Looking for some answers before a return

[rezbit]

Hi.

With the announcement of the new expansion I've been thinking over a return to FFXI. Before I do, however, there are a few questions I have that are more specific to my needs than what I've seen answered in other posts.

Previously I played on the Kujata server as a Male Hume Dark Knight named "Quillow"(stated incase someone recognizes me). I achieved level 67 with Haubergeon, Spinning Slash, etc. with all the trimmings to make my character as uber a Dark Knight can be for that level. The main reason I quit is because I could never get a party. It didn't matter how good I was, even getting complimented on being an exceptional DRK(like it's that hard to screw up ) on several occasions after an EXP session. Despite that it was still hard for me to get a party either by joining or starting one myself. It felt mor elike my main job was to seek a party and my sub was a DRK; LFG/DRK you could say. I don't expect this to have changed since I have stopped playing so long-ago, and this is where my questioning begins.

#1 - What would be the best job to play through the course of levels 1-75?

Be as open with your answers as you can with this one. I'm not opposed to playing any job except Bard, Beastmaster, and WHM aside from using it as a sub. My main experiences were in the melee field when I previously played, so anything into the foray of a mage would be a relatviely new experience. I had deeply considered Red Mage as I see no real downfall to being one, but I'm really looking for something that'll get me into parties and still be useful for high-level raids/quests/whatever you want to call it.

#2 - What would be the best server to play on?

Kujata was a fine server, but I'm going for something new. I guess any server is fine, but I'm going to want to be a part of a relatively good server community. I'm sure this question will gain widely varied answers.

I had more questions than this, but through the course of typing all this up they seemed to go from my memory. The two that I did ask are the more important ones. Any answers that can be given would be greatly appreciated. I started playing WoW two months ago, but found myself getting bored after I reached level 37 and can't find any of the fun in WoW that I had with FFXI. A friend of mine who used to play FFXI as well is considering coming back so answers and any additional commentary would help aid in his return, too.

Thanks.

EDIT - I just remembered one of the questions I'd forgotten just minutes after posting this.

#3 - In terms of making money, which would be the best craft skill(s) to learn?

I was never a crafter before so I honestly havn't a clue as to what would be best.

Thanks again.

[Hereaux]

Re: Looking for some answers before a return

1) no best job to play... pick whichever is the most fun for you
2) there is no best server... all servers have their ups and downs
3) cooking is the most steady in my eyes... either that or just fish
4) use the search function... this is the 3rd or 4th of these i've answered this week

[DakAttack]

Re: Looking for some answers before a return

Pick one or two jobs to play. I enjoy Dragoon the most even though the invites stink, but I also enjoy Paladin but not as much. Paladins get pretty quick invites so it makes seeking as Drg not so bad.

All crafts are money sinks until you max it out, along with multiple other crafts, at 100. Then you'll be able to make big ticket items that you wont have to HQ to make any profit on.

[Bahamut Kaiser]

Re: Looking for some answers before a return

I don't know if you already started or not, but the answer your looking for is mage. Mages are ten times more resourceful, and suffer 10 times less competition.

If your main problem with the game, which was the same problem I had when I quit, is that you hate the endless wait for parties (among all the other time consuming mindless activities), then be a Whm, Blm, Brd, Rdm, and when you get the backing Smn is good too. Mages straight out have a better possition in a party, and less competition then the DD, and you can do 2 mage jobs simultainiously within the same time it takes to do 1 melee job with all the long waits.

Even if your not fond of mages, going to lvl 18 with Blm, getting your sub, going to 37 or 38 with Whm, and doing either those jobs or Rdm or Brd will ensure that you spend litterally hundreds less hrs finding parties over the course of the game.

I too have been considerring coming back to FFXI, I wanted to be a Drg, and it just took too much commitment, but my primary goal was to complete the game with summoner, and I always wanted to use Bahamut. The new Class may help change the way the game is played, and if all luck is with me, Bahamut may finally be available to summon. But that is just my hope.

