New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

[Luna]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

Actually the majority of this thread has been discussion on how great this change is going to be.

Then I wasn't talking to the majority.

so WHEN EXACTLY is this update going into effect?

This is just a thought but by judging from how much info they have released on the new update so far, and following the pattern of most mmo games releasing new expansions or updates on Sep 2nd. SE will most likely want to be in the midst of that competiton. So I'd say within 1-2 Weeks from the start of September.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

I'm glad the Level Sync explanation mentioned plainly that an appropriately-geared player will have better stats (even if it's not by a lot) than a Sync'd player wearing high level gear, to deter this kind of stupidity.

If BCNM and CoP level caps didn't deter the stupidity, I don't think level syncing will. You just can't fix stupid people.

That aside, there's some good potential here in this update for Pet PTs to finally be more common, not to mention make static parties easier to maintain. Pet PTs are a rare sight since BSTs and PUPs tend to solo on thier own. Even SMN PTs aren't terribly common. Then there's that guy who always wants to sneak ahead in a static PT and now even if he does get ahead, you can bring him back down with the appropriate level.

Now that I think about it, this update would make my RNG more affordable to merit with than my COR now. I can sync down and use cheaper ammo

[KingOfZeal]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

When I originally read the post, I didn't see anything about when it was going to be released. Now that I've reread the entire thing about 500 times, I see it's slated for next update. That makes me a sad panda.

[Lmnop]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

Errr... next update is in September. Not like you'll have to wait terribly long. And not like they're going to do a little update just for this feature.

[Luna]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

I wonder what other things they are going to add in the update. I really hope that alongside the lvl sync, they add a feature that lets us change our character face/style I'm so getting bored of mine!

[Effedup]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

I was surprised to find out in discussion in my linkshell last night that a lot of people were against this...

I had a similar conversation with my LS the other night when the news first broke, and I was surprised as well. One particular member, a 75 BRD, is concerned about the potential for harassment, according to him, if he's not anon he gets invites and tells left and right and it's pretty annoying for him now, let alone when the entire server can bug him. Since I'm a WHM, I pretty much resigned myself to being /anon anytime I didn't want to get harassed for raises/teles, but I can kinda sorta see people's irritation at having to always be anon to eliminate that sort of stuff.

However, while I am excited as all hell about this new update, a few other peeps had concerns outside of the harassment issue. One member in particular thinks that this may actually be detrimental to what it's aiming to correct, levlling lowbie jobs. He's of the opinion (and I could see it happening, too) that we're going to see the Dunes and Quiffim fill up with merit parties, where 5 of the members cap their 75's down to the one designated "noob" in their party/linkshell. All the lowbie zones are going to be chock full of people that aren't actually lowbies, so the actual lowbies that are out there are not going to find anywhere to level (I know, people need to go off the beaten path some, and my ls tries to whenever we can, but there is a finite number of places one can realistically level). The scaling down of gear and such may even exacerbate the problem even more...I mean, who's going to pick the actual 20 wearing less than perfect gear when they can get a capped 20 in full A.F. (unless they had to)? Instead of there being a demand for 5 other lowbies when someone is trying to form a party, there's only going to be demand for 1...so invites may take even LONGER for those that aren't lucky enough to have an LS full of people to draw from.

I'm remaining positive about the update, and I'm not going to worry about it much until after the fact and we see what actually happens...my ls is small, and we're all spread out all over the place level wise with all our jobs, so this is going to be a godsend to us in terms of actually being able to static like we always wanted to. I just hope that most people don't forget that the reason for this is to ease levelling lower level jobs...not ease earning merit points on their 75's.

[Tickmeoff]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

I wonder what other things they are going to add in the update. I really hope that alongside the lvl sync, they add a feature that lets us change our character face/style I'm so getting bored of mine!

It would be nice if some kind of hair stylist NPC were added for this purpose, but I think it's at the bottom of SE's list of things to do for FFXI, if it is on the list at all. Private servers aside most MMOs do not offer this service at all.

