[Verranicus]

So, I'm starting a Hume in Bastok, but it's been about 2 years since I last played. My questions are as follows.

1. What are some good professions for me to pick up?
2. Where can I grab some beginning quests?
3. What level should I start worrying about Missions?
4. Are there any other things I should do when I first start out?

[Jei]

1. There are blacksmith and goldsmith guild in Bastok.
2. All Bastok Quests
Some easier quests that may be good to start with are
Lady's Heart, Beauty and the Galka, Buckets of Golds, Groceries, Mine sweepers, Mom the Adventurer...

Actually a ton more... anything that gives reward less than 1,000 gil should be easy quests.

3. You can do the first mission at level 1. It requires no fighting. Just a little run into the mines. The mines itself is pretty good for leveling up to level 5 I think.

4.Check out local weapon/armor/magic NPC vendor so you don't have to buy overpriced beginner gears from Auction house.
And definitely learn how to use Auction House.
Make sure you get Signet from gate guards before you leave the town.
Make sure you sell stacks of 12 crystals at the Auction house.
Learn how to stack items. Open the item menu and you'll see it.

[FortMan]

1. I would add Alchemy guild as well. It'd serve you well in the long run. (Making your own meds ftw) Jei seems to cover the rest nicely.

Which server are you on? Some of us here might be on the same server as you, and might be able to answer more questions/ help you ingame as well.

[Sabaron]

Mine...and do Mine Sweeper or sell your soot (sells slowly). Zinc sells nicely especially for a lowbie, you'll get crystals and bat wings too. Moles sell occasionally for BST stuff, but primarily in Jeuno--you won't sell a lot in Bastok. Zinc sells very well in Bastok because of the Tenshodo Fame Quest. Even a lowbie can craft copper and bronze ingots while mining and you can either pawn (NPC) or toss the Iron. Every time you come in and out from the mine do the "Groceries" quest from Tami for a bit of scratch and some fame. I recommend levelling all your level 1 jobs here regardless of when you do them. You don't have to mine per-se as it slows things down, but if you're trying to earn money...

If you're going melee, do: THF, WAR, MNK to 7 in the mines.
If you're going mage, do: WHM, BLM, RDM to 7 in the mines.

Then you can finish up going to 10 out at the hotsprings near the Dangruf Wadi on crabs and then do Konschtat, Valkurm or Wadi Crabs.

Konschtat Highlands is also a great place for a lowbie. You can use some of your early cash to invest in Windurstian Tea Leaves and Dark Crystals so you can field-craft sheep leather which also sells rather well.

[Verranicus]

I haven't really chosen a server yet, actually. Suggestions are welcome. Preferably a server in which Bastok isn't dead last in terms of territory control. x.x

[Verranicus]

So, at 7.. where should I go? o.o

[Malacite]

At 7 you should be okay in North Gustaberg up on the Hill near Palborough Mines. Just be mindful of goblins and any undead at night and you should be fine soloing Bees for good exp and possible beehive chips.

You can either sell the chips in stacks for money (as well as the honey they drop) or use them in your alchemy to make wax and sell that (or keep it for later levels if you're serious about alchemy)


Though to be honest you're probably best off focusing on Smithing as it's one of the biggest money makers if you take the time to mine your ores.

[Verranicus]

Hmm, okay. At what level does soloing stop being a viable option? As in, when does it become so painful that it stops being worth it?

[Illuen]

You'll want to make your way twords Valkurm Dunes at about level 10, although there is a nice camp nearbye in Konschtat Highlands that I tend to use to level from 10 to 11, while having a LFP flag up. You can start partying at ten, but it is generally better not to, simply because the mobs there are just a smidgen too high in level at that time.

[Verranicus]

So people still use Valkurm? What with all I've been hearing it sounds as if nobody goes there anymore.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Bastok is the redheaded stepchild of the three nations, go Windurst or San'doria. Plus the chicks in other nations are cuter, female humes have man-hands.

