Quick Q's from a new player... I read the guides!

[chocobo chase]

ok, I know most of you guys must hate posts like this, but I read the newbie guides and everything and there are just a couple specific questions I'm wondering about. I played FFXI a looong time ago, when it first came out on PC, for like 5 months but then I stopped because I was becoming a big-time computer geek. but somehow, I can't remember how, I got inspired to start playing it again. sooo, I'm gonna get it for PS2 (and pray to GOD it works w/ the PS3 that comes out soon)

anyway... I just have a couple offbeat questions for you, and hopefully once I get up and running again I'll actually be able to contribute to the forum discussion:


can I take screenshots of the game with my PS2 and get them on my computer somehow? with that huge chunk of HDD that the game comes with I'm thinking this may be a possibility.

how much do you think my server choice will actually affect my gameplay? I don't have any friends that play, so that won't be an issue. is it okay for me to just pick the server based on whether or not I like its name or are there any other factors? I know maybe some of them are older and some are newer, so will this have any bearing on me? and what's the average # of people on one server? I kind of would like to be on the most populus server because I like when there's tons of people around, but will this be a big problem for me? (ie; everyone is high-leveled, impossible to get exp because there's so many people leveling, etc)

YOU CAN RAISE CHOCOBOS NOW??! the general vibe of the chocobo forum seems to be saying that. is it really expensive or difficult to complete the quest? I dont need specifics because I'm sure I can find them, but all I wanna know is if you think I could do it at an earlier level, like 15-20. I looooooove chocobos, highlight of ANY FF game. I haven't ordered any expansion packs yet, but will I have to get one ASAP to do the chocobo thing? I'm getting them all eventually anyway

ok... I'm sorry for this one: do you think I would have an chance of getting the name Plato or Chase on any server?

I'm trying to think of what job to be... it's between Black Mage, Summoner, Blue Mage, Red Mage, and Corsair, but from reading these forums I inferred that Corsair is really expensive.

Black Mage seems to be the 2nd most popular job judging by the # of people on the job-specific forums, so it's probably an all-around solid job class, right?

but the Summoner spells look sooo cool... is there a lot of down-time with them because of the heavy MP usage?

does my "home" city have any bearing on my actual gameplay or is it just where I end up first? can I just start there and then pull an Elian Gonzalez and immigrate to another city and just pretend that's my home? cause I remember Bastok as being kind of dry and Windurst was really neat.

ok, here's the biggest thing: FFXI has been out for a long time now, like 3 years right? does SE still care about it? how often are there updates? and how many people play? it seems like they all but abandoned the PS2 platform (absolutely 0 stores carry it, I had to roder it online) so are there ever new players or will I be totally alone in my low-leveled glory?


alright people! thanks a TON for tolerating and (possibly) answering this stupid stuff. hopefully I'll see you in the game!

[Eohmer]

Re: Quick Q's from a new player... I read the guides!

can I take screenshots of the game with my PS2 and get them on my computer somehow? with that huge chunk of HDD that the game comes with I'm thinking this may be a possibility.

The only thing I can think of is just emailing them to yourself from your POL account.

how much do you think my server choice will actually affect my gameplay? I don't have any friends that play, so that won't be an issue. is it okay for me to just pick the server based on whether or not I like its name or are there any other factors? I know maybe some of them are older and some are newer, so will this have any bearing on me? and what's the average # of people on one server? I kind of would like to be on the most populus server because I like when there's tons of people around, but will this be a big problem for me? (ie; everyone is high-leveled, impossible to get exp because there's so many people leveling, etc)

Every server has their A-holes, and every server has their saints. I don't think it matters at all really which you land on. From personal experience though, I like Diabolos more than Caitsith when I used to be there.

YOU CAN RAISE CHOCOBOS NOW??! the general vibe of the chocobo forum seems to be saying that. is it really expensive or difficult to complete the quest? I dont need specifics because I'm sure I can find them, but all I wanna know is if you think I could do it at an earlier level, like 15-20. I looooooove chocobos, highlight of ANY FF game. I haven't ordered any expansion packs yet, but will I have to get one ASAP to do the chocobo thing? I'm getting them all eventually anyway

Yes you can, though I haven't done so yet. I haven't made it a priority.

ok... I'm sorry for this one: do you think I would have an chance of getting the name Plato or Chase on any server?

Highly doubtful. The game has been out for YEARS now, so I think you would be out of luck with those 2 names.

I'm trying to think of what job to be... it's between Black Mage, Blue Mage, Red Mage, and Corsair, but from reading these forums I inferred that Corsair is really expensive. Black Mage is my #1 choice at the moment, then Blue or Red (what's the difference?). I'm gonna be either a Hume (probably) or Tarutaru (maybe) no matter what job I choose. if I don't pick the perfect race for my job, will it really be a big setback for me?

Most people are anal about race/job combination. If you're a taru and trying to be a melee, you may get less party invites than if you were taru/mage.

does my "home" city have any bearing on my actual gameplay or is it just where I end up first? can I just start there and then pull an Elian Gonzalez and immigrate to another city and just pretend that's my home? cause I remember Bastok as being kind of dry and Windurst was really neat.

