Beginning again...

[Dessau]

My original thread was a warm introduction to the community here, one for which I'm grateful. However, given the circumstances of my return and the thread's age, it seems a new thread is in order.

Initial Efforts

When I re-up'd I didn't have much direction. Most jobs sounded intriguing, like something I could carry a long way. After a little time as RDM, now I'm starting to wonder if I've made a false start onto a less promising path. [True, it's more about the journey than the destination, I suppose.]

I've gotten closer to unlocking subjobs, and have started thinking about which way to turn at this early stage. BLM seemed to me to be the natural choice, but after reading for a couple nights on the RDM and BLM subforums, it seems I am mistaken. A couple of points I didn't think through when I rolled:

• Elvaan. Though I haven't been able to properly discern, my lack of INT will either reduce spell damage, reduce spell accuracy, or both.
• WHM. Low-level PTs seem to want the extra punch when it comes to healing, and who can blame them? Accounts seem to indicate low-end XP PTs are hard to find as BLM.

So the indications to me are that, while I don't yet have any interest in being main heal, it is something I am going to have to do anyway if I want party invites, as most players probably have done before me. Rite of passage, so to speak.

Big Picture

Having only played WAR/MNK my first try, I'm surprised to say I really enjoy RDM. It seems a job suited for my playstyle. I'd like to see how the job develops, but truly I never intended to take it to endgame. As I hinted at before, I was pretty into the idea of playing any job when I started, but after a while, I'm not so sure. Some here advise staying open to all jobs, others to leveling all the standard jobs in the beginning. While I've been doing some reading on the advanced stuff, I still know very little about proper job set-up, what job is welcome for which activity, and so on. These things I will have to continue to research.

I will say that the most attractive jobs to me at this point [SMN/SCH/BLU/RNG] weren't those I had anticipated, and look to be quite poorly-suited to my racial choice.

I will keep training as RDM [currently 17] and work on unlocking subjobs as soon as I'm able.

Gambit: Queries to End the Beginning

Opinion/facts time, as you are the experts with years of know-how.

• "It's still early." Should I stick with the classes I like after re-rolling as another race?
• "Tough it out, kid." Should I take the tried-and-true [conventional] path to Elvaan fame and glory?
• "You don't get it." Is there something you know or thought of that demolishes my newbie perspective?

Also, what is up with how hard it is to make money now?

[Murphie]

Re: Beginning again...

You're over thinking it. Elvaan make perfectly fine BLMs. Any race can play any job. Don't give up your progress unless for whatever reason you just REALLY want to be another race.

Yes, you'll have to just live with being a healer sometimes while leveling subs for BLM or RDM.

I think a lot of the information you may be finding is very old and from a time when people worried about race/job combos.

[Taskmage]

Re: Beginning again...

Going by the numbers on the wiki, the int difference between an elvaan and a hume at level 75 is only 6 points. That's probably the difference between nuking for 920 damage and nuking for 950 damage. I don't know what the spread is at 90, but I doubt it widens more than a couple points. Nobody that I know even looks at race when building a group--a blm is a blm for all intents and purposes, and a difference in performance that small isn't worth considering.

If you're not interested in partying as a healer, it's perfectly viable to solo all the way to level 50 now. Just find a Fields of Valor regime that targets decent challenge mobs, grab refresh from the book and you should be able to pull in experience as fast a a full party used to back in the day.

[Dessau]

Re: Beginning again...

I think a lot of the information you may be finding is very old and from a time when people worried about race/job combos.

Interesting. It's quite possible that the info I read was outdated, I guess. There were plenty of times I failed to look at the date posted. I guess I'll have to double-check now.

If you're not interested in partying as a healer, it's perfectly viable to solo all the way to level 50 now. Just find a Fields of Valor regime that targets decent challenge mobs, grab refresh from the book and you should be able to pull in experience as fast a a full party used to back in the day.

As far as playing WHM, at first glance it didn't seem like an activity that I wanted to devote a whole lot of time to, but I'm definitely not opposed to playing WHM. It does seem like something that many players just do at one point or another.

Soloing to 50... man, that doesn't sound like that's for me. I guess people must do it though, eh?

Is it viable to go BLM before going WHM, or shall I train the other way around?

[Takelli]

Re: Beginning again...

