Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! ><

[chenDawg]

Hi guys!

I played FFXI a looong time ago, but due to some finacial problems I had to quit.. buut I'm coming back this weekend and I'm bringing a few friends along.

I just have a bunch of questions about the game and how things have changed.


1.) Me and my friends all want to play together, but I remember when I played the only way to get on the same server was something about World Passes.. is that still necessary? or is there a way to get around it..?

2.) I don't really remember, but is the PC version of the game 'Click-to-Move' or could you move using like WASD?

3.) I always started in San D'Orai, does the starting city thing matter if like my friends and I want to play together? Like if I started in San D'Oria and my friend started in Jeuno, we would still be able to be on the same team right?


I have a few deeper questions, but I'll wait to see how these ones get answered first..

Thanks much,
-kB

All of that taken care of..

Please refer to page 2~! ^___^

[Necropolis]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

Hi guys!

I played FFXI a looong time ago, but due to some finacial problems I had to quit.. buut I'm coming back this weekend and I'm bringing a few friends along.

Welcome back.

1.) Me and my friends all want to play together, but I remember when I played the only way to get on the same server was something about World Passes.. is that still necessary? or is there a way to get around it..?

That is no longer required. You can select a server when creating a character. You can even change servers with you character every 3 months if you choose to do so. Just make sure you all start on the same server.

2.) I don't really remember, but is the PC version of the game 'Click-to-Move' or could you move using like WASD?

You can use WASD if you use compact keyboard mode under the config setting in-game, also you can use a controller.

EDIT: number pad is the default tool for moving.

3.) I always started in San D'Orai, does the starting city thing matter if like my friends and I want to play together? Like if I started in San D'Oria and my friend started in Jeuno, we would still be able to be on the same team right?

Starting city is rather unimportant. You do get a ring for corresponding city and race (taru/mithra-windy, hume/galka-bastok, elvaan-sandy) but it's only a minor item that will quickly get replaced with other gear. If I started over, I would probably pick bastok and I use goldcraft a bit, but it's really only a minor concern now.

Bastok and Sandy are close to the dunes, which is where many people level 10-20. Windy is a ways out, but isn't impossible to get to dunes safely. Since you're starting with friends, you could use the less conventional exp areas like Maze of Shikarimi (sp?), and bubrumi pennisula (sp??)

Over all, city, race, and anyother starting stats are unimportant. Neither is the server you choose to start on. Most are the same, some jerks, some good folks, just a matter of avoiding/finding them.

[chenDawg]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

Oh wow that was fast, thank you very much!

Before I ask my next set of questions, I heard that PvP was put into the game.. is that true?

[DakAttack]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

It is, but it isn't the biggest thing in the world. It's just something people can do in their free time if they wish.

[chenDawg]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

Oh I see..

Could you by chance explain to me how to works?


Like:

Can you attack anyone/anywhere?

Are there any 'Group PvP' missions/scenarios?

And are there any rewards from doing PvP?

[Necropolis]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

I heard that PvP was put into the game.. is that true?

There are PvP events, though I don't participate that much. I usually just go to joke around with friends.

There are two types, Brenner and Ballista.
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/Ballista
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/Brenner

There are some pre-reqs to it, but nothing extremly hard. Events are daily (I believe), and are level capped according to the ingame calendar. Early month are lower caps, later in the month is uncapped.

The game play in PvP is very different from most every other circumstance, and personally doesn't prove anything about skill or ability to me. There are some that are really good at it, I just don't hold that as a measuring stick to other activities in the game.

There is also a PvP section on these forums that you can browse at your leisure.

[Eiyoko]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

Hi guys!
I played FFXI a looong time ago, but due to some finacial problems I had to quit.. buut I'm coming back this weekend and I'm bringing a few friends along.
I just have a bunch of questions about the game and how things have changed.
1.) Me and my friends all want to play together, but I remember when I played the only way to get on the same server was something about World Passes.. is that still necessary? or is there a way to get around it..?
2.) I don't really remember, but is the PC version of the game 'Click-to-Move' or could you move using like WASD?
3.) I always started in San D'Orai, does the starting city thing matter if like my friends and I want to play together? Like if I started in San D'Oria and my friend started in Jeuno, we would still be able to be on the same team right?
I have a few deeper questions, but I'll wait to see how these ones get answered first..
Thanks much,
-kB

1.) You can choose your server now I believe
2.) Use the arrows on your numeric keypad. =3
3.) Of course you can. You can't start in Jeuno though Nation mainly affects conquest and missions. I hear San d'Oria has an awesome plot...

Read up on those new jobs 'n stuff, too!

