Tweet
When I played a few years ago... I was one of those "party/alliance makers" and not so much a "party joiner". You all know what I'm talking about. Since the release of the Abyssea expansions, I've been trying to get the hang of the new stuff so that I can build/run a party effectively... and more important... efficiently.
I understand that the basics:
- Party of 18/18… or an efficient party of at least 9/9 who are capable of holding their own.
- 1 person designated as the Keyholder/Lights counter who understands the order in which that particular party wishes to accumulate lights (circumstances may vary)
- Pick a mob to kill who drops the lights you want/need
- Make sure to have jobs capable of getting Azure / Pearl lights
- Establish house lotting rules
- Maintain order
The way I've been trying to set up my parties has been as follows:
Party 1: Main Melee
I try to target people of level 76 and higher who are of efficient DD jobs. Any combination of jobs capable of pulling big melee numbers is put here. The top 3 DD will be placed in this party along with a healer and a buffer capable of AoE buffs such as SS, Hastega… etc.
Party 2: Secondary DD
This party will consist of a similar makeup as the main melee party. The remaining DD will be placed here along with another healer/ buffer capable of AoE buffs. This will ensure that each party’s healer has a set group to focus on, rather than asking all the healers to heal anything that takes damage. This will prevent 2 mages from popping off a Cure IV on the same target and wasting the MP. If your party is doing fine health-wise, and another appears to need help, try to lend a hand where necessary.
Party 3: Mages
This party will consist of the remaining mages who have not been placed as the healers of the first 2 groups. Jobs like SMN, BLM, RDM and SCH who are capable of playing Back-Line jobs apply for this group.
Also in this PT is the keyholder. It's probably the safest place to be anyway...
There are a few roles in these groups that can fluctuate and may potentially apply to any one of the 3. Included in this are…:
The main /assist can either be placed in the first or the second group. Either one would be fitting will usually be decided on a case by case basis.
The puller(s). Depending on the speed at which your party is felling MOBS, you may require 1 or 2 pullers. Pullers can come from any of the 3 groups and will also wind up being decided on a case by case basis.
EPH soloers can also be any number of job combinations and their party placement will depend on what job they are coming as. Because they will likely not be soloing during EPH mobs the entire time, it’s easier to parse them out to a particular group so that they have a role to drop back into upon returning.
Once I have my alliance built, destination chosen, target mob chosen and everyone's attention... I law down the ground rules. I have the simplified versions of these all macro’d so that I don’t have to type everything out each time. I simply fire off 2 or 3 macros and ask if anyone has any questions.
Rule 1: Insert into your seacom the name of the 1 item that you would want most from the potential drops list.
Rule 1-2: If the item drops while in the zone, you and anyone else who have the same item in their seacom may lot on it.
Rule 1-3: When you have received your item, clear your seacom.
Rule 2: If you need K. Crests for your Limit Break Quest, tell me how many. You may lot on them until you have recieved the ammount needed.
Rule 3: Any items that drop that are not found in ANYONE's seacom will be left to free fall. This keeps the party more focused on the task at hand, and less focused on the treasure pool.
Rule 3-2: KI that drop during the course of the party are subject to personal need. The Keyholder will announce that they have dropped. If and only if someone needs it will that chest be opened.
Rule 3-3: If you have just entered the party as a replacement, you may not lot on anything for the first hour. Nobody who has just entered the alliance should get an AF3 piece within minutes of joining unless nobody else has that item in their seacom… in which case you’re just lucky.
Rule 4: If you're going to leave, say so at least 15 minutes ahead of time.
Rule 4-2: If you're going to leave, make an effort to ask how much longer the party will be running. If there’s no intention to break the alliance in the near future, try to find a replacement who is of the same or similar job as you are.
Rule 4-3: If someone DC's, you will have 30 minutes to return before the search will begin for a replacement.
Rule 5: If you need to go AFK, send a /tell to your party leader and let them know how long until you return.
Rule 5-2: If you need to AFK for an extended period of time, it is up to the leaders to decide if/when to drop or replace you.
Rule 5-3: Leechers will not be tolerated. If you do not inform your pt leader that you are going AFK and it becomes clear that you have not been actively participating, you will be booted and a replacement will be found.
Rule 6: No Whining. It's a game. You'll get the drop if you put in the time and the patience.
Rule 6-2: Actively participate. Try not to AFK too much or idle for too long without notifying someone.
Rule 7: One person will (in most cases) be designated as the /assist target. This will prevent make sure that everyone should be attacking the same MOB and not accidentally wake up any sleepers.
Rule 7-2: In the event that an /assist target is obsolete, one will not be used. Such circumstances include worm parties and ones capable of breaking off into 2 teams to kill double the mobs simultaneously.
Rule 7-3: Party members should turn /autotarget off to avoid potentially waking a sleeper.
Rule 8: Have fun! Again... it's ultimately a game... not a job. You might as well enjoy yourself!
Disclaimer:
It should be pointed out that you definitely do not NEED a full alliance (or even a full party) to effectively and efficiently EXP in Abyssea. This mini-guide is simply for those people who want to form a full alliance. This mini-guide is also just a lot my own opinions (along with some community editing). You may do things completely differently and it might work even better! If it does, post here and tell me what it is so that I can keep expanding!
