[Karinya]

The "big 3" HNMs are still hell, but they're not as much of the endgame scene as they used to be. There's 4 kinds of instanced or pseudo-instanced dungeon runs ranging from 15 minutes (not counting organizing and travel time) to 3+ hours, plus forcepop HNMs for people who don't want to stand around Dragon's Aery with 150 people waiting for one mob (that only one group will actually get to fight).

I disagree that 1-55 hasn't changed, though. It hasn't changed *as much*, but new gear and foods in particular have had a noticeable impact IMO, not to mention the revisions to certain jobs (summoner in particular would hardly even be recognizable as the same job from 2 1/2 years ago), and of course the presence of the new expansion jobs, which can join your party at any level.

One thing that hasn't changed is that the experience system is still strongly biased toward parties, and for most jobs the vast majority of the experience you earn will be in a party. Many quests and missions are also strongly group-oriented, having enemies strong enough to be very difficult to solo. For some jobs the only thing you can really effectively do solo is make money.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Originally Posted by Grizzlebeard

Pretty much and then some. It's a genre game so if you're prepared to overlook its obvious age and lack of player-friendliness (if you are a melee class) you can still have some fun with it. Just don't expect to see any real returns on your time investment for a long time. Few things to be aware of also. Despite S-E's actions the RMT are still rampant and having serious impact on many levels of the game from crafting to HNM camping. Player elitism is still rife (but that's beside the point its rampant in all MMOs) and depending upon timezones and gear you can expect to wait hours to days for party invites (if you are a melee class). There are very few productive things you can do solo (if you are a melee class) in FFXI so be prepared to need people to achieve pretty much everything (if you are a melee class)

Adjusted for proper context.

And just to add, RoZ's endgame and general NM content is still horrifically broken and RMT still run rampant in it. Even AF coffer key even the coffers themselves are hell to get now, as there's an RMT cracking them open at every turn in places like Castle Zvhal Baileys.

I once railed SE for making certain ToA AF craftable by NPC and costing loads of gil as a result, but at least I can get that AF without having to wait hours to find my coffer or get a key.

Starting to wonder if its even possible to get my BST pants Treasure Coffer, its nigh impossible right now unless I want to camp a spot for hours.

Only real parts of the game that are safe from RMT are the CoP endgame content (I don't care how many RMT are in sea, they can't stop you from getting god spawn triggers or get gear from limbus). ToA content isn't even profitable for them.

[Grizzlebeard]

When I said player friendliness I was referring to how player-friendly the game is not how friendly the players are. As with all games there are some very nice people and some not quite so nice. Regarding the party invites, I already qualified that statement by referring to timezones. Your insistence on it being a melee only issue is incorrect as I could wait up to three hours during Euro peak times for a party on bard.

[IfritnoItazura]

I think whether this game is enjoyable largely depends on one's attitude. If you're in a mind set that "can't solo is bad", "most NM's are completely broken", "RMT is at many places," and/or "takes long time to find party for ____ job(s)," and stay fixated on them, then you definitely would not enjoy FFXI.

On the other hand, if you're focused on having fun and enjoying the friendships formed in game, it's quite easy to overlook them on most days. I know I do, and FFXI is fun for me.

To enjoy FFXI or not isn't in the hands of RMT's or the magical party invites--it's up to you.

[Aeolus]

Alot of melees can solo just as well as a Brd or a Whm bbq. Slight generalisation.

[Jei]

RMT may not contribute directly to the enjoyment of the game. But I can't deny how depressing I was when running through cities and see all the anon armies following each other -everywhere-

It's a sad sight to see....

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Originally Posted by Aeolus

Alot of melees can solo just as well as a Brd or a Whm bbq. Slight generalisation.

THF, NIN, RDM, BLU, BLM, PUP, DRG and BST can solo for worthwhile EXP. Saying any other class can solo is being extremely generous with the term "solo."

Stalling death for 20 minutes - something BRD can do with the right gear - is not something I consider solo.

[Vyuru]

THF, NIN, RDM, BLU, BLM, PUP, DRG and BST can solo for worthwhile EXP. Saying any other class can solo is being extremely generous with the term "solo."