EDIT: The PlasticSurgeon plug-in works great for changing your appearance, but the change is only visible to you.


More on topic, the thought that I may be able to exp on PUP again after this change excites me greatly. I made it to 45, but PUPs invite rate is worse than DRGs was back in the loldrg days. Please don't screw it up SE, I actually want to give you my money right now.

[Luna]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

It would be nice if some kind of hair stylist NPC were added for this purpose, but I think it's at the bottom of SE's list of things to do for FFXI, if it is on the list at all. Private servers aside most MMOs do not offer this service at all.

EDIT: The PlasticSurgeon plug-in works great for changing your appearance, but the change is only visible to you.


More on topic, the thought that I may be able to exp on PUP again after this change excites me greatly. I made it to 45, but PUPs invite rate is worse than DRGs was back in the loldrg days. Please don't screw it up SE, I actually want to give you my money right now.

on the wiki site down at the bottom it has an option to choose in the poll about SE implementing hair and face changes in the game. Also it was mentioned in the Premiere Summit 2008.

Although it seems like its at the bottom of the list, and it very well may be. But the fact that they are thinking about it still gives me hope that they might add it after all.

I had a similar conversation with my LS the other night when the news first broke, and I was surprised as well. One particular member, a 75 BRD, is concerned about the potential for harassment, according to him, if he's not anon he gets invites and tells left and right and it's pretty annoying for him now, let alone when the entire server can bug him. Since I'm a WHM, I pretty much resigned myself to being /anon anytime I didn't want to get harassed for raises/teles, but I can kinda sorta see people's irritation at having to always be anon to eliminate that sort of stuff.

However, while I am excited as all hell about this new update, a few other peeps had concerns outside of the harassment issue. One member in particular thinks that this may actually be detrimental to what it's aiming to correct, levlling lowbie jobs. He's of the opinion (and I could see it happening, too) that we're going to see the Dunes and Quiffim fill up with merit parties, where 5 of the members cap their 75's down to the one designated "noob" in their party/linkshell. All the lowbie zones are going to be chock full of people that aren't actually lowbies, so the actual lowbies that are out there are not going to find anywhere to level (I know, people need to go off the beaten path some, and my ls tries to whenever we can, but there is a finite number of places one can realistically level). The scaling down of gear and such may even exacerbate the problem even more...I mean, who's going to pick the actual 20 wearing less than perfect gear when they can get a capped 20 in full A.F. (unless they had to)? Instead of there being a demand for 5 other lowbies when someone is trying to form a party, there's only going to be demand for 1...so invites may take even LONGER for those that aren't lucky enough to have an LS full of people to draw from.

I'm remaining positive about the update, and I'm not going to worry about it much until after the fact and we see what actually happens...my ls is small, and we're all spread out all over the place level wise with all our jobs, so this is going to be a godsend to us in terms of actually being able to static like we always wanted to. I just hope that most people don't forget that the reason for this is to ease levelling lower level jobs...not ease earning merit points on their 75's.

That is a really good point actually, kinda scary to think about for me b/c I enjoy lvling all my jobs, I usually lvl at least 2-3 at once. The fact that this very well may come true scares me a bit. There are a ton of people lvl 75, and not so many in the other tiers. Also at the lower lvls that leaves room for (aside from the 6 people) a PL. You can probably chain a lot better with a well organized group + PL, than you can in a merit party. Just an example of a good setup that would not be hard to find with this new update: DNC,DNC,NIN,SAM,SAM,SAM all of them as /nin with a whm/rdm PL. That would open up a lot of chains and a lot of merit points. Of course the lvl setup would not be as I have it, give or take a few different jobs. But the fact that it can still be done is a bit worrisome. I see a lot of BLM's taking advantage of this new feature, since we cant really pt very well in the ToAu area's since most people like to lvl up on colibri.

[MrMageo]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

whats wrong with a rdm/whm pl or a SMN/WHM or a BLM/WHM or a SCH/WHM or a SCH/SMN? Hell PLD/WHM works too.

