My responses to the Japanese's questions

1. Do foreign players have a lot of interest in joining social Japanese Linkshells?

I know I don't but then I don't speak JP or know much about it. However, there are lot of people with a very deep interest in JP, that want to speak JP and are fascinated by JP culture and they probably want to learn more. Does it hurt to give them a chance?

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2. 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.

Yeah, that sucks when it happens to anyone, not just JP players. I don't think some EU/NA players make the same level of commitment when they agree to party and so don't care if they have to leave early. I won't even LFP if I am tired and know I can't do a good job. Some people just don't care and want any exp any way they can get it.

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3. 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 think we must have different economic values. If NA/EU players can achieve something without purchasing items even if it's much harder to win then they will. I think this applies to the merit party question too. If you can get by with one RDM why not do that, even if it is hard work for the RDM?

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4. 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.

That's just rude. If you have players that you know don't speak good English (we do have German, French, Italian players too!) then you should use auto-translate for battle directions. It's a bit different with chit-chat. I have been in parties where all the chit-chat was in JP and all I could contribute was the occasionally "w" when something funny happened. That's ok though. The party was polite to me and used auto-translate when needed so I could accept that I just couldn't join in with the chit-chat.

Personally, it is worse when you are in a party with JP players and there is no chit-chat at all. Even if I don't speak JP I can still get into the spirit of the party if people communicate even a little.

Me nearly get's one-shotted by Sickle Slash.

Me: {danger} w ><
JP player: w

We don't need to discuss politics to enjoy the game :)

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5. How many NA and EU players do Campaign? Any thoughts about the recent nerf to Fortifications?

I love campaign. I don't like it when people pull the enemies VERY far from the fort to solo though because it affects the timing of battles.

The recent nerf on fortifications was stupid. I accept that it was being abused but to go from that much exp to almost zero exp is just stupid. There is little incentive to attack enemy held areas now even a 50% nerf would have been enough.

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6. What equipment do you think has great stats but horrible looks? What equipment do you think has the best graphics?

I think the new Nuevo Coselete looks terrible with non-PLD gear like Byakko's Haidate. Denali gear is also very ugly.

Ares gear looks pretty awesome. So does Homam.

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7. 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?

Heh. I think a lot of people where Relic gear from Dynamis purely for looks because it's useless in party.

I liked the bathing suit from last Summer Fest personally :)

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8. 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?

Yes, lol.

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9. 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 understand that TP spam has been shown to produce more dmg than skillchain/mb. However, I don't understand why in situations where Skillchains are easily achievable why people don't do them more. E.g. you have two 6-hit SAMs - why shouldn't they skillchain?

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10. 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 think this is simply polite ignorance. They don't understand the benefit if using a /seacom.

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11. 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?

It's because I am a steaming pile of dhalmel poo.

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12. Honestly, the largest difference in thinking between Japanse and foreign players exists in the Merit party.

I really don't know about this. I think it is a question of both risk assessment and also stupidity.

NA/EU players apparently consider that having only one healer gives the most exp per hour and they accept that there is an increased risk that people could die, causing delays. They consider this a reasonable risk: increased exp offsets delays for deaths. When a 5xDD + 1xRDM is well built it can very effective and deaths are easily avoided.

However many players blindly copy other players and fail to notice little details. They create parties the same way as they think they have seen parties created. They get 5xDD and 1xHealer. But rather than getting a MNK/NIN they get a MNK/WAR and rather than a SAM/THF they end up with a SAM/WAR. Sometimes people who are not used to building parties will be so used to having a PL (even in merits!) that they don't understand how much curing is required.

The party starts and immediately the tank can't keep hate and the MNK or the SAM is getting murdered because the single healer just can't keep up. However, the SAM and MNK won't adjust their play style or take responsibility, they'll just blame the party leader. And the party leader will say "{I don't understand.} It worked alst night!" This is a badly built party.