How do I level?

[NegativeFPS]

Just got this game the other day, and was confused about quests, I thought they were more important than they really were. So I spent my first 4:30 hours running around Winurst talking to every NPC in hopes they got quests for me. I picked up about 15, and one Missions, but the missions suggested level is 10, so I'm just ignoring it for now.

So I'm out in West Suburbia (or however you spell it), trying to do the quests (such as getting drops from the rabbit, or getting to the outpost), but I get my ass handed to me in 5 seconds from any mob other than the bumblebee and the mushroom looking white guys.

I sort of posted this in the Xbox 360 forum in a different manner, it rolled to this from another topic, and two people told me to just "level" (they meant grind it seems) to level 10 or so and get groups, then start doing quests for level or two, and repeat..... I REALLY hope that FFXI isn't really like this..

What should I really be doing as a level 2?

PS. With Dia, should I be spam casting it? It says over-time, but how long? Seems like the DoT affect is gone after two ticks or so

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: How do I level?

0. You don't get exp from quests usually, as a rule; it's for the stories, and sometimes items. Yes, stories are rewards. And, yes, that's a good thing.*
1. Make sure you have Signet on; one of the NPC's in near the gate can give that to you before you head out to West Sarutabaruta.
2. Go outside. Kill things you are able to. Stack drops (sort them), sell them. You'll need the Gil later.
3. Get over the fact that there is grinding. Killing things help you skill up weapons and/or magic, and give you experience points. (Most people do not go from Lv.1 to Lv.75 in month and a half, BTW.)
4. Partying starts at Lv.10-12, depending on job. Then, Vana'diel will start to open up.

* * *

Lower levels really fly by fast anyway; Lv.1-10 is 13,350 experience points in total, while Lv.56-57 by itself is 14,000 points. It's almost meaningless to talk about "grinding" at t Lv.2.

If 14,000 exp to go from Lv.56 to Lv.57 seem like a lot, it's about 3-4 hours in great exp parties at that level, or 4-5 hours in normal parties. Most people seem to want good parties lasting around three hours. That means about two or three good, full length sessions.

* * *

I've never played WoW, but I believe you get experience points for doing quests? Yet, most of the quests are of "fetch 10 rabbit skins", or "kill this specific monster" variety, right? I don't see how that's much different from "grinding", where you kill stuff for exp and drops.

While some simple, repeatable quests like that do exist in FFXI, many quests have memorable and entertaining stories which require you to go through quite a bit more trouble. That's why the stories are the rewards.

[Jarre]

Re: How do I level?

Killing those bumblebees and mandys as their known. Do that till lvl 4 (dependant on job) in you left hand menu one with attack at the top their is a thing called check. Click on the mob and click on check if it says easy prey or descent challange, attack it. don't forget to rest your Hp (by typing /heal or /h) Oh and find a gate guard and ask for Signet to be casted, therefore you get crystal which you can sell to buy better equipment.

As for you last comment yes it can tke a while to get used to and level the first 10 levels, then theres the dunes and lvl 18 to get subjob items and subjob, once there it gets better.

[NegativeFPS]

Re: How do I level?

How does it get better? I don't want to sound rude or anything, but that's what I hear everywhere.

Grind 10-20 levels, ok, then what? Parties, but what kind? Grinding parties? Come on.
So is FFXI basically killing the same mobs for 10 levels, go to a new zone, kill the same mobs another 10 levels, get to a new zone, kill... it just does not sound right.

In WoW, Quests are how you level, they have quests that have you kill mobs your own level, at least you know there's a purpose to killing the mobs.. here there's no purpose it seems

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: How do I level?

Well, if it make a difference, pretend you're killing for Beastmen's Seals, which allows you to do special quests where you fight monsters which drop interesting (and sometimes very profitable) items.

Of course, that's not really pretending; Beastmen's Seals really are a big deal. ^_- Don't toss any you come across.

Edit:
When partying with others, it's considered very rude to lot on those seals; they will randomly and automatically drop into party member's inventory, so don't lot. It is a valid reason to kick someone from party for lotting without permissions the entire party.

[NegativeFPS]

Re: How do I level?

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[NegativeFPS]

Re: How do I level?

Lower levels really fly by fast anyway; Lv.1-10 is 13,350 experience points in total, while Lv.56-57 by itself is 14,000 points. It's almost meaningless to talk about "grinding" at t Lv.2.

If 14,000 exp to go from Lv.56 to Lv.57 seem like a lot, it's about 3-4 hours in great exp parties at that level, or 4-5 hours in normal parties. Most people seem to want good parties lasting around three hours. That means about two or three good, full length sessions.

* * *

I've never played WoW, but I believe you get experience points for doing quests? Yet, most of the quests are of "fetch 10 rabbit skins", or "kill this specific monster" variety, right? I don't see how that's much different from "grinding", where you kill stuff for exp and drops.

While some simple, repeatable quests like that do exist in FFXI, many quests have memorable and entertaining stories which require you to go through quite a bit more trouble. That's why the stories are the rewards.

