FFXI feels so empty...

[teakbois]

After a several years in EQ and a few months in WoW I am attempting to give FFXI a real shot. Tried it twice before but never got past level 12 or so, EQ always seemed to draw back but it seems now EQ has lost its grip on me and WoW, after a few years of EQ, just is too fast paced.

But Vana'diel really is a lonely place for a newbie. Sure you do see plenty of folks running aorund Windurst, or slapping a cure on you in Sarutabaruta. But it just seems lonely nonetheless.

The solution ultimately is to find a linkshell, but thats easier said then done.

Guess its just a matter of getting myself up in levels and grouping with people, but then i worry my lack of subjob will hurt my chances of getting a group.

Any thing else to help make the world seem friendlier? While general chat in WoW and EQ could often get ugly, its something I miss nonetheless.

And for the curious, I am playing a mithra warrior. Choose Mithra because I will likely want to dabble in several classes over the course of my career and they seem to be a better jack of all trades then Humans. Most classes seem to benefit from Dex, and they have more MPs then humes. Im planning right now for DRK (levelling war up first cause it seems to be a good sub for DRK) but I imagine i will dabble in Ranger, Ninja and BLM/SMN at some point so Mithra just seemed like the best fit.

[Jei]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

I'm fishing in lowbie area all the time. At least on Titan, valkurm is pretty lively to me. Still see new players asking for help or hang around chit chatting from time to time.
Anyway try to hang in there. Even if the newbie areas are empty, I'm sure you'll find plenty of people after you hit 20. Jeuno is a busy busy place.

[Ghostraven]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

it may have to do with what times you play, I play late nights est and the game seems dead compared to a few months ago.

[Dadelon]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

It's easy for a new adventurer to feel overwelmed in a game like this,
To tell you the truth,this is my first mmorpg.at first i was shocked at how big this
game was.the trick is to get noticed,make a name for yourself.
for example, your at lvl 3 warrior,someone calls for help,jump in and start to
slice and dice.on a even or tough that will get you killed,but you let the other player
escape.or on the other side if you are a whm throwing that cure on one who really needs it
will do the same.this game will force you to group as you get later in lvl.
Talk,wave,ask questions,(most)players would be happy to chat,I am very kind to all
new players who start,who knows,that lvl1 player you helped out a couple of weeks back
just might be in a.f armor willing to help you out.I hope this sheds some light..
If anyone starting out on asura needs help,send a tell to me,i am not (uber) but i
will help ............

[Balfree]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

you say you never got past 12, wait till you go to jeuno around lvl 20, there's gonna be too many people, specially at auction houses and in any area in lower jeuno... but, ofcourse you dont see many people in the wilderness, the outside areas are the hugest ive seen in any game, it may get lonely, but later on you wont be doing almost anything without a party of atleast 2

[Kosy]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

I think many of you misunderstood what teakbois is trying to convey.

I know what it's like. For those of you who still don't understand, try this: create a new character on another server where you don't know anyone. Now, do you feel lonely? Even with people (there's players online all the time) that feeling isn't easily taken care of unless you find yourself in a linkshell.

The best thing I can advise is try to keep track of the /shout in your city. From time to time, a linkshell might be recruiting members and you may attempt to get into one that way. Or, use the forums either here or at any other FFXI community and post in Pandemonium forums and request assistance in getting into a linkshell.

I do understand what you mean. In WOW, I could be in any server, and ask in general chat about getting into a guild. Normally in 5 sec, I'd get 15-30 tells asking if I would be interested in their guild. It's not like this in FFXI, mostly because the kind of communication available is quite restricted and does not allow seamless communication with the community at large outside of a linkshell.

[Balfree]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

But face it, this way you wont end up with as much trolls as you would in wow, and that might be a good thing, i mean, ffxi filters out the stupid people alot better than any other game

[Brayden]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

Unless you started the game on the same server with real friends, everything is going to seem lonely. this ascpet of FFXI is a lot like real life, it takes time and effort to build friendships and meet people. Rarely do things happen instantly. By about the time you get to lvl 12 or so you're just ready to get into main stream PTing. Thats when you have real interaction with people (good and bad).
Granted, this is no fail safe guarantee that you will meet people etc but its just an example.

