Post by Tbest on Mar 19, 2009 14:46:44 GMT -5
First things first...
Welcome to the Lumiere forums. We hope you find all of the answers to the questions you have. If you don't, please don't hesitate to ask. =)
First things first...
Welcome to the shell!
We all hope you enjoy your stay here. Many people forget that FFXI is a game above all. We feel that you should play a game because you enjoy it, so if there's ever a time where you aren't enjoying yourself and having fun in our shell, please let us know. =)
Basic Info:
Our shell is primarily a Dynamis Linkshell, but we also do both Limbus and ZNM's in addition to being a social shell as well. We're also looking to get into Einherjar as well. ;D We encourage our members to just hang out and chat or do various events with people in the shell outside of Dynamis. Everyone in the shell is a person first and foremost and we'd love to have everyone here be friends and enjoy each other's company.
Our Dynamis run-times are 7:15pm EDT on Thursday nights and 7:30pm EDT on Sunday nights.
We would like everyone in the shell to be at the Trail Markings in the designated area at least 15-30 minutes before we enter so we can start building parties. We will most likely have close to the same party setups each run, which will make building parties and getting ready for the run that much faster.
The Good Stuff:
And now what you're really interested in... We will have a very complicated and complex points system based on a series of variables being plugged into an advanced algorithm... Just kidding...
The points system is pretty easy to understand.
New members have a one run trial period for AF lotting. New members may still lot money on their first run.
For starters, we'll have a main choice and a sub choice for jobs that are 70+ and 65+ respectively.
Simply put, lotting goes like this:
Main Priority > Main > Sub Priority > Sub > Free-lots 70/65/50/ALL
These choices are set in clay, meaning that if you want to change your main or sub choices your points get reset to 0. You are however able to change your main or sub choices at ANY time.
After you've told us your choices for a main and sub, for each run you'll need to set a blue item comment as follows:
------
Main
Sub
Accessory (if applicable)
------
------
Money
------
If you do NOT have this comment set at the start of the run, you will NOT be lotting AF for that job OR money on that run. These main/sub jobs in your comment must also match up with what we have on the site. The reason for this is because if you already have that piece of AF, you won't put up a comment for it. If you don't want an AF for one of your jobs in that run, leave it out of your comment. Therefore, if you don't have a comment up we're going to see it as you either already have it or don't want it. You must also set a money comment with the same blue search comment if you would like to lot money instead of the AF. You can ONLY lot money if you do not have any jobs set as main or sub in your comment.
Now, you're probably asking yourself, "Points? What points?". Each run you do with us from start to finish will net you a whopping 1 point. Our points also cap out at 4. This means that no matter how many consecutive runs you've been with the LS over the first 4, you're on the same level as everyone else.
UPDATE: Some clarification on this, "start to finish" means you're on-time for the run and stay with us without extended AFK periods until the Mega Boss for that zone is killed. Any period after the Mega Boss is killed is farming and is NOT mandatory, but it IS encouraged due to the fact that many more AF2 and Money drops may drop after the MB. For those of you that show up late for a run, you WILL be allowed to enter provided we have a glass-mule outside (9 times out of 10 we will have one.).
HOWEVER, there are some points you need to know about late-entry.
- - - If you're showing up less than 30 minutes after the start time, and stay until the entire run is finished, you WILL get a point for the completion of that run.
- - - If you're showing up more than 30 minutes late, but less than 90 minutes late, you will NOT get a point for the run, but you will also NOT lose one.
- - - If you're showing up over 90 minutes late, you can still enter the run and lot AF/money items that you would normally be eligible for in that run, but you WILL lose a point just like if you had bailed on us without giving notice.
- - - If however, you give us notice and know you have rl things that will cause you to be more than 90 minutes late, you will NOT lose a point. In this event if it's a Thursday run, we may decide that you'd be better off not attending that night.
By now, you may be saying to yourself, "Well gee, that's all fine and dandy, but... How do I go about lotting AF2 in Dynamis? And what do points mean to me? Do you have to have points to lot gear? Do you have to spend points to get gear?"