Yes, most quests are like that, but they give you way better XP if you just do the quests rather than just grind the mobs, not only that, they give you a bunch of money, decent item rewards, and the story itself. Only thing FFXI seems to have right is the story, but what about the items, XP and money from them?

So let me get this straight, and again, I'm not trying to be sarcastic or rude, it's just very different and not right sounding to me. In FFXI, the way to level is to simply group with people and kill monsters for what seems to be no reason (other than XP and occasional drops), correct?

[Jarre]

Re: How do I level?

You seem to have missed the social element of the game, Link shells, etc. Any RPG you have to progress, and most RPG's thats gaining levels. The fact is with missions and quests on the way that unravells a storyline, intereacting with people and elarnign how to do your job in parties, make new friends, the guilds being able to craft, fish mine to make money for some nice gear, at alter elvels their besieged (where monsters attack a city and you have tod efend it) Assault (reverse of that you go and kick ass) yeah its slow to start but as you get deeper into teh game it becomes more interesting and enjoyable. It isn't instant grtification like simple games i.e. WOW. You have to think, deploy tactics, balance benefits against troubles, interact with people of all ages and races from around the world etc etc. If you can't do any of the above then quit before your 30 days free are up.

edit:
erm quests do give you some gil or items once completed, its just at your level there not much at the moment, as you gain higher levels the quest become more profitable and you gain unique armour/ weapons. There are hundreds of quests from all the cities see here

This is not an easy simple game you have to put effort and patience into it.

[NegativeFPS]

Re: How do I level?

You seem to have missed the social element of the game, Link shells, etc. Any RPG you have to progress, and most RPG's thats gaining levels. The fact is with missions and quests on the way that unravells a storyline, intereacting with people and elarnign how to do your job in parties, make new friends, the guilds being able to craft, fish mine to make money for some nice gear, at alter elvels their besieged (where monsters attack a city and you have tod efend it) Assault (reverse of that you go and kick ass) yeah its slow to start but as you get deeper into teh game it becomes more interesting and enjoyable. It isn't instant grtification like simple games i.e. WOW. You have to think, deploy tactics, balance benefits against troubles, interact with people of all ages and races from around the world etc etc. If you can't do any of the above then quit before your 30 days free are up.

I understand all that. But I'm just talking about LEVELING right now, as in getting items to boost my charcter, money to buy needed stuff, and XP to level, all of which seem to be missing RIGHT NOW (that's why I'm asking, I don't know if it changes later or not).
I may be doing something wrong, or not understand something, that's why I'm here.

But grinding mobs to level, again, does not sound right. In every other MMO to level you just do quests, at least that's how it is in GW and WoW. Brainlessly killing mobs just to level is not how it's meant to be. If they had higher rate drops of stuff you could use, higher rate than in WoW or GW, or even had other purpose other than giving you XP, I'd understand. But it doesn't seem they do, and partying with people to JUST kill those mobs, deff doesn't sound right or fun

[forster]

Re: How do I level?

Ill say what other people havent, and I dont mean it as nasty, or offensive:

This game isnt for you.

FFXI is all about grouping with other players to get levels - there is no real solo content, there's no decent rewards (at least not till the very end of plotlines) from quests or missions, and aside from one or two exceptions, no experience gain from them.

The learning curve is really high for FFXI, not really in learning your job, but more in learning to group with people that you dont like just to get anywhere. You have to learn not to get bored by killing significantly weaker mobs, to get drops for you to sell on the auction house, to get any kind of starting cash (unless you find a linkshell that will fund you - and this is VERY rare). You have to learn not to notice that you are killing the same mobs you were for the past 10 levels, even tho the only difference is their names.

This game isnt very newbie friendly.

I started writing a guide for the game in this post, but it would take me all afternoon so Ive deleted it.

The plot of FFXI, for a general player who just wants to get a taste of the game, is irrellevant. I dont even care about it and Ive been playing for over 5 years.

For the most part, this game isnt even fun, you log in, stick your party flag up and maybe you get a party and get a level or two. If you dont get a party, you log off and go to bed, or you make your own party and hope that you can get the right jobs to make it a success, or you start levelling another job in the meantime and start the process again.

From what I can see, this game is all about getting to level 75, then you can actually have some fun. If you've seen the South Park episode about WoW, its pretty much all about that - kill mobs all day, every day, then you can actually play the game.

You need groups to level, you need groups to do most latter missions, you need groups to take down the hardest mobs. Quests basically give you zip to support yourself, so you need to get groups together to take down mobs for their drops (referred to earlier via beastman seals). It is true somewhat that there is minimal solo content, but at least for starting out, this is a long drawn out process.

Im sure Ill get flamed, but I dont care, this game is about grouping, grinding the same old mobs to 75, then you actually get to have some fun. Well, you do if you have the right 75 job, otherwise you are stuck repeating the levelling process until you either a) get sick and quit, or b) get an accepted job to become part of an endgame shell that'll open the game up for you like an easter egg.

