[Gizim]

After playing the crack known as WOW for over 2years pretty much since day one and have a level 70 Warlock. Im looking for a change and for something new i played FFOnline after it came out liked it but it really wasnt made for the starting MMORPG players. So what has changed is it more starter friendly? remember know im used to WOW which is made for idiots so help me out here.

[Grizzlebeard]

What are the chances on this thread turning into a litany of misinformation, biased comments and sweeping statements borne of ignorance?

[Gizim]

Originally Posted by Grizzlebeard

What are the chances on this thread turning into a litany of misinformation, biased comments and sweeping statements borne of ignorance?

All i want to know is if the complaints about the game at the release of the game are still here now years after release.

[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 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 and depending upon timezones and gear you can expect to wait hours to days for party invites. There are very few productive things you can do solo in FFXI so be prepared to need people to achieve pretty much everything.

Think that about covers it and I didn't even mention your previous MMoG.

[IfritnoItazura]

Originally Posted by Gizim

All i want to know is if the complaints about the game at the release of the game are still here now years after release.

What were the complaints, beyond complaints about "sub-optimal new player experience"?

I think RMT is a big problem, but that's not so different from most popular MMO's--and, you can find plenty of enjoyment despite their presence if you're not too obsessed about their kind. As for S-E doing or not doing enough, after seeing the hyper-inflation accumulated over the last two years wiped away, it's hard for me to fault them for not doing enough to contain this intractable problem.

There are quite a few good years left in this game, I think, if you'd like to join.

[Pawkeshup]

I think Grizzle is slightly pessimistic, or on a server where RMT hasn't felt the sting of the task force yet.

FFXI is actually really player friendly. Not quite as much as WoW. By that I mean that it's not as easy to find ways to make money and get gear.

And yes, you cannot solo to endgame like you can in WoW. Well you can, with some jobs, but the length of time it would take on everything but BST and a few others would be painful.

This is a party-based game, so your playing experience will vary greatly by the friends you meet and make. Random parties aren't the issue, it's getting assistance with some basic things like Rank missions and Level cap, or Genkai, quests.

For me, the difference between WoW and FFXI is the focus on grouping. You were a Lock, so for you that will be a huge new thing. If you're burned out of DoTing up mobs and fearing em while your Void or Sucky is taking them down, and miss the comradrie of a party, then you've found a good place to be.

[Auron517]

Honestly, if the last time you played the game was the North American Release, chances are the complaints that you had with the game at that time are probably gone...the game was changed alot.

It still has it's share of problems though, so you should probably just try it for yourself. RMT is still around, but SE has been pretty vigilant in banning them every two months or so, which has improved the economy alot.

Beyong that, you're bound to get the usual "New-Player from WoW Advice", You can not solo (for the most part), and this game takes up mass amounts of your time.

[Vyuru]

A typical day in the life of a person living in Vana'Diel:

http://spiffy-keen.com/ffxi-elforto/...dango2_web.jpg

[LyonheartLakshmi]

What can you expect after having been gone for 2+ years? Expect to be left out of a lot of things if you don't have the newest expansion (Treasures of Aht Urhgan).

One of my long time FFXI friends who had been lured away by WoW came back to FFXI this past week. Most of my catching-him-up talk centered around all the new ToAU stuff. The other half had to do with deflation (he actually stopped playing before the big inflation trend, so he actually things are more expensive right now).

Summary: if you haven't already done so, go out and get a copy of ToAU.

[Clever Ninja]

Grizzle is just an anti-FFXI fanboy. It was established months ago in another thread that somehow turned into a FFXI vs WoW thing, so don't take his opinion on this topic seriously. Which makes his first post very ironic.

Anyway, this game for a fresh new player is not easy by yourself. Realistically, unless you get higher level help and/or a linkshell of friends you can't even realistically finish the subjob quest unless you get lucky and grab it from a Ghoul in the Dunes. As mentioned, FFXI is a very party oriented game. While Beastmaster and a few other job comboes can solo, and you can duo/trio/4 man certain mobs, the best exp is in parties, although that doesn't necessarily mean the most fun is in xp parties.

Frankly this game is all about PvE content, and it's got some of the best PvE content IMO in regards to MMO's. If you enjoy PvP then you will be dissappointed, as the PvP WoW has greatly trumps FFXI PvP, and frankly to get things done in WoW is easier too since not all tasks require a group to complete, only Elite quests or Instance quests. FFXI revolves around grouping, and that's both its strength and weakness since it shaped FFXI's community to what it is today, but sucks since if you want something done quick but can't get people together for it then it's basically not gonna happen.