To lot items with our shell we separate our members into 2 categories when the run begins. We'll have "Priority" members and "Non-Priority" members. Priority members are those members that have completed 3 runs with the shell for City AF (Bastok/Jeuno/San d'Oria/Windurst) and 5 runs with the shell for Icelands AF. What's the benefit of being a Priority member, you ask? Well, that's simple. A Priority member can lot gear ahead of a Non-Priority member for the same class (main/sub). Simply put, you want to be a Priority member.
We will also have a cooldown feature to our lotting system. Once you get a piece of gear for either your main or sub choices or money, that choice is in cooldown and you're unable to lot it in the next run as a Priority or Non-Priority member. You will however be able to lot the item if it goes free-lot. Your job choice 'cools off' after you've completed 1 full run with the shell. This feature is meant to encourage allowing everyone to get AF2 or money instead of a select few monopolizing all of it.
This brings us to the 'multiple AF2 per run' issue. If you go into a Dynamis and want AF2 from both your main and sub choices, and then win lot on either of them, you will be unable to lot the other choice unless it goes free-lot. At that point, you'll be able to lot the AF2 with anyone else who meets the requirements to lot it as a free-lot choice, but... There is a catch. Anyone that hasn't received a piece of gear at that point will be able to lot the free-lot AF2 with a 5-level bonus because we want everyone to feel that sense of accomplishment you get when you are rewarded with a shiny new piece of equipment for your hard work. While it is possible to get more than one piece of AF2 per run, we try to be as fair about it as possible. No one likes seeing someone get 5 pieces of gear in one run... Unless you're the one getting the gear! lol
The main way that a piece of AF2 will go 'free-lot' is if no one comments a particular job as their main or sub choice. We'll first open the lotting to anyone with that job 70+, then 65+, then 50+, then anyone that wants the piece of gear. I will be stating before each run which jobs are free-lot for that run so there isn't any confusion once the piece of AF2 drops. The more time we spend figuring out who can lot what AF2, the less time we have to focus on the run itself. Lotting any gear that goes free-lot will not affect lotting your main or sub choices. That said, however, do not lot a piece of AF2 just to have it. If you're not going to use it, we ask that you allow others who would actually use it, lot first. After everyone that will use the AF2 gets it, then we can start working on getting everyone complete sets.
If you ever have a time that you're going to miss a run, please let us know in advance so we can plan around your absence. If we expect to have 20 people for a run and 4 decide they're not going to show up, that really hurts our group as a whole.
In the event that something unexpected comes up and you're forced to miss a run, don't worry about it. At least, too much anyway. ^.~ You WILL lose a point for a missed run if you don't let us know ahead of time. But, the reason that we have a 4-point cap and a 3-point priority is because we understand that everyone in this shell is a living, breathing person (or at least we hope so anyway...) and real-life always trumps in-game. However... While we're still going to let you lot after you miss a run, there is a downside. After you miss a run with the shell unexpectedly, it will take 2 complete runs for you to make up that lost point. Meaning, if you miss a run on a Thursday, it won't be until the 2nd Sunday before you're back at 4 points again. If you miss two runs in a row, it'll take you 4 complete runs until you can lot as a Priority member in the shell again. Miss 4 runs and you won't be able to lot for 4 runs as a Non-Priority member, and it'll take 6 complete runs until you can lot as a Priority member. After missing 5 runs w/o notice in a row, you'll be taken off the Member list entirely.
As mentioned above with the accessory in your comment; You may choose 1 accessory per Dreamlands Dynamis. This must be for either your main or sub choices.
For AF2-1, you may lot on any AF2-1 that drop in Dreamlands zones provided that the job is one of your main or sub choices and you already have the AF2 that it upgrades. If no one has the job or the AF2 and would still like to lot the piece, it follows the same free-lot guidelines as regular AF2.
To illustrate the differences and who can lot what gear when, I'll give you a few examples.
We'll use the names John and Sue for these examples.
John and Sue both want the same pieces of gear for their main and sub choices, Drk for their main and Sam for their sub. We'll also assume that they are the only ones wanting Drk or Sam for their main or sub choices that run.
John however has completed 3 runs with the shell and Sue has only completed 1 run with us.
