New player observations/questions

[Balfree]

FFXI is much more "adventurous" than most mmorpgs, you really need to go out there and experience things to learn about the game. There's no quest marks theres no fancy icons flying around telling you everything and theres almost no indication on where to go and what to do. You might be used to being told what to do next on other games, but that's not how it works on FF, you need to go out there and explore, get killed, then go there again, then die again in a different way and keep on trying till you run out of hair.

You may find it frustrating but in my opinion its much better than being guided by an arrow. Feels much more adventury.

The closest thing to a newbie guide, a non biased and proper guide, is this:
FINAL FANTASY XI .

It took me a month of very hardcore gaming to reach lv18 my first time around, and i had played tons of MMOs by then, and FFXI delivered an experience that none of those other games did, this is why i still play it, years after.

[IfritnoItazura]

So feeling a bit refreshed, I recreated a white Mage.

I'm afraid to ask; what did you do, exactly?

In FFXI, one can switch job anytime in the Mog House, without penalty. For example, say you start with RDM, get to level 18, 150 experience points into the level. After that, switch to WHM, level that to 75, with capped exp.

Then, when you switch back to RDM, it'd still be at Lv.18, 150 exp into the level.

Same character can take multiple jobs to Lv.75, with the limitation being it can only be one job at a time, with one support job--but can always switch around as needed.

* * *

If you like being a healer, Red Mage is a decent healer--just heck of whole lot busier, and more wanted by exp parties. White Mage is the better healer of the two, but Red Mage is considered "good enough" by most people in leveling up parties.

You should probably level WHM to 37 anyway, if you like mage jobs, as it is a very useful support job for mages and sometimes even melees.

[GuyArcher]

I recreated. I wanted to start in a different city and was only level two so no real loss but some time. I am still a bit hesitant about the game because i am not much for grinding the same mobs for hours on end. Going to stick it out for now. Thanks for the tips.

[Chveya]

If you are still on Fairy after recreating your character, I'd be glad to help you out with an LS and some pointers. Send me a /tell in-game, my character's name is Sisqi. ^^

[Jaice]

I recreated. I wanted to start in a different city and was only level two so no real loss but some time. I am still a bit hesitant about the game because i am not much for grinding the same mobs for hours on end. Going to stick it out for now. Thanks for the tips.

Since I havent seen anyone prompt this yet... WELCOME!!! I'm glad to see your mood has changed about this game from the first post Honestly the only way I was able to tough out playing the game for the first few years was picking up the no horribly horribly outdated hint guide ... released 2004 I think... and that's still floating around near my computer for crafting/quest references - if you are gung ho about it I would reccomend getting one off e-bay or Amazon.com to help you with learning macro's, spell levels, weapon skills, starting gear, starting weapons in something you can sit in your lap to look at while you are running around - one of my favorite features is to autorun pointed at my destination and look up things in the book.

For a bit of a hint to earn gil in the starting areas Windurst is the best I can think of between silk thread (10k a stack on the AH) from crawlers and beehive chips/honey from Bees - if that isnt an option go look on the AH for which stack of 12 crystals are selling for the most and try to concentrate on those critters to get more than enough crystals to keep up on spells/armor Also if you are in Windurst the Yagudo (Bird-men) drop necklaces that you can turn into thread and start crafting for free as a mage, it's a bit of a boost if you want to try blm for a subjob later ^^ ok, that's my 2cents, and once again Welcome to FFXI

[Mhurron]

horribly horribly outdated hint guide ... released 2004 I think...

The Brady guide? Oh god no, don't suggest reading that.

[Jaice]

The Brady guide? Oh god no, don't suggest reading that.

HA! Thats the one It helped my girlfriend start to enjoy the game because I could'nt cover everything from word of mouth, and the things I forgot ended up getting her killed and me frustrated >.>;; It helps a great deal for basic controls and starter quests in each of the cities The map coordinates are wrong... but it's all in good fun for a leg up.

Edit: The only books I've read more than that hint guide are The Great Gatsby, and Johnathin Strange & Mr. Norell

[Mhurron]

It is full of so many inaccuracies on just about every page, and I'm talking about the things that were flat out wrong when it was published. Stick with maintained and reviewed sources like the wiki or here for instance.

[GuyArcher]

Thanks for the headsup. I am in San D'oria though. Any starter suggestions for that nation?

[Jaice]

Thanks for the headsup. I am in San D'oria though. Any starter suggestions for that nation?

Ahhh... I'm not much help there =/ I've spent my beginner life at Windurst every time... for some reason I just like it a whole lot better than any other area You may want to find some repetable quests that take basic drops off the monsters you are killing, those are a good place for starting capital

[Mhurron]

Thanks for the headsup. I am in San D'oria though. Any starter suggestions for that nation?

Sell rabbit hides. Do repeatable quests like this one

Category:San d'Oria Quests - FFXIclopedia - a Wikia Gaming wiki

[emeraldpearl]

I am afraid FFXI is a cruel and harsh MMOG to pick up especially after playing an easy going MMO such as WoW. It took me a while myself to pick up on the game and now im a level 51 Summoner. So you do get there just be patient love