Hello. Returning Player Seeking Advice

[Lord Loden]

Hi guys,

I'm returning to Vana'diel from a rift spanning many online games which eventually lead to boredom. I've always missed FFXI, however, I did play from launch for about a year when the economy run so badly into the dirt, Greenspan would've shut down the servers.

Elitism had befell the entire world and if not of right class with the right equipment, a team would much rather sit around for hours and eventually log off than give it a shot. I played an Elvaan Samurai/Thief (back when people thought it was crazy) but didn't have much trouble there.

Anyway, that was then and this is now. Finishing up the install now and can't wait to get back into this game. Couldn't recover my ID (been years) but I feel it's probably best to start over considering I couldn't fight my way out of a wet paper bag and I'm about as daft as they come for being gone so long.

Wasn't too surprised to see a community still alive all this time seeing that an expansion is coming out soon but quite surprised to see one as helpful. I've been scouring the boards for information so I can put a sure foot down when I begin. If you would be so kind to indulge me, I have a few questions:

I want to play an Elvaan (RDM/[something interesting] specifically) again but is the climate not so nice for new players finding groups? If this is the case. Would an Elvaan make a good BST/WHM just to get some questing done and have fun? They have a pretty good MND attribute but suffer (and most subs do) from poor MP. Would I be making a mistake?

Any server as a preference? I can use the world transfer service to move to a popular server. Usually when a game has been around a while, some of their servers eventually fall off the radar... I would very much like to avoid this situation, if it is a valid concern.

Sorry if this is a terribly long first post but wanted to introduce myself on your forums and ask a few questions since I noticed the community here is quite helpful. Don't want to make that first step a bad one and regret it later.

Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated. Until then, I shall enjoy the wealth of information on your forums.


/bow



Loden

[Lord Loden]

Wow, no responses 8(

Lots of information here tho so if the horse has already been lead to water...

Could I possibly get my hands on a linkshell? Haven't run across another thread to ask for that.

Getting back in the saddle was easy enough. This ChatPad for the 360 doesn't work well with FFXI tho. Back to USB Keyboard.

[Ellipses]

I just wanted to post so you've got a reply of some sort. I've only been back for a week or two myself, so I don't have too many answers for you. Maybe this'll mean someone else will see this and provide better answers, too.

Anyway. If you're looking for a linkshell for the server you're on now, you might try that server's forum(s). Or if you're going to transfer anyway, maybe browse around the different server forums and see if any of them stand out for some reason. There are several folks from these boards in the DiV shell on Kujata, and I'm sure you'd get a pearl there ASAP if that's where you decide to go.

My personal experience has been, thus far, in the low levels: it ain't so bad. The starter cities seem like ghost towns to me compared to how they were a little over a year ago, and the auction houses there are empty. The Dunes also hasn't been nearly as busy as I remember, but that's both blessing and curse (not a lot of overcamping, but not as many people to party with). The ability to outpost warp there at level 10 makes life ridiculously easy, though, and those early levels are easy to solo anyway. Can't speak much about life after the Dunes these days.

Good luck!

[Necropolis]

I want to play an Elvaan (RDM/[something interesting] specifically) again but is the climate not so nice for new players finding groups? If this is the case. Would an Elvaan make a good BST/WHM just to get some questing done and have fun? They have a pretty good MND attribute but suffer (and most subs do) from poor MP. Would I be making a mistake?

Elvaan preform just fine as RDM. Typical subs you'll use for EXP will be whm and blm. I'd suggest starting /whm as you'll be more of a healer starting out; but having both available would be a good idea. Later on /drk and /nin are used in situations, though typically not in EXP. Even /blu is used for some soloing instances. MP, INT deciencies, and a poor convert ratio can be remedied fairly easy. So I wouldn't let that be a major concern in choosing a race.

Any server as a preference? I can use the world transfer service to move to a popular server. Usually when a game has been around a while, some of their servers eventually fall off the radar... I would very much like to avoid this situation, if it is a valid concern.

Some argue that some servers are better than others; but the only people that could say with any degree of certainty would be those that have played on many server (i.e. not many). What can be said is that the populations, economy, and people are fairly equal across all servers. I couldn't suggest a particular server to you outside of my own. I personally play on Ifrit and enjoy it quite a bit. Kujata also has a LS started by some members of this site as well. But there is a community for you on every server, just a matter of finding it.

Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated. Until then, I shall enjoy the wealth of information on your forums.

The best suggestion I can make is to have fun. There is still a degree of elitism in the game, though not so much that it's unbearable. Sure you'll be scoffed at if you show up to a party RDM/SAM or something silly like that, but as long as you know the role you're playing and gear up accordingly you should be alright.

Feel free to ask here if you have more questions, or if you happen to land of Ifrit send me a /tell sometime. Best of luck to you.

[Lord Loden]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I'm on Kujata myself so perhaps we'll see eachother around. Haven't used it yet but just from what the NPC text I was happy with the outpost warping. Much better than a long run for nothing heh. Almost to the point where I'll be hitting the dunes myself.

Guess things should pickup a bit once I get to Jeuno.

Thank you very much for the indepth reply Necropolis. Answered every question I had and very well sir. Many thanks. Good to see the climate has changed somewhat. Hopefully I'll make the other Daring Elvaan RDMs proud.

Thanks for the replies guys. Very helpful 8)

[Murphie]

Have you already found a linkshell on Kujata? If so, great! If not, those of us in the DiV LS would be glad to have you. Just look for one of our officers in game, or post your character name and we'd be happy to keep a lookout for you.

[Lord Loden]

Thank you Murphie, I would very much like the opportunity to become a member. Getting pretty lonely out there in San d'Oria. One thing I liked about FFXI was someone would often be working on another job around your level but I've gone miles without interacting with other players.

My character name is "Loden" Elvaan RDM currently parading about the forest looking for a shrubbery to give the Knights of Ni

Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you 8)


Loden