This isn’t for me. I know/have known several players who return to the game after years away and struggle. They solo to a point, and then find nobody willing to help them further. I get it. There’s no incentive for anyone to help. Therefore, several players resort to buying Gil, because of the effort it takes to get up to scratch when you are completely solo with little knowledge of how the game works. It’s easy for those who stuck around and know how to look things up because we gained skills to become self-efficient. We remain motivated enough to hit our solo goals even if we aren't running events.
Returning players don’t understand this, and I understand why. FFXI is a MMORPG. They yell for assistance for V2 Ambuscade and nobody replies. Ok... so they solo VE V2 Ambu all day and maybe get enough to buy one piece? And then quit after losing all motivation to keep playing. Either that or they reach out to get a linkshell. They grab a pearl from the concierge and get excited. Maybe people will play with me?! They say “hello everyone, I’m new here! Nice to meet you!”. Crickets. No one responds. Either that, or they get a few hellos, and maybe even a welcome(!), but it ends there. They request help for Ambuscade and nobody responds. So, they try to stir up conversation, asking how people are and where they are from. Crickets. No one wants to know. They don’t want to waste their precious time doing content with a stranger. For all they know, this guy could leave the game in a week.
FFXI has always been about community. I know on larger servers it’s perhaps easier. There are more active groups that may take people in. But how do returning players know this? Is there a list? Which servers have groups of players who actively try to help returning players back into the fold? Do they exist? Or is it all about the endgame? It’s easy to tell returning players to get some trusts and grind it out for a few months with their new “friends”, but that is anti-social. So, I know the pain from both sides. What FFXI needs in this age is a way to determine who actually cares. Are there groups who, if the returning player proves their motivation, will actively try to help them without asking for a reward? And why does this have to be on a per-server basis?
I am sure there is at least one group on every server that does as I described. With that said, if you are a linkshell leader who believes that you and/or your group members will “actively” help those returning after many years, please let me know and I’ll add you to the list. I’m not on the game until sometime next year, but I don’t mind maintaining this for the lost and confused players who just want nothing more than to play with over like-minded Final Fantasy fans. Thank you.
Linkshells
StruggleCuddles - Airrin of Odin
PurpleNurple - Bluespoons of Asura
Artic Circle - Aquapenguin of Bismarck
CatNap - Choppurr of Bahamut
WelcomeHome - Agerine of Bahamut
Reverie - Brahmsz of Bahamut
Servers not yet on the list: Carbuncle, Cerberus, Fenrir, Lakshmi, Leviathan, Phoenix, Quetzalcoatl, Ragnarok, Shiva, Siren, Sylph & Valefor