Newbie AdviceFollow

Just a quick post before bedtime. I'm pretty low-level myself, but since being level 1 is much fresher in my mind, I thought I'd pass on some advice.

Partying. For heaven's sake, start partying early. After level 5 or so, solo xp is going to begin drying up. You're better off in the group, and partying early will allow you to learn good partying skills, such as:

1. How to skillchain. This isn't that hard to learn, there are tons of FAQs on the subject
2. How to expchain. This is really simple. Kill things one after the other.
3. Proper hate control.

So try to start partying around level 7-8, instead of waiting until you're 12 or something. Also, since being in a party is such a necessity once you start really playing the game (really, the game doesn't start until about level 15 or so), here's a good way to make yourself attractive to a group and get good parties.

1. The most important thing is YOU. How good a player you are, how well you do your job. Know your role in the party, and stick to it. If you're a warrior, provoke. If you're a thief, stay behind the monster at all times, and watch the timer on your sneak attack. Remember that you can use sneak attack with certain weapon skills, like fast blade. If you're a white or black mage, please don't melee. In fact, try to stay a good distance away from the monster at all times. Communication is essential, also. If you're silenced, tell the party. If you're low on MP, tell the party. If you suddenly have to leave to go to the bathroom, tell the party, so they don't end up pulling a creature thinking you're going to be there to help and you aren't.

2. Subjobs and race are important to performance, and you should strive to be the best you can be at what you do. But don't obsess over it. I don't know of too many people who will outright refuse someone because they're, for example, a tarutaru monk. Spend more time worrying about your tactics, working on your macros, and upgrading your equipment. I'd rather have a smartly played Galka White mage in my party than a tarutaru white mage that's a complete doofus. Doofuses are what get you killed.

3. Speaking of getting killed...nothing breaks up a party faster than sudden death. People start blaming each other, or suddenly remember that there are other things they want to do...the party drifts apart. Avoid unnecessary death by having an escape plan. When you form the party, come up with a procedure for what to do if an aggro monster shows up or if the monster you've targeted turns out to be more than you can handle. Make sure everyone understands the plan. Also, try to find the nearest bind point and save there. I know this sounds simple, but I've seen so many people levelling in the Shakhrami Maze who die, and end up waiting forever and a day for a raise because they were saved in Jeuno. Also, if your bind point is only a zone or two away, don't raise. It's a waste of the white mage's time, and a waste of your's, since it'll probably take them longer to come find your body than it will to simply walk back to the party. Most areas you'll be farming from level 1-20 are easy enough to get to. Raise is a high level spell because it's meant for people who are in the areas for levels 25 and up.

I agree with all of these. Learn them. Love Them.



Learn your job. Agreed. Now on to my complaint. Not all of us are powergamers. I much prefer a party of people trying things out to learn what they can get away with as long as they do it with party consent and AT THE PROPER TIMES. (i.e. a mage who stays back and cures on VT+ mobs, but on that T mob that we never need a heal or nuke on... feel free to run up and whack it a couple times as long as you don't think this is your main job function. Level your weapon and evasion etc. mage... some day a party is gonna **** you off so much that you want to solo back to an exit. Wouldn't it be nice to survive at least?)




I agree completely, but then I'm that wierdo trying to become a Mithra BRD/BST...



Nothing breaks up a power levelling party faster... I've been in groups where every member had died before I got there. 1 left, but the rest (without being a set party) realized that they were having fun and that was more important than grinding XP to them. They stayed together and we went on to have a great time. I stayed with that party despite 2 deaths with it. We had a puller who was just learning, and he pulled a couple small trains on accident that we just couldn't take. Know what broke that party up? One person had to go because they fell asleep during a rest break. The person that replaced them refused to work with the party. Unfortunately, at the time all of us refused to kick people. We found a good reason to disband and all of us went away friends (2 of us jogged through 4 zones together because we found an excuse to do so, and I gained the only other person in my LS that actually enjoys WHM main though it isn't her primary.). On a side note, coming out of that group I actually gained 2 levels along with a reason to keep playing at a point where I was considering quitting.

I say nothing breaks up a party faster than players who refuse to alter their play styles enough to function as a cohesive whole, and blame eachother for any problems. If you ***** up admit it and apologize. It doesn't retract the past, but people will be more likely to accept you and stay in a party if you admit your mistakes and work to not repeat them. ((not quoted but yeah... bind close to your party's camp point *growl*))



and my additions:

Remember this is a game. Play it in a way that you find enjoyable. Not every party or fight has to be geared for maximum XP. Not every quest has to be done for an amazing reward. If that's your thing fine, but it isn't mine. I want this to be a game... not a second job.

Read the manual. If you sit in town and spam people with questions that you would have known the answer to with a simple rtfm then they aren't likely to want to help you as much.

Do not carry conversations on in shout. An occasional comment it alright, but let it become a habit and a lot of people will /blist you. Do not speak in leet speak in say.

If your character's name is something like '********* then expect people to assume you're an idiot. It takes a lot for me to give the 15 variations of the name 'Legolas' much respect. If they couldn't think of a more original name than that then what's the chance that they'll be quick enough on their feet to keep up with a well oiled party?

If things are not going your way and it makes you angry enough that you start cursing and insulting people then /logout. Come back later. Insulting people because you can't find a party or because you died once in an earlier party is not going to help you find a party later. People will remember it and you will get a rep for this type of act eventually.

Find a good LS. This is a social game. It forces you to party as much as possible. Some of the time sinks are tedious and boring to a lot of us. A good LS (or two) will make that 6 hours of fishing fly by from the conversation. A good LS will make sure that you can find a party you can trust. A good LS can help you get equipment and items you need because in a good LS you will be doing the same for them.

That's it. It was way too long, but here I am posting at 6AM again so hopefully you can forgive my rambling response. ^^