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**Ellipses** · 06-19-2006, 06:17 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

Welcome to the game.

1. In general, all over the place. Each city has a map vendor that sells some maps, some you get for doing quests, some you get for obtaining a certain rank, some you open treasure coffers for, etc. The one in particular you're looking for, Dangruf Wadi, is the reward for this quest.

2. No, you don't get fame for crystals. You get ranking. You won't actually go up a rank, but if you go under Status > Profile you'll see Rank bar that's partially full. Sometimes before you can accept your next Mission, you have to fill this bar up to a certain level. One way to do that is to trade crystals in to your nation's guards. In the case of Bastok, that would be the Iron Musketeers: guys with "I.M." after their name who give you signet. Fame is completely different.

3. Type "/inv" to put up your party flag. It can take on or off switches ("/inv on" or "/inv off") if you want to be explicit, otherwise it just switches it off and on. You should also look into search comments. There are commands for these, /sc and /scu, which make it handy to macro them. But for starting out, it's easier to just use the menu: Search > Edit Comments > Exp Party.

To find other people in your level range who are LFG, type "/sea all xx-yy inv" where xx-yy is the level range you're interested in. Generally, you want a three-level spread at most in a party (e.g., 21-23). The "all" means in the whole world. If you leave that out, it will only search the zone you're in. You can also use "region" to mean the current region (e.g. if you're in South Gustaberg it will search S.Gusta, N.Gusta, Dangruf Wadi, and Palborough Mines). The "inv" part narrows it down to just those players LFG. You can also do this from the menu "Search" button, but I'm not really familiar with it. Most of the time it's just faster to type the command line.

4. It's not unwise. Most Beastmasters sub White Mage or Ninja for solo play, and Warrior or Ninja for partying. Even if you find out you never had to level Warrior to begin with for the job combo you end up wanting to play, the only thing you lose leveling it is a little time.

**Asir** · 06-19-2006, 06:39 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

The first hour or two can be very frustrating. I ran into the same problem of not being able to figure out what to do and no one seemed willing to help. Looking back, I realized it was because it was 2 in the morning on a weekday which put it somewhere in JP prime time.

Ellipses covered most of your questions. Although I would like to add to his crystal explanation by stating that you can only turn in Crystals after you achieve Rank 2. And just to cover all the bases, the cost of the crystals has no bearing on how much it fills your rank meter.

If you plan to solo Beastmaster, the best part about it is you can sub what you want, when you want. The best thing about BSTs though is how wonderfully snugglable they look in their AF regardless of their race. BSTs with a good jug pet can be wonderful damage dealers in a party as well so having all the basic subs covered is usually a good idea.

**Haggai** · 06-19-2006, 06:49 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

1. Maps are acquired in different places / different ways. There is a little girl in Port Bastok that sells maps I think her name is Brita. Mission 1-2 includes going into Dangruf Wadi. Dangruf Wadi map is obtained by trading a bone chip to an old guy in Bastok Markets down by the zone to Bastok Mines. Bone chips drop like candy from Enchanted Bones in Gustaberg. A level 10 should have no problem soloing these guys. You'll probably want to be level 10 to go into the Wadi anyway. Safer that way. More info on obtaining maps: http://www.ffxi-atlas.com/quest-npc.php

2. You can trade crystals to the I.M. NPC near the mission giver NPC. It just fills your rank bar found in Status -> Profile. Sometimes you need a higher rank bar to obtain the next mission. You can also skip some missions by filling your rank bar. Don't make a habit of doing this, it's mostly useless. Only do this when you can't seem to get the next mission, or if you want to skip a mission. I also hope you are selling crystals and other items at the Auction House and not to NPCs. You get much more money at AH.

3. Searching for LFG and putting yourself LFG is done through "Party" in the menu. Just take a look, it's pretty self explanitory. If you are level 10, you can go to Valkurm Dunes and put up your LFG flag. You won't wait long there. Thats where most people go to party level 10-20. There are always parties being made and re-made.

4. Beastmaster is a fun job. While Warrior isn't a bad choice, White Mage would probably be a better choice. BST/WHM is the most commonly used combination for Beastmaster. Since you will be soloing, You need to be able to cure yourself and cure status ailments easily.

If you are looking to party with Beastmaster, realize that many people have an uneducated notion that Beastmaster pets hurt EXP, therefore BSTs don't get invited often. The only EXP that is hurt by pets is the Beastmaster's EXP. That's only if you use wild pets. Jug pets incur no EXP loss. Good Beastmaster party sub jobs include Warrior & Ninja.

Ninja can also be used for solo play.

