Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

[Firewind]

Well my RPLS on FFXIV has sort of fallen apart, basically the leader lost interest in the game and quit without saying anything leaving the rest of us hanging. FFXIV is a game that if fine if played casually meaning that playing both at the same time is feasible.

Problem is is that I uninstalled FFXI over a year ago so some questions!

1) The Steam version was a great deal, FFXI plus all the expansions, mini expansions and Abyssea stuff for £10. I picked it up the second it went up on Steam for if I ever wanted to go back to FFXI.

Firstly: Can I still use Windower, DAT mods and UI mods as well as reg edits to bump up the resolution of the game? FFXI looks pretty fugly if not played on a CRT monitor.

Second: How do I go about registering the Abyssea, Moogle Kupo d'etat and Shantotto content from the Steam version? I only have a single CD code for the lot given to me by steam, is that good for the lot of it?

Third: How long will the update process be since I've heard that it doesn't actually come with any of the patches following WoTG's release.

2) What servers are still active? The prospect of paying for a server transfer doesn't bother me much since I no longer appear to have any of my old linkshells and only one or two people on my friends list are even active according to a quick FFXIAH search.

3) How long will it take for me to get RDM to lv50 so it can be used as a WHM subjob? I've been told by friends still in the game that I'm going to have to solo it because there are very few people in the low level zones (Hint, my RDM is at Lv1).

4) How viable is WHM/RDM compared to RDM/SCH and SCH/RDM? I've yet to be convinced it's anywhere near taking back the healer role from those two classes though I have had a friend talk to me about it and say it's still viable though will never be as popular a healer as RDM/SCH and SCH/RDM.

5) Are the "new" Abyssea zones full of crabs and birds or do I get to fight other mobs?

[Grizzlebeard]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

As one Brit to another I'd save yourself the pain and resub to WoW.

I could give a longer response answering all your questions but other than nostalgia there's no real reason to jump back in to FFXI now, it's on the wane.

[emeraldpearl]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

I wouldn't bother. I too also bought the £10 game off steam. Just to see whether the game is stil kicking, but unfortunatley the game seems to be lifeless now (the server my character was on anyway) i would take Grizzlebeard's advice, WoW seems to be the ore viable option until FFXIV becomes more stable, economy wise + when all of the bugs and issues have been adressed.

[Elwynn]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

Firstly: Can I still use Windower, DAT mods and UI mods as well as reg edits to bump up the resolution of the game? FFXI looks pretty fugly if not played on a CRT monitor.

I don't know why you couldn't. I normally use PS2, but I haven't heard of them doing anything special against Windower users.

Second: How do I go about registering the Abyssea, Moogle Kupo d'etat and Shantotto content from the Steam version? I only have a single CD code for the lot given to me by steam, is that good for the lot of it?

My understanding is that you use that key to register one of them, and then either the rest go in automatically, or you have to manually register them with the same key. Then that key can't be used for a new account, but you don't care.

Third: How long will the update process be since I've heard that it doesn't actually come with any of the patches following WoTG's release.

Ha ha lol. It's FFXI. Always expect a few hours for patches on a fresh install. You can probably download a pre-updated rar file, but make sure you get the right (US vs EU) version.

2) What servers are still active? The prospect of paying for a server transfer doesn't bother me much since I no longer appear to have any of my old linkshells and only one or two people on my friends list are even active according to a quick FFXIAH search.

I'd say any of the merged servers should be fine. Quick checks the past few days showed Sylph at 1600 - 2600 depending on the hour. It's not until the low gets to 1200 or so that you really feel the lack of people. Isn't there something on FFXIAH which can give you an idea of which servers have higher relative population?

3) How long will it take for me to get RDM to lv50 so it can be used as a WHM subjob? I've been told by friends still in the game that I'm going to have to solo it because there are very few people in the low level zones (Hint, my RDM is at Lv1).

Well of course any good player can solo to 7 in under an hour, and 10 not longer than that. Also, consider that while it's tough to find people in the 50-70 range these days, people are still leveling subjobs, so E-Ron bird parties are common for 37-50.

