New Whm?

[Tomato_Kai]

I played this game way back in the day. 2003, to be specific. I got hardcore into it, though didn't advance as far as I like. So, I just recently picked up an Xbox 360, and have the game itself. I'm looking forward to starting up my first truely new character in a while - and I'm going to open with a WHM. There are indeed fewer better ways to make friends and meet people in this game than by keeping them alive.

I'm not lacking confidence in my ability in the game - I know how parties work, how the enemies work, how to heal and everything... but, I don't know about any major changes to the game since then. I'm 'aware' of new classes that have popped up (Blue Mage, Corsair, etc.) but as far as major mechanical changes go - I don't hear much about those. Anyone have any notations?

Also; Servers. Are there any standout servers in terms of population? I'm looking for a high-pop server, to start out with.

Finally... It's 2008. Is getting back in the game worth it? There aren't any major Console MMO's coming down the pipe that I can think of, so this is really my only option. What's the story?

[IfritnoItazura]

Things are easier for soloing and small group exp'ing now:

- Sanction (for ToAU area): Can get Auto-Refresh or Auto-Regen, and usually exp bonus
- Signet (Conquest area):
- - No TP loss while resting, better hHP.
- - When not in full party: Exp bonus
- - When facing Even Match or weaker monster: evasion and defense bonuses
- Adventuring Fellow (NPC): Can be set to tank or healer or attacker; up to Lv.65.
- Use /PUP for support job, setup Soulsoother/Stormwaker Automaton, for a little personal cure bot.
- SAM: Seigen + Third Eye for possibility of multiple anticipate/counter.
- DRK: Drain II and Dread Spikes makes solo exp quite a bit easier.

WHM specific (more or less) concerns:
- More healer capable jobs: Scholar and Dancer.
- Best general support job for WHM is now /SCH, once above Lv.20.
- Two-handed weapon have been boosted, so watch their users' HP bars.
- /NIN has become universally popular for DDs at all levels for damage mitigation; it's not unusual to see DRK30/NIN15 or MNK30/NIN15 now.
- /SAM is the new preferred support job for two-handed weapon users at higher levels. It has some damage mitigation capability with Seigan and Third Eye, with damage increasing option from Hasso and Meditate.
- 3+3 configuration with three back line jobs is increasing unusual. At merit levels, WHM will often be the only mage, and may or may not have a BRD to help with replenishing MP.
- Many people now prefer RDM/WHM for healer over WHM/anything in exp parties.
- New spell: Repose. It's a light based "Sleep II", and WHM only.

[Tomato_Kai]

Hmm, some good info there. Still, I can't imagine DD jobs still getting a party easier than a healer. Otherwise, I'd roll a MNK XD

I understand that a RDM/WHM is preferred - but, a WHM/x is still preferred over a RDM/x, and I would say that has more to do with the mana pool than anything. Not having a sub is ... annoying ><;

[TheGrandMom]

Hmm, some good info there. Still, I can't imagine DD jobs still getting a party easier than a healer. Otherwise, I'd roll a MNK XD

I understand that a RDM/WHM is preferred - but, a WHM/x is still preferred over a RDM/x, and I would say that has more to do with the mana pool than anything. Not having a sub is ... annoying ><;

Actually some DD's do find it quite a bit easier to get parties now...especially in the upper levels. I've seen several whm's seeking yet couldn't make a party cause all the dd's had parties already. It's not as rare as you think. And Rdm/whm's replace whm's for exp/merit parties quite a bit now. While most people love having a raise 2 or 3 instead of a raise 1, they'll sacrifice that instead of standing around waiting for a whm to party. When its the upper levels, they prefer a rdm/whm for main healer 90% of the time. The party moves faster and gets more exp so if by chance someone dies they don't mind taking a r1 since the exp flows so well. (Of course, the ficticious party that I am using in this example includes people who actually know what the hell they are doing. LOL )

[IfritnoItazura]

Forgot to add that Campaign Battle has greatly reduced the number of people seeking merit parties, and even cuts into the population seeking exp parties.

It's less experience/limit points, but also a lot less hassle. (No skill up with Allied Tag, but apparently it's a price many are willing to pay.)

[Tomato_Kai]

Actually some DD's do find it quite a bit easier to get parties now...especially in the upper levels. I've seen several whm's seeking yet couldn't make a party cause all the dd's had parties already. It's not as rare as you think. And Rdm/whm's replace whm's for exp/merit parties quite a bit now. While most people love having a raise 2 or 3 instead of a raise 1, they'll sacrifice that instead of standing around waiting for a whm to party. When its the upper levels, they prefer a rdm/whm for main healer 90% of the time. The party moves faster and gets more exp so if by chance someone dies they don't mind taking a r1 since the exp flows so well. (Of course, the ficticious party that I am using in this example includes people who actually know what the hell they are doing. LOL )

Again, more good info, but I think I was a little misunderstood. What I was implying isn't that a RDM/WHM isn't the preferred healer. I totally believe that they are. What I *was* implying was that a WHM without a sub would be preferred over a RDM without a sub. QED. And, of course, I'm talking about extremely low levels. But, can it be true that DD classes can get party invites nowadays?

