[dirtyclown]

Originally Posted by dfirestein

I apologize for asking what is probably a very stupid question, but I was wondering...just how important is race in FFXI? How much more powerful is a Tarutaru Black Mage than an Elvaan Black Mage? Or a Hume Black Mage than a Elvaan Black Mage? For another stupid question, are Blue Mages like Red Mages in that they melee along with casting spells, or are they designed more for standing back and casting spells like Black/White Mages?

OMG YOU BETTER GO WITH ALL OF THE COOKIE CUTTER COMBOS OR YOU'RE A TOTAL NOOB AND YOU'RE DESTINED TO FAIL AT EVERYTHING YOU DO. RACE AFFECTS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, THAT TARU MNK IS BAD BECAUSE OF HIS RACE, NOT BECAUSE HE HAS SUBPAR GEAR AND HAS NO IDEA HOW TO USE A MNK PROPERLY.

Seriously though, race only affects what your character looks like and is purely cosmetic. Some might try to say that the stat differences between some races is quite significant to the point where one race is clearly better in one area, but that's BS.

[Theyaden]

Originally Posted by dirtyclown

Seriously though, race only affects what your character looks like and is purely cosmetic. Some might try to say that the stat differences between some races is quite significant to the point where one race is clearly better in one area, but that's BS.

Umm............
I can understand indicating play what you want any race/job combo is possible, but are you seriously saying a Taru Monk vs a Galka Monk with the same gear and quality of player are going to perform the same? I'll grant a person should play whatever race looks cool to them, but we should resist the temptation to mislead newer players into thinking there is no difference. The op did ask an honest question and there is no question there are stat differences. I'ld sugest arguing that they are not enough to justify choosing your race based on it rather than there being no difference.

[Mog]

Originally Posted by Theyaden

Umm............
I can understand indicating play what you want and race/job combo is possible, but are you seriously saying a Taru Monk vs a Galka Monk with the same gear and quality of player are going to perform the same? I'll grant a person should play whatever race looks cool to them, but we should resist the temptation to mislead newer players into thinking there is no difference the op did ask an honest question and there is no question there are stat differences. I'ld sugest arguing that they are not enough to warent choosing race based on it rather than there being none.

Wrong. Don't listen to this advice.

Race alone does NOT indicate how well a character is going to perform. It is possible for a taru monk to outperform a galka monk, based on what actions the person takes in a party. The only thing that stands in your way is the job itself. If you keep your gear updated and perform your role as a suitable party-member, you will perform just as well, (if not better) than your average Elvish, Galka monk. People need to get the misconception that race indicates performance out of their heads. The only thing that hinders you from doing well is you yourself.

[Caspian]

The two most notable points where race can become an issue depending on job are:
1. Galka mage (mainly whm from my experience) at low levels. This is mainly pre RSE levels and at its worst in early dune levels. When you can only cast a small handful of cures before running out of mp, mp management is pretty much thrown out the window. It IS possible, but requires a player who really knows what they're doing, and certain equipment and food.
2. Taru paladins (this is purely what I've been told) at endgame. There are several HNM's with the ability to one-shot a char with little hp. There are instances where a taru pld may not have enough hp to tank certain endgame mobs efficiently. I think this also can be overcome with the right equipment. (However, a taru pld at normal xp levels can hold hate like nobody's business, mp oceans ftw.)

[sevenpointflaw]

Just because everything has already been said and I feel like repeating it all over again... here goes...

All things being equal - race matters. The only time things are equal is when you're doing an event and you are capped at level one and don't have any armor. Then, race doesn't matter, because if you get agro you're going to die anyhow.

Since things aren't equal, it really comes down to how does race affect your job? Is a tarutaru whm better than a galka red mage that wants to melee instead of main healing? Sure if you have a pld tank its nice. Dual nin tanks? I'll take the galka any day because the MP doesn't matter, and every little bit of DD helps.

EVERYTHING in the game is situatuational (just most people forget that XP parties can be done many different ways - and are thus situational). Learn which situations capitalize on your strengths and weaknesses, and then everything works just as well. Gear balances out a lot of it, but so does learning your job.