Well, while I know that you'd disagree with this Omgwtfbbqkitten, but in the lower levels with your NPC buddy, you can actually solo rather well. As a lvl 34 (now) sam, with my NPC set to Soothing Healer she has enough mp for me to take on 2-3 EM mobs before she needs to rest, I can toss on a rdm subjob and provide enough mp to take on another mob after she runs out. I soloed in Qufim/Delkfutt's Tower from lvls 29-34 off and on off of weapons, some crabs, leeches, and various gigas. Toss in a exp band and it was slow exp but doable.

Now granted, later on that may not be so feasible, but early on it is.

And while I don't think they are soloing, honestly I have no idea what they are doing, I see alot of lvl 70+ jobs soloing Lesser Colibri all the time with either a mage sub or pld subjob. I suspect they are kindred seal farming or something, at 70+ those birds can't give alot of exp.

THF, NIN, RDM, BLU, BLM, PUP, DRG and BST can solo for worthwhile EXP.

Wouldn't ranger be able to solo as well as or better than a thf? I'm assuming that a thf solos by sleep/bloody/acid/holy bolt spam with a SA+WS + flee + sleep bolt to the mob as opportunity arises. Oh and of course this is assuming a ninja sub.

[forevergamer]

well...being away for that long,i must say that i hope your friends are still there.they can be a big help to your return.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Originally Posted by Vyuru

Well, while I know that you'd disagree with this Omgwtfbbqkitten, but in the lower levels with your NPC buddy, you can actually solo rather well. As a lvl 34 (now) sam, with my NPC set to Soothing Healer she has enough mp for me to take on 2-3 EM mobs before she needs to rest, I can toss on a rdm subjob and provide enough mp to take on another mob after she runs out. I soloed in Qufim/Delkfutt's Tower from lvls 29-34 off and on off of weapons, some crabs, leeches, and various gigas. Toss in a exp band and it was slow exp but doable

I'll grant you NPC in conjunction with focusing on mobs like worms will make low level solo rather viable. The NPC aspect is limited and cuts out some EXP, though.

And while I don't think they are soloing, honestly I have no idea what they are doing, I see alot of lvl 70+ jobs soloing Lesser Colibri all the time with either a mage sub or pld subjob. I suspect they are kindred seal farming or something, at 70+ those birds can't give alot of exp.

They're usually RMT, but sometimes a seal farmer.

Wouldn't ranger be able to solo as well as or better than a thf? I'm assuming that a thf solos by sleep/bloody/acid/holy bolt spam with a SA+WS + flee + sleep bolt to the mob as opportunity arises. Oh and of course this is assuming a ninja sub.

THF would pull it off better. RNG has awful evasion and THF's is amazing at 75, they can even tank some nasty NMs. Additionally, THF tends to use lower delay Xbows, so bloody bolts give faster returns.

I has this time I was camping Novv the Whitehearted with a THF I knew, I was after the Minstrel Coat for my BRD. Novv pretty much knocked me out as soon as I claimed him. I had reraise, got up, and he slapped me down again.

This left the THF alone to solo Novv. He burned lots of Bolts and Shehei, but evaded many hits without them and managed to sleep and take out links. He macroed his bolts like a BLM would macro his spells.

Now, this NM uses Benediction when he gets low and even when it happened, the THF just kept one going. We eventually did have one of his LS friends a half hour later to help bring the NM down, but that THF told me later that that was the biggest solo test he had ever experienced.

Round 2, had back up, killed it outright, no drop.

And third time we tried, I got killed early again, but Novv made sure to dispel my RR before he did. THF soloed it again holding out for backup. Backup asked him if he could pull the fight to the gold coin door He cussed his friend and told him to get one in Norg. Through all this, he slept and killed lings, used acids to weaken and bloody to heal.

We got the drop that time and I made sure to repay him some food and tools. He was amazing

[Vyuru]

Good lord that is incredible. How many stacks of bolts did he go through? 30+ minutes of bolt spammage? Wow.

Backup asked him if he could pull the fight to the gold coin door He cussed his friend and told him to get one in Norg.

hahahaa, I almost fell out of my chair laughing