(Still a work in progress)
Thanks to the following people who have contributed to the changes so far:
Ketaru
Elwynn
Neverslip
IfritnoItazura
Firewind
Truece
Keep the critiques coming!
I understand that the basics:
- Party of 18/18… or an efficient party of at least 9/9 who are capable of holding their own.
- 1 person designated as the Keyholder/Lights counter who understands the order in which that particular party wishes to accumulate lights (circumstances may vary)
- Pick a mob to kill who drops the lights you want/need
- Make sure to have jobs capable of getting Azure / Pearl lights
- Establish house lotting rules
- Maintain order
The way I've been trying to set up my parties has been as follows:
The Alliance
Party 1: Main Melee
I try to target people of level 76 and higher who are of efficient DD jobs. Any combination of jobs capable of pulling big melee numbers is put here. The top 3 DD will be placed in this party along with a healer and a buffer capable of AoE buffs such as SS, Hastega… etc.
Party 2: Secondary DD
This party will consist of a similar makeup as the main melee party. The remaining DD will be placed here along with another healer/ buffer capable of AoE buffs. This will ensure that each party’s healer has a set group to focus on, rather than asking all the healers to heal anything that takes damage. This will prevent 2 mages from popping off a Cure IV on the same target and wasting the MP. If your party is doing fine health-wise, and another appears to need help, try to lend a hand where necessary.
Party 3: Mages
This party will consist of the remaining mages who have not been placed as the healers of the first 2 groups. Jobs like SMN, BLM, RDM and SCH who are capable of playing Back-Line jobs apply for this group.
Also in this PT is the keyholder. It's probably the safest place to be anyway...
There are a few roles in these groups that can fluctuate and may potentially apply to any one of the 3. Included in this are…:
The main /assist can either be placed in the first or the second group. Either one would be fitting will usually be decided on a case by case basis.
The puller(s). Depending on the speed at which your party is felling MOBS, you may require 1 or 2 pullers. Pullers can come from any of the 3 groups and will also wind up being decided on a case by case basis.
EPH soloers can also be any number of job combinations and their party placement will depend on what job they are coming as. Because they will likely not be soloing during EPH mobs the entire time, it’s easier to parse them out to a particular group so that they have a role to drop back into upon returning.
Once I have my alliance built, destination chosen, target mob chosen and everyone's attention... I law down the ground rules. I have the simplified versions of these all macro’d so that I don’t have to type everything out each time. I simply fire off 2 or 3 macros and ask if anyone has any questions.
The Rulez
Rule 1: Insert into your seacom the name of the 1 item that you would want most from the potential drops list.
Rule 1-2: If the item drops while in the zone, you and anyone else who have the same item in their seacom may lot on it.
Rule 1-3: When you have received your item, clear your seacom.
Rule 2: If you need K. Crests for your Limit Break Quest, tell me how many. You may lot on them until you have recieved the ammount needed.
Rule 3: Any items that drop that are not found in ANYONE's seacom will be left to free fall. This keeps the party more focused on the task at hand, and less focused on the treasure pool.
Rule 3-2: KI that drop during the course of the party are subject to personal need. The Keyholder will announce that they have dropped. If and only if someone needs it will that chest be opened.
Rule 3-3: If you have just entered the party as a replacement, you may not lot on anything for the first hour. Nobody who has just entered the alliance should get an AF3 piece within minutes of joining unless nobody else has that item in their seacom… in which case you’re just lucky.
Rule 4: If you're going to leave, say so at least 15 minutes ahead of time.
Rule 4-2: If you're going to leave, make an effort to ask how much longer the party will be running. If there’s no intention to break the alliance in the near future, try to find a replacement who is of the same or similar job as you are.
Rule 4-3: If someone DC's, you will have 30 minutes to return before the search will begin for a replacement.
Rule 5: If you need to go AFK, send a /tell to your party leader and let them know how long until you return.
Rule 5-2: If you need to AFK for an extended period of time, it is up to the leaders to decide if/when to drop or replace you.
Rule 5-3: Leechers will not be tolerated. If you do not inform your pt leader that you are going AFK and it becomes clear that you have not been actively participating, you will be booted and a replacement will be found.
Rule 6: No Whining. It's a game. You'll get the drop if you put in the time and the patience.
Rule 6-2: Actively participate. Try not to AFK too much or idle for too long without notifying someone.
Rule 7: One person will (in most cases) be designated as the /assist target. This will prevent make sure that everyone should be attacking the same MOB and not accidentally wake up any sleepers.
Rule 7-2: In the event that an /assist target is obsolete, one will not be used. Such circumstances include worm parties and ones capable of breaking off into 2 teams to kill double the mobs simultaneously.
Rule 7-3: Party members should turn /autotarget off to avoid potentially waking a sleeper.
Rule 8: Have fun! Again... it's ultimately a game... not a job. You might as well enjoy yourself!
Disclaimer:
It should be pointed out that you definitely do not NEED a full alliance (or even a full party) to effectively and efficiently EXP in Abyssea. This mini-guide is simply for those people who want to form a full alliance. This mini-guide is also just a lot my own opinions (along with some community editing). You may do things completely differently and it might work even better! If it does, post here and tell me what it is so that I can keep expanding!
(Still a work in progress)
Thanks to the following people who have contributed to the changes so far:
Ketaru
Elwynn
Neverslip
IfritnoItazura
Firewind
Truece
Keep the critiques coming!
Comment