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Yeah, another returning player.Follow

#1 Feb 21 2013 at 9:06 AM Rating: Decent
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68 posts
Hello everyone,

I quit FFXI back before TOAU came out, for "another" game. Since then I have played other games to occupy my time while attending college. Well, I seem to be jonesing for a game that I can get sucked into again, and with my hands fiending and shaking waiting for A Realm Reborn, I have a nostalgia feeling for XI.

A few simple questions (I know there is a sticky, but it is pretty old)

- I am always a tank in MMOs, but am open to change. (Heck, when I quit XI, I was DRG/SAM pre-ubernerf)
- What classes are preferred these days? I am up for semi-casual play, not really hardcore endgame again just yet.
- I assume all the old farming items are still at the top (onions, beehive chips, etc)
- What associated profession would you suggest if you suggest a class for me.
-Soloing or party play, either work for me when suggeating.
- Any other comments

Thanks a ton in advance!
(any typos, I am sorry, typing on phone)

Edited, Feb 21st 2013 11:27am by Raiziell
#2 Feb 21 2013 at 10:59 AM Rating: Good
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9,526 posts
They are coming out with a new tank job, runefencer, next month with the new expansion

What classes are preferred depends on the content. I'd say war whm and blm are probably overall the most desired for group events...

However, other than PLD PUP and RDM - almost every job has a niche... and even those three are still very useful for a lot of content, just not high on the list of cookie cutter set ups

BST is the best soloer - they mostly use high powered new jug pet items rather than charming now, however.

Yeah those items are still worth gil.

I think you should level multiple classes, so I am not going to suggest any specific one to pursue. My advice is to level at least one job that is decent at soloing stuff (NIN DNC THF BST BLU would be my top suggestions for soloing classes for most content - with BST being the easiest to do well with... PUP is a great soloer but I wouldn't recommend it as a beginner job)

No crafting class really ties into a specific job except maybe cooking and BST

The game is completely utterly different than what you remember, but it is much easier to level so you can actually get to the new endgame events.
#3 Feb 21 2013 at 11:16 AM Rating: Excellent
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68 posts
I appreciate the reply. You speak of the higher jobs as if they do not need to be unlocked anymore? If not, my.mistake in misunderstanding. I am leaning toward Drg/War/Nin after reading up on some of the changes. You are 300% right when you said the game is different, it's nearly overwhelming. (Especially as I found my old thick strat guide in the closet and got a nice chuckle)
Any other random tips or tidbits of info would not be rejected. (Can warriors still tank effectively/etc)

Again, thank you very much.
#4 Feb 21 2013 at 11:39 AM Rating: Good
23 posts
From my limited experience with End Game, WAR is mainly used to target weaknesses using weapon skills on Voidwatch Notorious Monsters and for destroying mobs in Abyssea with Fell Cleave. However, I am not a high level WAR so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I am a 99 DRG and solo stuff (not Abyssea NMs mind you) going DRG/RDM. But me and a buddy have managed to duo a lot of Abyssea Missions/Quests and kill NMs as BST and SMN (I go SMN but also have BST leveled). So I'd say the game is much more casual friendly that it once was...I also played back in the day when you waited for parties in Valkurm Dunes. And if you need help with anything (Endgame gear, etc.), shouting seems to be a viable option in Jeuno provided you have time to spare. I've heard others recommend big Linkshells but I haven't had much luck finding one that works with my casual playstyle...they usually have stuff set up for the weekends or very late at night and that just doesn't work with my schedule. But if you have more free time, I'd imagine a big Linkshell is the way to go to get caught up.

Hope that helps.

#5 Feb 21 2013 at 11:42 AM Rating: Excellent
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9,526 posts
they do but it isn't hard to unlock them... and it doesn't take long to get to 30... less than a day if you playing a few hours on a weekend, easily.

Don't look for parties in the old places - leveling is largely done solo/duo or in alliances

Gusgen mines
Crawler's nest
B. Oubliette

are the three main camps (in the order that you visit them)

There is also abyssea but unless you have someone who wants to take you in, it isn't really viable for your first time getting to cap.

I'd choose an LS/mentor to choose a server - ie, ask around/look for an LS and choose your serve to join it, vs choosing a server and looking for an LS after since the LS will make a larger difference

My advice with those jobs is that you might be better off if you add one support or magic job to that list, just to give yourself more options in terms of getting into groups. Support/heals/proccing jobs are in high demand and have lower expectations in terms of gear requirements. Since you need groups to get the gear, having a support job can help get your DD jobs to a level where they are able to contribute more to groups.

War is in a great spot right now. People don't really 'do' tanking for most content. It's more zerg... almost no tank and spank anymore in the game. SE is looking at changing enmity etc to fix that, but those changes are likely to make war less of a tank rather than more of one - as are changes to defense that they are mulling. My sense is that if they do fix tanking up a bit, war will be less of a tank, I could be wrong though.

At the current time though, the "tank" is the person who does the most damage, which, if you have a well geared war - could be you.