Another reason White Mage is a better choice to take to 30 first is that you can solo the Beastmaster job quest at no cost. It includes walking through Qufim Island, which can be dangerous. A White Mage can just Sneak / Invisible himself though the island, and then Sneak himself to get the Night Flowers for the quest which are guarded by a Kraken.

If you really want Beastmaster, my suggestion is to do BLM 18, get your subjob, take WHM/BLM to 30. Unlock Beastmaster and go from there. You could replace BLM with RDM, but taking BLM to 18 means you get access to that nice utility spell Warp. You can save money on Warp Cudgels and CP on Instant Warp Scrolls that way.

EDIT: Wow it looks like Ellipses's post was up 30 minutes before I posted mine. While true, it was only because I'm at work and keep getting interrupted while trying to type this out. No disrespect was meant to Ellipses. I will leave my post as is.

**Lasswyn** · 06-19-2006, 06:54 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

I'm sure people don't mean to be unfriendly, but sometimes from their perspective, receiving a /tell out of the blue from someone they don't know is roughly the equivalent of someone sneaking up behind them, tapping them on the shoulder, and whispering in their ear. And then they're, like, um....who's tapping? >.> Some of them might be just plain tired of answering questions from new players, but that's just the way some of them are, try not to be offended.

For the first few weeks of my FFXI career, it was just me and my Brady Guide (*cough cough wheeeze*) until a passing Galka spotted me and gave me a Linkpearl. Through that Linkshell I met most of my friends, and my in-game fiancÃ© (wedding's on July 7th! ^^*). If you don't have a Linkshell, pay attention to anyone in town who's shouting to recruit new members. If you have an LS and it's not as active as you'd like it to be, keep your eyes and ears open for a new one. I'll bet some people bounce around to a few shells in the beginning until they find their niche, but all in all, if you're looking to network with people and make new friends, that's the way to do it.

**Fenzark** · 06-19-2006, 07:24 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

Actually, funny thing is I met a guy out in the open, who I asked just a little question to -- and after some talking he gave me a Linkpearl , which enabled me to speak through the Linkshell! This really helped as people answered my questions, etc.

You guys are so right, however. The beginning was certainly the most frustrating, but now that I'm slightly starting to see the game mechanics it's become a much much better experience. Finally looking up to be the game I was hoping I got!

I'm just gonna' focus on "grinding" low-level mobs till I can get to that zone to complete the missions.

Will doing quests give experience, or just item rewards?

Also, where do you suggest I go to gain joblevels from 1-10, 10-20, etc?

Thanks for all the input guys!! This is really great, as it helps me (and others, I'm sure) alot!!

Edit: Also, I was wondering, as a WAR, how do I tank? I want to be a good and efficient player, so now (I'm just level 4, I know, it's horribly bad

), and I heard that you aquire a skill at level 5 which enables you to hold aggro, Provok I think it was. How this work? Any wise words to a new, aspiring WAR?

**Murphie** · 06-19-2006, 07:32 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

Originally posted by Fenzark

Will doing quests give experience, or just item rewards?

Quests give item (or gil) rewards, and raise your "Fame" in the city that you get the quest from (with a couple of rare exceptions). Fame determines how well known you are in that area, and affects which quests you are able to recieve, and how much you pay for items from NPCs. But no exp.

Also, where do you suggest I go to gain joblevels from 1-10, 10-20, etc?

Thanks for all the input guys!! This is really great, as it helps me (and others, I'm sure) alot!!

You can easily get 1-10 in your starting zones. The further you move from your city, the tougher the mobs will get. Once you reach level 10 or so, you can move to an intermediate area (I like Dangruf Wadi, becuase of the drops, and easy kills), until you are in your early teens. Then you can move on to the Konschtat Highlands, which is north of Gustaberg.

You can go to Valkurm Dunes as early as level 10 to start partying, but you might want to wait a while (until 13-14) so you can get a better handle on how to use your skills, and how mobs work. But that's ultimately your call.

Edit: Also, I was wondering, as a WAR, how do I tank? I want to be a good and efficient player, so now (I'm just level 4, I know, it's horribly bad

) , and I heard that you aquire a skill at level 5 which enables you to hold aggro, Provok I think it was. How this work? Any wise words to a new, aspiring WAR?

Yes, at level 5 you'll gain Provoke, which is the main way in which a WAR maintains hate. They also maintain hate via the damage they do, which is greatly helped by using their A rated weapons, which are Axe and Great Axe (you can buy them from NPC vendors). The game starts you out with a sword, which can be confusing, but Axes are really where it is at for a WAR.

http://ffxi.somepage.com/ - Is a great reference point for finding armor and weapons for your level. Bookmark it and use it liberally.^^

**Fenzark** · 06-19-2006, 08:05 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

Thanks, that really helped Aelathir!

