I think its about time the NA players reachs to a state where a proper party should be form for them to get efficient and decent exps.
Party formation can have different variaties. However, its all basically the same in a certain ways. Below are some pointers on how to form a party in "general".
1) A party should consist of 3 melee and 3 casters.
Example: WAR/MNK/THF and BLM/WHM/RDM
2) The party members should ALL be 3 levels within each other.
Example: 15/16/17/15/15/16
3) Each person understand their duty in the party
Tankers/Melee players should constently taunt the monster and protect the casters. Casters should stay behind and cast spells.
Some tips for the melee players.
i)Set macro for taunt.
Eg: /party xxxxxxxxxxxxx
/ja taunt <t>
/wait 15
/p 15sec before i can taunt again
/wait15
/p taunt is ready
this way, you can notify both urself and ur party member that when can you, and when you can taunt.
ii)Know how to do renkai (combo).
each weapon have its own weapon skill which contens differnt kind of elemental effect. For example: Burning blade is fire.
Here's a renkai chart
Ancient Magic & PT's
Example on how to do a renkai:
Assuming a party is formed with WAR1/WAR2/MNK
WAR1 is going first with Raging Axe
WAR2 is going second with Burning Blade
MNK is going last with Tackle
when all 3 players' TP are at or above 100%. WAR1 will do he's WS, then after 2-3 seconds after the WS animation, WAR2 will do he's WS, at this point, the players should see a special effect which is call Dissolution. After the animation of Dissolution, player 3 should do he's WS, and at this point, the renkai will be complete with a Nucleate Heat Effect.
Example on how to set a renkai macro:
Each player should set a macro on how much TP they have
WAR1- /party Renkai first attack. Currently I have TP <tp>
WAR2- /party Renkai second attack. TP <tp>
MNK- /party Last attack <tp>
WAR1 is the most important in the whole renkail process because WAR1 have to see if other players' TP are at 100 or above and initiate the start. Example on how to set WAR1's macro
/p Renkai first attack <tp>. GO! <call3>
/ws Raging Axe <t>
iii) Assigne ONE specific player to go and lure the monster.
ix) KEEP THE MOBS AWAY FROM THE CASTERS
This is done by leting the mobs "hate" you more by using taunt and induce dmg to them.
Some tips for the casters
i) Stay back, don't go up and fight the mobs unless the mob is extremely easy.
ii) Know how to control your MP.
This is very important because if your MP is deplite, the whole party will have to wait for you to sit and recover your MP. So during the fight, just cast the useful spells and the spells that are ment for you to cast. Example: If there's WHM/BLM/RED in the pt, WHM just focusing on curing, blm focuse on dark magic and attack magic and red mage focuse on weakness and strenght magic. Try to keep the MP above half all the time. If you have time to sit and recover, sit and recover.
A note to the BLM: don't just blast it away because the monsters will just turn and attack you and the tankers will not be able to pull the monster back. Save them for MB.
iii) MB
MB is designe for extra dmg after the renkai. Like what I've said before, each renkai have its own elemental effect. So you will have to cast that specific elemental magic for MB to happen. When will the casters cast the magic will depends on the actual casting time of that specific magic. Just time the magic so that it will hit the monster 1-2 second after the special renkai animation have finished. Example: Dissolution and Nucleate Heat is Fire so any fire magic will give MB.
ix) DO NOT GO LURE THE MONSTER! LET THE MELEE PLAYERS DO IT
ok now, a PT a formed, now you got to find a place to level. After you reach to the place, find a safe area and STAY there. Let the desinated player to go lure the monster back. The strength of the monster should be todemo todemo strong w/ low defence.
That will be it for now. I might miss something @@ but its 4:30 in da morning... =P anwaz, gl to all the new players and enjoy the game.
Gackti
PS: Mods, if we don't have one of this topic on sticky, please have it stick, I think it will help out a lot of the new players. Thank you very much.