or arrowburns are evil but 2handed update burns at 25k/hour+ are fine?

It honestly is unreasonable for us as seasoned endgame players (which I count as anyone who reached endgame prior to ToAU release) to expect anything other than what we see from today's new 75s considering the game mechanics. Only 2 solutions exist:

-don't party with those who are gimped and refuse to learn. Let them rot at 37-40 until they learn their jobs.

-don't accept them into your shells until they learn. In the end WE are encouraging mediocrity by allowing them to level up and get into endgame events simply due to lack of numbers. I'd rather see two competing endgame shells who can respect eachother merge when their numbers dwindle than see those same two respected shells let in a new crop of "ToAU onry" players. Forget them. Let them have their pretty assaults and struggle with genkais, rank mission 5-1, and Zilart missions. Leave 'em in the dust until they learn.

Take your new WHM out to exp on rams and watch the shitfit when they drop all the melee's maxHPs below 100 at once and divine veil is used up. Let that ubernumber DRK rip hate from you and die repeatedly. Kick the RDM in the SH, signal pearl and exp ring as permanent equipment. Drop the drama BRD. When it comes down to getting 10k/hour with 4 people you know can play their jobs and have a good time, or get 12k/hour with an addition 2 douchebags who aren't doing anything for the party but blindly swatting at flies and/or occassionally casting haste/refresh/march/etc between afks, I'll take the less exp any day. And I'd suggest you all do the same. Fight the ineptitude! Keep those who refuse to learn where they belong! -in the dregs.

[Maaglin]

wouldn't it make more sense to do something more productive? (or level a lower level job where a slower pace is more common)

Just depends on what you feel like doing I guess. Sometimes on a late Sunday afternoon with some football games on, I might just want to have a low stress party that doesn't demand 110% of my attention. To each their own. Sometimes *gasp* I enjoy the grind as much as anything else I could be doing, even if I'm only getting 8-10k/hour as opposed to 14-15k/hour. I'll survive either way.

[Plow]

You aren't a real FFXI player unless you've had to level through Toramas as DRK without the aid of sushi.

Only way I got through that was with SATA Guillotine, and ABS Dex. Seriously, that was hell. I'd make parties over at Monastic Caverns on Orcs just to avoid the pain of Toramas...

zomg absorb-dex u rich qq I bet u had haubergeon too

[Kyreth]

if it didn't take 2 trips to 75 worth of exp to put a pretty good dent on the amount of available merits, I might agree with you;

there's too much exp to get in merit mode to make it worth trying to have an engaging time in merits, sorry. most people would rather go do things that actually keep them interested in playing the game.

If being able to earn meritpo could involve actually tossing more spells than Dia, Haste, Refresh for me these days, it'd be a helluva lot more amusing. If meleers actually had a good reason to SC, it'd be a lot more amusing. If monsters lasted long enough to have a good reason to MB, it'd be a lot more amusing.

Killing a monster every 30 seconds or so is twitch-gaming and TPburnspam. Bleah. I'm having more fun leveling Corsair than I was meriting RDM, and that makes me sad cause I had fun going 1-75 RDM.

[Plow]

They should just raise the exp cap to like 450 and put in some level 90 crabs.

[Kyreth]

They should just raise the exp cap to like 450 and put in some level 90 crabs.

Wivres, those sandworms from WoTG, critters like that. Seeing "big" monsters be the higher level stuff with exceptional exp caps and an appropriate level of endurance to go with it. Even things like wyverns with their fuck-me Dispelga would be OK at that exp level per-kill.