Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

[Darez]

I quit ffxi back in 2004 (before the release of ToAU) and just recently restored my lv64 RDM. It looks like most PTs go to ToAU areas to level now. I'm not looking to do assaults at the moment, so is there any staging point I can skip if I just need to reach to common leveling areas in lv60-75?

[Greylynx]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

Halvung Staging point is necessary until level ~68
Azomph Isle is necessary from 68+
Nyzul Isle is needed from 73+
Some people party on Mams/Puks using Mamool Ja Staging point.

Illrusi Atoll and Perqia are not necessary for any XP party that I can think of.

[Raydeus]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

Gotta catch 'em all.

[Lunaryn]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

Of the three cited, only Halvung is remotely difficult. If you have a fully-leveled BLM sub you should be fine.

Halvung: Enter Halvung and cast Escape to reach Mt. Zhayolm. Sneak/Invis and take the passage to the northwest. Once through there follow the eastern wall north until you reach the staging point. Take care if Invis starts to wear near clusters as they aggro magic; a Prism Powder may come in handy.

Azouph: I normally do this one on the Supplies Package mission, as it's quite simple. Take the ferry to Nashmau, take the north exit. Only chigoe and imps aggro along the path, so you can try aggro-dodging instead of s/i if you wish (keep in mind that chigoe are small, dark, untargettable, and unnamed). There are a few imps near the final approach to the staging point; if you're lucky there may be a merit party camping these, if not, just wait for an opportunity to run past. Be sure to check the map of Caedarva Mire on http://www.ffxi-atlas.com/ before setting out.

Nyzul: Extremely easy as long as you can reference the maps as you go. Grab an Imperial Silver Piece and head to Alzadaal Undersea Ruins, by chocobo if it's available. Trade a silver piece to the guard to enter. Note that entrances are all over the place; most of them all link together in the end, but if you're setting out from Nashmau, head to the entrance to the east of the city, as the one to the west just takes you over toward Dvucca Isle staging point.
Once inside, you'll follow a sequence of teleporters until you reach the large central area. Head to the easternmost section of this area to reach the staging point. You don't need to bother with sneak/invis; the only mobs in Alzadaal are Qiqirn, which are not aggressive.


As for assaults, you may want to look into them too, even if you're not yet interested; there are some nice rewards to be had, and the missions are more unusual in many cases than a lot of events in the game. Halvung will get you access to the most popular PSC Assault, Excavation Duty. So far the only assaults I've done are Excavation Duty and Golden Salvage (Ilrusi Atoll, unfortunately not an easy staging point to get, as it involves aggro-dodging Soulflayers, and Imps in close quarters...)

[Akashimo]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

Ray >_> If 1) I wasn't in class 2) had FFXI with me and 3) didn't have Dynamis when I can log in, I'd get on Nekoai and give you a HARD manthra slap for that comment

To OP:
I'd recommend doing them all to save any future delays and headaches. All of them can easily be soloed and I strongly recommend you get a map to guide yourself if you don't know the way. Mamoo Ja Staging point can be tricky cause of the lack of the better details how's laid out. Also, If you see Sahagin, you know you're in the wrong area. Also, these staging points, with exception to Nyzle Isle, have true sight/sound mobs near them, so be ready to zerg run/sleeps.

[Necropolis]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

I used this site to get all my staging points:
http://d3adma.tripod.com/

I had trouble with the mamook one, just keep a reraise item with you, or go on whm (if it's to a level with reraise). Rest is just a matter of being a neeeeeenja MGS style.

p.s. I hate chioges.

[Darez]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

Many thanks everyone. I've completed Halvung, Azomph Isle, and Nyzul Isle staging points. Nyzul Isle was indeed extremely easy; choco'ed there, bought the map and completed a ToAU mission along the way. I'll work on the Mamool Ja staging point next.

On the other hand, I'll delay getting Illrusi staging point for now. Forgot to get a map, spent over 30 mins walking till I see the final door leading to the staging point, yet an imp noticed me and casted -ga spells. I had to chainspell + warp. I think I'll try again when I'm lv70+ so I can elemental seal + sleepga them. I don't want to use reraise, especially since you guys mention Illrusi isn't used for leveling PTs.

One final question... are all the area names in JP client the same as in NA client, or are they in japanese characters? I.e. if in my search comment I say something like "{Runic Portal}: halvung, azomph, nyzul, mamool", would JP players understand?

[Greylynx]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

People tend to put comments like {Runic Portal} 4/6 in their search comments. I don't ever recall seeing someone list them out.

As a side comment, don't rule out doing assaults. I have an assault static that does it twice a week, and its currently the most fun I am having in the game. Its a fun, challenging activity you can do with close freinds, and EVERYONE gets something out of it (purchasable with Assault Points). Much more fun then NM camping or point based LSs, in my opinion.

[Lunaryn]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

I've only once managed to sneak past the imps without aggro, when trying to get to the prison cells from the staging point. There is something to be said for just running like a bat out of hell; if only one Imp is on you, there's a good chance it'll stop to cast Ancient Magic; you can get far enough ahead to avoid damage and get through the staging point door before it catches up. A THF sub for Flee would help with this but probably isn't necessary given the casting. (Pretty sure I've made it through without using Flee)

[Olorin401]

Re: Which staging points are necessary for exp PTs?

Halvung Staging point is necessary until level ~68
Azomph Isle is necessary from 68+
Nyzul Isle is needed from 73+
Some people party on Mams/Puks using Mamool Ja Staging point.
Ilrusi Atoll and Perqia are not necessary for any XP party that I can think of.

I'm one of a very few people who will take an exp/limit party at the Periqia camp. It's not a good camp for TP burn parties, since you'll be fighting Qutrub along with the imps, jnuns and occasional bones.. but if you want to get a bunch of skillups it's fantastic.

I also camped for limit points northeast of Nashmau fighting treants and imps (on the opposite side of the graveyard, to the west of Talacca Cove). Again it's not a great camp for getting chain exp, and I didn't like it as much because Pinecone Bomb just plain sucks.