When is it time to leave an endgame shell?

[Jojojo]

As the title stated, when is it appropriate to leave an endgame shell?

Suppose you've gotten all the gear from Dynamis that you want. Do you then leave the shell? Do you continue to help out, and if so for how long? Forever?


It's just a complicated question to me. Many people find leaving a shell once you get what you need opportunistic and distasteful. I get that impression too...but on the other hand, points represent a member's entitlement to gear for his hard work, and spending them is merely asking for what he is due. After that, I see no reason why he cannot leave.

But I can also see that it would be frustrating to lead a shell if your members keep leaving when they get their W Legs.

So, QCDN, how long?

 

[Jojojo]

Oh, and just a disclaimer.

Don't think I'm asking because I want to leave a linkshell I'm in currently; this doesn't apply, as my lists are nowhere near complete. It would be nice what to do when they are, though.

 

[Icewolf]

Well, I think if your dedicated to a shell, you wouldn't want to leave. Or maybe thats just me. I know that when I get all the gear I want, that I will still be there for my shell, not because I feel required to, but because I want to build the shell as a whole. And if you do want to leave, maybe your with the wrong people, it shouldn't feel like work, you should have a good time.

If someone wants to get a good piece of gear, and just toss aside the shell, because they got what they want, well good for them. I want dedicated members, that don't feel the need to do that. So losing them, just shows who I really value in my shell. Although it is annoying to see a nice piece of gear leave the shell after working for it.

 

[Rappa]

Depends on why you play the game. If you play the game to have fun, you're already going to be in a shell with friends and your main motivation to do "end-game" is to spend time with these people. If you play the game to "succeed", whatever that may mean, then you just drop pearls and swap linkshells as-is needed to get whatever it is you're after.

 

[Arctyrael]

I have always believed, that as long as the linkshell runs on a points based system, you work to earn the gear before you get the gear. If the linkshell gives it to you before you have earned it, then you owe the linkshell until those points are acquired. Beyond that, you are there to be a good fellow player in assisting other members along their path to acquiring their gear.

I have not ever had the problem you describe, nor will I -- so I guess it is ok to just have a simple down to earth understanding of a points system.

 

[Olrox]

what? no you're supposed to just ninja lot everything and leave. DUH! (btw jk, I have never and will never do this)

But you do bring about a good point.. If I was in that situation where I got everything I wanted (let's say salvage, I don't do that anyways) I would probably stick around to help others for a few months ( because obviously, they helped me) then after a few months have passed give the LS a fair month or two warning before I actually left. In my opinion, if you give a shell an honest amount of work, even after you obtain your items to help others as well, and give a fair warning to the shell. I see no reason why they should hold that against you.

Unfortunately in most cases (This seems rampant in sky shells) people will get what they want and leave. I have been in many sky shells that this has happened, its very unfair to all those who worked to get that person the item. That is the exact reason why I will not join a sky shell at this time because I don't have the dedication in me to stick around after I obtain what I want, until I find that time I won't even bother to apply to any. I just don't want to end up being in that crowd, and its one helluva huge crowd at this point.

 

[Halifirien]

It's appropriate to leave when you are no longer interested in being there.

 

[Diabllos]

stuff

Basically this, in my opinion.

If you work on a system whereby you earn the equipment by the hours you put into the group, then you should be free to leave once you've spent the time you put in, on what you want. Within reason, of course... Not just signing up to a shell, working for one item and leaving immediately afterwards or something.

Although it's not fair in some ways, it's equally unfair to keep someone in the linkshell for little or no gain. Especially since endgame can be very time consuming... And since there's so much endgame nowadays, they may want to replace the time spent in Dynamis with Limbus or something, for example.

 

[Elash]

I feel like it would be pretty telling if you decided to leave a shell as soon as you completed a set, or got whatever item(s) you considered your primary objectives. It seems to me that having that success with good people you can count on would make it harder to leave anyway.

That being said; schedules, people and circumstances are constantly changing so maybe it shouldn't always be taken as a slap in the face.

 

[Lavi]

I have always believed, that as long as the linkshell runs on a points based system, you work to earn the gear before you get the gear. If the linkshell gives it to you before you have earned it, then you owe the linkshell until those points are acquired. Beyond that, you are there to be a good fellow player in assisting other members along their path to acquiring their gear.

I have not ever had the problem you describe, nor will I -- so I guess it is ok to just have a simple down to earth understanding of a points system.

Except even that is still flawed. Suppose two players of equal standing both lot on an item; one is going to win, the other must lose. Does the one who win have every right to leave since he spent all his points and earned it? What about the second player? He had enough points, just was unlucky on lots and must spend more time than the first earning the same item. Or how is that fair to a LS who must now seek recruitment to replace the people who left after recieving items? In order to continue doing events the shell must continually replace players who do this and the older members see little reason to stick around when the shell continually replaces players. When it's all said and done, the older players owe little to nothing to the newer players and leave, the shell replaces members until it breaks hurting the newer players who recieved less than the older players who left once they were finished obtaining items.

