Just got back!

[Darkhound]

Well after 2 years, I deciced to come back to FFXI.
Last night was my 1st time in 2 years IN FFXI and it was great.

I need to remember much of the game but well is there anything i can expect?
How is the game now a days, the population etc?

Thanks

[Mhurron]

Re: Just got back!

is there anything i can expect?

You can expect to never see a BLM in a party until endgame activities for one.

/oh I just LOVE soloing

[Darkhound]

Re: Just got back!

Can you please develop?

What is wrong with BLM?
Are there no more magic bursts or what is the deal?

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Just got back!

BLMs = Not as popular for EXP parties post 55 or so, where everyone moves to ToAU areas with much weaker monsters and where more melee jobs are more favoured compared to mages (BLM), with the aim of taking out the mob as quickly as possible through rapid use of weaponskills.

[Darkhound]

Re: Just got back!

Is the game still going strong?
What melee class do you reocmmend?
It is still a good idea to level a job from 1 ?

[Ellipses]

Re: Just got back!

Is the game still going strong?

Yes. Subscription levels haven't changed significantly since you left.

What melee class do you reocmmend?

Depends entirely on your priorities. Recommend as the easiest? The most challenging? The most sought-after for XP? For endgame? The one with the coolest AF? The cheapest?

It is still a good idea to level a job from 1 ?

As opposed to magically skipping to another level to start from there? What do you mean?

[Lunaryn]

Re: Just got back!

Basically, changes at the high-end of levels (particularly merit) have vastly skewed xp/hr expectations. People think 10k/hr sucks now. 3-5k/hr is totally laughable. As a consequence, all low-level xp rates suck, no matter how good your party is. As a result, most people can't be bothered to optimize parties for getting good low-level xp rates. Instead, people try to run their low-level parties like they're meleeburns, and someone almost always brings a PL, usually two-boxed.

Since meleeburns have cemented the notion that maximizing the damage you're doing personally is paramount as a DD, people do not wait before firing off WSs, or fire off poor-damage WSs when a stronger one is available, so Skillchains don't happen. Because BLMs are worthless in most ToAU xp/merit parties, they're perceived as worthless everywhere, especially since no one ever gives them an MB opportunity anymore. The decline in the importance of tanking and hate control/mitigation probably contributes to this somewhat too (I got chastised in a dunes party on BLM for 'overnuking' because I was pulling hate when I cast one nuke every 30 seconds; even with the sucky performance, I could have nuked behind provoke to avoid this, if the WAR were to actually use it any time other than right after I pulled hate...).

Edit: This thread may be apropos: http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/bla...-partying.html

[Darkhound]

Re: Just got back!

I see.. well things seem to have changed.. I jjust came back for the story really.
I dont care alot for the HMNS.. to be very very honest.

I think that FFXIh as a very very powerful story..
And well nostaligia.. running on sky again.. sea etc.. makes it all worth while.

What do you guys say?

[Lunaryn]

Re: Just got back!

Well, those of us who haven't quit are still here.

Honestly, the loss of trad xp parties grates, but there are mitigating factors, and a lot of other areas to focus attention on.

[Darkhound]

Re: Just got back!

I hope i can get back into the game?
What server are you on?

Are there any pointers on marcos... i totally forgot thow my blm and smn macross were

How hard will it be for me to level ranger to 75?

[The Mauva Syndicate]

Re: Just got back!

Hmm I have to say that my experience is a bit different. On Remora, at least
About half the parties Im in as RDM have a BLM in them these days, but I've only been in Level Sync parties since the update so we are always in the 37-42 ish range in Crawlers Nest or Altepa or even Garlaige if one member is really lower level - Level Sync has seriously changed the party landscape tho, and I think its still finding its new balance.

But - on the other hand, when Im trying to level BLM, zippo invites, but that could be due to level (BLM is not quite 30 yet).

[Susurrus]

Re: Just got back!

You can thank the BLM invite rate thanks to SE adding Colibris and Puks...

[Darkhound]

Re: Just got back!

wow.. all i can say is.. i never imagiend being back was going to be so so so cool