Be a mage, no matter what race you are, even if you hate being a mage you will excell through the game with much greater ease and success then you would any melee class. And you wouldn't be suffering from waiting, not nearly so much as a melee class.

The other thing I can tell you is be as many jobs as possible, try to lvl up simular jobs together if they can share equiptment. This way you will have several options to play with, and be able to fill multiple possitions in whatever party is available, or even if your jobs are different lvls, you can still try doing something else if this or that particular job isn't in demand. This allows you to play with whatever is available at the time, and further ensure that you will be able to participate.

[Lupine73]

Re: Looking for some answers before a return

As for which job to play, I'd have to say play which ever style best suits you. I'm re-creating my Mithra Monk from scratch again (my situation is very similar to yours). I really don't care what their perceived value or demand or whatever is.. I enjoy the job. So I am going that route again.

I'm on the same server I was on before.. Pandemonium. I tried starting over a different server, but too many people I knew and missed talking to are on Pandemonium. Odd as it sounds, playing on a different server felt "wrong". There are certain familiar faces that were just missing when I tried a different server.

Here's an example (and I'll bet anyone else reading could relate to this on their server):

There are certain players who park themselves outside the Res. area in Windy Woods with their bazaars up. Two tarus named "Boognish" and "Poognish", another named Arcticrain would be sitting out in the open area near the stairs. Yet another would be on follow, trailing behind the Mithra NPC, Tosh Hohnay (think that's how it's spelled), near Bomingo Round. That's just to name a few. Some of them have been there since "Day 1" when I first signed up - on the release date for PC in North America. After seeing them there day in and day out for 1.5+ years and then running through that area on a different server and not seeing them there just felt "wrong". Soon as I was back on Pandy and saw them again.. it felt "right" again.

Anyway.. that's just me.. I guess others can switch servers without trouble.. It just felt wrong not being on Pandy for me. Ultimately, though.. Pandemonium's a good server.. Okay.. I might be a bit biased :-).

[tdh]

Re: Looking for some answers before a return

I can understand the frustration. I leveled DRK to Lv.51 pretty fast! Yes, I had the aid of a static party for a decent amount of those levels, but up to Lv.50 I had tons of invites. Suddenly the invites just quit. Something about Lv.50 is a huge stop gap for a number of melee jobs. WAR and DRK seems to have a hard time with this hurdle.

I was out of the game for a year. I spent 3 weeks doing heavy farming to buy new gear for DRK, and I still can't get an invite to save my life. I've managed to gain 3k EXP on EP while farming. Got tired of being in the same spot, so I went back to my RDM main.

The 50's FLEW by for me! I went from Lv.36 to Lv.60 in a month. I took off almost a week to farm 1.5mil for my 8 Elemental Staves, and a number of breaks trying to get my AF keys and Coffers. EXP flew by. Now I've been stuck at Lv.60 for almost two weeks trying to get G3 done. I'm turning down invites left and right! (I tried to solo the Davoi leg of it, and a True Sight NM saw through my Sneak/Invis and left nothing but Elvaan bones and my Pimp Suit. Only have the Bird Castle to do and I'm off to the races again.)

I've also seen some DRKs who just stink! Really poor gear and they're Lv.60, or Lv.70. Yet I'm a good DRK (If I do say so myself!) with above average gear and I can't get any invites. I would think a DRK67 with Cross Reaper, Spinning Slash, and THF sub would be in demand though.

[aegina]

Re: Looking for some answers before a return

i heard someone say once that every player should level three jobs. One job you should level for easy invites, one for usefulness to yourself, and one you level just for fun. when you're burned out on lfg, level a rdm. when you're sick of that, level a fun job (for you, this may be drk), and level one job for usefulness too. (i chose thf for my useful job. th AND soloability? yes please)

it seems to work out well enough for me, i think.