If you only plan on sticking around in a shell until you get your gear, you're really not wanted by any shell. I'd suggest not joining and go do some other game. This game is a multiplayer game with heavy content focused on group efforts and if you're only able to focus on group efforts as long as you can gain something, you shouldn't be playing this game.

 

[Zyndara]

I think it basically comes down to what is mutually beneficial to both you and the shell. And I don't mean that in terms of gear. If a shell treats you well, (and you treat them well) chances are you will spend much of your time there and will have made friends whose company you enjoy. That is something that extends beyond how much gear you obtain or don't obtain because you're having a good time and the rewarding part for you is in the participation, not in the tangibles. On the other hand, if you're not having a good time, or there is more stress and drama involved than fun, then it's time to move on. But if you're unhappy and you want to go, in my mind it is kind of gross to take and run. Either go and do your own thing or stay, but don't bide your time until you get a desirable rare item then take off. Just seems like a crappy thing to do.

 

[Halifirien]

Does the one who win have every right to leave since he spent all his points and earned it?

I'd argue that he does. With a point system, you're pretty much getting paid for services rendered. If you get what you want and no longer have a reason to be there, why bother sticking around? Not everyone has the goal of "making the linkshell better."

Ideally, that would be understood during the recruiting process so the leader could decide if that person would be a good fit for their crew.

 

[Zaltana]

I've thought about this myself. i like my sky shell a lot. But i personally don't have much i need from sky anymore. i thought to myself if i should leave or not once i have the items I've wanted. in the end i decided against it. Cause once i have this stuff i wanna use it to help other obtain what they need/want. just the way they did for me. and after that horrid Kirin we did the other day we saw true dedication from everyone there. It was a headache but it make me feel good to be with a group like that.

 

[Myrrh]

There is no right time to leave a ls. It all depends on the person. It's personal preference. Some will stay longer after getting gear, others will ditch.

 

[Bajaratt]

This kind of situation pretty much only comes up when you're in a linkshell with a single purpose. If the linkshell only does sky, or dynamis, or sea; then you'll reach a point where there's nothing left you want/need and that's when this question comes up. When you're in one of the bigger, multi-purpose linkshells, then you'd be there so long you're more likely to quit the game than just the linkshell once you get everything you want.

Yeah, it's rude to just get what you want and leave; but if your sole motivation for joining the linkshell was to obtain that gear and you have it all already, then your performance is going to suffer because you're no longer as motivated. Like Rappa said, the best situation is where you're already with friends and have fun; so staying after you've met your goals isn't a chore.

With a point's system, there's never been anything wrong with someone spending their points. It's significantly less rude to leave after spending your points, because you've obviously earned whatever it is you bought. You're not stealing, you're not ripping anyone off; you're being compensated for time spent.

That all being said, if someone does just leave linkshell after linkshell once they've got everything they want; most linkshells won't let them in unless they're desperate.

 

[Spalko]

I agree with point system, you can free to leave when you use all your points or got all the gears you want. If you hang around to help newer players or help others to get all their gears, you can never leave the shell then, because there always gonna be newer members coming in while older members might want another set of gears.

 

[Mattaru]

I pretty much agree with Baja and Hal. A point system works under the impression that points are like currency to be spent and no one goes around chiding people for earning and then spending gil. If the shell is multipurpose chances are you will stick around even if you have obtained most things because you know that in that shell any new frontiers that can be explored will most likely be explored by that shell and it is in your interest to stay if you want to be a part of that.

 

[Lavi]

I'd argue that he does. With a point system, you're pretty much getting paid for services rendered. If you get what you want and no longer have a reason to be there, why bother sticking around? Not everyone has the goal of "making the linkshell better."

Ideally, that would be understood during the recruiting process so the leader could decide if that person would be a good fit for their crew.

So your only goal is to get gear? You don't care about anyone else? Nice to know... I'm sure when you join LS, you always inform the leader that you plan on leaving the LS as soon as you get your items too?

 

[Kerowynn]

I'd argue that he does. With a point system, you're pretty much getting paid for services rendered. If you get what you want and no longer have a reason to be there, why bother sticking around? Not everyone has the goal of "making the linkshell better."

Ideally, that would be understood during the recruiting process so the leader could decide if that person would be a good fit for their crew.

So your only goal is to get gear? You don't care about anyone else? Nice to know... I'm sure when you join LS, you always inform the leader that you plan on leaving the LS as soon as you get your items too?

Bolded the part of his quote that answered your question, not sure why you even asked it.

 

[Klank]

Either go and do your own thing or stay, but don't bide your time until you get a desirable rare item then take off.

I have to agree with this statement. If you're in an LS that you're no longer enjoying your time with, it really isn't worth your time to stick around until you get what you want so you can leave. If you're in a position where you're considering leaving after getting what you want, then I feel that this is probably a good clue that you should leave immediately. I say this because if you join an LS solely for equipment, then there's a pretty high chance that the equipment you get isn't going to be too useful outside of your LS's activites. That is, unless you're solely gearing up so you can show off in merit parties; in which case, you're wasting your time completely.

Essentially, if you're not having fun anymore, do yourself and everyone else a favor and just leave. Sure, you're not getting the items you want but playing a game and not enjoying it is counterproductive and absolutely pointless.