Curiosity regarding the game in general.

[Cadee]

I started playing in January 2008. I played with friends who had been playing since somewhere near game release, but had taken a year-long break in the middle and started again. They were helpful at the time, but now that we don't play any more, I'm feeling a bit worried.

My main character is still there, but I've left her on another server where I transferred to play with the aforementioned friends, and decided to roll Cadee to play with my friend on Phoenix. He's been playing since about February/March, and right now I'm leveling up to get around a decent level to party with him and get his help with unlocking Extra Jobs etc. He's a 40+ SMN for reference.

Am I going to be able to find a niche in the game? I know that's a kind of 'it's all relative' question, but I'm a bit worried that I'm so late, that I won't understand the game and may not be able to place myself well in a party since everyone else seems to know what they're doing due to experience. I've found people to be helpful, and I'm not looking for an easy game (I find them quite boring to be honest!) but I've only ever got to level 30, and that was peachy, but what about after that?

[DakAttack]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

So long as somebody forms a new party there's a new niche to fill. How well you fill it is up to you.

[Cadee]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

I figured as much, but as a lot of people (in the Dunes to be fair) can be quite brutal as far as advice-giving, I started getting a bit nervous. xD

[Ellipses]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

Try not to let it get to you. I won't say there aren't some jerks in the game, or that you haven't come across them, but often, when all you've got is text, simple brevity can come across as brutality. These are not the only people you'll meet. There will be some who are more helpful, and barring in-game advice, there are always forums.

Another thing about those people snapping out in the Dunes is that most of them probably won't remember you. So don't be afraid of getting blacklisted by an entire server just because a few people in a hurry told you to STFU and pull/provoke/whatever.

[Amberly]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

Come over to Unicorn and get you a pearl to Goodwill!

You might want to find mid size social ls to help with questions and concerns w/o being dicks about it.

[MrMageo]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

Best advice I can offer you is to do research. This site and other like it have guides built for pretty well every job. (if not multiples). The best way to get comfortable with the job your playing is to know what is going to await you. Such as leveling a DD job, just know that you will be sharing usually 3-4 party slots with 10-12 other jobs.

The best thing to do when playing a new job is to read about others experiences, everytime I started a new job in my first year I wasn't familiar with I would use the internet to read about it and get an understanding of my role in a party. Players in game can come of as pompous sometimes, because things take a lot of time to do and people don't often want to stop and help new players, because it eats into their time. There are probably several gems on every server that flock to new people because they remember the excitement they had. (I know I am one). I do it to relive the excitement again through someone else because I can't obviously do it myself.

So I would say visit the job forums here on DiV for the job you are or are interested in being and read about it, and ask questions of the people there. Some of us may come of as jerks and what not, myself included but in the end this site is probably the most user friendly helpful site around.

Maybe pop into the server forums (which are pretty dead of late) and introduce yourself to the vets that float around there, its a good way to meet new friends, and get advice.

As for parties, don't worry, there is 6 slots to fill, and something always is needed.

Good luck and if you ever need advice send me a message and ill help the best I can.

[Cadee]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate you taking the time to post here. I have to admit feeling a sense of relief from seeing the comments left here.

I first planned on playing WHM, as I had played it to level 24 when I played last time and had begun to enjoy it, but I saw a distinct lack of tanks in Dunes (granted, it was over Christmas so there was probably a distinct lack of everything) and suddenly the appeal of PLD crept back. It was what I've been wanting to play pretty much since I first started, so that's what I'm pushing for. I've read a lot of guides and have to say most of them have been very useful.

My main concern was a lot of people in a party were very nice to me until one of them linked, and I had quite stupidly forgotten that the party leader had passed leadership onto me for some odd reason, so I didn't immediately turn off Level Sync to allow the WHM and RDM help in killing. I did however advise them that I had a Raise for our two tanks on the way already, then went to turn off Level Sync when I realised it was me who had to do it, and got called an array of interesting names for being too slow. Perhaps it was my fault, but I did apologise profusely for being an idiot.

