Problems getting into it again!

[Fenzark]

Hello everyone!

I find myself returning to Vana'diel again, and again .. But I currently feel like I am going nowhere. I am currently a 30BLM/15WHM LFP in Jeuno .. But no matter how long I just idle or wait, I get no invites. Creating a party is also hard due to not enough people in my level range (which is three levels either way right?). Is there anything for me to do while waiting? Should I go to Kazham? I really want to make progress as this class combo. Does anyone have any tips what I should do?

I appreciate any feedback, and thank you in advance!!

[Kittyneko]

Well, situations like you're in happen from time to time, at any level range. I definetely suggest you go to Kazham, if there's someone looking for party in Kazham, a party maker will take that person over you, as it takes a little while to get there. You also could try to make your own partys, it's not really that hard. For the rest, the best advice I can give you is to "hang in there" :p Maybe find something outside of FFXI to do while looking for party? I personally play other console games or watch TV while looking for party at your level range. Or you can just browse these forums hehe.

Ps. Since the new Wings of the Goddess expansion, you can do Campaign battles while looking for party, it's easy and gives you exp, but unfortunately that's applicable to you untill you're level 60.

[Aksannyi]

You may also want to try to learn how to solo, especially if you plan to take BLM all the way up. People just don't invite BLMs anymore except for endgame, which really sucks. I like to solo with my flag up, so that I can get xp while hopefully getting into a group, and that way I can still learn party dynamics. (Though I pretty much understand what it means to be a mage in a party at this point, BLM is still different than RDM and WHM.)

There's a really great guide on the wiki, Black Mage Solo Guide that you should check out for tips and tricks soloing BLM. I've used it, and it really is an excellent resource. It even tells you where to camp. You might even get better xp soloing than in parties. :O

All I can say is hang in there, and you will get invites, though BLM invites are notoriously slow which is why BLMs developed the sleep-nuke soloing method for getting XP. You will feel incredibly powerful the first time you solo an IT. Truly, though, your best bet for getting xp is learning to solo (and solo well!) and keep your flag up, because you never know.

[Mhurron]

You will feel incredibly powerful the first time you solo an IT.

And so very weak when the second attempt delivers a smack down

It will take a little practice to get used to it.

[Aksannyi]

And so very weak when the second attempt delivers a smack down

It will take a little practice to get used to it.

So fucking true, lol. I got so frustrated one night in Pso'Xja when the THF tonberry kept aggroing me and I couldn't reach the zone in time. I must have used up an entire Reraise Earring that night. Still, you bounce back from it.

I need to get back on BLM again soon.

[IfritnoItazura]

s there anything for me to do while waiting? Should I go to Kazham? I really want to make progress as this class combo. Does anyone have any tips what I should do?

I'd set Home Point in Kazham and seek in Jeuno, or vice versa.

Also, depending on transportation options available to you, there are many options.

For example, if I have the outpost teleport done for a particular region, and if that region is under my home nation's control, I can farm there until I get an invite. When invite comes, either Warp if HP is close to where you need to be, or use a Homing Ring, Outpost teleport back to home nation, NPC teleport to Aht Urgan, then NPC teleport to Jeuno. That way, I can get from some ridiculously far away place to Jeuno in two minutes with ease.

If you're good with transportation, you can farm, fish, craft, do quests, etc. while you seek. (If not, just get a novel and read until the computer chimes at you.)

* * *

Moogle events are good; they often give out transportation goodies like Chocobo Tickets, Homing Ring, and Nation Chocobo Stable Warp, etc.

* * *

Another alternative to consider is to unlock Scholar and level that if number of people seeking around your Black Mage's level looks poor.

SCH looks like a very strong support job for use with BLM. You can also level Red Mage, as it'll become important to Black Mage later on to have it ready.

[Losrase]

I have one more suggestion. It is nice if you have a search comment. Let the people know how much exp you have until your next level, any possible subs(used in later levels or other jobs), (in the case that IfritnoItazura had) let them know your HP is in Kazham or vice versa, and in later levels what areas/portals you have access to.

[DR2D2]

I am finding the same problem with blu(I am currently lvl 50). At your lvl I would suggest getting all the advanced jobs that you can(most can be soloed espically if you have sneak/invis available to you). Another option is to make a mini-party(a party with 4 or less members in it). If you are in a LS ask if anyone has any jobs in that lvl(sometimes they will have a job or 2 in the lvl but are not using them right now). Another good option would be to find a mob that you can get good drops and solo for exp.

[Fenzark]

I would like to thank everyone for the excellent suggestions they have provided. I haven't had the chance to try out everything yet, but it seems definatily very helpful. I'd love to try soloing, but the guides for BLM soloing I've read relies on /NIN .. and I have never leveled NIN, and cannot afford it in any way. Is it still possible to solo, in a way? Guess this is slightly off-topic, but hopefully you will all not mind .. I rather enjoy BLM, and would like to level it further. I also want to servertransfer to a busier server .. Asura or Odin? Though I am not expecting the problem to go away because of a World Transfer.

[Aksannyi]

I don't have my NIN leveled enough to solo the way they say to, but I have done fine. It is a bit harder, sure, but it's possible. At 21 WHM gets Blink which you can also use in place of Utsusemi when you're subbing whm, and that's what I used until I could use RDM sub for Gravity.

[Fenzark]

I see. Still though, is it worth it? I am thinking about just getting my BST some higher and testing it out .. Soloing might be the best option for me atm, though I think it's a little too bad .. I enjoyed playing BLM. BST might be more my style. I guess it takes much longer to level than with a party etc?

[Renadi]

Just another little suggestion, if you've got friends with similar FFXI time and aren't easily demoralized, you can try pulling off a trio. My friends and I have thus far managed to trio once to 37, and another to 44 (we're still in progress, planning for 75 this way. :3)

[Electricity Gone Human]

Just another little suggestion, if you've got friends with similar FFXI time and aren't easily demoralized, you can try pulling off a trio. My friends and I have thus far managed to trio once to 37, and another to 44 (we're still in progress, planning for 75 this way. :3)

I can confirm this because I am one of them.