Redesign the party search function! (was forum=152)Follow

Problem

There are literally zero people recruiting for anything regardless of the time or day.
All groups are made through shouts and the linkshell's chat.

Issue

The design of the recruitment function alienates most players from using it.
While making open recruitment after setting the parameters to join is a good idea, what isn't a good idea is to downright remove giving players the ability to set themselves as looking for group. A lot of people rather just flag up and do their business while waiting.

Solution

Redesign the recruitment and party search function. Use something similar in simplicity to FFXI's looking for group flag and the /sea command.
The drop down menus have to go. They require too much attention and thought for something that should be simple in nature. Forcing us to set so many options does nothing but turn players away from using the system.

The current design already has a drop down menu for purpose, location, leve listing, level range and a comment.
This is all very redundant. A single checkbox with purpose and leaving the comment box as optional (and not accesible through clicking an extra button) would make things so much more simple.

The translator doesn't work in the comment box either. This is a big mistake as it hinders communication with foreign players. And the english and japanese leve names are different, so they should all be included in the translator.

If a player begins recruitment and there are players who meet the group's conditions flagged as looking for group, they should be automatically get a prompt with an invitation to the party and the group's details (this being the purpose, level range and comment box).

And please don't put any drop down menus in the new system. A checkbox if you must. But no dropdown menus. They are incredibly annoying with either mouse and gamepad.


If you like the idea you can make some noise or show some support at the feedback forums thread. :P
http://ffxiv.zam.com/forum.html?forum=173&mid=1297097721205318353&page=1

Edited, Feb 7th 2011 12:20pm by MajidahSihaam

I don't think a redesign is needed at all, and especially not a "FFXI" redesign. FFXI's seach function was far too simplistic. You could only seek as one job, un-intuitive filters, and no way for a party to "seek" for members.

All FFXIV's funtion needs is a way for a solo player to put up a "flag" for multiple parties (leves, grinding, crafter-for-hire) and multiple jobs simultaneously. I don't care if they need dropdown menus or check boxes or whatever, but we need to be able to do more than just put a green exclamation mark over our heads.

Never really had problems in XI when it came to making parties and I refused to party without a Bard and RDM later on in my career. Not being able to search people in 14 is retarded. Whoever said the current system doesn't need to be redesigned is wrong. It'd help if people used it, though.

Princess DRKWARNINWHMMNKRNGPLD?

This thread did a great job explaining the Party search menus:

http://ffxiv.zam.com/forum.html?forum=152&mid=128828832620239427

Now, I think it's SE's turn?

The party system in XI, while not perfect, was obviously much more effective than XIV's. It's so apparent it's not even debatable.

The XI system was fine. Only 2 things need to be added:

1. Allow people seeking to seek on multiple classes that he/she has.
2. Allow parties to seek for players.

...and it would be a perfect system while keeping it simple and efficient.

The simple fact is nobody uses party search. Regardless of the quality of the current design something has to change. I like the principles of the current party search I just think players need an excuse to use it.

Things I would add to those mentioned are:
1. The ability to search all areas and see how many people are online
2. Tell when friends/Linkshell members were last online.