Originally Posted by Verranicus

Hmm, okay. At what level does soloing stop being a viable option? As in, when does it become so painful that it stops being worth it?

Around level 20 for most jobs, but PTs start as early as level 10. Valkurm is still viable, too, EXPing on our RMT-killing Goblin Bounty Hunters turnd out to be rather good.

[Lunaryn]

Bastok tends to do well in conquest on Midgardsormr, and has some distinct advantages at low levels. As for what level you want to stop soloing, that depends on the job, how much idiocy/PLing/etc. you can stand, etc. Many people choose to solo past dunes levels entirely, but that's not that feasible before you have a subjob.

WAR: Decent soloer, but lack of sub hurts. You won't get a lot of weapon skillups from the mobs you can solo easily, so you'll probably want to at least duo or trio once you get much past 10. If you're going to dunes as this, you'll probably want to head there no later than 12.

MNK: Don't have too much experience with this. I've heard it's the easiest melee job to level subless.

THF: I actually levelled this subless and I'm not sure what to say. Most people recommend leaving this for later. It's a challenge to solo much past 10, but it's largely deadweight in a full party until level 15. If you plan on doing THF, research a bit; this calls for some planning with regard to weapon choices, subjob, and skillup strategy.

WHM: This job is a challenge to solo, but with the right gear and fully buffed, it can do so adequately. Be sure to level to 11 and get Cure II before accepting any dunes party invites.

RDM: Much easier to solo than WHM. Be wary of parties that want you to main heal; you don't get Cure II until level 14, making this difficult. Insist on a backup healer.

BLM: Don't have too much experience with this. You may want to consider levelling WHM or RDM first, and then using one of them as a subjob for this.

Note that you don't absolutely NEED a dunes party for the subjob quest; Buburimu Peninsula offers a similar quest, but you'd need to drag a party out there. Once subjob considerations are out of the way, keep in mind that from level 15 you can try to organize Korroloka Tunnel parties. I've had good experiences with this, myself.

All in all, the dunes have become so thoroughly infested with people who don't have any clue how to make a party function without a PL that if duo and trio parties are at all an option, you may want to avoid the dunes whenever possible. But you will need to spend some time in full parties either in Valkurm Dunes or Buburimu Peninsula to get your subjob. (Frankly, you'll also probably need a high-level to farm a Magicked Skull for you in Gusgen Mines for the dunes subjob quest; Ghoul spawns are rare in the dunes, and often are killed off by high-level 'help' since they're considered dangerous and unnecessary targets by most parties.)

[Eohmer]

Here's one tip: Learn to be patient. You'll get a lot of crap for being a Bastokan. :D

Here's another, restart in a different nation. I'm proud to be from San d'Oria, but I'd rather be from Windurst than Bastok. ; ;

On a serious note, pretty much what everyone said above. :D
You can maybe pick up a profession that has a lot of consumable items, like food. So cooking might come in handy... or even alchemy, I guess.

You shouldn't worry about missions too much. The higher level you are, the easier they will be.

[Sabaron]

Originally Posted by Eohmer

I'm proud to be from San d'Oria, but I'd rather be from Windurst than Bastok. ; ;

HEY NOW!

Bastok is awesome. San d'oria is filled with snooty wine-swilling elitists and Windurst is filled with cutesie-wootsie flower-healing nancies.

Bastok > All

We have a mine in town! Goldsmithing, Alchemy, and Smithing--what more could you ask for? Our town is compact and navigable. Bastok is the origin of Dark Knight, and Ninja. Plus we have our own Tenshodo salesroom, the best-stocked music shop, water wheels and a moving bridge.

All San d'Oria has is a stupid Papsque to tell you what to believe in! ...And, as a RDM I've had several run-in's with the guy and I wouldn't trust him to deliver groceries.

[Srxjo]

a moving bridge where?