[The Milkman]

As the title said, I am new to this game. I've done my research however, but need some answers.

1. What is the basic ins and outs to the game that isn't combat? E.G., what is there to do in the game other than combat and how does it work?

2. What is the basic ins and outs to a party? What composes a party and how do they work?

3. How viable is soloing?

Thank you beforehand. :D

[IfritnoItazura]

Originally Posted by The Milkman

1. What is the basic ins and outs to the game that isn't combat? E.G., what is there to do in the game other than combat and how does it work?

There are quests, missions (mega quests, if you will), crafting, fishing, mini-games (e.g. Chocobo Racing), raising pets (Chocobo and Pankration), and other things.

Activities

Originally Posted by The Milkman

2. What is the basic ins and outs to a party? What composes a party and how do they work?

Standard party for exp'ing:
Tank, DDs, healer, support. Healer and support jobs have some overlap. Many hybrid jobs exist.

The idea is to kill fast enough to make exp chains to enhance exp/hour. Tanks distract monsters to keep them from killing other party members. DDs to damage the target. Healers keep people's HP bar up and remove ill status effect. Support character enfeeble monsters, strengthen party members, and often help cure, in order to reduce down time (down time is mostly used for MP recovery).

Teamwork, for higher exp/hour, in short.

Originally Posted by The Milkman

3. How viable is soloing?

You can't solo all the mission/quests. Many jobs good at soloing (Beastmaster and Dancer come to mind) for experience points need to be unlocked first, but the unlocking may not be solo-able without a high level job. Goes without saying the endgame material generally cannot be soloed at all.

That said, soloing (and small group) for experience points have gotten progressively easier in FFXI over at all levels. While grouping is still faster exp/hour in general, soloing while waiting for groups to form is quite rewarding these days for almost all jobs.

[TheGrandMom]

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[The Milkman]

Well thank both of you!

That certainly was a nice welcome.

And I even got the super moderator to post here. :O

And one last question: what is an exp. chain? How does leveling work in regards to exp.?

[Takelli]

Originally Posted by The Milkman

And one last question: what is an exp. chain? How does leveling work in regards to exp.?

A Exp chain gives you more experience than the current max exp/mob with out a chain or any exp boosts (200, max with exp boost is 400). Each chain increases exp gain by a certain amount (Not sure on the exact amount), and as long as you keep killing the monsters fast enough, you will keep gaining exp chains. I am not sure about the max chain though, so you will have to ask some one else about that. Also... to start an exp chain, you must kill a monster that is of Even Match, to Incredibly tough conn order to gain a chain.

Also, one more important thing, that isn't that important... When a monster says its too weak, it will yield no exp, or crystals, even with a signet on.

If you joined the Alexander server, look up Either Takelli, or Mitratis, and I'll be happy to help you get started in the game, and my link shell is always looking for new members.

[Nuriko]

I think it's as follows:

Chain 1 is +20%
Chain 2 is +25%
Chain 3 is +30%
Chain 4 is +40%
Chain 5+ is +50%

The catch is, as the chain numbers go up you have to manage the next kill in a shorter time period ... eventually, you just can't kill that fast. Note that this doesn't apply to parties at 75, where you can get some INSANE chain numbers.

[IfritnoItazura]

Should be noted that the time requirement for chaining is relaxed at higher levels; Chain 5+ is 60 seconds at Lv.51+, while it's something like 10 seconds at Lv.10. The duration is capped at chain #5; chain #6 and beyond all have the 60 seconds window (Lv.51+), I think, and the experience points bonus is capped as well.

Chain 100+ isn't unusual at Lv.75, while chain #5 is very rare at Lv.30 for a regular party.

[The Milkman]

Originally Posted by Takelli

A Exp chain gives you more experience than the current max exp/mob with out a chain or any exp boosts (200, max with exp boost is 400). Each chain increases exp gain by a certain amount (Not sure on the exact amount), and as long as you keep killing the monsters fast enough, you will keep gaining exp chains. I am not sure about the max chain though, so you will have to ask some one else about that. Also... to start an exp chain, you must kill a monster that is of Even Match, to Incredibly tough conn order to gain a chain.

Also, one more important thing, that isn't that important... When a monster says its too weak, it will yield no exp, or crystals, even with a signet on.

If you joined the Alexander server, look up Either Takelli, or Mitratis, and I'll be happy to help you get started in the game, and my link shell is always looking for new members.

Okay, I get it.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks for the help. ;D

[Elwynn]

Experience Chain

[Takelli]

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

Should be noted that the time requirement for chaining is relaxed at higher levels; Chain 5+ is 60 seconds at Lv.51+, while it's something like 10 seconds at Lv.10. The duration is capped at chain #5; chain #6 and beyond all have the 60 seconds window (Lv.51+), I think, and the experience points bonus is capped as well.

Chain 100+ isn't unusual at Lv.75, while chain #5 is very rare at Lv.30 for a regular party.

Try saying that chain 5 is rare to one of my parties in qufim island. Level 20, and we where mowing down worms like they where nothing. We kept hitting chains 5/6 farily often. I even burned through my Emporer, and aniversay bands in an hour for both of them lol. Fastst party I have ever had at that level. I didn't even need to cure anyone as well, I just stood there with my hammer, and just whacked away at them as well. (No, we didn't have a Pl. Pld, Whm, Rng, Dnc, Blu, for got that sixth, but we killed fast as hell.)

But most of the time, the chains are fairly hard to hit at lower levels. If you can hit high chains, then great at lower levels. If the party is a verteren party, you shouldn't have any issue as well.

[IfritnoItazura]

Originally Posted by Takelli

Try saying that chain 5 is rare to one of my parties in qufim island. Level 20, and we where mowing down worms like they where nothing. We kept hitting chains 5/6 farily often.

Chain #5 has 20 second window at Lv.20, if FFXIclopedia is correct.

Just running from worm to worm and engage will take on average 5 seconds (or more). Can a party regularly defeat a Land Worm under 15 seconds? (Lv.21-30 has 30 second window for chain #5, which may be more reasonable.)

[Takelli]

Originally Posted by IfritnoItazura

Just running from worm to worm and engage will take on average 5 seconds (or more). Can a party regularly defeat a Land Worm under 15 seconds? (Lv.21-30 has 30 second window for chain #5, which may be more reasonable.)

As I was on whm, and I didn't need to be healing the party as the dnc was doing a GREAT job of doing it, I went out, and silenced a worm, and enfeebled it all to hell with another melee job, the worm that 4 of them where on, the other worm would already be at 1/2 hp, so that the worm would be killed fairly fast, and I'd repeat that until I ran out of mp.

[The Milkman]

So currently, FFXI is being installed on to my XBox 360 and I'm anxious to play.

And you should all look me up on the Alexander server(hey, I can't pass up free help) and help me play. D:

[Balfree]

Being friends with the Milkman mean i get free milk with my cookies? :D:D:D

Hi! Have fun lawl

[Takelli]

Originally Posted by The Milkman

So currently, FFXI is being installed on to my XBox 360 and I'm anxious to play.

And you should all look me up on the Alexander server(hey, I can't pass up free help) and help me play. D:

All right. Your name will be Milkman, right? I'll look you up every so often when I'm online.