Now, what I'm wondering of now. I'm trying to do a quest in N. Gustaberg, called Siren's Tear. I'm supposed to take of my gloves and weapon, and find a ??? somewhere by the river. I have no idea what this thing looks like, how I can click it, etc. . I've been walking up and down the river, feeling kind of clueless here. A little clue, perhaps?

**Murphie** · 06-19-2006, 08:10 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

If you just tab around that area, you should eventually target a ???. It's not too tough.^^

**Fenzark** · 06-19-2006, 08:12 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

That simple, huh? ^^ Thanks alot!

**Icemage** · 06-19-2006, 08:13 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

From Port Bastok, enter North Gustaberg.

For the Siren's Tear quest, the ??? (it'll actually show up as a targettable "point" if you use the Tab key to scan for targets) along the first river you pass just west of the zoneline from Port Bastok into North Gustaberg. There are two bridges across the river, and the "???" can appear anywhere along the shoreline of the river.

You can wear gloves, but must not have any weapons or shields equipped, or you'll have to find the "???" again to try again (it respawns randomly somewhere else on the shoreline every time it's touched by a player).

Icemage

**Haggai** · 06-19-2006, 08:23 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

Quests only give items, gil and fame. No EXP is ever gained from a quest. Unless you count escort quests which give a Dragon Chronicles Page / Memoirs Page. When used, the page gives EXP. Those quests are hard and there aren't many. Chocobo escort quests also give those, but they can only be done once per week.

For levels 1-10, mainly stick in Gustaberg. At around 8-10 you can venture into Dangruf Wadi, Palborough Mines, or Konschtat Highlands for better EXP, but it is harder. In fact, Palborough and Dangruf can be dangerous, as you aren't out in an open space, but it is up to you.

10-20 is generally Valkurm Dunes (north of Konschtat). 20-25 is Qufim Island (near Jeuno). 25-30something is in Yuhtunga/Yhoater Jungle. After that, there are many options that people like to use. These are the 'usual' leveling spots, you can go anywhere you like, but realize that these are the 'norm.'

Tanking as WAR: keep all armor up to date for DEF, keep weapon up to date (Great Axe is WAR's best weapon). Use Provoke on the mob as soon as the recast is up. Along with Provoke, a Warrior holds hate by doing damage.

When you hit 5, use provoke on a low level monster to see what it does. You will find Provoke in Job Abilities, which can be accessed by hitting Control-J.

Tips for Bastok newbies:

From level 1, kill monsters in Zeruhn Mines for Zeruhn Soot. Trade three at a time to Gerbaum in Bastok Mines for 150 gil and fame. Later, you will be glad you did this when you want to try and expand your Mog Safe. Fame is a necessity.

Don't go past the guarded gate in Zeruhn Mines, it's dangerous.

At around level 6-7-ish, go up on the hills in North and South Gustaberg and kill Maneating Hornets for Beehive Chips and EXP. They drop chips often. Kill these guys until you no longer get EXP from them. Yes, the leveling will be slow toward the end, but you will be the richest Level 10 newbie around. Sell chips at Auction House in stacks. Alchemists love beehive chips.

Quadavs in Konschtat are easier to kill than in Palborough for fetich pieces when you want to do Mission 1-3. You can also buy them at the AH real cheap.

When you go to Konschtat Highlands for the first time, go to the Crag of Dem and get your Dem Gate Crystal key item. In fact, do this at all Crags that you come across. This enables you to teleport to these crags with help of a 36+ WHM. While there, trade any crystal to the Telepoint and get a faded crystal. You will need it for Mission 2-1. Also do quest The Signpost Marks the Spot at the same time. Might as well, you'll be in the area.

**Nakti** · 06-19-2006, 08:48 AM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

If you haven't figured out how to use the Auction House, I've written a little article on it. It's still version 1.0 so some formatting is messed up.

Talk to all the NPCs. You'll get to know quite a lot about Vana'diel and pick up some easy quests. The more quests you do, the more fame you get and you'll get access to additional quests.

The previous posters have covered quite a lot. ^^b

**MadCrom** · 06-19-2006, 02:09 PM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

Welcome to Alexander!!!! My ingame is Snoogins send me a /tell if you everneed help with anything!!!!

**Fenzark** · 06-19-2006, 04:40 PM

Re: A newbie with some questions!

Thanks alot guys! After alot of deciding I figured I wanted to try out a THF, so .. I sort of deleted my guy. Really shouldn't have done that. =/

Atleast one learns from one mistakes, though. I'll try a THF tomorrow, and I'm prepared to get frustrated, soo .. any wise words guys?

Edit: Goes without saying I didn't understand the job system, lol