I remember the times when my 34 DRG/THF would sit looking for invites for literally 4 housr at a time without a peep. Of course, I eventually would find parties and I did advance (substantially) further than that.. but, It's still a pain just thinking about.

[TheGrandMom]

Oh there are still times you will seek for a long time but now it's not only dd's doing it. Mages no longer have as easy of a time as it was before. It's gotten better for dd's and worse for mages. (Now bards past lvl 25 is a totally different story! lol)

[Tomato_Kai]

That saddens me, because my ultimate goal was to go with Bard : /

If they're not as wanted... I think I'm just going to cry

[Ellipses]

I think TGM meant that bards past 25 are still everyone's best friend. (Different story from mages' declining invites.)

[TheGrandMom]

Oh no, I meant that they don't have any issues with getting parties past level 25. So if thats the route you are going, then you are all set!

/em runs off to change her grandbabies diaper...no ffxi for me ; ;

[Alkisti]

That saddens me, because my ultimate goal was to go with Bard : /

If they're not as wanted... I think I'm just going to cry

From what i have heard. BRD is really fast leveling and good amount of party invites. Thats why i picked to reroll BRD.

[IfritnoItazura]

Thats why i picked to reroll BRD.

No rolling needed; just unlock Bard and change job in the mog house. (Not that you can roll a character in this game anyway.)

* * *

I had the hardest time getting invite on BRD between 25-30. After two or three nights of not getting a single invite at Lv.30, I drifted off to level something else, and haven't went back to it except one more attempt at getting a party months later--which also ended in no invite.

Sometimes, getting invite to exp party in this game is more luck than anything else. Actually, invite rate is probably inversely proportional to one's desperation; I remember a few nights I was despondent enough to put together my own party only to find multiple tanks, Bards, WHMs, all seeking along with my RDM--but no DD what-so-ever on /sea all <level range> inv.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

A few nitpicks and clarifications:

- Use /PUP for support job, setup Soulsoother/Stormwaker Automaton, for a little personal cure bot.

You have to attain level 50 PUP minimum to quest the Soulsoother (White Magic) Automation head piece).

- More healer capable jobs: Scholar and Dancer.

DNC uses TP for it magic as opposed to MP, which helps a load for mages on backline curing-wise. SCH is useful to WHM for the simple fact of the MP savings, shorter recasts and ability to boost things like Dark Magic skill to a B rating, making /SCH's Drain and Aspir more worthwhile than /BLM's to WHM.

- Best general support job for WHM is now /SCH, once above Lv.20.

Unfortunately, starting over, he'll have to wait til 30 to unlock it.

- /NIN has become universally popular for DDs at all levels for damage mitigation; it's not unusual to see DRK30/NIN15 or MNK30/NIN15 now.

This is nothing new, we call them "noobs" /NIN has become universally for merit PTs (level 75) or speedkill PTs (meaning "we're fighting weak shit with one mage"), any other time you ask someone that's not a WAR, DNC or THF to sub /NIN, a piece of thier soul dies.

- 3+3 configuration with three back line jobs is increasing unusual. At merit levels, WHM will often be the only mage, and may or may not have a BRD to help with replenishing MP.

A BRD, RDM or COR will almost always be present, most PTs refuse to leave Whitegate or Jeuno without one of the three for enhancing PT performance and refreshing.

[IfritnoItazura]

Unfortunately, starting over, he'll have to wait til 30 to unlock it.

Well, yeah. >_>; Was just telling him what's new, wasn't really thinking of making him do it.

A BRD, RDM or COR will almost always be present, most PTs refuse to leave Whitegate or Jeuno without one of the three for enhancing PT performance and refreshing.

I wouldn't know about most parties--don't merit enough to make that kind of generalization, plus my only Lv.75 job is RDM.

I do know from what the WHMs in the LS tell me, that they often get "DD x5 + WHM x1" parties. This is on Ifrit; standards may be higher/snobbier elsewhere.

[Tomato_Kai]

More amazing info~

So, yeah. After some serious advice from multiple angles, I'm thinking that going with war to start would be more beneficial for me. Warrior basically lets me get a taste of all the DD based jobs - which I've always had a thing for anyhow - and also puts me on the right path to pick up just about any one of them. Just out of curiosity, I've heard of some updates on 2H weapons... more accuracy now or some such? Does this include H2H?