Drk AF2 drops and both want to lot, but because John's a priority member, he gets to lot the item unopposed. Congrats, John! =D
A few minutes later, Samurai AF2 drops. Normally John would get to lot this item ahead of Sue as well, but because he already got an AF2 this run, Sue gets to lot the item unopposed. Congrats, Sue! =D
For our next example, we'll show exactly what will happen when someone gets a piece of AF and no one has commented their 2nd choice for that run.
John comes into Dynamis and has Drk and Sam choices for his main and sub.
Dark Knight AF2 drops and he lots it unopposed. Congrats, John!
A few minutes later Samurai AF2 drops and while he'd love to have it... It goes free-lot to anyone that wants it. We start off with asking if anyone has the job at 70+. No one responds and John is thinking he has the AF2 in his gobbiebag already. But... Not so fast, John. We then ask if anyone has the AF2 65+ and would like to lot it. Only Larry does, so both John and Larry cast lots on the AF2. John gets an amazing 985! But... Larry narrowly beats him out with a 986 and takes the AF2 home with him.
The Even Better Stuff:
All runs with Lumiere will be free!
Well.... For anyone not sponsoring a run. >.>
We do free-entry runs and let items 'free-drop' to any member. I do NOT want people lotting every single gold beastcoin, slime oil, frozen head, etc. that drops in a zone. This is both a waste of time and creates unnecessary spam for those that don't filter lots, which is 99% of the players in Vana'diel!! The only time anyone will be casting lots is when it is either the sponsor casting lots on money / wootz or regular members lotting on AF2 that they're eligible for.
Due to the popularity of sponsoring runs we're going to make sponsoring runs exclusive to max point members. This means if you want to sponsor, you need to have a good attendance rating and keep max points. If you meet the points requirement and get sponsor for a run and then lose a point, your sponsorship status will be revoked and sponsorship will fall to the person with the second highest /random.
If you would like to sponsor a run, you need to either post in that run's thread or contact an Officer at LEAST 8 days prior to the run's /random session. This means that if you'd like to sponsor a run on an upcoming Sunday or Thursday, you need to make it known by Thursday of the week before the /randoms for that run.
After you've declared you want to sponsor, you need to gather in Whitegate on the Friday before your run at 7:30pm EST. For example, if you'd like to sponsor on Sunday, March 15th or Thursday, March 19th you need to be in Whitegate at 7:30pm EST on Friday, March 13th to /random.
The person with the highest /random will be the Sponsor for that run. Sponsors need to be at the Trail Markings for that night's run with the Timeless Hourglass no later than 6:45 pm EST. If you don't show up for a run that you're supposed to sponsor, you'll be unable to sponsor for 8 runs after that night's run (excluding a DC situation after you've gathered at the Trail Markings).
IF a sponsor DC's before a run, a leader will take their place as sponsor for that run.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Changes:
100 pieces of money, "Montiont Silverpiece, 100 Byne Bill, and Lungo-Nungo Jadeshell will now be up for comment in City or Icelands runs. The Sponsor of the run will have the option to buy these items back from members at 25% of market value. The sponsor does NOT have to envoke this option to buy any 100's that drop. The person that gets the drop DOES however have to sell the currency back to the sponsor if they wish to buy it. If the person that gets the drop doesn't sell it back when the sponsor wishes to buy it, they will be removed from the shell.
Currently the market for these items are as follows -
100 Byne Bill - 750k
Montiont Silverpiece - 1.4 mil
Lungo-Nungo Jadeshell - 1.2 mil
Money will also be part of the cooldown system. If you received a 100 piece in the previous run, you will be unable to comment money in the following run. You will be able to lot both of your jobs in the following run with accordance to normal lotting rules.
We are increasing the maximum points from 4 points to 6 points.
Icelands priority lots will be 5 points, and city priority will continue to be 3 points.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Well... That sure was a lot more than I thought it would be. If you have any questions whatsoever or any concerns/issues/etc. that you would like addressed, please let Tbest know. The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask!
(4-14-09)(Some formatting.)
(4-20-09)(Updated values of wootz/100's)
(4-23-09)(Sponsorship changes.)
(4-28-09)(Clarifications)
(4-28-09)(Updated rules per Officer meeting.)
