New to FFXI

[Godjinrai]

Hi all, I'm brand new to the game. I have played lots of MMOs in the past but just never picked this one up for one reason or another. I know it has been out for a long time now, but I saw it was only $19.99 on steam and thought maybe I would give it a shot. I started a white mage because I was thinking of becoming a bard or another mage type, not really sure yet. I'm on the fairy server only because I read other forums and saw a lot of people posting that was the server they played on. If any of you are on there my character name is the same as this forum name (Godjinrai) feel free to throw me a tell, I'm sure I will have lots of questions of you veterans. Well look forward to meeting some of you, and thanks for your time.

Been playing for about an hour now and I can't believe how tough the starting area is. I have died so many times already. Tough learning curve I suppose, different from all other MMOs I have played for sure.

[Takelli]

Re: New to FFXI

Yea. Whm is a hard job to level with out a sub, especially when starting. Just be sure to cast your cures between mob attacks. They cast fast enough. Right after the mob attacks you, you can get a cure off if you start casting it then. Also, use Dia at the start of every fight. That will help your kills go by a lot faster as it lowers the mobs def, and gives it a DoT effect.

Might also want to grab some meat. (No dirty jokes I know some one will!) ITs fairly cheap. Meat Jerky is easy to craft and cheap as well. It lasts for 30 mins and it increases your attack which will help you kill even faster.

Also... Welcome to FFXI, and hope you enjoy your stay!

[Armando]

Re: New to FFXI

Tough learning curve I suppose, different from all other MMOs I have played for sure.

Starting areas are quite easy, you just gotta know what you're doing. For starters you want to be eating Meat Jerky any time you're fighting (the starter quests will give you these as a reward early on.) You also want to be using the weapon with the highest DPS available to you (for a starting WHM, I recommend an Ash Club) and a nice big round shield (Lauan Shield.) You can get both of these quite cheaply from the NPC shops at Port Windurst (hint: low level equipment and spells are almost always cheaper from NPCs than the Auction House - use FFXIClopedia.org to look up items, it'll give you their NPC prices and where they can be bought.) You can talk to those books outside the gates to enlist in training regimes for extra EXP, gil, and tabs - use the tabs to buy Refresh from the very same books and you'll never have MP troubles. Finally, always stick to Easy Prey mobs when possible, avoid Even Match or higher, and save your MP mainly for Cures unless you're recovering more than you're using.

For game mechanics and item lookups, use FFXIClopedia. For finding equipment, FFXIAH.com has a very nice advanced search that lets you find equipment for your job and level range and sort it (very handy for finding weapons, since you can sort by DPS.)

Hope that helped, happy hunting, and welcome to the game.

P.S. Never ever ever throw away Beastmen's Seals.

EDIT: Oh yeah, does Steam let you update FFXI or do you still have to download the patches through Playonline?

[Godjinrai]

Re: New to FFXI

Thank you all for the advice. I will have to look into getting some of that stuff you mentioned. And as far as the updates go, you have to still use Play online, which is kind of annoying. But oh well.

Been looking for items, realize I can't really afford anything. I'm still level 1. I been trying to kill the basic stuff out front and at times have to use all my mana healing my self just to win, sometimes I still die. I do almost no damage. These mushroom things I have to kill for that book quest cast regen, sleep, and some other spell. They sleep me and then cast regen and heal faster then I can do damage. It seems kind of stupid for being the "noob area" but I guess that's what makes the game tough.

[Takelli]

Re: New to FFXI

If you are attacking the Funguars, then you are too far in. Do page 1 if you are level 1. It gives you a lvl guide to follow. But as you lvl up, they get harder and you will some times need to be stronger than the max lvl it shows.

[cidbahamut]

Re: New to FFXI

Welcome to Vanadiel, where you lose your pants when you die.(True story)

[Nuriko]

Re: New to FFXI

If you don't have SOME form of weapon that you can use as WHM, do a few levels of MNK for things to sell. Don't forget Signet, it allows crystals to drop for one thing, and you should be killing mobs VERY near the gates. BTW, are the "mushroom" mobs mandragora? The tiny ones near the gates should be easy. In any case, don't go past page 1 or 2 of FoV quite yet...

[pixiehawk]

Re: New to FFXI

Always do a check on the mobs before you attack. Sub job less I would never do an "Even match" or any kind of "Tough". If you take on one of those mobs it will probably eat you. The way to check a mob (if you have not found it yet) is to target it, then hit enter. A menu will pop up and one of the options is "Check". Click that and it will tell you how the mob stacks up against your current level. You want "Easy Prey" or "Decent Challenge" right now.

The DC's will be harder than the EP's, so don't tackle them if you are low on MP. If it says "To Weak to be Worthwhile" then that is exactly what it is. You will get no Experience Points, or Crystals from it. If you are still level 1 it will take a bit to get that far though.

And keep and stack your crystals, they will probably be the best sellers on the Auction House for you, and help you build up some cash to buy better weapons/gear/spells.

[fairyoracle75]

Re: New to FFXI

Funguars at level 1 isn't a good idea.

Stay on the rabbit and worm mobs for a while using the FOV page 1 and 2 (I think it is). A nice added thing to leveling them is you can use rabbit skins for gil since they sell well on the AH (Action House)