Second Character Conundrum

[Murphie]

So, I wasn't sure exactly where to put this, especially since it's kind of a silly question. But since the outcome doesn't really matter, I figured I'd just kind of put it out there for opinions from others.

I bought a second copy of FFXI recently (2007 Vanadiel Collection) because I thought it might be fun to have a second character to fiddle around with. I didn't just make a mule, because I thought it would be easier for me if I could help myself out when I need it, rather than harass someone else.

Anyway, I have no idea what race to pick. I mean, I guess not Taru, since I've already got one, but otherwise I'm torn.

Basically I was going to level a MNK or a NIN or some kind of melee, so I'm leaning towards Galka or Elvaan, but I do miss my mithra sometimes (nostalgia) so I could always go that way too. Or, you know, Hume. I dunno.

So anyway. Thoughts, suggestions?

[Necropolis]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

I'd go hume if you're uncertain with what you'll be doing with it. That way you go across the board average stats. But thats just me.

I have a seperate mules account as well, mainly because I hold on to everything.
But of my 15 mules, 10 of them are taru, just because I like taru. But I couldn't ever level one seriously. I'd have to do rank mission, CoP, ZM and all that over again. Too much for me to imagine doing over.

[Icemage]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

If we're talking about minimal overlap in job development, I'd say Galka.

Between a Tarutaru and a Galka you can cover every job in FFXI at peak or near-peak capacity. Tarutaru are great at spellcaster jobs, Galka are great at non-spellcaster jobs, and play very differently as well (which is good since it keeps the game fresh).


Icemage

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

If you really want to scramble your brain, try playing your Tarutaru on PLD then switch around and play Galka PLD the next day.

Being a Mithra PLD (in a static party with RDM, BRD, and WHM), I was shocked to find out on my RDM last night that a Galka PLD isn't the main healer when I parsed the party. >_>;

I can only imagine how much more entertaining it would be to flip-flop between Tarutaru and Galka...

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

Overlap between the other character's jobs is far more important than what race you pick, pick race for aesthetic appeal and nothing more. I picked kitten for COR because she looked nicer in the AF, nothing more. You can always work around the pros and cons of race.

Also important is the matter of gil. If your first character is mage-centric and the other character is melee/tank, then you're not too bad off. There's a bit of overlap there. But if both characters have melee/consumable tool jobs, that's where it gets a bit tricky. Foobar is a Beastmaster, Dragoon, Blue Mage and Bard. Kitten is a Corsair, Ranger, Ninja and I'm planning Puppetmaster as well.

So its kinda obvious while Foobar would have plenty of accessory overlap, his jobs don't line up as well as Kitten's. And while Kitten's jobs overlap extremely well, they're all gilsink jobs. So my choice of NIN, PUP, BST and DRG on have an ulterior motive - all four can solo and farm seals well. For the last year, I've had to rely heavily on my resources with Foobar to do anything as Kitten, so my current goal is to make her function more independently.

Having two character has its advantages, like being in position for NM camps so there's less run around with one character. I could park Foobar at Dragon's Aery and Kitten in Behemoth's Dominion.

Being able to specialize your characters and have job flexibility is great, too, since the merit system proves FFXI isn't as flexible as it poses to be. Any race can play any job, but merits have limits, so you end up having a character specialized in certain jobs or marginalized for all of them.

I specialized kitten in Marksmanship for RNG and COR, I'm planning evasion for NIN and PUP. From there, MP, STR, Critical hit rate merits all support the jobs I play on her.

Full MP merits will always be great for the jobs Foobar plays and there's a good amount of space to divide up combat skills. Retiring BRD to merit-only will afford my BLU full Blue Magic skill merits.

Biggest downside to two characters? Redoing Missions, Fame and subjobs. Nation Rank, ZM and ToA missions are pie, those are hardly the issue. CoPs, Dynamis and Assault in addition to Norg and Avatar fame are royal pain in the ass to manage with two characters. You'll likely need a NIN and WHM sub... again. I have to do SAM twice on top of that.... yay.

[DieselBoy09]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

Pick mithra, they're the best at everything.

[Jarre]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

Galkas rule, excellent for tank jobs, Galka have more Agility, Inteleigence, VIT and HP than an Elvan. The correct gear gets rid of the lower MP and mind the Galkan race suffers. You last longer at low levels with the extra vit and Hp helping when the shit hits the fan.

[Taermus]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

Galka MND is second only to Elvaan. The only real issue with playing one as a mage is MP.

My "Main Mule" is a Galka, and they are their own kind of magic. I often wish I would have chosen it as my main instead of Elvaan.

[Murphie]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

It's probably going to be Galka, for the reasons that Icemage and Itazura mentioned.

I've already played a Mithra and Hume to or near endgame levels, and I hated how mediocre I was at everything. I played Elvaan only to the low-40s on a few jobs, so it was really mostly a toss up between Elvaan and Galka since both really make excellent melee.

But male elvaan run so silly. I can't stand that. Plus, Galka don't look quite as horrifying in a subligar, since their legs are so short.

[Aksannyi]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

So from one extreme to the other, Murph, huh? From the teeniest of the teeny to the largest of the large.

Gotta ya.

Also, I did not vote ... but I did enjoy the fact that you voted for yourself to DIAF. I was wondering if anyone else chose that option.

[Murphie]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

It's unlikely that I'll really spend all that much time on this second guy. I mean, Murphie is already my...um...8th character? And I do plan to level at least one melee job on him (so that I have variety in his own personal playing style). But I like the idea of being able to do more things myself, without help from others, so two characters would come in handy there, and a Galka makes a lot of sense as a companion to a Taru.

[Aksannyi]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

Yeah actually my husband and I just moved back in together (long story) but I do like the idea that I can use his main to help my mules out (like going into Gusgen and farming keys for RSE, which I can make some gil - sounds like a lot of effort but not really when it gets right down to it - meh, I digress) and also on occasion he can use my RDM to PL himself (solo) when he's leveling a lowbie job.

[Clever Ninja]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

But Galka look silly riding Chocobo >_>.

And frankly Murphie every race has its own area where its 'mediocre'. Hume are average all around but very few jobs will actually require you to spread your equipment stats out equally to multiple stats. Hume may not be the best at everything(stat wise they make great RDM and BLU though IMO), but they need less stat bonuses to boost specific stats for whatever job they play. Kinda like how Galka don't really need to boost much thats out of the ordinary for melee jobs, but for MP jobs you do have to have a strong focus on MP since that's their biggest shortcoming.

[Murphie]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

Which is good because I don't plan to level any mage jobs on this second character. Besides perhaps BLM to 17 for Warp. And even then, probably not.

I'm well aware of the limitations of the races. My Hume and Mithra were fine, but they weren't exceptional at anything, save versatility, and while that can be handy, I wanted more. I have nothing against either race (I do like how Mithra look nice in just about any armor), but if I'm going to level a character for a specific role, I may as well make it a race that excels in that specific area.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Re: Second Character Conundrum

Galka's model takes up too much space. I hate having to try and run past a Galka just outside the Residentials in Jeuno.

If you pick Mithra, you'll just get hit on by random strangers.

Elvaan look like horse-people when they're running.

Go with Hume.