[cidbahamut]

So I've hit a bit of a wall in my equipment setup and there are so many holes in my spell list that it's starting to resemble swiss cheese again.

At this point I feel the best course of action is to take some time off from leveling my Red Mage(So close to Refresh, yet so far). I've taken to farming a few places for stacks of components to put up on the auction house so I can at least buy the spells people keep asking me about (such as Phalanx) and maybe pick up some additional gear upgrades.

So is this normal? Do players periodically stop leveling for spend days, or even weeks if the AH is slow, farming to improve gear and get spells? I'm just wondering if maybe I missed something rudimentary along the way that would allow me to be leveling at a steady pace while keeping my gear up without taking too much time off to go farming.

I don't like being the weakest link in the party and this is the second time I've felt compelled to stop partying for a while as I catch up on gear and spells.

I also don't really enjoy playing alone, which is usually what farming amounts to

[Durahansolo]

Originally Posted by cidbahamut

So is this normal? Do players periodically stop leveling for spend days, or even weeks if the AH is slow, farming to improve gear and get spells? I'm just wondering if maybe I missed something rudimentary along the way that would allow me to be leveling at a steady pace while keeping my gear up without taking too much time off to go farming.

I do. Sometimes I even pick certain days to craft and then pick certain days to level. For example: I might farm Monday through Thursday, and during that time I'd farm and craft. Then Friday through Sunday I'd level. I always try to keep a certain amount of gil at all times, so that if I drop below that I know it is time to stop leveling and go craft.

[Skoal]

I would have lots of equipment waiting for me when I leveled. I also did the same thing with spells. I made sure that when I hit that level I had everything I needed. Sure some items take longer to get but I did my best to get them early.

[cidbahamut]

Ok, so it's common practice to get the gear ahead of time rather than going back to pick it up?

I guess I have a lot more farming to do then.

[KingOfZeal]

I would say it's about split between people getting it first, and those who get it after they need it. In most cases in the past, it would have a fair bit to do with available space, but with the satchel that seems to be less and less common.

Personally, I would wait until after I leveled to check for gear for that level, since I would find every so often I could hold a particular piece of gear for a long time before I could use it, and I needed all the space I could get.

And, in all honesty, I don't think anybody is going to complain as long as you aren't too far out of date (IE, no level 1 RSE in qufim). Even if there are better options for your level, most people won't kick up too much of a fuss, especially if you can't afford certain pieces of gear. That being said, don't be afraid to take a while off while you work on your gear. It's not all that unusual.

[pixiehawk]

I take it this is your first job?

I didn't race my first job up to 75, I took time and had all the jobs unlocked, and up to at least 10 before I ever started taking anything above 37. I did take a couple jobs that far, but I would stop and farm some as needed. Actually leveling the other jobs gave me a lot of stuff to sell, and I had a mule dedicated to selling that crap on the AH. I also had a second to garden with (but depending on how new you are that might not help), and another I mined with. I also did a melee job first so I wouldn't be buying spells every level.

If you have a ls, see if there is anyone who is also looking for some gils, and see if they want to go farm with you. You might not have as much gil per hr, but it sounds like it'll be more fun for you. Also, keep track of your beastmen/kindered seals, and when you have enough see if anyone will do a run with you. There are still things that sell pretty well in those BC's.

And lastly- check all the spells to see if they are quested, and do the quests instead of buying them. You might need help on occasion, but it's a damn sight better than the prices. Also, check every spell to see if an NPC sells it somewhere rather than just buying it on the AH. There are a lot of spells that people will buy from the NPC and sell on the AH an make a profit because people don't check. If it's sold someplace you can't get to, see if a lsmate will pick it up for you.

[cidbahamut]

Originally Posted by pixiehawk

I take it this is your first job?

You would be correct.

My gear isn't truly atrocious, but for a Red Mage at level 40 it could definitely use some work. I also just dropped 90k to pick up Phalanx as I've had multiple question me about it so I figured I should get that in my spell list, but there's just a bunch of niche spells that I've been neglecting.

Basically I just need to put in the time farming to get up to date. I guess I just hoped I had missed something that made it a little easier. Probably just need to find some better farming spots.

[Reverent Knight]

Its much easier for people who have many 75s saying that but i agree that getting the gear before hand is better but not erveryone is able to do it. Anyone laughs at your gear there a dick less its really out of date but theres nothing more annoying than a mage thats not got a spell tho.

I remember fighting in crawlers nest with a nin tank and our whm didnt have erase, Your more experienced with rdm than me (level 7 here and I hate it) but I took whm to 38 and Id have been embarrassed if i couldnt remove a debuff which resulted in everyone getting killed. Theres just some spells you just have to have and some that you can slack off on check out the spell list to see what they do and youll know which is which.

When I levelled blm before olden killed it for me I liked to have the spells for the next 4-5 levels in advance, but thats just me, I'm the blu that trys to get the spells early rather than wait till I can use them when there easier to learn ^^

If anyone laughs at you show them how good a rdm you can be, they'll soon stop laughing and look like a fool.

[Dux]

Hi Cid

The short answer for you is Yes. It is very common for people on their first job to regularly stop EXPing and go farm for hours/days/weeks to make money.

Once you get into a LS that do some money making events (pick up groups can be very hit and miss on) regularly things will change but the good events normally require you to be 75 or already have a well equipped character to attend so its a case of head down and getting to work.

[Kafeen]

Originally Posted by cidbahamut

Y I also just dropped 90k to pick up Phalanx as I've had multiple question me about it.

Not sure why. Its self target only so you can't cast it on party members. Its not much use in a parties at all since you shouldn't be taking many hits.

It can be nice for soloing but I don't see why parties care about it.

Have I missed some changes to it?

[cidbahamut]

Originally Posted by Kafeen

Not sure why. Its self target only so you can't cast it on party members. Its not much use in a parties at all since you shouldn't be taking many hits.

It can be nice for soloing but I don't see why parties care about it.

Have I missed some changes to it?

It seemed like a good idea at the time, and it seems like an even better idea now that I've had a chance to use it. Granted it's not gonna help out in standard party play but it's gonna make all that additional farming go a lot smoother.

Thanks for setting me straight guys, I really appreciate all the input.

[Armando]

I used to. These days I don't have to take time off since I have plenty of seals. When I get low on cash I round up some people and BCNM or KSNM.

[Evion]

The only spells you will really need for a RDM (mostly referring to XP pt) are:

DIA/DIA 2
BIO/BIO 2
HASTE
REFRESH
STONESKIN
CURE1-CURE4
RERAISE
DISPEL

Other than that, nobody should notice and you'd probably be going outside of what the party wants from you anyway. With RDM at 40 you could be in demand for many BCNMs to make some real coin, like THIS one.

[Armando]

The only spells you will really need for a RDM (mostly referring to XP pt) are:

DIA/DIA 2
BIO/BIO 2
HASTE
REFRESH
STONESKIN
CURE1-CURE4
RERAISE
DISPEL

FAIL.

The only RDM spells that have a chance of going unnoticed in EXP are nukes and enspells. And I would still slap a RDM for not having those. RDMs use and need all their spells. Don't ever suggest otherwise.

[cidbahamut]

Bah Humbug on your Reraise sir. I am not a white mage, nor am I a pink mage. My reraise earrings and my Raise spell will do me just fine.

Yes Armando, I'm aware that I need to go back and grab a ton of spells I've missed, primarily some bar and en spells.

I think the only one I have no intention of acquiring is Deodorize. I'm not learning that spell until I find a situation where it would actually be useful. I don't believe such a scenario exists, but if you can provide me with one I may change my mind next time one drops off a mob.