Help a new player find a fun job combo. ... please?

[Aelith]

Hey. So I just bought this game and am going to set it up pretty soon, but I wanted to find the job/race combos that I should get first.

I wanted a charachter that can fight well (or pretty well at least), but still has some useful magic. That got me thinking War/Rdm, or Rdm warrior. Reading some posts here though, it looks like war/anything with magic or rdm/war isn't going to work for anything besides soloing - and maybe not even that.

(Oh, and what is the difference between a rdm/war and a war/rdm, gameplay wise?)

Is there any job combo that lets me play with shiny swords, but cast a few spells as well?

I'd like a combo that works some what decently for soloing, but I want to be able to get on parties as well. If I have to make a final choice, I suppose partying would be more important to me though.

The bst seems to be a good soloer, but I really don't think I like his style of play all that much, so he's out of the picture.

Oh, and one last quick question. It looks like I can keep changing my main job from the one I start with, right? (ie: I can start with war, take him to lev 20 or something, and then keep the same charachter, but turn him into a lv one rdm or whm?) If I do that, can I ever go back to my lev 20 war, or is he lost for good?

Thanks for all the help guys!

[ZQM]

http://ffxionline.com/forums/forumdi...?s=&forumid=58

Dark Knight is the perfect class for you. WAR/RDM and RDM/WAR are very gimped. Dark Knight, however, is an awesome melee class and also casts a lot of magic.

And for your last question, yes. If you change your job at level 20 Warrior, you can always go back to Warrior and it will be level 20.

[Omena]

The genral rule is to never mix melee and casting jobs. It just doesn't work, trust me.

There are however a couple jobs that are different. Both paladin and dark knight specialize in melee (dark knight in dealing damage and paladin in taking damage) and also cast spells. These are still both melee classes and thus you should sub a melee job with these (warrior). Dark knight uses offensive magic and paladin uses defensive and curative magic.

[Aelith]

Hmm. Dark Knight and Paladin definitely sound like what I'm after. I've got a few more questions though, if you could indulge me for a few more minutes :-)

The paladin specialises in taking damage - how much worse is his ability to inflict damage than that of the dark knight (and vice versa, how much better is his ability to take damage than the dark knights?) Which of these are better at soloing - which are better at joining PTs, or are they about the same?

Also - both are advanced jobs, so I won't be able to take them until around level 30, right? Can I get access to these guys using any job earlier until I get to level 30 (can a rdm or theif unlock those jobs, or do I have to be a war?)

If I can use any job initially, I suppose it makes sense to pick one that would be a good subjob later, right?

I guess that narrows it down to warrior, pretty much. I heard that monks don't make a great subjob for dark knight, is that more or less right? What about thiefs - I hear those are good subs for dark knights (although not until I get really far...)

I suppose it would be a big waste to start as a red mage, and then switch to dark knight as my main job, right, or would that actually work out ok?

Again, thanks for the help. This looks like its a huge game.

[Cali]

Paladin has the highest def, and dark knight has def just above monk(monk loses because they wear clothes, and not metal armors).

As for damage-taking, it's hard to say...

DEF-
Paladin > Warrior > Dragoon = Samurai = Ninja > Dark knight = Thief > Monk > Ranger
Attack(Exclude JA)-
Ranger > Dark knight > Warrior = Samurai = Monk > Dragoon > Ninja = Thief

Not exact though, but yea, you could put it like that.

You can unlock any subjob with any job, for example, I can get a Summoner after playing warrior to 30.

For sub job, Paladin has to take warrior(for provoke), as for dark knight, both warrior and thief will work fine.

Paladin gets party way easier than Dark knight, because it's always wanted.

Starting as a Red mage can give you some spells and magic lvl as you progress, and I guess that's all there is to gain if you chose to play red mage main before advanced jobs.

[LampShade]

The paladin specialises in taking damage - how much worse is his ability to inflict damage than that of the dark knight?
Paladin generally contributes nothing to the damage dealt to an exp monster (ones you fight for exp, generally at least 5 levels above you, check Very Tough - Incredibly Tough) until level 55
how much better is his ability to take damage than the dark knights?
dark knight will try to never, ever take damage in an exp party, while the paladin takes all. so, how well they can take hits isn't much of a big deal

Which of these are better at soloing?
Soloing for EXP stops at around level 15, they're about the same-
solo farming for money, dark knight as heavier attacks = faster killing
which are better at joining PTs, or are they about the same?
Paladin rarely needs to compete for the required tank spot in the party. DRK has to compete with samurai, thieves, dragoons, rangers, monks, warriors (other damage dealers)

Also - both are advanced jobs, so I won't be able to take them until around level 30, right? Can I get access to these guys using any job earlier until I get to level 30?
yes and yes

If I can use any job initially, I suppose it makes sense to pick one that would be a good subjob later, right?
A lot of people end up leveling multiple subjobs anyways - if you're not big for that, stick with Warrior. On the other hand, a warrior subjob is mandatory to be an effective Paladin

What about thiefs - I hear those are good subs for dark knights (although not until I get really far...)
not until level 60, although having a Thief leveled up is handy for moneymaking

in conclusion
Dark Knight - many subjob varieties, hard party invites
Paladin - only warrior sub, easier invites
your choice.

[Lightseeker]

The posts above pretty much cover it all, but just to add my suggestion:

Whether you choose dark knight or paladin (heck, unlock them both and try them out for a while, then choose) I would suggest that you start the game like this:

monk to 18
unlock subjob ability
war to 30, with monk sub
unlock paladin and/or dark knight
use war as subjob

Why start as monk? It is the easiest starting job, it will give you a good feel for the game with minimal gil investment (no spells to buy, cheap armor compared to war) and it is the perfect subjob for warrior. The benefits of thief as a subjob really don't show up until your main job is 30.