#1 said:
Do foreign players have a lot of interest in joining social Japanese Linkshells? (Especially ones with only JP members) I ask because when I recruit for my shell in Japanese, I get a lot of tells from foreigners looking to join. Personally, I feel like even if they could understand my /shout, it still would be hard to keep up with regular conversation. They wouldn’t understand pop-culture references to old TV shows, for instance.
My Einherjar shell is predominantly JP, and my Nyzul Isle static is all JP, though there is one member who is bilingual. I really enjoy both events because the people who participate are dedicated, positive, and fun. Though we communicate mostly through auto-translate, we manage to communicate very effectively, and have developed friendships. I would not mind being in a social shell with any of those people as I consider them friends. It does take effort to overcome the communication barrier, but it is definitely worth it.
#2 said:
Parties that cycle in replacement members seem to be popular amongst foreigners, but a lot of times the party will just disband once the replacement arrives. Of course, there are times when the replacement is contacted before they get all the way there, but there are many instances when no one says anything. There are also many cases where inappropriate jobs are invited and the party can no longer function well.
To me, this is a big reason behind some of the negative images Japanese players have about foreign players. What do you think about this?
Most EN players dislike this practice as well. If I am leading a party, I appreciate it if someone offers to find a replacement, but I will generally poll the group to determine how much longer the remaining members have and then, if there is enough time, search an appropriate replacement myself.
#3 said:
Why does it seem like many foreign players don’t bother to bring medicines and potions to Missions and BCs? Many Japanese players make sure to have Vile Elixirs, Hi-Potions and/or Reraise Earrings.
I wish I knew!! I appreciate it very much when players come prepared. Players without Echo Drops or Silent Oil or Prism Powders drive me crazy, and I am less likely to invite someone to an event again when they aren’t prepared the first time.
#4 said:
Sometimes I see foreign pick-up parties recruiting for members using Auto-Translate, but then when I join the party, all the conversation and battle planning is in English. I’ll ask for them to {Please use the Auto-Translate function.} but nobody ever does. If you are going to /shout for help with the Auto-Translator, why not use it in the party? It feels like I was tricked.
That is rude, and I am sorry that happened to you. When partying with a group who doesn’t all speak the same language, it is best to use the auto-translate function as much as possible to avoid confusion and to ensure no member feels left out.
#5 said:
How many NA and EU players do Campaign? Any thoughts about the recent nerf to Fortifications?
I rarely do campaign; I just don’t have enough time. I know many of my friends enjoy it a lot, though.
#6 said:
What equipment do you think has great stats but horrible looks?
What equipment do you think has the best graphics?
There isn’t really any one piece of gear that I think looks horrible, though I find that many effective gear combinations look pretty laughable. Like my Dark Magic set for BLM, which includes a Nashira Manteel, BLM AF pants, and BLM Relic hands.
I really like the look of full Nashira armor.
#7 said:
Outside of your normal party gear, is there any equipment that you go out of your way to get strictly for looks? What are your favorite pieces of casual equipment?
The event gear (like a dream hat, for example). My favorite piece of casual equipment is anything that has a star on it (Prudence Rod, Uggy Pendant, etc.). I love stars.
#8 said:
I’m a Mithra, and I find that a lot of foreigners seem to be into Mithra fashion. They examine me and ask where I got my equipment and such. Do you think male players enjoy dressing up their Mithra in cute outfits?
LOL! I think most EN male players would just as soon have their Mithra not wearing anything.
#9 said:
I wonder if you calculate the XP/hr of parties, and if so, do you think that Skillchain/Magic Burst or Weaponskill spam produces the best results? Before parsing became widespread, Japanese players used to think Skillchain/Magic Burst was the best.
I remember Skillchain/Magic Burst parties. They were fun. It is rare to find one anymore. Most melee will party with a RDM and BRD and spam weaponskills for merit parties while BLM will manaburn or solo. I think that a melee heavy party that spams weaponskills will get better XP/hr, but it is not very fun since its monotonous for all involved.
#10 said:
How come it seems like so many people don’t utilize Search Comments properly? Why don’t they write their camp location for others to see? Also, it’s strange to see so many people seeking without basic information written like available jobs and where they can access. Don’t you want an invite?
I notice many players do use their /seacoms. I have encountered players with more than 1 level 75 job who didn’t even know what a search comment was, though. If they don’t use it, I think its just because they don’t understand how to or what the benefits are.
#12 said:
If you know you are going to be busy, how come you don’t alert people at the beginning of the party instead of surprising everyone at the last minute?
Unfortunately, sometimes things come up unexpectedly. I always try to inform those participating in an event with me of any possible interruptions well in advance, but sometimes it is not possible.
#13 said:
Honestly, the largest difference in thinking between Japanse and foreign players exists in the Merit party. You often say 5 DDs and a RDM is so good, but having a single, solitary healer is hard on the RDM. Japanese realize that healers can be in short supply, so we make sacrifices to lighten their burden, like subbing a mage job, or using Utsusemi. I feel like many people don’t show proper respect to healers. When we say JP ONLY, it isn’t always an issue of language, but the fact that we feel there are other dangers and demerits associated with a non-JP party, stemming from our different play-styles, that we wish to avoid.
This key difference in thinking, more than any race or language issue, is what really sets us apart as players. They are just looking to sit back, relax and earn some decent XP.
Most merit parties are 4 DD and two support jobs (like RDM, BRD, or COR). I wind up main healing a lot on RDM in that type of setting, and I rarely have issues keeping up with MP provided everyone subs NIN and can keep shadows up the majority of the time. It really depends on the skill level of the involved players. If a DD can’t keep shadows up, I will have to cure him more, and it will slow us down because I will have to rest. If I have to cure bomb a DD to keep him alive (and consequently pull hate myself) because he refuses to help mitigate his damage (like with shadows), I will let him die and not feel bad about it in hopes that it will teach them a lesson.
I have also seen RDM who cannot maintain a haste cycle and BRD that can't pull effectively, which can slow the group down as well.
I have participated in very effective merit parties with 3 DD and 3 support jobs (RDM./WHM, BRD/NIN, and COR/RNG), and those are probably my favorite. It can be difficult to find all three support jobs available, though.
