Questions from a newcomer

[Aryslan]

Hello all,
im downloading the free trial and wanted to make some questions to have a good start.
Basically i come from many other MMO and would like to taste something different, all this time i have been far from FFXI cause every review said it was very exp grinding but i think the game could satisfy my tastes. Is true that is very exp grinding?

Now for the gaming questions. I always play the rogue classes because i find them more interesting and funny to play, so my first char will be Thief. What race should i choose for it? Elvaan are uber strongh at high lvls but lack intelect so magics could be better, mithra are agile but have low VIT and hume are balanced, i would go Hume but would like to know your opinion.

Another thing is what server would you choose? Is the community good (in general)? Are there more things to do aside of killing for XP(social content, events, crafting and such)?And one last question, what allegiance would you choose for a Hume, elvaan and mithra?

Hope to see you ingame.

[Feba]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

FFXI has plenty of grinding, although SE is pretty much always improving it through various means.

Racial stats are almost completely irrelevant. You will be staring at your character for a long time. Go with something you like looking at.

Pretty much any server is good, and the community is pretty much good everywhere. SE encourages people to go to the following servers:
-Pandemonium World
-Garuda World
-Kujata World
-Seraph World
-Lakshmi World
-Midgardsormr World
-Fairy World
-Asura World
-Remora World
-Hades World

because of their populations.

national allegiance is also pretty much irrelevant. Go with whichever one seems most interesting on the intro scene. Personally, I'd recommend Windurst, but that's more than a little biased.

[Aryslan]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

The class i like most in term of looks are elvaan, i find them cold. So are racial stats so irrelevant? Dont have a big impact in high end?

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

The class i like most in term of looks are elvaan, i find them cold. So are racial stats so irrelevant? Dont have a big impact in high end?

Yes, racial stats are hardly relevant: be an Elvaan if you so desire. The only stats that really differ significantly in the long run are HP and MP, and even then a lack in either could be made up for with skill and gear.

[Durahansolo]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

Hello all,
im downloading the free trial and wanted to make some questions to have a good start.
Basically i come from many other MMO and would like to taste something different, all this time i have been far from FFXI cause every review said it was very exp grinding but i think the game could satisfy my tastes. Is true that is very exp grinding?

Now for the gaming questions. I always play the rogue classes because i find them more interesting and funny to play, so my first char will be Thief. What race should i choose for it? Elvaan are uber strongh at high lvls but lack intelect so magics could be better, mithra are agile but have low VIT and hume are balanced, i would go Hume but would like to know your opinion.

Another thing is what server would you choose? Is the community good (in general)? Are there more things to do aside of killing for XP(social content, events, crafting and such)?And one last question, what allegiance would you choose for a Hume, elvaan and mithra?

Hope to see you ingame.

I noticed you are leaving out two races, Tarutaru and Galka.

The closer you get towards endgame in level, the more equipment you have access to that can even out the slight descrepencies between the races. It doesn't really matter which race you pick, just don't get off on that "Well Elvaan has low Dex so it can't hit anything." because its a lie.

Servers don't really matter at this stage, but Bahamut is kicking people out because there are too many peeps there and you can't get on that server now.

Social Events would depend on your linkshells mainly {Endgame: Salvage, Dynamis, Etc.; Social/Pick-Up Groups (Dependent on levels): Garrisons, BCNMs, Etc.}

XP is a grind, but it has been made easier as of late with Fields of Valor and the slight XP upgrade for killing Easy Prey or Decent Challenge mobs.

There is crafting in the game and yep its time consuming and so is farming. One of the best resources for ffxi is www.ffxiclopedia.com it lists all the currently known recipes and has info on all of the jobs/races/events/missions and pretty much anything you'd want to know.

Allegiance doesn't matter except some places are closer to others, that is the only main difference. Each nation also has gear specific to different jobs.

Would've posted sooner but somebody kept looking over my shoulder at work >_>

[Aryslan]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

Thx for the nice explanation.
Yep i know i left 2 classes out, but as i dont want to become a mage or a pure tank i left out the Tarutaru and Galka.
I have been looking at videos on youtube and if the difference between classes is only looks as stats are almost negligible, i will go Hume. Elvaan performing WS are not so nice as other races and i would play a male Mithra but playing a female for a thief is not my kind of style.
Anyway im checking the link you gave me, nice stuff.

[Mhurron]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

Yep i know i left 2 classes out, but as i dont want to become a mage or a pure tank i left out the Tarutaru and Galka.

As has been said, race makes very little real difference. A Galka is not a pure tank over anything else any more then any other race and the same goes for a TaruTaru not being the one true mage race.

Galka and Elvaan are butt ugly however. You have to live with that shame creating either one.

[Nuriko]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

Race does not dictate class. As a matter of fact, Tarutaru can be highly effective in the tank role, certainly as PLD. They have less HP, but a HUGE MP pool to work with. Likewise, Galka can be mages easily enough, though they'll be short on MP. Still, be the race you want to be and don't worry too much about jobs initially ... besides, you can try them all!

