Good starting job?

[Svalitz]

Like the topic title asks...is Monk a good starting job? I should be getting my import in the next week or so, and I'm thinking about being a Galka Monk when I start out.

I've read about all the abilities and stats, but I wanted to know how someone who'd played as a Monk already, feels about this.

Thanks!

[vissione]

Well I'm not the ideal person, but anyhow I'll post cause I'm nice and no one has yet.

MNK is part of the 3 most easist jobs to start the game with, the other 2 include WAR and RDM. These 3 jobs can get by the first 15 levels or so at blazing speeds.

The other jobs are a bit easier when you've reached to 18 and completed the subjob quest, so that way you can sub WHM with BLM, or WAR with THF, and so on.

[Sairah]

So far my monk has been easy to lvl solo but I haven't gotten to play as much as I wanted to.

[AzzHauler]

The first 8 levels as monk were a hell of a lot easier and faster than the as a thief. Haven't played warrior yet, but I imagine it'll tie with monk as easiest to start.

[Avenger02]

Monks rock as starters... party because you don't have to but expensive weapons in the beginning... I bought the Cat Bagnaus and then once I got 1000 conquest points up I got a legionaire claws... and armor is available as well you just gotta look for them... and its a great char to solo with and once you hit the early 10's he's a great damage dealer to parties and his first Weaponskill, "Combo" is great to skill chain with...

[Mithrael]

Monk is a good solo class until about lvl 30. Depending on what you want as your real subjob, you can start by subbing whm. If you are going to sub war til the end of time, that's obviously a waste of time, but if you plan on doing an advanced job, it's a good standby (but only until lvl 30). Likely, everyone else on the board will tell you it's awful, and i agree once you get past the point of being able to solo.

You should be able to solo worms in Qufim from lvl 25(or 26)-30 with mnk/whm. I got about 125-180 on those from 25-28, and 36-75 from 29-30. Not too shabby. That may be significantly less important in retail, the server population in beta was low enough that i had to solo sometimes so I didn't stand around for hours waiting for a party.

Your biggest problem with being a galka monk is that you're dex will be a little low. Don't let that bother you too much though, just be on the lookout for items that give a bonus to dex. I can't seem to access the site i use to look at stat scores. i think i recall galkas being a c in dex, i gould be wrong though.

EDIT: Ouch... the site came back, i don't think my advice would work for you. Galkas have a D in Dex, so you won't hit very often against tough, very tough, and incredibly tough mobs. Galkas have a G in MP which means you'll only be able to cure yourself once. That probably puts soloing right off the map.

[deusfurs]

ummmm. actually Galka have better dex than elv's. if yo go to the stat calc, which i know isnt 100%, it says that a galka monk (no sub) has 4 more dex at lvl 70 than elv. and if you getting your info from that that "shadow dragon" site you should know that they also list PLd as having the best str in the game, which we all know is wrong. oh well, than agian i could be wrong, i would just watch where you get your info. Galkas rule.

[Mithrael]

indeed! i stand corrected.

[NeoTerra]

What about a Mithra Monk? Would it work ok with the extra speed?

[Mathis]

Yes, a Mithra Monk would work fine.

[Lone Dragon]

DJplaeskool is a mithra and she's the best monk here (at least I ASSUME its a chick. :x )

[Rico]

Originally posted by NeoTerra
What about a Mithra Monk? Would it work ok with the extra speed?

Yes a mithra monk is also good they have excellent hitting rate but they don't have good power as a Elvaan or Galka will do.

[Somajan]

I'm planning to be a Pld/war all the way for retail so I'm going to need Monk as a sub for a while. I plan to start out monk then switch to warrior then paladin.

Since Monk is one of the best classes to sub warrior with I'm going to get monk to 20 then warrior to 40 and paladin to 80 or higher if possible.

[Moritsune]

My copy of FFXI will arrive this week from EBGames.

I am thinking of startting out as a monk myself, regardless of whether its an easy class to level up in or not. I've always been a fan of martial artists.

I decided to become a high level monk, and then cross-class over to ninja. Also...my race will be a Hume, I know they're not the best, but then again, they're not the worst, so I'm up for the challenge.

I hope to become a great asset to whomever I team up with in the game, I'm looking forward to being kool with a lotta ppl.

[Kamuj]

and what about a tarutaru Monk?