But then, learning those things is part of what playing the game is about, right?

Only thing that leaves then, is which do you personally prefer?

[dfirestein]

I'm not too worried about Tarutaru Paladins or Galka Mages, since I'm definitely not going to be either of those races. I'm just deciding between Hume and Elvaan, with the intention of becoming a Blue Mage eventually. Of course, I may change my mind in a few months, which is why I was concerned I would be unable to find a group, for example, as an Elvaan Black Mage.

[Murphie]

You'll find no trouble getting parties as an Elvaan Black Mage. There are tons of them on every server. Are they the most ideal race for the job on paper? Of course not. Does that stop anyone? Not really.

[Kirsteena]

Originally Posted by Caspian

The two most notable points where race can become an issue depending on job are:
2. Taru paladins (this is purely what I've been told) at endgame. There are several HNM's with the ability to one-shot a char with little hp. There are instances where a taru pld may not have enough hp to tank certain endgame mobs efficiently. I think this also can be overcome with the right equipment. (However, a taru pld at normal xp levels can hold hate like nobody's business, mp oceans ftw.)

Don't tell this to my ls leader kk - he will come bite your kneecaps off...

For the record, he tanked Promathia successfully, and has tanked/kited all of the gods so far - looking forward (sometimes) to tanking bigger stuff. I <3 taru pld. I also <3 Elvaan blm, partly because its harder for them to be one shotted - int only really makes a difference for the first couple of tier of spells, after that, MAB that has a bigger impact on how much your spells do, with INT topping it off. I also could be biased - my blm hit 61 last week, and it is going strong.

[Rai]

If you are going to take up BLM as a 1st job I suggest starting off right away as a Cook, making juice to refresh your MP while leveling will make up for any racial short coming.

As a choice between Hume and Elvaan the safe bet would be Hume for a person more interested in Mage jobs. Either race can and will do the job as well as your desire to be your best.

In general most Elvaan BLMs I know took up BLM after getting high level in another job. So they had the gil to get the best gear they could to make up for their racial short comings. Personally I believe it's a game so people should have fun and as long as your gear is current I am content with any party member who is competent.

In the end do what you truely want to do, because any race can do BLU and your race is something you just have to live with. I really believe that is the way it should be.

[dirtyclown]

Originally Posted by Theyaden

Umm............
I can understand indicating play what you want any race/job combo is possible, but are you seriously saying a Taru Monk vs a Galka Monk with the same gear and quality of player are going to perform the same? I'll grant a person should play whatever race looks cool to them, but we should resist the temptation to mislead newer players into thinking there is no difference. The op did ask an honest question and there is no question there are stat differences. I'ld sugest arguing that they are not enough to justify choosing your race based on it rather than there being no difference.

Skill? Monk? That job stands there and punches things, there's no skill involved with that. A few choice macros and knowing when to use them and you're good to go. Yes, I'm seriously saying that there is no difference between the races. Your choice might affect your playing style slightly, and should play a role in your gear choices but other than that it makes no difference whatsoever.

[Yuanlung]

Oh common, seriously, races are not created equal.

Yes, you may get similar performance out of them if you do the right stuff, but they are not equal. The difference is there, it affects your play style and sometimes presents unique challenges, that can be overcome with some extra efforts.

Yes, it should not be a factor to stop you from going with a race you like, but it maybe wise to actully get your head out from the sand and see the differences before picking a race, especially if you like a few of them just the same.


Your race of choice may just be as useful in various jobs as other races, but in most cases, the difference is there, and people can see them. IMO, for a newbie is seriously trying to pick a race that suits his/her playing style, it's more helpful to flatout show the difference instead of giving the old politically correct "they are all equal"


But to the OP, it might be useful to find out how each race handles and what difference it may make on the perticular jobs you are concidering in the respective job forums.



Guess I will give a few examples of these differences...



taru WHM has more MP reserve, and has more to fall back on when shit hits the fan, they are more likely to get killed by aoe or direct hits in the chaos.