Is it viable to go BLM before going WHM, or shall I train the other way around?

You could do it both ways. WHM is 10X easier to level with a sub though.

[Dessau]

Re: Beginning again...

Well, I could be doing it wrong, but I'd hope to unlock subjobs before beginning to train BLM and WHM.

I suppose it'll be an adjustment having to lay off the constant enfeebling to save MP for heals. I suppose I'll also run the risk of over-extending my MP pool and forcing the party to wait for longer intervals between pulls.

Learning the nuances of the different roles should be fun though.

[Takelli]

Re: Beginning again...

Well, at lower levels, enfeebles can save A LOT of hp if they land. Cast Dia first off, first thing that should be done, then if you can poison, then para, blind. Don't keep casting them if they don't land though. Cast once or twice, then just continue like you normally would with healing.

The same goes for the BLM debuffs. Cast the ones that lower their evasion and defense (Agi, and Vit, can't remember the names.), it will help out A LOT in the long run, and people will miss alot less and hit harder.

[Mhurron]

Re: Beginning again...

Well, at lower levels, enfeebles can save A LOT of hp if they land.

"RDM can enfeeble?" - Actual quote heard from party member when considering getting a RDM for the 6th person in an e.ron party and we already had a WHM.

[Elwynn]

Re: Beginning again...

Well, at lower levels, enfeebles can save A LOT of hp if they land. Cast Dia first off, first thing that should be done, then if you can poison, then para, blind. Don't keep casting them if they don't land though. Cast once or twice, then just continue like you normally would with healing.

Actually, if you're going to pull with a spell as a solo WHM or RDM, Paralyze should be first because it takes longer to cast than the mob's round time. But if you're subbing that WHM, don't even bother with para, it will probably just get resisted.

[Takelli]

Re: Beginning again...

"RDM can enfeeble?" - Actual quote heard from party member when considering getting a RDM for the 6th person in an e.ron party and we already had a WHM.

Wow, just wow... The ignorance of some people. Rdm was made to enfeeble....

Actually, if you're going to pull with a spell as a solo WHM or RDM, Paralyze should be first because it takes longer to cast than the mob's round time. But if you're subbing that WHM, don't even bother with para, it will probably just get resisted.

Ok, ok... So I got the order wrong. It can happen to us all lol.

[Dessau]

Re: Beginning again...

More useful perspective, thanks.

If what I've read is true, Blind tends to generate a lot of enmity for the RDM. I suppose it must still find its use in party play, yeah?

Been stuck at 17 for a while, too much RDM competition at Valkurm. Decided to fire up the Novennial Ring and solo some more.

[Takelli]

Re: Beginning again...

If what I've read is true, Blind tends to generate a lot of enmity for the RDM. I suppose it must still find its use in party play, yeah?

It does great if you have a ninja tank. Even with a paladin tank it is useful, but not as useful.

[Armando]

Re: Beginning again...

Actually, if you're going to pull with a spell as a solo WHM or RDM, Paralyze should be first because it takes longer to cast than the mob's round time.

The delay between attacks for most mobs is 4 secs, Paralyze takes 3.

EDIT: I'd probably still prioritize Paralyze simply because it's one of the best debuffs and pulling with the slowest spell means you spend less time casting once the mob is actually on you, but it's important to know that you CAN recast it mid-battle.

If what I've read is true, Blind tends to generate a lot of enmity for the RDM. I suppose it must still find its use in party play, yeah?

It used to. SE nerfed the hate on Bind, Blind I and II, Sleep I and II and Dispel. They're relatively harmless to cast now.

[Dessau]

Re: Beginning again...

The more I hear from you all, the more the game seems easier and easier.

But... it's still very early.

[Armando]

Re: Beginning again...

The more I hear from you all, the more the game seems easier and easier.

But... it's still very early.

When the game was young, getting from point A to point B was inevitably a long journey, the grind was long and arduous, and only BSTs could solo with some degree of efficiency. These days I hear you can hit the Lv90 cap in a fraction of the time it'd have taken you to hit Lv75 in the old days, and you can blast through missions that'd have taken months in just a few days. Part of it is due to the fact that the game is in its twilight years so the devs are probably more concerned with appeasing players than anything else.

That's not to say the game's about to die. But it's definitely the easiest it's ever been by a long shot.