[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?

[Spazz]

Race doesnt always play a HUGE part in the game. Yes it can have its advantages... but there really isnt that big of a difference because of all the gear you could use to make up for whatever stats you were lacking.

BLUs are melee/damage dealers. They melee with their sword aswell as cast spells. RDMs, BLMs, and WHMs usually stand in the back because thier melee attributes are not always up to par with other melee. A good RDM can melee and deal decent damage of course... but most of the time they are too busy casting spells to really have a chance to pull out their swords.

[Yuanlung]

With some jobs, race can make a fairly visible difference. Tarutaru BLM, for example, will have a higher base damage and bigger MP bar than that of other races. At lv 75, you are looking at a ~250MP and ~15INT difference between a Tarutaru and an Elvaan BLM. (roughly, can't recall the exact number at the moment) Another example would be MNK, where a taru's low str (over 10 points lower at 75), vit, and HP will make min/maxers cry.


Watch out though, when people try to tell you "you can fix so-and-so stats with gears". While you maybe able to boost a certain stat you lack via some uber items, but guess what? In many cases, so can other races who have better stats to start with. There are some racial-specific gears that aim to bridge the difference, but they are few and quite limited.



Then there are jobs where all races perform more or less the same, such as BRD and COR, or each race gets different perks, such as PLD and RDM.


I'd say that race is important if you care about min/maxing. It gives your some nice-to-have perks, but nothing so significant that it cripples you completely.





As for BLU and RDM.. BLU is front line melee and RDM is back line support. RDM *can* choose to melee, and good RDM in certain party make up can actually make the hits count (although marginally benificial), most of the time, you will be seeing bad RDM who melee even in cases where it hurt the party....

[Omecle]

Play whatever race you like best. ;o

[Mog]

Any race can play any job.

[Praetorian13]

It's your game and character play what you want, just pay attention to racial weaknesses and compensate for them. Just remember to have fun with what you do

[neighbortaru]

...and if you don't believe the people above, you can peruse the bajillion other topics about the same thing all across the race and job forums (via search feature)

[Khevn]

see that button up at the top right that by log out called search? bet you'll find like this topic discussed far too many times than ever necessary, they should just make an indepth faq about Race selection and job selection and sticky it to the front of the whole forum, make it so if you've never been to the forum before, you have to read it.

[Draco Dagon]

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?

The only race you really got to worry about is Galka. People don't mind a taru tanking, an Elvaan WHM, or a Hume-whatever, but people do tend to mind a Galkan mage to any degree. (But hey, Galkans can be good mages nonetheless with the right gear and the right player of course.)

[Mog]

Originally Posted by Draco Dagon

The only race you really got to worry about is Galka. People don't mind a taru tanking, an Elvaan WHM, or a Hume-whatever, but people do tend to mind a Galkan mage to any degree. (But hey, Galkans can be good mages nonetheless with the right gear and the right player of course.)

Unlike what you said, people pay attention to mithran drks, taru plds, etc.

Overall, don't pay attention to race. If you play your job well and buy the right gear, race is not a deciding factor in how well you will perform in a party situation. Period. Moreover, I would love to see Taru mnks outdamaging Elvish monks, which I'm sure is possible.

[Rai]

I leveled with Galka BLM when I was in the 60s, he was great, he managed his MP quite well and a Galka has more INT than an Elvaan so his spells hit hard.

IF you love Taru and want to be a BLM go for it, if you hate Taru and want to play BLM then be Hume or whatever race you really want to.

A lot of people change once they play the game. You may want to be a BLM now but in 30-40 levels you might want to play RDM, BLU or even DRG. The great thing about FFXI is you love your character and play any job you want in that character, WoW or Guild Wars you have to make new character to play other jobs.

Not with FFXI one character plays all the jobs, and you know you will like things about any job you try. You'll also love things about any race you try.

I have a Taru mule and just running around to the AH I feel different than on my Elvaan main character.

[Hearshot]

while race doesn't matter, having a beard gives you a definate advantage at pretty much everything.

[Mog]

Originally Posted by Hearshot

while race doesn't matter, having a beard gives you a definate advantage at pretty much everything.

{True Strike}

I wouldn't want to f*ck with you. That beard is intimidating.

[Gwynn]

Originally Posted by Hearshot

while race doesn't matter, having a beard gives you a definate advantage at pretty much everything.

Thats the reason Tarutaru don't have beards... if the Taru were able to grow facial hair, Vana'diel as we know it would be doomed!

[Hearshot]

would be swarming with papa-smurfs. and we just can't handle that sort of community of short-stature, alpha-males.