Edited, Feb 21st 2013 9:44am by Olorinus
#6 Feb 22 2013 at 7:49 AM Rating: Excellent
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68 posts
Again thanks for the info! I have decided to level a RDM as SJ, then go DRG/RDM. Due to the semi-casual nature of my play this time, I feel like it fits in best. I did quite a lot of reading on the massive changes, and found the truth in what you said about the new leveling path. I would have been sitting around for quite some time in the old (Dunes/Qufim/Crawler/Garl) path

I appreciate all of the comments, and look forward to the re-immersion!
#7 Feb 22 2013 at 11:05 AM Rating: Decent
31 posts
I thank you for the info as well! I am jonesing for the ol FFXI myself while waiting for ARR to come out. I will be downloading it this weekend, can you guys recommmend a server plz? I am western NA time. Thanks again!
#8 Feb 22 2013 at 11:20 AM Rating: Decent
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68 posts
I am not sure about anyone else, but I joined the Cerberus server a long time ago, and plan on going back there once I start back up. I live in MI, I do not recall what time-zone the server is though.
#9 Feb 22 2013 at 1:08 PM Rating: Excellent
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5,684 posts
Server isn't important, but your linkshell is.

Look around the forum and check out other returning threads for linkshell invites. Those invites are open, so pick one that sounds good, head to their server, and start hunting those players down for a linkshell.
#10 Feb 22 2013 at 2:11 PM Rating: Excellent
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9,526 posts
One of my socials on Asura is always recruiting. Here is a thread with sackholder names: http://www.zam.com/forum.html?forum=10&mid=1359227026154064463

#11 Feb 22 2013 at 3:10 PM Rating: Default
Argh, I'm just about to return.. so it looks like I'll be all alone.. no groups eh? That's going to be hard, I'm a SMN. =/
#12 Feb 22 2013 at 3:14 PM Rating: Excellent
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5,684 posts
Niashi wrote:
Argh, I'm just about to return.. so it looks like I'll be all alone.. no groups eh? That's going to be hard, I'm a SMN. =/
Most people do not level up solo and we don't recommend to play alone, it's just that there are more solo options now than in previous years and the game has tried to shift focus away from leveling to more endgame content for small and large groups.

As mentioned, find a linkshell before creating your character. You won't be alone then.

Edited, Feb 22nd 2013 3:14pm by xypin
#13 Feb 22 2013 at 3:18 PM Rating: Good
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9,526 posts
Niashi wrote:
Argh, I'm just about to return.. so it looks like I'll be all alone.. no groups eh? That's going to be hard, I'm a SMN. =/


no.. there are groups - it's generally in alliances (see the list of locations in my post above) and job snobbery in exp is gone. You will no longer be expected to be a heal b#tch while leveling smn. You can hit stuff with your staff, and your avatars - and 1/tic refresh is available from level 1 from books. As well they changed the cost for avatars and spirits, so spirits are actually semi-usable during leveling now

I only mentioned solo/duoing because some people like it and it is way more viable to go that route now. The vast majority of people level in alliances.

Edited, Feb 22nd 2013 1:20pm by Olorinus
#14 Feb 22 2013 at 3:22 PM Rating: Good
Iron Chef Olorinus wrote:
Niashi wrote:
Argh, I'm just about to return.. so it looks like I'll be all alone.. no groups eh? That's going to be hard, I'm a SMN. =/


no.. there are groups - it's generally in alliances and job snobbery in exp is gone. You will no longer be expected to be a heal b#tch while leveling smn. You can hit stuff with your staff, and your avatars - and 1/tic refresh is available from level 1 from books. As well they changed the cost for avatars and spirits, so spirits are actually semi-usable during leveling now



Oh wow... you.. you mean, if I get a group.. I might.. be able to be a SMN finally? ZOMG. I was pretty much soloing when I was last playing because it became very hard to find groups, even whoring myself out as a healer. It was slow.. Sounds like maybe things will go better.

It's going to take me some time to remember how to play, create macros.. and figure out how to make gil (argh).
#15 Feb 22 2013 at 3:27 PM Rating: Excellent
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9,526 posts
Yes, of course hitting things with your stick only applies to grounds of valour exp groups - but where summoner is useful for endgame, you also generally get to play as a real smn... or a proccer - but I mean... more than half of the jobs are only invited to voidwatch as proccers

SMN is pretty cool. Join Asura - look at the link I posted above for LS info - we have a huge shell, lots of players leveling up/lower level. Once you are all leveled up you can join my Walk of Echoes army (walk of echoes is an endgame event that heavily favours summoners)
#16 Feb 22 2013 at 4:51 PM Rating: Good
Sadly, I am on Valefor so that's not going to happen unless I pay for a world transfer, which isn't possible at the moment. I'm 56, so not restarting. Maybe I will find some old friends, hoping to make new ones.

But perhaps if nothing works out I can consider that option (after I pan out all my house repair costs ;) ).
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