Galka WHM, while somewhat lacking in the MP department, have the HP to work with the new WHM skill 'Devotion', that replenishes a party member's MP by 1/4 of his own HP.

Soul Eater, while active, takes 10% of your HP on each hit and adds part of that to your damage. As you can probably see, Galka and taru will get different milage out of this.

As mentioned before, taru and elvaan BLM's will end up with a ~250 difference in MP. This is not really important under normal conditions when your are spending MP as they are replenished via refresh and sitting. However, sometimes, there are situations where you just need to squeeze out that last drop of damage, may it be to make a time limit or finishing off a strong mob when you need it dead in a big hurry because your party is in trouble, having more MP here just doesn't hurt.

The bigger a tank's HP bar is, the more slack the healers have before they need to pick up healing the tank. With no healing, a Galka tank can survive a bit longer then a taru, obviously, due to their bigger HP bar. This gives the healers some more breathing room. When a lag spike hits or when they just are stuck in a previous animation, A Galka tank will more likely still be alive when the cure finally gets out. A taru would more likely be dead.


These difference aren't so significant that they are inhibiting, but they are there. Some people like to pay attention to such details, and since OP did ask, I am betting he/she atleast does some what. So they maybe a factor, even if not a major one, in the selection of a race.







EDIT: adding actual examples

[dirtyclown]

Originally Posted by Yuanlung

Your race of choice may just be as useful in various jobs as other races, but in most cases, the difference is there, and people can see them. IMO, for a newbie is seriously trying to pick a race that suits his/her playing style, it's more helpful to flatout show the difference instead of giving the old politically correct "they are all equal"

Can they actually see that it's because of the character's chosen race or is it because of bad gear choices, ignorance, or possibly both? I lol'ed at the "politically correct" comment by the way. Quite humorous.

[Hearshot]

No, you can dat swap and there would be no difference in the style someone plays, race to race. Style has to do with job, the job is played the same no matter what race you are. All stats are more influenced by gear, than base race stats. Skill comes from your ability to play the job, and all races have the same ability to play each job equally.

[Yuanlung]

Originally Posted by dirtyclown

Can they actually see that it's because of the character's chosen race or is it because of bad gear choices, ignorance, or possibly both? I lol'ed at the "politically correct" comment by the way. Quite humorous.

Nope. everything being equal, or rather, everything optimum, since each race may have slightly differnt optimum gears, there are still visible difference. Not nessaccerily "race A is lots better than race B" difference, but just performs different. I've given a few examples in my previous post, but I guess you replied while I was typing that edit up.

[dirtyclown]

Originally Posted by Yuanlung

Nope. everything being equal, or rather, everything optimum, since each race may have slightly differnt optimum gears, there are still visible difference. Not nessaccerily "race A is lots better than race B" difference, but just performs different. I've given a few examples in my previous post, but I guess you replied while I was typing that edit up.

Yeah, I didn't see the examples when I replied. I can see what you mean, but I'm still having problems with it. For example:

The bigger a tank's HP bar is, the more slack the healers have before they need to pick up healing the tank. With no healing, a Galka tank can survive a bit longer then a taru, obviously, due to their bigger HP bar. This gives the healers some more breathing room. When a lag spike hits or when they just are stuck in a previous animation, A Galka tank will more likely still be alive when the cure finally gets out. A taru would more likely be dead.

I just can't agree here. My chosen race is Mithra, so we'll use that as a comparison. Paired up with a Galka, they have more HP than I do, and slightly higher base VIT. The VIT hardly factors in as much as the HP/MP does though. Even though the Galka has higher HP, if left alone, I would have a higher chance of making it out alive due to more MP regardless of his advantage in HP. The Galka could easily get around this and use MP gear to improve his MP pool, making him a more durable tank and taking away my advantage thus effectively negating our racial differences.

Of course, your example was for no self healing so I'm assuming that the tank is hit with silence or Petrification or something similar. If that's the case, it doesn't matter what their race is, they're going to be eating floor either way.