[chenDawg]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

There are PvP events, though I don't participate that much. I usually just go to joke around with friends.

....

There is also a PvP section on these forums that you can browse at your leisure.

I see, those sound pretty fun I think.

I know I should probably post these next questions on the class forums.. but you guys are so helpful and responsive here, I'd hate to post it over there and get little/no answers.


When I first played FFXI I was a white mage and my plan was to get up to being a Paladin (even tho I never got there T.T). I'm planning on doing that again, but I'm not sure if I should level Warrior or White Mage for my sub.. can anyone explain to me the Pro/cons of the two?

One of my friends is also planning to level into a Dark Knight, what would be a good addition to a Paladin and Dark Knight?

Another one of my job choices was starting as a White Mage and leveling into something else to do even better healing. (I love to heal ^^) What is the best job combo for an awesome healer?

One thing I'm worried about is the population on FFXI, I know its been out of a long time.. does a good number of people still play?

One of my friends is probably going to have to get the PS2 version of the game because his PC is in bad condition.. the PS2 people and the PC peopel all play together right? I've heard yes, I just want to be sure.

Thanks, Eiyoko, for your reply too!
You guys are being so helpful, and I really appreciate it. ^___^

[Necropolis]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

When I first played FFXI I was a white mage and my plan was to get up to being a Paladin (even tho I never got there T.T). I'm planning on doing that again, but I'm not sure if I should level Warrior or White Mage for my sub.. can anyone explain to me the Pro/cons of the two?

The typical subjob for paladin for most of your career will be warrior. It's up to you if only want to level up war and then rush into paladin. But I'm of the opinion that leveling up multiple jobs never hurts. Don't expect party invites though if you're seeking as a pld/whm.

Also, since the max level in the game is 75, and your subjob is capped at half of that, you subjob at 75 will be level 37 (even if it's leveled higher than that, it gets capped when as a subjob). So before rushing to unlock pld, it wouldn't hurt to level war all the way to 37 so you won't have to break later on to level it.

But alas, the typical subjob for warrior till the 40-50 level range is mnk. So if I were to do this, I'd start as a mnk, level to 18 to unlock subjob, level war to 37 to unlock pld, then level pld/war all the way to 75. This, in my opinion would be the most effective route to take.

One of my friends is also planning to level into a Dark Knight, what would be a good addition to a Paladin and Dark Knight?

And number of jobs would work well, assuming I had all 18 jobs to choose from (more this winter with the new expansion), I'd pick a support job role for another member. Perhaps redmage or bard, or even white mage. I'm answering this question on the assumption there are 3 people total joining, and you're asking what the 3rd should be?

But either way, you and your friends should level what you want to level. There is no penalty from leveling a job, deciding you don't like it or want a change, and leveling another.

Another one of my job choices was starting as a White Mage and leveling into something else to do even better healing. (I love to heal ^^) What is the best job combo for an awesome healer?

Many white mages, myself included, use blm as my support job. There are cases and arguments that summoner would be a better subjob choice. Both however make excellent healers. Later on you'll be able to sub various thinks like ninja or war (not in exp parties) to fight certain mobs. Personally I love doing the Limit Break 2 quest as a solo whm/nin. But that's just something I do for fun.

One thing I'm worried about is the population on FFXI, I know its been out of a long time.. does a good number of people still play?

I joined the game about 11 months ago, and have had no trouble getting parties or quests/missions completed despite more of the populace is at endgame levels. There is still a steady flow of new players joining, and I expect a number of new players to join/rejoin with the upcoming expansion. According to the latest census there are still about 500,000 accounts across all the servers. I hardly call that a dieing game. While there may not be as many as there was 5 years ago, there's still a good amount of players.

One of my friends is probably going to have to get the PS2 version of the game because his PC is in bad condition.. the PS2 people and the PC peopel all play together right? I've heard yes, I just want to be sure.

Yes, all 3 platforms play together. And furthermore, if you friend were to upgrade his PC and install the game (could use your disc) he can log into his account on a PC. You are not locked to playing on one system despite which one you may have started on.

[chenDawg]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

Necro, I love you~ Your so helpful. xD

On the subject of White Mage, you said the 2 best choices were Black Mage and Summoner.. I'm assuming you meant them both to be subjobs.
'On Paper' the best of the 2 seems like it would be Summoner to me, because of things like having Carbuncle to help heal, as well as those special buffs and extra damage the other summons provide.
Other than a larger mana pool, what does a black mage sub provide?

Also, mentioned things like havig a Ninja for a sub.. and that completely threw me off base lol. How would something like that work? and in what situations would you use it?


