Party Mechanics?

[commander]

Originally Posted by BaGGs

I think its time the devs realize their games are called MMO's and not single player PRG's.
Being in a party should give a bit different bonus apart from killing a mob faster and easier.

well we all know exp cuts can be depressing but if you really think about it, being in a party in most of these games might cut down exp per kill, or money per kill, but if you get 60% xp/money and you kill 3 times as many monsters, thats 180% for the time you spend. basically, they give you a bonus, they just have to limit it so its not like 300%. otherwise, everybody would be extremely high levels, and the people who worked hard at it wouldnt be anything special

[Kolossus]

Originally Posted by chaosdruid

FFXI hit the nail on the head when it came to party dynamics. It kept you from mindlessly spamming teh uber skillz and made you work as a team to put up big numbers. And since they all did different elements you had to work out the elemental wheel and see which one was the best for the monster you're fighting.

If Aion can pull off this party dynamic, and make the battle engine engaging. ZOMG! That'd be teh best grind evar!

This must be quoted for being so true. It's why I'm so happy Aion seems to be taking the BEST from the MMO genre, and improving vastly(it would seem) on it.

[Datippa]

I stop playing FFXI for about 2-3 years now. but man I wish I didn't. that was one of the best game I ever played. I loved the skill chain, mob chain and people on FFXI was really nice. I often think about going back and getting the XBOX 360 version but I don't think I would have that much time to hit 75 or whatever max level is at now and I can't get my old account since they delete non-active after 1 year. That game was the best PvE mmorpg game ever and fishing was fun! Only thing that really bugged me was that even when I had my AF I can't solo mobs 3/4 of my level and no real PvP during the time I played.

Seeing so many people still talking about FFXI really makes me miss it. That game truly is a classic. 100X better then WoW. but most people will never know. good old memory of BCMN...those freaking Sheep and Mandy. lol

Really wish they make a new FF mmorpg just a little more faster pace but keep everything else the same. which would never happen.

[DAFTgamer]

Anybody hazard a guess at how much customization will be available considering they have "the best" combos already set up?

Will everybody of the same class be equally skilled because there is only one best way?

Anybody else concerned about this?

Obviously every class in every game has an optimal combo for damage or stun duration or whatever, but usually took skill to first figure out and then to execute properly.

Thoughts? I've never played an MMO with skill chains. =S

[Fleiva]

As far as we know, customization wise there will be stigmas, which will let you modify a bit your character's skills, other than that, there's no info out yet.

[Datippa]

I'm not sure about Aion but for FFXI skill chain it wasn't like one was the most powerful. It depended on the mob and what it was weak against. If the mob was weak vs water u would do a Water skillchain etc and The longer the skill chain the more DMG it did.

Not sure how Aion's skillchain work. But I myself would like to find out more. From what i read so far Aion's skillchain wont really be like FFXI's skillchain. I wouldn't mind if it is cuz even till this day its the best and most memorial things about FFXI that I remember. Made grinding a lot of fun and the leet group's can kill mobs at a much faster rate then the average group. Made u pay attention to what spells should be cast not just Nuking your most powerful spell when it came up and it took a lot of timing to connect the chains.

[Infinity]

Ya. As far as Aion skillchain's relation to FFXI skillchains I would assume they would be different in the fact that FFXI grinding pretty much always consisted of parties and was a tad bit slower / more strategy based (if that makes sense to anyone) than what I imagine Aion (more WoW like) to be. So i would guess that Aion skillchains would be a little less Epic than ffxi ones, and probably faster and more of them, considering there are probably a lot more skills than the 6 or so u have as a FFXI dps. But maybe/hopefully there'll be some crazy skillchains you can do involving a whole lot of classes at once to own boss-type mobs.... or Asmodians...

Infinity

[Onycho]

Originally Posted by gerrykeen19

I liked the ffxi Skill chains too. I had not realized they announced party combos. I only hope its fairly in depth. Not too complicated, Not too simple.

Personally I never did play FFXI. Much to my regret as I really do enjoy most of the FF series.

However, tell me if I'm wrong please, but the only problem with the FFXI skill chains is that some classes ended up severely underdeveloped as they could not participated effectively in the skill chains...(eg. Class X is hardly ever played because they cannot participate in A,B,C skill chains).

If so, that's a major flaw and would need to be amended for Aion.

[Kolossus]

Nope, there wasn't any class that couldn't participate in skillchaining. Every job had weapon skills that matched up with multiple other jobs, including the mages.

Datippa, the fishing is even better now. It's turned into a mini-game, where you actually have to struggle against the fish/item/mob you catch, in order to reel it in. They have also improved the soloing, adding in different types of mobs in areas that can be solo'd by everyone.

[Celebrity]

I liked to hear the party combos will be around, i hope they are pretty nice to be done and as more different classes are used the more fun and awesome the combo look.

I haven't played the FFXI personally, but have took a look on it's combos and agree there is a lot of strategy involved on them, this usually means slower fights and Aions seems to be pretty more dynamic.

[Thilak]

I played FFxi for long time, then stopped 2 years ago.
During my time, DRagoons were least played class, and most parties never invite them. Alot has changed now. Not sure how they are, but im hearing samurais are gaining popularities.

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by Onycho

tell me if I'm wrong please, but the only problem with the FFXI skill chains is that some classes ended up severely underdeveloped as they could not participated effectively in the skill chains...(eg. Class X is hardly ever played because they cannot participate in A,B,C skill chains).

If so, that's a major flaw and would need to be amended for Aion.

As far as this, Ya Onycho it's kinda true, at some points some classes would be nerfed or not looked for because their Weapon Skills didn't go well with Skillchains at that level. Like at level 60 everyone wants class A and class B in a party because their skillchain is great, but maybe class C doesn't get a good weapon skill for skillchains til 65, so they don't get good parties at that level range... etc.

However, i don't think this will be a problem in Aion because in FFXI you pretty much have to group to level up after the low levels (with some exceptions), whereas in Aion leveling up (I think) will be more like WoW, where questing and you can solo level up...

Infinity

[Calindor]

i've never heard of a mmorpg without a party bonus, if you are in a 4 person party and kill a mob, you get like 30%, not 25%.

[The Dreamer]

Originally Posted by Thilak

I played FFxi for long time, then stopped 2 years ago.
During my time, DRagoons were least played class, and most parties never invite them. Alot has changed now. Not sure how they are, but im hearing samurais are gaining popularities.

When I left ninjas were becoming so popular people were even using them to replace paladins. Never understood why, other than they had that shadow thing that allowed them to not get hit for like three strikes, but that seemed to become useless against tougher mobs. This was a little over a year ago I think.

I miss my paladin...

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by The Dreamer

I miss my paladin...

Well you'll be happy to know it's all about PLD/NIN nowadays (or at least up to the last few months, not sure how wings of the goddess changed it). Not for exp parties, that still depends, more ninjaish. But for HNM and endgame PLD/NIN seem to rule the show, they got more enmity skills/base so they dont really need the war sub. Anyways, ya...

Infinity