Need for bards?

[Melita]

Howdy FFXI community. Ive actually never played final fantasy but im a very big MMORPG..er. My recent game was Guild Wars, and i love playing the monk (supporter). Like in Gw, my friends tell me the Bards are VERY much wanted in FFXI too. He also tells me i should be a white mage till lvl 30, then do the bard quest and switch to Bard/WHM. The thought of a buffer/healer blows my mind, i just love that type of character in MMO's. Is this the best track i should go on?

He's told me race doesnt matter so im gonna be a kitty ^^. (fine...Mithra T.T)
Id just really like to know what the best path to get this type of character. Thanks in advance all...i like all these smileys, we need this over at guild wars guru lol.

[Jei]

yes Brd is the ultimate supporter in this game. They can turn a so-so PT into a powerful killing machines. They get a little under rated at lower levels tho. After level 55 is when you'll get instant love for the most part.

[Murphie]

My suggestion if you're going to end up leveling BRD to 75, is:

1. Start as BLM. Level this to 18 (goes very fast for BLM) and then get your subjob.
2. Level WHM to 37. You can unlock BRD at 30, but you'll need WHM at 37 so you can sub it to BRD until 75.
3. Level BRD 1-75.

You might want to check out some of the other jobs here and there, and eventually you might want to level NIN for endgame parties, but that's a long way off, and for the most part, all you will need is WHM as a sub.

Good luck, and have fun!^^

[Mhurron]

Bards rock. Subbing WHM doesn't make you a support/healer, Bards are support through and through. A WHM subjob gives you a few more tools in that regard, it lets you backup the WHM with a cure if needed or with removing status ailments.

Your path to unlocking Bard would probably be Black Mage or White Mage to lvl 18 and do your subjob quest, then whichever you didn't do to 30 so you can unlock Bard, then you can start leveling bard, or take WHM to 37 then level bard so you never have to worry about leveling WHM again.

Fastest is probably BLM to 18, then WHM/BLM to 30 or 37 and unlock BRD then BRD.WHM.

[Dryhus]

Wow. I'm literally stunned.

Usually I see, "Hey, I wanna play FFXI. My friend told me that (BRDs solo well with Paeon / MNK/WHM are invited endgame for their healing / THF is the best allaround sub for making mobs drop extra gil).

But your friend gave you completely accurate information.

[Stromgarde]

Fastest is probably BLM to 18, then WHM/BLM to 30 or 37 and unlock BRD then BRD.WHM.

Quoted for emphasis. Excellent advice.

[Melita]

@ Dryhus... Heh, he knows stuff i guess. Thank you for the info guys!!! I think ill go black mage to lvl 18, then WHM to lvl 37, Then BRD all the way to 75.

Ah look for me in game ^^, getting tommorow....although you dont know my name so nvm O=
Ya my friend is a monk, he says some monks can attack so fast the lag up the server, something about a 30% double hit club and a 100 fist skill you get from end game...ill try that out after im a little more experienced in game. I was wondering how long this all takes. It seems that its taken lightly by you guys..."just go out and get WHM to lvl 37 then BRD to 75.." like its nothing. Mabey it is but i wouldnt know. Thanks to whoever posted and answers my next question >.<

[Murphie]

Quoted for emphasis. Excellent advice.

Hey, I said it too. And first!

Melita - It won't be an instantaneous thing, but really, BLM, WHM and BRD get invites very fast, so you won't have too much trouble doing the BLM > WHM > BRD path.^^ Expect to take things slow at first as you're just learning the game, but eventually it'll be old hat, and you'll fly through the exp.

[Melita]

Thnx guys thats all the info i need. Peace.

[Yeargdribble]

I'm a 75 BRD on Fenrir and you remind me a lot of myself when I first started. Me and my wife really enjoy helping new players. If you'd like to join our server I have sent a WP to your via private message. My wife is also a Mithra with a 40 BRD which she plans to make her next 75 job.