Starting to look like 3 hrs a night just isnt going to be enough time to play :(

[Drovian]

Hi again. Well, im saddened, but it looks like 3 or so hrs a night just isnt going to be enough time for FFXI, and I was hoping to get some feedback. For example, last night it was murder finding a pt, when I finally did, i only had 45 min left to play. And if I do play my 3 hrs, it ends up being all i do for the night. I initially thought this would be fine, but now its just getting frustrating. Advice?!? Thnx.... :(

[Centurion]

If you are limited on time, try talking to people you party with, and asking them if they would be interested in partying on a regular basis.

I also see that you are a member of a least 2 Linkshells- those should provide you with a quick way to find people looking for a party.

You might want to try crafting, or fishing while you have party seek up. That way your time isnt completely wasted.


Hope that helps

[xcalibur2k]

Drovian,

Unfortunately, I will have to agree with you. Horrible parties + time zone differences + strict party requirements + JP onry (I don't blame them) + abundance of other melees seeking = death to advancement.
Sometimes I wish this isn't so because I really do love this game, but this game is more about timesinks and your people connections (set pt anyone?). If you are a casual gamer or don't know a lot of people, then you will advance slow. It's just the way the game is made I suppose. If there is one thing I would like to change in this game is that make this game more soloable for everyone..but make partying with other people more fun, or maybe have less strict requirements for partying. But alas, the game is just not designed this way.

Best advice I can think of is either just stick with it and maybe one day you'll find a party, or level BST or do other things beside seeking in Jeuno. Maybe you can pickup a much needed job *cough*whmpre40*cough*rdmpost40*cough*pld*cough*ni npost37*cough*kickSEinthenuts*cough*brd*cough*.

I'd admit that this game does get you down..even more so than any other game that I've played before. Sometimes I go on seek in Jeuno, then just go do my own thing like watch tv, read magazines, read forums on my laptop, and then finally only to log off still seeking at the end of the night. But you have to admit that this is a good game though. Hopefully, you will find that at the end it is worth all the agony ;)

[Playtime]

truth be told 3hours a night isn't much time at all with any MMORPG most gaming companies design it for the hardcore player and kinda leave the casual gamer out to hang since they want their money with 10,000 timesinks.

[Macht]

3hrs a night is just fine if you've made a good amount of friends you can party with and interact with. Many times making a LS with these people or being in multiple LSs with people around your level helps to find parties faster.

Another thing you can do too (a hit or miss method, but it's good to find a party quick) is not to wait in Jeuno for a party. Pick a place were people around your level go to get exp and seek there, the hit or miss part to this is you are offering yourself as a replacement to a member that's about to leave.

This often times will work great on some days or fail misserably on other days. It is a method though to continue to improve with little time.

If you planning to do many of the latter missions or the more lengthy quests then getting a LS that does that and plans ahead for them is recommended.

[Kyoujin]

Three hours a night just wont cut it later on if you're without a SPT. As a 73 scamurai I can sit around seeking for six hours a day and maybe get one group every fourth day or so. Try to get yourself into a static of some sort.

[Chucklez_1]

It's gotten so bad too in midgardsormr. As a red mage, I usually get a pt as soon as I put my seek on (and even when i'm not seeking a party). Although, recently I haven't had free time before 8-10pm est (when RDMs are badly wanted for some weird reasons). Now everytime I LFG after 8pm est, I usually wait for 1 hr to get a pt. Too much competiton against non sleeping NA players and JP players :dead:

[Kamanao]

If you are strictly into levelling, then I agree, 3 hours a night is very little, considering it often takes 1 hour or more just to form a complete PT, let alone get to your location together. Unfortunately, the time sink tends to worsen as you rise to the higher levels, unless, like other's have said, you have a static.

Be proactive. Yes, you can put up your seek flag, but you should also try to form a party yourself. Don't rely on others to do this for you, especially if you are not in a high-demand job such as most mages or rangers. In fact, I often form my own PTs when I log on my WHM simply to avoid potential invites from sub-optimal PTs.

If you prefer not to form your own PTs, use the wait time to farm, craft or do soloable quests. Making gil or building fame is not only productive, but will help you later on when you do level and need to buy that next weapon, set of armor or food. If you do this, I would recommend you use your search comment and include your tnl, your homepoint (probably Jeuno), and the fact that you can warp there using a CP scroll. Knowing a little Japanese can help as well, especially if you play during Japan primetime. "Roumaji o chotto wakarimasu" actually does help in search comments, but use it only if you truly do understand enough to communicate the essentials in PT.

Finally, you can always level another job. Round your character out. If you decide to become a PLD in the future, you can start raising WHM now to help optimize your healing skills when you do switch. You do have a lot of choices in 3 hours, so keep in mind that these are just suggestions that helped me. Good luck!

[Mikeb]

Do stuff while you wait. Craft, quest, farm, fish, etc.... Try to find other good players, and see if you can set up a static or semi-static party. 3 hours a night isn't much, but you can certainly get places. For some missions and stuff though you will need more time, maybe one 5+ hour day every couple weeks or so will help. I got my BST to 45 playing 1-2 hours a night, so it's not impossible (although got bored, am now playing Monk. Searching for parties adds a little time, just make sure when people are available to play that you are their first choice to form a party with).

[Chanse]

I have the same problem..I really love this game but don't have much time to play and if I do it's only for a couple of hours, about 5 hrs the most.

My main Job is RNG and I really love it, even though it cost alot to battle. I just got a new job BST which I used for days that I have 1-4hrs of game-play. I gotta say it's pretty fun to play BST; might even take it all the way.

I guess my advice is try BST/WHM (or whatever sub) for those days you don't have much time and switch to your main job for the other days.

Hope this helps.

Chanse

[kevinsal]

Yeah, Im lucky if I get 3 hours a night during the week. Instead of the 3 hours a day try to get a good 5 hour block on one day. This way after you find your party you can have a longer spree and not be rushed.

I play Mon & Wen for 3 hours each and the weekends I play 6+ hours. And I seem to be leveling fine. Remember its a game and you aren't in a race. Enjoy yourself instead of getting angry. Some days you lvl like crazy and others you get mobbed and lvl down. And some days youll sit there and never find a party. It's not an easy game, if it was everyone would be 75..

Good Luck soldier and keep it going!