Noob: A few WHM Questions

[spinaldex]

I'm starting FFXI tonight. I'm trying to learn as much as I can, but I apologize for some of the noobish questions I am going to ask.

- What do you think a good support class is for a WHM, if I want to primarily play the role of primary healer/buffer . . . basically a class that everyone wants in their groups?

- Going with the above question, what race should I play to work well with the above?

- Lastly, do you have any additional hints to give that I can focus on? For example, specific gear, quests I need to do for X reason, etc?

My friend will be playing BLM and I a WHM, so we're hoping to pickup a lot of groups that way. Any assistance would be appreciated!

[Rones]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

Blm, smn, rdm, and brd are all viable subs depending on your lvl. The most typical sub is blm for the mp, abilities, and utility spells (not attack spells). Blm is a good starting sub for new whms. As a blm, your friend will want to lvl whm for his sub, so you can do a little role reverasal while lvling your subs this way.

As for race, you can get away playing whatever race you want. However, some races do perform better at whm than others. Tarutaru have by far the most mp of any race with the downside of least hp. Hp isn't too signifigant to whms compared to the mp, so it comes in as #1. After that is hume and mithra with less mp, more hp than taru. While some will argue otherwise you should be aware you will be at a disadvantage if you choose elvaan or galka as your mp is extremely limited compared to the others. You can overcome it with the best gear, but even then that just puts on par with the others.

Focus on getting your key spells first (cures, protectra, dia, paralyze) and then gear. Look for +mp gear first. Don't worry about a high dmg weapon after you starting partying around lvl 9-11. 1-9 you will most likely be solo, so just go with whatever feels good.

[Brayden]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

if you haven't yet, skim this http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44625 you should find a lot of useful insights there.

[Medalink]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

I personally think SMN is better to sub as you get Auto-Refresh at WHM lvl 50. Not to mention a few low lvl Avatar Magic like Ice Armor and such. As a WHM 55 w/food and not the best Gear there is I have 745 MP, w/best gear I can easily pass 820. As opposed to subing BLM I only get around 670MP. I think SMN gives more MP later on as you go in the game.

And as far as race starting out WHM taru have low HP and cant take alot of hits, I personally Would Suggest Hume as they are well rounded with HP and MP (I am Hume). HP is a vital role in WHM as if you do not have Stoneskin + Blink up and pull hate you get hit sometimes for alot, or if Benadiction is used its nice to take a beating and not die. Not alot of WHM's can, but more over go with a race you like not what you want for a job, as you may change jobs latter on.

Medalink

[Icemage]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

HPs stop becoming much of a factor once you get Stoneskin at 29. In cases where you know you're going to get hit (Curaga, Benediction, Cure IV, etc.), smart WHMs should cast Blink first, if not Stoneskin as well, time permitting. Oh, and at level 75 I have more HPs as Taru than the hume and mithra WHMs in my HNMLS since I don't use HP>MP conversion.


Icemage

[Eternalyx]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

I would agree that SMN would probably be the best sub for HNM situations since you can get more MP out of /SMN, plus you get Auto-regen to help get more use out of your MP. As for races and such; Skill (as in MP rationing skill) > Equipment > Race

[Kutch]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

Playing a whm in FFXI is much like being a wizard in EQ, you can draw alot of hate in your early levels, not as much because of your curing, but beacuse the rest of the PT might not be well tuned into their roles yet (tanks, damage dealers etc).

But, in the wee bit higher levels, once most people start to know and understand the game (I'd say from around early lvl 40), what you want is maximum MP, as it is vital for keeping the flow of experience coming in.

I play whm exclusively with summoner sub, for the MP regen, and I'm a taru taru, giving me a huge MP advantage. It is tough in the start, but highly rewarding once you start reaching the 50's and 60's where I currently am.

[Icemage]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

Actually my experience is completely opposite Kutch. Max MP is nice, but MP recovery is better; the key to good XP post-41 is finding a good RDM (or BRD).. or even both. Get every piece of mp recovery gear you can lay your hands on, eat +mp recovery foods like Ginger Cookies, and the XP will come.

Not that SMN sub is horrible, but it's really not "that" amazing, in as of itself.

I EXP'd from level 61-75 almost exclusively with BRD sub (+0 max MP), which ends up being like -100 max MP at level 75. Want to know how many times in that period I missed having the extra MP?

...

Zero.


Icemage

[katsuoy]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

Hmmm, maybe I should experiment with a BRD sub (need to level it to 25 at least though). Right now, I only have a BLM and RDM sub available (SMN is still a low 10), but so far the Conserve MP trait from Black Mage works wonders for me.

[Kutch]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

Actually my experience is completely opposite Kutch. Max MP is nice, but MP recovery is better; the key to good XP post-41 is finding a good RDM (or BRD).. or even both. Get every piece of mp recovery gear you can lay your hands on, eat +mp recovery foods like Ginger Cookies, and the XP will come.

Not that SMN sub is horrible, but it's really not "that" amazing, in as of itself.

I EXP'd from level 61-75 almost exclusively with BRD sub (+0 max MP), which ends up being like -100 max MP at level 75. Want to know how many times in that period I missed having the extra MP?

...

Zero.


Icemage

We all have different styles of play. So far, I've gotten no complaints. My style of play comes from 5 years of everquest (most of which I played a cleric), where having more mana (mp) in the end is really what you want, especially for raids and boss fights, where regen won't help you much if your mana base is lower to begin with. MP Recovery gear is in order, as are my wizard cookies and drinks, I never leave home without them

It's one of those things that makes these games fun to play, that you can choose a style of play for your job, and succeed at it. Perhaps this is one of those things that makes the whm so versatile and fun to play

[Brayden]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

I focus mainly on Max MP and MP recovery. My set PT's tank is a PLD so by nature I cure more often than say some who use NIN tanks. With my other jobs Ive PTed with whm/brd before and they do really well, surprisingly that 1 song can be very useful. Anyway, find the style that works for you so you can do the best in whatever situation you find yourself

[Kagi]

Re: Noob: A few WHM Questions

WHM Subs:
- BLM is the most common, as you get a decent MP boost, and some utility spells such as Warp, Escape, Tractor. You also get a job trait called Conserve MP, which randomly reduces the spell cost of a spell.

- SMN is used mainly for the higher MP boost than blm, and for auto-refresh at level 50whm/25smn. It's 1mp/3secs, and as /smn you also get access to some low level smn buffs (most common is Aerial Armor where you can cast Blink on all your party members instead of just yourself).

- RDM mainly offers Fast Cast (makes your spells go off faster) and Dispel (removes buffs from the mob, not sure how well it works when subbed though). The MP boost is lower than /blm however.

- BRD does not give you any MP boost, but it can be used in situations where there is no BRD main around and you want to speed kills up a little, and can cast atk or acc song on Melees as well as Ballad 1 on mages.

As for hints, all I can say is that at lower levels, your highest cure may not always be the most effective cure. Sometimes, instead of casting Cure2 and drawing hate, you could cast Cure 1 which at low levels is more mp efficient, and draws less hate. Also watch when you Curaga, before you get -enmity gear and better tanks at higher levels it's easy to pull hate with it.

Get a Pilgrim's Wand from Nunyunenc, it's a NM that is easily killed when you're around level 15ish. It spawns in West Sarutabaruta and is a lottery pop off Carrion Crows. Having this wand will make your mp regen faster as you sit, at least until level 51 where you can get a Dark Staff. Also pick up a Seer's Tunic at level 29.