[Luna]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

whats wrong with a rdm/whm pl or a SMN/WHM or a BLM/WHM or a SCH/WHM or a SCH/SMN? Hell PLD/WHM works too.

nothing is wrong with them for a normal party. But if people are going to want to merit at lvl 20 in qufim, that whm/sch or sch/whm etc. cannot keep up with the chains they would want to do better than 2x DNC can.

Of course the lvl setup would not be as I have it, give or take a few different jobs.

Really learn to pay attention to what I say......... dont get so uptight.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

You know, I generally take being asked to PL as an insult just as much as I do having one forced on me in a party setting. As of this update, I would be especially insulted about PLs because the person you're asking to PL you could be working with you to get EXP for themselves if you let them sync down to your level.

The reason people usually get a PL is because they couldn't find reliable healers. With this new system, it shouldn't be so hard to find healers or get friends with nothing to do to come out to sync and level with you.

So hopefully, this system would lessen the need for PLs, people just have to be willing to step up and take on the healer role at times.

[Ellipses]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

However, while I am excited as all hell about this new update, a few other peeps had concerns outside of the harassment issue. One member in particular thinks that this may actually be detrimental to what it's aiming to correct, levlling lowbie jobs. He's of the opinion (and I could see it happening, too) that we're going to see the Dunes and Quiffim fill up with merit parties, where 5 of the members cap their 75's down to the one designated "noob" in their party/linkshell. All the lowbie zones are going to be chock full of people that aren't actually lowbies, so the actual lowbies that are out there are not going to find anywhere to level (I know, people need to go off the beaten path some, and my ls tries to whenever we can, but there is a finite number of places one can realistically level). The scaling down of gear and such may even exacerbate the problem even more...I mean, who's going to pick the actual 20 wearing less than perfect gear when they can get a capped 20 in full A.F. (unless they had to)? Instead of there being a demand for 5 other lowbies when someone is trying to form a party, there's only going to be demand for 1...so invites may take even LONGER for those that aren't lucky enough to have an LS full of people to draw from.

This is a problem that fixes itself to a degree. The Dunes won't support the entire server leveling at once. If any area gets too crowded, the higher levels are going to be the first ones to move out because 1) they can and 2) they're in it for quick, easy XP. The place being too crowded to chain negates #2, so they're not going to want to stick around when they don't have to.

Of course, that only goes so far, because some people are too lazy or stupid to move on, but if high levels even bother migrating out of ToAU areas (enough to make this an issue) to begin with, it'll only take the first few dozen "Screw the Dunes, I went to X last night" threads before that catches on, too.

[Lmnop]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

Full LS party, 2x DNC, Bubu levels. Still, one of them brought her dual boxed PL. Wth? Completely unnecessary.

But how do you turn down someone in your LS like that? Someone you actually like and respect, but still has those basic "mob mentality" ideas in their brain. So it's not always "we can't find a healer" and it's not meant to be "We're not good enough. We need 1000 MP." People just think parties go better. It'd be silly to be insulted, but it'd be nice if there were a clear-cut way to say no w/out making them feel bad. So I hope for the Garrison/Eco-Warrior "unable to cure" bit. Would be quite nice.

[WishMaster3K]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

Keep in mind that you need to sync to a person, so you won't have an entire party of HL ppl all of a sudden EXCITED about going to the Dunes or Qufim and hogging the AWESOME exp that's there. Main reason you'll sync is to help a friend, not some random person, and if you're helping a friend in the 10-19 areas, and you're not functionally retarded, "Let's go to the Dunes" is not going to be the first thing to your mind.

There are other places that people with things like teleports and Outposts can go to to exp. Hell, one Teleport Mea brings you to the front door of the Maze.

Honestly, when was the last time the majority of you were in these areas? You post as if you're eager to return, as if the Dunes and Qufim and the Jungle and Garliage and the Nest were the HIGH POINT of exp, as if "oh my, I relish the days where goblins can chase me to the zone, and banshees make me cower in fear."