4) How viable is WHM/RDM compared to RDM/SCH and SCH/RDM? I've yet to be convinced it's anywhere near taking back the healer role from those two classes though I have had a friend talk to me about it and say it's still viable though will never be as popular a healer as RDM/SCH and SCH/RDM.

I can't compare it to anything with SCH in it, but it's nice to not run out of MP in Nyzul any more. And when leveling WHM to 85 in Abyssea, once I dinged 82 (having come in as /RDM of course) it was like "who needs a bard?"

5) Are the "new" Abyssea zones full of crabs and birds or do I get to fight other mobs?

They're full of everything, literally. But generally you fight what the leader wants you to fight. However, once you've dinged 85, you can go off and do other things. I haven't been there in weeks and I had 40+ stones then.

As to what the others are saying, what I can say is don't get into the usual rut. Abyssea is fine for getting to 85 and merits, but don't go doing endgame stuff so you can get better gear to grind the same endgame stuff for better gear to grind the same etc. (That's one reason I avoided Dynamis: 8 hours a week for a tiny chance at gear that I never cared about.)

I've been spending my time these days leveling PUP (which slowed down a lot when a RL job found me), and forming a Nyzul static so I can get others up to where they can help me get floors, with the eventual goal of Mystic Boon, because WHM/NIN will be more fun to just screw around on when I get it. And I've barely begun skilling up... I'll probably have to do some Aby parties at some point with the goal of just skilling up. (Besieged apparently tops out at level 80, fyi) And I won't even touch those magian trials.

tl;dr: Find some goals that don't involve just grinding endgame.

[Firewind]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

It's nice to have opinions from both sides of the fence, thanks. My main problem with FFXIV right now is not having a LS really. If I wanted to play FFXIV as a single player game I'd play Monster Hunter or FFXII really.

I will be the first to admit that it's nostalgia that is making me consider re-joining and I am also curious about the Abyssea content since I did quit the game before trying it. My account's still active and subbed because I'm playing FFXIV so I might at least give it a try before deciding whether or not to "fully" come back to the game.

[Shadowneko]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

Firewind I'm kinda the opposite...I refuse to quit FFXI and I'm not sure about 14 because everyone says it's really broken and missing features and bug fixes it should have had on launch. FFXI is still good but abbysya is mostly for leveling post 75 so far with occasional trips to own NMs to upgrade ancient relic...which as it turns out is the best gear for most post 75 jobs...

[Aeni]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

Like Firewind I have FFXI active (but mostly to get the Hermes Boots) but really have no inclination to return (other than that lottery ... lol) I tried soloing something on my RDM character (I think I was playing as a level 6 DRK) and got it to about 10 without problems and found the questing interesting. Then I went to Tahrongi and found out how ... eerily similar it was from when I last played 3 years ago. After that I haven't logged back on. Unless they vastly change the "grinding" aspect of the game, I'm not looking forward to only killing EP/DC mobs to "crawl" my way to level 40+ to get into groups. Bleh. :C

[Mhurron]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

Unless they vastly change the "grinding" aspect of the game, I'm not looking forward to only killing EP/DC mobs to "crawl" my way to level 40+ to get into groups. Bleh. :C

What on earth are you on about?

[Aeni]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

What on earth are you on about?

Hmm? That's what I was doing in TC on my DRK. The EMs were too tough for me and I would always end in near death (if not dead) Unless there's things in this game that I don't know about ... which is very possible. Enlighten me if there's anything I could do about my situation.

[Mhurron]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

Despite what some say, parties do still exist. No one, except maybe BST and BLM, has to solo to 40.

[Aeni]

Re: Considering a Return - Have Some Questions

Despite what some say, parties do still exist. No one, except maybe BST and BLM, has to solo to 40.

Last time I did a check on between 10 and 20, there existed only 3 players in that range. Did a check between 10 and 50 and only a total of 11 players pulled up. This during a time when many JP players (3 years ago) used to be on. I'm on the server that was formerly known as Hades (I think it merged into something, I have no clue) Believe me when I say it's ... dead.