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**Murphie** · 02-10-2007, 12:10 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Many players start partying there at level 10 and stay until 19 or 20. So you're actually not too "young" to be heading to the dunes. That said, you can level quite well solo for several more levels, provided you target Easy Prey, Decent Challenge and the occasional Even Match mobs. As you progress through the levels, the Tough mobs get tougher. Heck, even Decent Challenge and Easy Prey get tough to solo for some jobs as they progress through the levels.

One of the things that hurts FFXI IMO is the lack of general chat channels that other MMOs have. There is shout, yes, but few people use it outside of cities, and holding conversations via shout is generally frowned upon. So the world can seem awfully quiet if you don't have a Linkshell (Guild) or Party.

My suggestion would be to stick to it. Maybe put your LFG flag up with a comment (Under the main menu is a Search button, and under Search is Comment. You can edit your own comment there, and let potential party members know you're LFG) and fight near Valkurm Dunes (either in Latheine Plateau or Konschtat Highlands) on mobs you can take pretty easily. You'll get a party invite soon enough.^^

**Omgwtfbbqkitten** · 02-10-2007, 12:13 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Iiiiii'm gonna go out on a limb here and say its your first time though the early levels. >.>

To be honest, getting through Valkurm Dunes and some of the lower level areas is harder these days due to the game's population being high level. But, as a word of advice, the dunes are rather active on the weekends and generally the best time to get started with a job at your level.

Additionally, what server are you on? I'm sure there would be someone here willing to help you out through those levels, possibly get you into a linkshell where you can make some friends.

As far as upgrades go, you don't have to be totally dependant on the auction house at your level, but there is also the matter of what city you started in since some favor certain weapon and armor types over others. So which city did you choose? I'm sure we could point you to some NPCs for what you need.

There's also conquest gear you can buy from NPCs in towns based on your rank. If you've gotten a job to level 10, you should have 1000 Conquest points at least and be able to snag some gear from that.

As for those Tough mobs, SE is a bunch of sadists. After the first 10 levels, they're constantly devising new ways to get you killed. Tough mobs aren't soloable by most jobs past level 10, so don't feel too bad about that, its normal.

**Redimus** · 02-10-2007, 12:34 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Yes this is my first character.

I neglected to announce broadly I am a newbie. I usually do with great gusto.

I'm on Remora, in windurst. and I've bought the best the NPCs there have to offer.

I've also looked through a few websites on possible weapons to upgrade to and they made it abundantly clear my best bet would be finding some one who can synthesize and trying to buy their services.

I feel a little better having heard you. It takes doing, a little food, a little TP from some easier prey, and of course full life, but I can still best a tough mob.

Of course the 2 hour skill helps there when it pops up as well.

Anyway if the dunes are a good place to meet other level 10s and actually be a productive party member then I might just start heading that way. I did want to stick around and get my rank up, but being a puppetmaster takes precedence over everything else.

Thanks for the advice... I feel better now, not just from this but from letting it all out with that rant up there.

In regards to the guild thing... I have a phobia of guilds. I'm a relic from a time when we accessed the intrawebs by connecting our coleco visions directly to the phone line and used pulse dialing to do morse code for our BBS forums placed illegally on defense satellites.

So the word "guild" still has a bad meaning to it for me.

**Icemage** · 02-10-2007, 12:59 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

You'll find that "tough" or just "even match" will become increasingly impossible to defeat by level 10 for most jobs. Depending on what job you're actually playing, it's probably best for you to restrict yourself to Easy Prey, with perhaps a light sprinkling of Decent Challenge when you're feeling brave.

The longer you can stand doing so, the better; level 10 is a tough level to try to get a party in the dunes. Try and get to at least level 13 if you can manage that long; it will save you some hassle and frustration.

P.S. You're not the only pre-Internet BBS user left.

There's a few more of us kicking around!

Icemage

**Murphie** · 02-10-2007, 01:09 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Not me. I certainly never sat up late at night in front of my computer as the high-pitched whine of my modem connected me to a two tone text only message board. It never happened, and that's the story I'm sticking with.

**Raydeus** · 02-10-2007, 07:18 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Yeah without a sub is kinda tough to solo not only T but DC-EM too. After you get a sub things get a lot better for those early levels though.

Just don't forget about getting an Empress Band to make xping more productive.

**Neomage** · 02-10-2007, 07:31 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

All jobs except THF and BST usually go to dunes to party at 10(even though they usually solo in Kon. Hughlands anyway untill 13), and Mage jobs like Summoner, White Mage, Black Mage, and Red Mage can go at 9.