Exp didn't get partway fun until you were leaving an area. Then you went back to the same routine in another area, but mobs were closer, and stronger, and nastier and everything linked.

Hell, if you still think the dunes is fun, go to Cape Terrigan for a quick reminder to the contrary.

[Ziero]

Re: New Level Sync Feature to Change the Way You Party! (08/25/2008)

However, while I am excited as all hell about this new update, a few other peeps had concerns outside of the harassment issue. One member in particular thinks that this may actually be detrimental to what it's aiming to correct, levlling lowbie jobs. He's of the opinion (and I could see it happening, too) that we're going to see the Dunes and Quiffim fill up with merit parties, where 5 of the members cap their 75's down to the one designated "noob" in their party/linkshell. All the lowbie zones are going to be chock full of people that aren't actually lowbies, so the actual lowbies that are out there are not going to find anywhere to level (I know, people need to go off the beaten path some, and my ls tries to whenever we can, but there is a finite number of places one can realistically level). The scaling down of gear and such may even exacerbate the problem even more...I mean, who's going to pick the actual 20 wearing less than perfect gear when they can get a capped 20 in full A.F. (unless they had to)? Instead of there being a demand for 5 other lowbies when someone is trying to form a party, there's only going to be demand for 1...so invites may take even LONGER for those that aren't lucky enough to have an LS full of people to draw from.
.

That is a really good point actually, kinda scary to think about for me b/c I enjoy lvling all my jobs, I usually lvl at least 2-3 at once. The fact that this very well may come true scares me a bit. There are a ton of people lvl 75, and not so many in the other tiers. Also at the lower lvls that leaves room for (aside from the 6 people) a PL. You can probably chain a lot better with a well organized group + PL, than you can in a merit party. Just an example of a good setup that would not be hard to find with this new update: DNC,DNC,NIN,SAM,SAM,SAM all of them as /nin with a whm/rdm PL. That would open up a lot of chains and a lot of merit points. Of course the lvl setup would not be as I have it, give or take a few different jobs. But the fact that it can still be done is a bit worrisome. I see a lot of BLM's taking advantage of this new feature, since we cant really pt very well in the ToAu area's since most people like to lvl up on colibri.

Actually, no, it's not a good point. A really good pt in the dunes, or any place in older areas, will get 10k an hour. Merit pts, even with crappy players, can easily do 20-30. ToAU was designed for high speed lvling, low HP mobs, fast repops, lots of camps and easy travel. Combined with strong abilities and attacks and mobs die in 30 seconds or less in constant, unending chains. In past areas you can't chain like that because mobs have 10-15 minute repop timers and you'd clear the area before new mobs showed up. I know this because I've done this, I've had dunes PTs, with no Plvls mind you, where the only downtime we had is because we ran out of mobs. That includes raping T bunnies just to keep a chain going. Combined with SE stating that unsynched, lvl appropriate gear is going to be more effective then high lvl, capped gear, which means the loss of haste/refersh/DA/Crit+/hMP and other incredibly useful and powerful stats, high lvl players won't have a clear cut advantage over lower lvl players.

There is no reason a group of 75s will willingly prefer to exp in the dunes.

whats wrong with a rdm/whm pl or a SMN/WHM or a BLM/WHM or a SCH/WHM or a SCH/SMN? Hell PLD/WHM works too.

Power levelers suck.

Full LS party, 2x DNC, Bubu levels. Still, one of them brought her dual boxed PL. Wth? Completely unnecessary.

But how do you turn down someone in your LS like that? Someone you actually like and respect, but still has those basic "mob mentality" ideas in their brain. So it's not always "we can't find a healer" and it's not meant to be "We're not good enough. We need 1000 MP." People just think parties go better. It'd be silly to be insulted, but it'd be nice if there were a clear-cut way to say no w/out making them feel bad. So I hope for the Garrison/Eco-Warrior "unable to cure" bit. Would be quite nice.

I just tell them I'm not a fan of Plvls, but that I appriciate the gesture.