Welcome to the Lumiere forums. We hope you find all of the answers to the questions you have. If you don't, please don't hesitate to ask. =)
First things first...
Welcome to the shell!
We all hope you enjoy your stay here. Many people forget that FFXI is a game above all. We feel that you should play a game because you enjoy it, so if there's ever a time where you aren't enjoying yourself and having fun in our shell, please let us know. =)Basic Info:
Our shell is primarily a Dynamis Linkshell, but we also do both Limbus and ZNM's in addition to being a social shell as well. We're also looking to get into Einherjar as well. ;D We encourage our members to just hang out and chat or do various events with people in the shell outside of Dynamis. Everyone in the shell is a person first and foremost and we'd love to have everyone here be friends and enjoy each other's company.
Our Dynamis run-times are 7:15pm EDT on Thursday nights and 7:30pm EDT on Sunday nights.
We would like everyone in the shell to be at the Trail Markings in the designated area at least 15-30 minutes before we enter so we can start building parties. We will most likely have close to the same party setups each run, which will make building parties and getting ready for the run that much faster.
The Good Stuff:
And now what you're really interested in... We will have a very complicated and complex points system based on a series of variables being plugged into an advanced algorithm... Just kidding...
The points system is pretty easy to understand.
New members have a one run trial period for AF lotting. New members may still lot money on their first run.
For starters, we'll have a main choice and a sub choice for jobs that are 70+ and 65+ respectively.
Simply put, lotting goes like this:
Main Priority > Main > Sub Priority > Sub > Free-lots 70/65/50/ALL
These choices are set in clay, meaning that if you want to change your main or sub choices your points get reset to 0. You are however able to change your main or sub choices at ANY time.
After you've told us your choices for a main and sub, for each run you'll need to set a blue item comment as follows:
------
Main
Sub
Accessory (if applicable)
------
------
Money
------
If you do NOT have this comment set at the start of the run, you will NOT be lotting AF for that job OR money on that run. These main/sub jobs in your comment must also match up with what we have on the site. The reason for this is because if you already have that piece of AF, you won't put up a comment for it. If you don't want an AF for one of your jobs in that run, leave it out of your comment. Therefore, if you don't have a comment up we're going to see it as you either already have it or don't want it. You must also set a money comment with the same blue search comment if you would like to lot money instead of the AF. You can ONLY lot money if you do not have any jobs set as main or sub in your comment.
Now, you're probably asking yourself, "Points? What points?". Each run you do with us from start to finish will net you a whopping 1 point. Our points also cap out at 4. This means that no matter how many consecutive runs you've been with the LS over the first 4, you're on the same level as everyone else.
UPDATE: Some clarification on this, "start to finish" means you're on-time for the run and stay with us without extended AFK periods until the Mega Boss for that zone is killed. Any period after the Mega Boss is killed is farming and is NOT mandatory, but it IS encouraged due to the fact that many more AF2 and Money drops may drop after the MB. For those of you that show up late for a run, you WILL be allowed to enter provided we have a glass-mule outside (9 times out of 10 we will have one.).
HOWEVER, there are some points you need to know about late-entry.
- - - If you're showing up less than 30 minutes after the start time, and stay until the entire run is finished, you WILL get a point for the completion of that run.
- - - If you're showing up more than 30 minutes late, but less than 90 minutes late, you will NOT get a point for the run, but you will also NOT lose one.
- - - If you're showing up over 90 minutes late, you can still enter the run and lot AF/money items that you would normally be eligible for in that run, but you WILL lose a point just like if you had bailed on us without giving notice.
- - - If however, you give us notice and know you have rl things that will cause you to be more than 90 minutes late, you will NOT lose a point. In this event if it's a Thursday run, we may decide that you'd be better off not attending that night.
By now, you may be saying to yourself, "Well gee, that's all fine and dandy, but... How do I go about lotting AF2 in Dynamis? And what do points mean to me? Do you have to have points to lot gear? Do you have to spend points to get gear?"