You're home nation will have a different story line than the other nations. That's basically what it is, really. You may also think about your crafting skills. If you would be into Woodworking, San d'Oria might be the place for you. It's all up to you though.

ok, here's the biggest thing: FFXI has been out for a long time now, like 3 years right? does SE still care about it? how often are there updates? and how many people play? it seems like they all but abandoned the PS2 platform (absolutely 0 stores carry it, I had to roder it online) so are there ever new players or will I be totally alone in my low-leveled glory?

They ditched PS2, but it is now on XBOX360, so yes, they are a lot of new players now also. There are still updates, but there have been talks about Treasures being the last Expansion... so who knows. Don't take my word on that.

[Clever Ninja]

Re: Quick Q's from a new player... I read the guides!

how much do you think my server choice will actually affect my gameplay? I don't have any friends that play, so that won't be an issue. is it okay for me to just pick the server based on whether or not I like its name or are there any other factors? I know maybe some of them are older and some are newer, so will this have any bearing on me? and what's the average # of people on one server? I kind of would like to be on the most populus server because I like when there's tons of people around, but will this be a big problem for me? (ie; everyone is high-leveled, impossible to get exp because there's so many people leveling, etc)

Hades has like 3k+ people on weekends I believe, more or less. Most servers are the same, others have a larger than normal JP population(forgot which one). Basically unless you ask for a World Pass for a specific server, pick whatever.

YOU CAN RAISE CHOCOBOS NOW??! the general vibe of the chocobo forum seems to be saying that. is it really expensive or difficult to complete the quest? I dont need specifics because I'm sure I can find them, but all I wanna know is if you think I could do it at an earlier level, like 15-20. I looooooove chocobos, highlight of ANY FF game. I haven't ordered any expansion packs yet, but will I have to get one ASAP to do the chocobo thing? I'm getting them all eventually anyway

I think the prerequisite is having done the chocobo license quest, which is level 20. I don't truly know since I havent gone and done it, I've have more things to do in FFXI like leveling NIN and SAM to 37.

I'm trying to think of what job to be... it's between Black Mage, Summoner, Blue Mage, Red Mage, and Corsair, but from reading these forums I inferred that Corsair is really expensive.

If you dont level up smithing to make your own bullets, its expensive. But basically it depends on what you want to do in a party. Black Mage is pure magic damage, Summoner is attack/defense support and healing most of the time, Red Mage is Healer, Magic Damage and Debuffer, and Corsair is range DD and Support.

Black Mage seems to be the 2nd most popular job judging by the # of people on the job-specific forums, so it's probably an all-around solid job class, right?

Its popular, but due to the current fad of melee burns at higher levels BLM's won't get invites unless its a manaburn or a traditional party setup. But by the time that you actually GET that high a new fad would probably take its place.

but the Summoner spells look sooo cool... is there a lot of down-time with them because of the heavy MP usage?

You can only use spells once a minute with Summoner. The MP drain from keeping them out for longer than that is probably taxing though.

does my "home" city have any bearing on my actual gameplay or is it just where I end up first? can I just start there and then pull an Elian Gonzalez and immigrate to another city and just pretend that's my home? cause I remember Bastok as being kind of dry and Windurst was really neat.

It reflects where you'll spend your starting levels, and as well as your rank missions, as each town has its own storyline. Just pick whatever town it is you like and be happy. I like Bastoks layout, so I chose Bastok.

ok, here's the biggest thing: FFXI has been out for a long time now, like 3 years right? does SE still care about it? how often are there updates? and how many people play? it seems like they all but abandoned the PS2 platform (absolutely 0 stores carry it, I had to roder it online) so are there ever new players or will I be totally alone in my low-leveled glory?

They are still updating the game. And its mostly Sony's fault since they abandoned the Hard Drive here in the states for whatever stupid reason it was.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Quick Q's from a new player... I read the guides!

people are anal about race/job combination. If you're a taru and trying to be a melee, you may get less party invites than if you were taru/mage.

False.

You can make any race/job combination work in this game. Taru melees do just fine for invites, its just that there is so much melee competition in this game. If you pick a melee class, be prepared to wait for invites, period.

They ditched PS2, but it is now on XBOX360, so yes, they are a lot of new players now also. There are still updates, but there have been talks about Treasures being the last Expansion... so who knows. Don't take my word on that.

False. SE did not abandon PS2, Sony abandoned FFXI by backing out on the the much-hyped PS2 HDD. When Sony failed to deliver, it was SE that got screwed there and as a result, SE has moved to multi-platform development and stopped being Sony-exclusive.

PS2 is still supported and SE still releases the PS2 expansions, some stores and online stores still carry the PS2 HDD with FFXI and RoZ expansion..

[hongman]

Re: Quick Q's from a new player... I read the guides!

I dont know about anything else but I am now starting to wish that on my server (Bahamut) I started in Bastok instead of Sandoria.

Sandoria is ok, but very expensive for everything.

Bastok in comparison is cheaper in general, and when you go to Valkrum and Qufim to lvl, they are undr Bastokian control so you can get signet and farm crystals whikst lvling, whereas right now I have to specifically go back to other areas to farm...