My advice to you, after all that BS, is to get a linkshell and talk to other players, if you can get into a good linkshell then the game becomes less boring, you can do missions and events with the same people you have built up a friendship with and perhaps even get linkshell exp parties going. A good shell will save this game, unfortunately, there arent a lot about. On Fenrir Ive had at least 50-60 linkshells, and only now have I found one that is willing to do the most basic stuff together, and even then its a lot of work to keep it going.

You are level 2. If you think its bad now, wait till you hit the dunes.

[Kafeen]

Re: How do I level?

How does it get better? I don't want to sound rude or anything, but that's what I hear everywhere.

Grind 10-20 levels, ok, then what? Parties, but what kind? Grinding parties? Come on.
So is FFXI basically killing the same mobs for 10 levels, go to a new zone, kill the same mobs another 10 levels, get to a new zone, kill... it just does not sound right.

In WoW, Quests are how you level, they have quests that have you kill mobs your own level, at least you know there's a purpose to killing the mobs.. here there's no purpose it seems

The main way to level in FFXI is ginding, its true. Quests and missions have their own rewards though. Some give you useful items or equipment either to use yourself or sell. Others reveal to you more information on the world of Vana'diel and its enhabitants. There are a few quests with give experiance as a reward but these are few and far between. And others, well, they're just used to increase your fame in the cities to get people to give you new, more worthwhile quests.

Missions from your home nation and later other sources progress you through the story line of FFXI, as well as monetary and item rewards you also be able to venture into new areas of the world.

[Srxjo]

Re: How do I level?

easly put if you dislike the game just dont play it and go to another MMO

[forster]

Re: How do I level?

We could always ask Randy Run for help, he seems to want to give us 1-75 and xx gil maybe that will help speed things up.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: How do I level?

In WoW...

Yeah, just hold that thought.

And I'm gonna clear up the misconception of solo, even held by FFXI players here.

There is a respectable solo game to be had in FFXI, its just the fact of the matter that in WoW its given to you from level 1.

In FFXI, you have to earn the ability to solo. Several jobs can do it, but you must work for your skills to do so. Jobs such as Red Mage, Blue Mage, Black Mage, Beastmaster, Ninja, Thief, Dragoon and Puppetmaster are all very good soloists at varying degrees, but there's an art to each of them and you must spend time partying in other jobs first to really have the power to master them.

And you really need to make use of jobs like White Mage, Ninja and Blue or Red Mage via the subjob system to make this happen. Subjobs are the bread and butter of versatility in this game, whether you're a solo or party-based job, you'll want more than one to enhance your skills.

I've soloed practically all of my Beastmaster levels and a handful of my Blue Mage ones, but I wouldn't be able to do either that well had I not partied my Ninja and White Mage jobs elsewhere.

That said, FFXI is not deceptive like WoW's solo game is, FFXI does not beat around the bush about you needing to cooperate with other players. Even if you are a solo class, you'll still need to team with other players for missions, quests, notorious monsters, all instances and endgame. WoW just baits you with solo and they forces grouping on you at endgame.

There are also many party based jobs, if partying is something you don't want, then you're going to have to look into the soloist jobs I mentioned. Jobs like Warrior, Ranger, Corsair, Bard, Samurai, Monk, Paladin and White Mage are more reliant on EXP parties to advance, though PLD and WHM can solo to a fair degree, too.

As far as EXP quests go. They're few and far between and totally frivelous in terms of thier returns. You can get EXP from the following quest-types, missions and instances.

National Escort Quests through particular zones.
The Sacarium quest
Chains of Promathia Missions
Emptiness Notorious Monster battles
Besieged

[Shadowneko]

Re: How do I level?

WoW is a lame beginer's game compared to FFXI(it's for little kids who can't play in the big tough sandbox and want eveything handed to them on a silver platter like the little brats they are!). I've heard over and over that you can get top level and bored(I'd be bored...I just know it) in that game so fast it's not even funny....

In FFXI yes alot of it is leveling with groups but I don't mind so much. Rather than just get stuck on getting 75 I level my jobs with another goal in mind: I want to do missions and see the storyline(much of which is accessable at different lvls depending on the mission). The first few nation missions can be done from lvl 9-12 for the most part and some are skipable(the first big one is the dragon fight for rank mission 2-3 at lvl 25). The first CoP missions(some of the hardest missions and some of the best story) become doable once you have a lvl 30 job. Also due to an addition CoP missions do hand out XP...but only in limited amounts.


If you're really obessed with solo play...well get lvl 30 and do the quest to unlock Beastmaster. That's one of the only jobs in the whole game that can solo!

That's the other thing I like about FFXI vs other MMOs: You are not bound to your starting class. Start as Warrior and decide you hate it? fine just go talk to the moogle and swap to mage(buying the right stuff for it) with no need to make a new character! You can always go back to what you were playing before with all the lvls you had on that job. All jobs do start on lvl 1 but you keep all the skillups you've gained and all the lvls on the particular job....

Now this may not be your game but I'm way into my firends and the storylines of FFXI. If this isn't your cup of tea I suggest you go back to those instant gratification games like WoW....but if you wana work at it there are some rather fun things to do and a great community to meet ^^