To lot items with our shell we separate our members into 2 categories when the run begins. We'll have "Priority" members and "Non-Priority" members. Priority members are those members that have completed 3 runs with the shell for City AF (Bastok/Jeuno/San d'Oria/Windurst) and 5 runs with the shell for Icelands AF. What's the benefit of being a Priority member, you ask? Well, that's simple. A Priority member can lot gear ahead of a Non-Priority member for the same class (main/sub). Simply put, you want to be a Priority member.
We will also have a cooldown feature to our lotting system. Once you get a piece of gear for either your main or sub choices or money, that choice is in cooldown and you're unable to lot it in the next run as a Priority or Non-Priority member. You will however be able to lot the item if it goes free-lot. Your job choice 'cools off' after you've completed 1 full run with the shell. This feature is meant to encourage allowing everyone to get AF2 or money instead of a select few monopolizing all of it.
This brings us to the 'multiple AF2 per run' issue. If you go into a Dynamis and want AF2 from both your main and sub choices, and then win lot on either of them, you will be unable to lot the other choice unless it goes free-lot. At that point, you'll be able to lot the AF2 with anyone else who meets the requirements to lot it as a free-lot choice, but... There is a catch. Anyone that hasn't received a piece of gear at that point will be able to lot the free-lot AF2 with a 5-level bonus because we want everyone to feel that sense of accomplishment you get when you are rewarded with a shiny new piece of equipment for your hard work. While it is possible to get more than one piece of AF2 per run, we try to be as fair about it as possible. No one likes seeing someone get 5 pieces of gear in one run... Unless you're the one getting the gear! lol
The main way that a piece of AF2 will go 'free-lot' is if no one comments a particular job as their main or sub choice. We'll first open the lotting to anyone with that job 70+, then 65+, then 50+, then anyone that wants the piece of gear. I will be stating before each run which jobs are free-lot for that run so there isn't any confusion once the piece of AF2 drops. The more time we spend figuring out who can lot what AF2, the less time we have to focus on the run itself. Lotting any gear that goes free-lot will not affect lotting your main or sub choices. That said, however, do not lot a piece of AF2 just to have it. If you're not going to use it, we ask that you allow others who would actually use it, lot first. After everyone that will use the AF2 gets it, then we can start working on getting everyone complete sets.
If you ever have a time that you're going to miss a run, please let us know in advance so we can plan around your absence. If we expect to have 20 people for a run and 4 decide they're not going to show up, that really hurts our group as a whole.
In the event that something unexpected comes up and you're forced to miss a run, don't worry about it. At least, too much anyway. ^.~ You WILL lose a point for a missed run if you don't let us know ahead of time. But, the reason that we have a 4-point cap and a 3-point priority is because we understand that everyone in this shell is a living, breathing person (or at least we hope so anyway...) and real-life always trumps in-game. However... While we're still going to let you lot after you miss a run, there is a downside. After you miss a run with the shell unexpectedly, it will take 2 complete runs for you to make up that lost point. Meaning, if you miss a run on a Thursday, it won't be until the 2nd Sunday before you're back at 4 points again. If you miss two runs in a row, it'll take you 4 complete runs until you can lot as a Priority member in the shell again. Miss 4 runs and you won't be able to lot for 4 runs as a Non-Priority member, and it'll take 6 complete runs until you can lot as a Priority member. After missing 5 runs w/o notice in a row, you'll be taken off the Member list entirely.
As mentioned above with the accessory in your comment; You may choose 1 accessory per Dreamlands Dynamis. This must be for either your main or sub choices.
For AF2-1, you may lot on any AF2-1 that drop in Dreamlands zones provided that the job is one of your main or sub choices and you already have the AF2 that it upgrades. If no one has the job or the AF2 and would still like to lot the piece, it follows the same free-lot guidelines as regular AF2.
To illustrate the differences and who can lot what gear when, I'll give you a few examples.
We'll use the names John and Sue for these examples.
John and Sue both want the same pieces of gear for their main and sub choices, Drk for their main and Sam for their sub. We'll also assume that they are the only ones wanting Drk or Sam for their main or sub choices that run.
John however has completed 3 runs with the shell and Sue has only completed 1 run with us.