Just buy the game new and try it for the free month is all I can suggest. FFXI is not for everybody, and if you put in sufficient time then a month 'should' be enough to say whether or not you want to continue progressing into the game.

[Jei]

1-55 the game by it's core is pretty much the same. Jeuno is still the place to hang out and seek PT. Hunting grounds haven't changed much. Group dynamics never changed. PLing is more common tho, you can almost expect a PL 3/4 PT you join. Like it or not it's up to you.

55-75 is very fast these days with the introduction of ToAU expansion. It concentrates a lot more on heavy DD party built. Blackmages are, for the most part, impossible to find group that they have to either solo or team up with other blm. Skillchains and magic burst no longer exist in these levels.

I personally don't really like how partying is like these days with all the burning. But that's subjective. It gives you fast easy exp. And I mean, very fast. But at the same time, only a few jobs are welcomed in party for those exp.... war, mnk, nin, brd, rdm are all people want. Other jobs are really left out.

HNM hunting sucks.

[Grizzlebeard]

Originally Posted by Clever Ninja

Grizzle is just an anti-FFXI fanboy. It was established months ago in another thread that somehow turned into a FFXI vs WoW thing, so don't take his opinion on this topic seriously.

Where exactly is my statement incorrect? I think the opinion of someone who played from NA release and has actually reached 75 and played at all levels of the game is slightly more qualified to comment on the state of the game than someone with a 41 warrior. This added to the fact I bought a new set of disks and tried playing again from scratch over the last month so I know pretty damned well how the newbie experience compares to that of NA launch. However, keep up with the insults, I'm sure it makes you feel good about yourself.

[Dark Raz]

Originally Posted by Grizzlebeard

Where exactly is my statement incorrect? I think the opinion of someone who played from NA release and has actually reached 75 and played at all levels of the game is slightly more qualified to comment on the state of the game than someone with a 41 warrior. This added to the fact I bought a new set of disks and tried playing again from scratch over the last month so I know pretty damned well how the newbie experience compares to that of NA launch. However, keep up with the insults, I'm sure it makes you feel good about yourself.

Actually..my sister, who just started and only highest level is 19 WHM, knows more about FFXI than half the level 75 population, which I find funny and deliciously ironic.

You can ask plenty of 75s this question:

"Which part of the storyline was your favorite, or which arc should I be interested in?"

Most of their responses?

"Uhm, the part where you get 100k afterwards."

Yet, they're rank 10, completed CoP and Zilart, but know nothing about the story. (Even if it was completed awhile ago, you'd know plenty about the story, because CoP was grueling but worth it.) She even know proper techniques for most jobs when most of the 75s gimping their way through dunes and qufim didn't know jack about the jobs they're gimping through for a subjob, which I find ironic, because beginners, tend to at least try, compared to the 75's who "are more qualified" as you say.

But I digress.

As for what to expect, MANY MANY things have been fixed, the economy is going back to normal (and yes, gougers, the prices are going back to as they should have been, sorry you got raped by SE, but life goes on.), RMT is still a problem, but that is MMORPG Life, SE is hampering them greatly though.

[Auron517]

Originally Posted by Grizzlebeard

Where exactly is my statement incorrect? I think the opinion of someone who played from NA release and has actually reached 75 and played at all levels of the game is slightly more qualified to comment on the state of the game than someone with a 41 warrior. This added to the fact I bought a new set of disks and tried playing again from scratch over the last month so I know pretty damned well how the newbie experience compares to that of NA launch. However, keep up with the insults, I'm sure it makes you feel good about yourself.

I don't think Clever Ninja was stating that he's more experienced than you Grizzle...

In your previous post you were just exaggerating about the game, or at least that's what I took from it.

[Grizzlebeard]

I don't think it's an exaggeration but if it upset some people then apologies. Problem some people have is they haven't played other MMoGs so they're ignorant to how the newbie experience is in other games compared to FFXI. This combined with a distinctly biased opinion of how fine everything is in FFXI could be translated as misinformation to the OP. While I agree I'm generally overly pessimistic with my appraisal of this game I will stand behind the fact my statements are based on experience and truth.