And then another noob question: Can you level any job, at any time during the game?

Like from what I've gathered, with enough time, I could have a level 70 of every job on only one character?

[Mhurron]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

/SMN won't use carbuncle to heal, or any of the other avatars really, they just get a boatload of MP.

Any job, at any time (have to change in your mog house) on any character. The only things in the game that forces you to make a decision you are stuck with is what race and what you choose to look like. Everything else can be changed.

[Necropolis]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

/blm offers several things:
Conserve MP: You most likely won't notice this, but it's there.
Sleep and Sleepga: While you might get resisted, Elemental Seal + Sleep will land most of the time.
MP boost: Over other possible subs like rdm or any melee sub
Warp: Do you want to walk home? I'm lazy, gogo warp!
Elemental Seal: For when you NEED an enfeeble to land.

/smn really only offers a lot more MP and an autorefresh trait (1mp/sec)
In reality the refresh effect probably balances out with conserve MP, but since conserver MP doesn't always activate you can't say one is better than another particularly.
Avatars won't typically be used in parties, but you could use some blood pact (Aerial Armor comes in mind for pld tanks) to some degree. But they mostly just suck up mp.

/rdm is nice if you have no one else with dispel in the party, but that doesn't occur often. Fast cast is nice for things where time matters. With max merits, /rdm, and cure clogs my cure spells are extremly fast.

/nin or any other melee sub is not for typical party play. I received a lot of help with missions and things I needed as I leveled and wanted to be able to give back when I got higher.

Unfortunatly, white mages are not known for thier melee prowlness. So to help people with fights and what not I've leveled up ninja as a support job so that I can help lower level people accomplish things that would need a full party at thier level. It's also fun, I love going back to mobs that wtfpwned me while leveling up and giving them a taste of thier medicine.


As Mhurron said, you can level any job, any time, any where. You have to have the job unlocked of course if it's an advanced job. And you can only change jobs in your mog house or at nomad moogles. So basically you can change jobs in most cities (Selbina and Mhurra being the two you can't change at).

Once you reach endgame levels, you'll need other subs a well, pld will use /ninja in particular. I personally hated having to go from level 75 back to a super low job to have it as a sub, so I'd recommend leveling them up as you progress. That way you use some of the same equipment, and not have to go from uber 75pld to lolleveloneninja.

[chenDawg]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

/SMN won't use carbuncle to heal, or any of the other avatars really, they just get a boatload of MP.

Any job, at any time (have to change in your mog house) on any character. The only things in the game that forces you to make a decision you are stuck with is what race and what you choose to look like. Everything else can be changed.

Oh thats great~!

I just think its wonderful that you dont have to make a whole new character if you get bored with a certain job.

I think that the only question I have left for now is, if I someone played the game long enough could they have a character with every job at its highest level?

[Mhurron]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

Oh thats great~!
I just think its wonderful that you dont have to make a whole new character if you get bored with a certain job.
I think that the only question I have left for now is, if I someone played the game long enough could they have a character with every job at its highest level?

Ya.

[Necropolis]

Re: Coming back after about 3 years.. Need help! &gt;&lt;

Oh thats great~!

I just think its wonderful that you dont have to make a whole new character if you get bored with a certain job.

I think that the only question I have left for now is, if I someone played the game long enough could they have a character with every job at its highest level?

Yes, and there is a reward for it as well. Well kinda for that. If you beat maat (the man that gives the limit break quest) on all 15 jobs (not counting ToAU jobs) you'll get a Maat Cap and the title "Ultimate Champion of the World"

This however is not always a good things, for several reasons. Some people will say you have no life (thier just jealous >.>; )

But the main draw back of it is that once you are level 75 you can "tweak" your character with merits. There are job specific merits and just general stat merits. If you're a die hard paladin, you'll typically merit sword and shield for combat skills, perhaps divine, healing or enhancing magic skill, MP or HP (depending on race choice) and various stats like Vitality or something to make you preform that job better.

This doesn't effect paladin only merits, but merits like stats and what not are shared across all jobs. So if you merit paladin to be the "best", when you get to leveling say black mage you wouldn't be able to merit intellgence, elemental magic, enfeebling magic or something like that.

Basically you could have all jobs at peak preformance, but thats not overly important. I am personally going for a maats cap, but after only getting 2 level 75s in a year of play (and I play a lot) I've still got about 6 more years to go @.@

This isn't to say you can't find a happy medium with all the merits that you could get, and you'll be able to functional well in most circumstance without having max merits. However somewhere down the road you'll wish you could of focused into one job more if you enjoy that one more.