**LyonheartLakshmi** · 02-10-2007, 07:46 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Taking on Toughs as late as level 10 is extremely aggressive. Experienced players should only do that with job combinations that lend themselves to soloing well, using pricy gear. I certainly wouldn't advise it for a beginner.

I took RDM and BLU from 1 to 7 the other day. Each took me an hour of straight meleeing while keeping myself healthy with Selbina Milk. By the time I was level 6 or 7, Even Match mobs were starting to pose threats. EPs and DCs ended up being far more efficient exp.

You might see the 35 exp you get from a DC, and think taking EMs will be far faster. However, even though you get 3 times the exp from an EM, it'll take you 5 to 6 times as long after you factor in the resting time.

I took on EMs from levels 8 to 10 as jobs like WHM and BLM. However, it forced me to get a full rest for MP after basically each battle.

I'd suggest soloing EPs and DCs in zones like Tahrongi, La Theine or Konschtat while you have your party flag up. You can still find parties for your level out in the Windurst area, you may bemore likely to get an invite out in the Bastok / San d'Oria area. If you haven't made the trip out there yet, now might be a good time for a little Road Trip.

**Feenicks** · 02-10-2007, 07:57 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Regarding your comments on 'guilds' ... does it help if they're called linkshells? Completely different words, you know!

And really, if you're absolutely against joining an organised group of some sorts then you'll be in for trouble later on. There's a limit to what you can do by yourself and with random people. All of the really enjoyable stuff like Missions, HNMs, and other endgame activities can only be experienced by joining an appropriate linkshell.

**Eohmer** · 02-10-2007, 08:08 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Originally posted by Feenicks View Post

Regarding your comments on 'guilds' ... does it help if they're called linkshells? Completely different words, you know!

I think he was referring to the actual Smithing Guild, not a linkshell.

**Daos** · 02-10-2007, 08:31 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

I can relate. Before I started playing FF11, the only MMORPG I had played was UO. And in that game, there were no /tells or what have you. Whatever you typed appeared above your head for all to see. So when I first started playing FF11, I felt like I was in a graveyard. Nobody ever spoke...it was eerie.

Sometimes people wouldn't even respond when I spoke to them directly. I don't know if these people were snobs who didn't want to bother speaking to a newbie or if they were just Japanese and couldn't speak English. (That also takes getting used to...I'm accustomed to having different servers for different languages.)

Eventually, I was invited to join a linkshell and now I hear people talk all the time. I sort of wish I didn't now.

Player1>> lol want 2 pt?
Player2>> ne1 no ware (Valkurm Dunes) r?
Player3>> STFU n00b i no wat im takling about my freind has 3 75s on anotehr server
Player4>> man what

/sigh

**LyonheartLakshmi** · 02-10-2007, 10:57 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Originally posted by Daos View Post

Eventually, I was invited to join a linkshell and now I hear people talk all the time. I sort of wish I didn't now.

Player1>> lol want 2 pt?
Player2>> ne1 no ware (Valkurm Dunes) r?
Player3>> STFU n00b i no wat im takling about my freind has 3 75s on anotehr server
Player4>> man what

/sigh

I get annoyed by some of the uninformed/misinformed lvl 75 know-it-alls in my LS. When it gets too frustrating, I suggest simply uneqipping the pearl for a bit. You can even make up an excuse and mention it to them before taking off your pearl, if you're worried about upsetting LS members that you find tolerable.

**Malacite** · 02-10-2007, 11:33 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

Certain jobs excluded (i.e. BLU, BST, etc) you'll want to stay away from anything stronger than Decent Challenge by lv 10. I find that the higher you go, the less you can trust the /check feature for an accurate reading of an enemy's strength.

Hell, Easy Prey Lesser Colibri give me a hard time as 75 WAR @. @ (but then I wear a LOT of -eva so that factors into it)

**Yeargdribble** · 02-11-2007, 11:34 AM

Re: So Damn Frustrating!!

If you enjoy the idea of doing anything remotely independant, FFXI isn't the game for you. To be blunt, you will not be able to solo for XP any more period. I guess you could, but considering that almost none of the missions are soloable in the game (by a reasonably leveled player, it's just not gonna work for you. If you are playing a less popular job (PUP is pretty much the least atm), prepare to LFP for the majority of your time in the game.

If this sounds unpleasant to you, I'd suggest you throw in the towel now. FFXI isn't a game for people that have less than a 2-3 hour block to play fairly regularly. FFXI is not a game for people who want adequate rewards for time spent every time they log in.