[Durahansolo]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

The closer you get towards endgame in level, the more equipment you have access to that can even out the slight descrepencies between the races. It doesn't really matter which race you pick, just don't get off on that "Well Elvaan has low Dex so it can't hit anything." because its a lie.

Yep i know i left 2 classes out, but as i dont want to become a mage or a pure tank i left out the Tarutaru and Galka.

This fits in that category as well. Don't just attribute Galka and Tarutaru's skills limit them to Tanking and Magicks. There are Taru tanks and dare I say there are Galka Mages as well.

EDIT: I was beaten to the punch ;_;

[Aryslan]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

My bad.
With my post i wanted to say that Tarutaru look fragile and Galka to bulky to fit specific classes to my likes. Although it has been said, Tarutaru perform very well as Paladin, but for me its strange to see a small/fragile race performing such job, same happens with a Galka ninja for example, in my mind that image is like an elephant in a glass shop.

[Andrinor]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

Racial stats are almost completely irrelevant. You will be staring at your character for a long time. Go with something you like looking at.

This.

Some people have literally a year of cumulative playtime on their characters. Why spend a year staring at something that you don't find aesthetically pleasing? I chose Mithra because I liked how they looked, and I've leveled multiple job types with little difficulty due to racial differences.

Town is a little bit more strategic to choose. Depending on your server, some cities dominate a function called "Conquest" which can affect the availability of goods in your town. Choosing Bastok on Lakshmi for example would really hurt your selection in many shops most of the time. Also, if you intend to craft it may be useful to investigate which towns have access to which guilds so you can be near your guild of choice. Additionally, if you select a town that is considered the "Home City" for your chosen race you get a free level 1 magical ring to start the game with. Is it essential? No but it's nice to know. Home cities by the way are Windurst for Tarutaru and Mithra, Bastok for Humes and Galka, and San'Doria for Elvaan. It is relatively easy to change allegiances later if you decide you want to, but these choices may make the game a little easier to start on.

Hope you enjoy the game! Check back in and tell us what you think, and be sure to ask more questions as they come up!

[Firewind]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

I'd just like to add that if you want to play as a Thief or Black Mage the lack of a subjob when you first start out might make it difficult if you are just starting out. Because you can change jobs whenever you feel like a lot of people recomend either Warrior or Red Mage if you are just starting out then switching to your desired class once subjobs are unlocked. Warrior is also a very useful subjob for Thief so you will have a good headstart on a useful subjob and you will also have money and leftover gear that a Thief could possibally use.

[Durahansolo]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

Tarutaru perform very well as Paladin, but for me its strange to see a small/fragile race performing such job, same happens with a Galka ninja for example, in my mind that image is like an elephant in a glass shop.

Kinda off Topic>>
I have to admit though I cheer any time I see Paladin that is any race, but when I see Taru tanking and doing awesome job I have to comment on it. I don't think I've ever been in a party with a Taru PLD that couldn't tank very well, matter of a fact I have a good friend who is a 75PLD Taru so I harass him when we're in parties together for whatever reason, it's all in good fun lol. Also that Galka ninja crack made me lol. Galka MNK, WAR, DRG, and BLU are pretty awesome to watch as well IMO. I haven't seen many of them play jobs outside of DD, but I will see a WHM or BLM every once in a blue moon.

[Aryslan]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

Aha this is the kind of info i was looking for.
Basically i am fed up with hack and slash MMORPG and i was told this one is more of thinking and taking your time instead of rushing on.
I have been reading ffxiclopedia and i must say im impressed. This game has more features than I thought, and well grinding exists, thats shit IMO but every other MMO has it too, so WTH. Today will create both chars, a Hume and Mithra and will see wich gets the final word. Havent found any video of Hume performing WS, Mithra are very cool, Elvaan are very *plain* they perform the WS as if they were tired.

I am reading now the section about job and supporting job. Obviously THF and NIN are the classes that suits me most, thing is difference between the choice of which one is Main and support job. I guess a THF/NIN is more rogue oriented and NIN/THF is more damage dealer, still havent finish reading tho.
If the grinding is not so bad this game could hook me up for a long time, anyone that played Lineage 2 could tell me if the grind is... korean like?

BTW wanted to thank you all, didnt expect such participation level and help from the community.

---------- Post added at 04:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:34 PM ----------

I'd just like to add that if you want to play as a Thief or Black Mage the lack of a subjob when you first start out might make it difficult if you are just starting out. Because you can change jobs whenever you feel like a lot of people recomend either Warrior or Red Mage if you are just starting out then switching to your desired class once subjobs are unlocked. Warrior is also a very useful subjob for Thief so you will have a good headstart on a useful subjob and you will also have money and leftover gear that a Thief could possibally use.

Much apreciated mate, i suppose if i lvl WAR to lvl 15 and change to THF and later on change back to WAR, it will continue from lvl 15 no?

[Feba]

Re: Questions from a newcomer

don't get too set in your job choices. FFXI plays differently enough from other games that you might find yourself preferring something else.