Drk AF2 drops and both want to lot, but because John's a priority member, he gets to lot the item unopposed. Congrats, John! =D
A few minutes later, Samurai AF2 drops. Normally John would get to lot this item ahead of Sue as well, but because he already got an AF2 this run, Sue gets to lot the item unopposed. Congrats, Sue! =D
For our next example, we'll show exactly what will happen when someone gets a piece of AF and no one has commented their 2nd choice for that run.
John comes into Dynamis and has Drk and Sam choices for his main and sub.
Dark Knight AF2 drops and he lots it unopposed. Congrats, John!
A few minutes later Samurai AF2 drops and while he'd love to have it... It goes free-lot to anyone that wants it. We start off with asking if anyone has the job at 70+. No one responds and John is thinking he has the AF2 in his gobbiebag already. But... Not so fast, John. We then ask if anyone has the AF2 65+ and would like to lot it. Only Larry does, so both John and Larry cast lots on the AF2. John gets an amazing 985! But... Larry narrowly beats him out with a 986 and takes the AF2 home with him.
The Even Better Stuff:
All runs with Lumiere will be free!
Well.... For anyone not sponsoring a run. >.>
We do free-entry runs and let items 'free-drop' to any member. I do NOT want people lotting every single gold beastcoin, slime oil, frozen head, etc. that drops in a zone. This is both a waste of time and creates unnecessary spam for those that don't filter lots, which is 99% of the players in Vana'diel!! The only time anyone will be casting lots is when it is either the sponsor casting lots on money / wootz or regular members lotting on AF2 that they're eligible for.
Due to the popularity of sponsoring runs we're going to make sponsoring runs exclusive to max point members. This means if you want to sponsor, you need to have a good attendance rating and keep max points. If you meet the points requirement and get sponsor for a run and then lose a point, your sponsorship status will be revoked and sponsorship will fall to the person with the second highest /random.
If you would like to sponsor a run, you need to either post in that run's thread or contact an Officer at LEAST 8 days prior to the run's /random session. This means that if you'd like to sponsor a run on an upcoming Sunday or Thursday, you need to make it known by Thursday of the week before the /randoms for that run.
After you've declared you want to sponsor, you need to gather in Whitegate on the Friday before your run at 7:30pm EST. For example, if you'd like to sponsor on Sunday, March 15th or Thursday, March 19th you need to be in Whitegate at 7:30pm EST on Friday, March 13th to /random.
The person with the highest /random will be the Sponsor for that run. Sponsors need to be at the Trail Markings for that night's run with the Timeless Hourglass no later than 6:45 pm EST. If you don't show up for a run that you're supposed to sponsor, you'll be unable to sponsor for 8 runs after that night's run (excluding a DC situation after you've gathered at the Trail Markings).
IF a sponsor DC's before a run, a leader will take their place as sponsor for that run.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Recent Changes:
100 pieces of money, "Montiont Silverpiece, 100 Byne Bill, and Lungo-Nungo Jadeshell will now be up for comment in City or Icelands runs. The Sponsor of the run will have the option to buy these items back from members at 25% of market value. The sponsor does NOT have to envoke this option to buy any 100's that drop. The person that gets the drop DOES however have to sell the currency back to the sponsor if they wish to buy it. If the person that gets the drop doesn't sell it back when the sponsor wishes to buy it, they will be removed from the shell.
Currently the market for these items are as follows -
100 Byne Bill - 750k
Montiont Silverpiece - 1.4 mil
Lungo-Nungo Jadeshell - 1.2 mil
Money will also be part of the cooldown system. If you received a 100 piece in the previous run, you will be unable to comment money in the following run. You will be able to lot both of your jobs in the following run with accordance to normal lotting rules.
We are increasing the maximum points from 4 points to 6 points.
Icelands priority lots will be 5 points, and city priority will continue to be 3 points.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Well... That sure was a lot more than I thought it would be. If you have any questions whatsoever or any concerns/issues/etc. that you would like addressed, please let Tbest know. The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask!
(4-14-09)(Some formatting.)
(4-20-09)(Updated values of wootz/100's)
(4-23-09)(Sponsorship changes.)
(4-28-09)(Clarifications)
(4-28-09)(Updated rules per Officer meeting.)