[Lupine73]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

I just started the game over and am on a brand-new server. I know two people on it IRL, but they're far higher level (74 Pally and high level RDM) and, frankly, even when we're both on we might not even say "hi" to each other.. They're doing their thing. I'm doing mine.

That said. I don't know a single other soul on the server. So what you have to do is be social. When you're out in Sarutabaruta and you see other players (I'm sure you're seeing *some* other players out there - I see them all the time when I'm out there), have some fun. Go up and cheer them on when they win a fight.. Congratulate them when they level. Ask questions. Introduce yourself. Be social. If they're an experienced player leveling a new sub or something like that, and you show yourself to be a down-to-earth, mature and approachable person, chances are they'll continue talking to you and may even offer some advice/help. Don't be surprised if they offer you a Linkshell pearl after talking to you for a bit.

Then keep in touch with those people. If you feel comfortable about it ask if you can /befriend them (and you should always ask first, I think). You may have just found yourself a future grouping partner.

It's not that hard to meet people. Just gotta put some effort into it.

Good luck!

[Deci]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

you say you never got past 12, wait till you go to jeuno around lvl 20, there's gonna be too many people, specially at auction houses and in any area in lower jeuno... but, ofcourse you dont see many people in the wilderness, the outside areas are the hugest ive seen in any game, it may get lonely, but later on you wont be doing almost anything without a party of atleast 2

exactly, TONS of people in jeuno always. cant even walk in lower jeuno anymore...

[Blood Red Poet]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

Break the ice. Making friends isn't hard.

[Macht]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

Don't know about other servers but in Fairy if you hang around the 3 nations for a while you'll without a doubt see someone shout for invited to a Social LS. These LSs are the source that many players have been using to carry on general chat and other things to liven up the game experience.

They are fairly easy to join just as long as you can type /tell <name> with <name> being who you are being directed to tell too. Also since the LS pearl max is like 10 LS you can have on at a time, it's pretty easy to have a few LSs to use to keep you entertained. When you get higher level though the LSs you end up finding then will likely keep you quite busy so even out that loneliness feel.

[DakAttack]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

Social LSs are meh, usually when you find the right social LS you call it a family LS. I don't know what I'd do without Khronicles. :|

[truenoir]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

For getting groups, you may want to try levelling mage jobs first. WHM or RDM can function quite well in a group without a sub, at that level they won't really be using anything from it anyway. Typically there's an overcrowding of melee DD at any level, but most apparent at low levels when people don't have much outside of XP that they're trying to do. So a healer is welcome. Or do BLM, the slacker's mage. You'll probably want it to 17 for Warp anyway and your responsibility in a party without a sub is near nil.

As for an LS...probably harder now than it once was, since you have so many more people who are high level in at least one job. So even if they'd give you a pearl, the LS may not be focused on doing activities that benefit you. You may want to try posting on server specific forums on busier sites like Allakhazam. If you want someone to chat with, I'm on Pandy as well, so feel free to look me up.

Oh, and Mithra have identical MP to Hume >_> But we have tails, and tails rule.

[tdh]

Re: FFXI feels so empty...

For the most part you won't get a linkshell until your Lv.10. Unless you know somebody right off the bat, or find somebody here that will introduce you to a linkshell.

My LS is a tad picky when it comes to inviting people into our LS, but we've brought in some low level people with no subjobs.

I try and help people the best I can. If I see somebody who needs a Rank 2-3 dragon dead, I'll check to see if I have LS members in that area and pull the troops together. I've synthed food and drinks for Lv.5 people outside Windurst that were having problems. I try and do everything I can to help, and I've seen my LS do the same. Instances like that really help you build a friends list. As long as you don't just flat out start asking for gil, you can make friends by asking for help. Ask about quests you can do at your level. Or quests that you can do with out actually going and killing.

There are ways to make friends, and some of them require more work than others. So be patient, you'll find something soon enough.