Anyway that was a minor thing strung along with quite a few; but I guess I just forgot what Dunes parties were like and wasn't paying enough attention. I can guarantee I'm never partying downstairs in my parents' house again, too much of that talking business.

[GreatMno]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

The Dunes can be a very...intense place in regard to the types of players, at least in my experience. It's a big world out there, with a whole lot of players. I say ignore the times you get an insult cast your way, learn from mistakes, and make some friends.

[Cadee]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

Sounds like the best idea. I only got as far as parties in Kazham last time, and even they were a million times better than a lot of Dunes parties. Ahh, good old BRD/WHM tanks...that was interesting. Maybe that's possible later game, I don't know, but dear god don't do it at level 12 and shout at your tank for trying to tank. xD

Nahh, is it possible that in my time away I actually missed the Dunes?

[MrMageo]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

The dunes plays with peoples heads. People hate going there, it causes stress of the most unrivaled levels. People want to go there and bang out the exp and get out. Most people infact solo to level 15 or so to avoid this region entirely simply because of the irritation factor.

Anything that is said or done in the dunes is usually forgotten when everyone leaves so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Some people just get to intense at times, but the dunes is like putting your fingers in a blender sometimes, you don't want to do it, but sometimes you just get the curosity of what might happen. (not that I have tried it but have definitley thought hmm I wonder what would happen if....)

[Cadee]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

I have to say the Dunes is quite a frustrating place, mainly because of sitting around waiting for a pickup, only to get into a party who may not be particularly good at what they're doing yet, leading to various problems such as wipes etc. I've had my fair share of self-made parties, some which worked, others that didn't, but sometimes it was just nicer to put the flag up and hope for the best. Once I checked the party set-up before joining, was assured they had a level 15 NIN tank, a WHM, BLM and an off-tank, and were looking for some DD. I was playing WHM and my boyfriend DRK, so they welcomed us. I'd never played with that set-up but thought nothing of it, until I saw the NIN 'tank' was subbing DRK. I wasn't sure what to think of that.

I don't like to pass comment most of the time though, because I'm more inexperienced than most of them so god only knows what interesting setup they've found, so I just keep my opinions to myself and see how it pans out.

Just out of curiosity, for soloing to 15, would you advise just DC/EM in La Theine and Konschtat, then moving into the Dunes afterwards? I find soloing quite pleasant sometimes.

[MrMageo]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

Smash EP/DC they go down fast, also make use of those books (fields of valor) I have heard good thing but haven't tried myself.

Killing Orcs in Ghelsba Outpost works well, and may even take you to 20, just work through the zone slowly and don't over exert yourself. They also drop gil and 10-20 a kill adds up quickly when you plowing through mobs.

[Ameroth]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

Smash EP/DC they go down fast, also make use of those books (fields of valor) I have heard good thing but haven't tried myself.

With the recent hike in exp from EP and DC mobs, this is good advice. Back in the day (lawl a few months ago) fighting EP after level 10ish got old fast because of the 15-25exp you'd get per kill.

And yes, try fields of Valor when you can. You go out and fight certain mobs and are rewarded with bonus exp for doing so. It's not anything amazing (most you can get is 500exp bonus), but it's kinda fun and makes soloing at lowbie levels a little more interesting.

I went out on BLU 25 in the dunes with 500exp tnl, and after one round of fields of valor I was at BLU26 with 800exp. Good luck.

[Kailea]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

welcome to my server ;p (fear me)


(na just kidding)


yeah Dunes sucks ;p but yeah like MrMageo said look for and use the Field of Valor books when you solo, that extra boost in EXP, along with the help you can get from the books, will make a big difference.

go here --> Field of Valor <--for locations and info on it, also that site in general is awesome ^.^

[Firewind]

Re: Curiosity regarding the game in general.

Killing Worms, Bunnies and Crabs in East Ronfaure [S] is good exp from 12-15+ and probably further than that (if you have the Wings of the Goddess expansion so you can get the the area). The only people you ever find there other than people doing Campaign are the odd soloing BST and people farming the ladybugs. Pixies roam over to the city gates quite often so you can quite easily get a raise if things go wrong.