Help with my class choice

[Arcanite00]

Hello again everyone! Just wanted some input on what job to be. I want to be a class thats acually needed right now. What job is the game low on atm?

Thanks in advance!

[Intensity]

Re: Help with my class choice

DRG's and PUP's are probably the least popular jobs, so least populated. I don't know if they're really "Needed". Plus, that's something that's going to be server specific. From what I've heard, some servers are flooded with PLD's and others with NIN's. I'd say universally, WHM is probably the most "Needed" job at any point on any server.

[Icemage]

Re: Help with my class choice

(1) Don't play a job just because it's needed. Test it out and see if you like it, or you're going to be miserable despite all the party invites.

(2) Needed is a subjective term. Needed when? Every job shines in different situations (well, except maybe Puppetmaster, but they're new and are still getting tweaked up to par).

That said, the jobs most in demand for experience point parties overall are:

White Mage (the go-to job for main healing)
Red Mage (capable main healer, and comes with Refresh and Convert to keep the magic flowing)
Bard (very passive job that makes everyone much more effective)
Ninja (Blink-tank extraordinaire)

Of these, only White Mage and Red Mage are initially available to new players - you'll have to reach level 30 on one of the basic jobs to unlock any of the advanced jobs.

Also bear in mind that as jobs gain abilities at different levels, they may become more or less attractive for groups. Red Mages don't get their key abilities until level 40 and 41, for instance - but their invite rate skyrockets beyond that point. Bards are somewhat similar - they're not really amazing until level 55 when they acquire their most important song, Mage's Ballad II.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Help with my class choice

Hello again everyone! Just wanted some input on what job to be. I want to be a class thats acually needed right now. What job is the game low on atm?

Thanks in advance!

Well you're only going to have six job starting out and then several to unlock past 30.

Warrior, Monk, Thief, Red Mage, White Mage and Black Mage. Of those, the most "needed" are the mages. But everyone wants to be the guy who kills the monster and mages don't generally get to do that as much as melee, with the exception of BLM.

Really, at this point, we may be in for a big change and rebalancing of jobs. What one job does well today, they might not do as well in a few weeks. Conversely, what one job does well now they may be able to do much better very soon, while other jobs considered weaker may be brought up to par.

Ninjas and Paladinsare popular for tanking. Red Mage, Bard and Corsair are commonly invited for their support abilities. White Mage and Summoner have a great capacity for healing, as does Red Mage.

But playing a popular job just because its "needed" can be a big recipie for burnout. I've played jobs to satisfy the expectations of others in the past, it wasn't the best decision and I immensely dislike playing those jobs now because they don't suit my personality. I almost recently picked up Bard again, but ended up feeling like it just wasn't worth the trouble (well, and the invasion of noobs trying to rationalize a /NIN sub pre-TP burn isn't helping, either)

Ninja is popular, but its also very, very expensive to level. Corsair and Ranger can be even more expensive. Bard and Red Mage are always in-demand for their Refresh and Dispel abilities which is a blessing and a curse - you'll rarely have a moments peace to accomplish other goals without someone bugging you to party with them. But then, that's what /anon status is for.

Play the field and see what you like first. When you get that first job to 30, unlock as many of the other jobs as you can and give them each a try. You may end up liking something you hadn't considered before.

I often prefer to play a support role such as Corsair when I'm in parties but also like to play a damage dealer, which Ranger and Dragoon can also be. However, I also have a need to have self sufficient, soloable jobs and Corsair and Ranger just can't take on that role, however Beastmaster, Dragoon and other jobs can. While a Bard is loved for its support ability, it doesn't really offer you the melee power to make soloing with it worthwhile.

[Arcanite00]

Re: Help with my class choice

Thanks for all the advice guys! Im thinking of starting a Blm. I hope I can get some invites

Thanks again!

Server --Ragnarok
Character --Obelisk

[Shadowneko]

Re: Help with my class choice

It also should be noted for FFXI newbies that you can basicly switch jobs(aka: classes) at any time.

Presoannly my taste in playing jobs goes twords...well...being Unusual. I played THF past 37(something alot of players won't do), I'm thinking of toying with Dragoon(it's only lvl 4...I was bored on night), and I'm playing Summoner(according to the Vanidel cencus less than 1% of all players play Summoner).

On my Server there are too many people playing mage and no one wants to tank! You can't ever find a tank when you need one XD

[DakAttack]

Re: Help with my class choice

If you enjoy the game you'll probably spend a lot of time playing it, and you'll end up playing many more jobs than you had originally anticipated. It's good to know where you want to end up, but it's also fine to try things out.

Eventually you'll hit the zone where you can take a job to 20 in a week's time, and that's always a good place to end a test run.

[the_ultimate_shadow]

Re: Help with my class choice

(i hope no one potsed this above cause i dont want to read all that was said...too much :| ) anyways, well, heres how i look at it, their are four stereo types of jobs, A: Melee, either it be tanking or damage, you hit with a weapon, your power is within that. B: Mages, your damage is dealt through strong spells. C: you like to keep people alive, you believe in life, you like to heal people. and last but not least (one that i've only found exists in this game) D: the misc abilities. this i would say includes puppet master, bard, jobs that are usful but do not fit the top three categories.

decide this way. think about which part you would like to play in real life!

[Mastametz]

Re: Help with my class choice

BLM is my favorite.


Although I died alot because I'm heavy on the nuke finger.