Looking for the right community...

[Dessau]

...so far, this one seems the best.

I've just started playing and know no one else who plays this game. I've tried to make the most of the resources made available through all the hard work of players who have come and gone before me, such as wikis and stickies on a number of sites. Still, I have some unanswered questions.

After trying out several races and jobs, I've settled on Warrior [currently only Level 11] and was planning to go DRG/WAR later on. I'm trying to gauge whether it will be a waste for me to continue, as from what I have read, soloing is not really feasible in FFXI unless you over-level and have a good amount of cash for primo gear.

The alternative as I see it is to seek out an organization that provides guidance in learning the nuances of FFXI's many facets, as my knowledge of this game is extremely limited and I have no one to question when I want to learn more.

If anyone here has any suggestions, advice, criticism, or questions, please feel free to present them here.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Looking for the right community...

...so far, this one seems the best.

Well it pretty much is.

You can solo pretty well at early levels regardless of what job you're on. I've taken a number of jobs from 1 to 10 with little more than some pants and a stick. I don't think there's ever a point where you stop being able to solo but it does start to slow down after a point. Word on the street is that a Dragoon that uses a Mage type subjob can solo pretty darn well though.

You show a lot of promise in that you're seeking advice this early and doing some research. I think you'll do fine for yourself.

The best advice I can offer is to get into some parties, mix it up with other folks and find yourself a nice Linkshell to settle down in.

So yeah, in the meantime feel free to question away. I'd be glad to share whatever knowledge I can.

[Dessau]

Re: Looking for the right community...

Thanks for the response.

Your weblog looks like it will have some useful info as well, don't mind if I bookmark it. Too bad you can't name your house Moogle 'Short Round'.

As for the linkshell thing... I wouldn't know how to start. I guess I just flag myself as wanting to join a party and wait for a tell? If we get along, someone may hand me a pearl in the future, or something like that.

Well, until I meet someone who needs a lowbie DD with only a simple grasp of the game, I'd better keep practicing.

Thanks again.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Looking for the right community...

As for the linkshell thing... I wouldn't know how to start. I guess I just flag myself as wanting to join a party and wait for a tell? If we get along, someone may hand me a pearl in the future, or something like that.

That's more or less how I've found it to work.

Don't worry about having to wait up either. If you're already a level 11 Warrior you can probably join a low level party now. Try making your way to Valkurm Dunes and put your 'looking for party' flag up. Chances are there's going to be a few folks hanging out there leveling who wouldn't mind having you along to tank for them.

The Dunes can be a rough place, but I still think it's one of the best educations a new player can get.

[Truece]

Re: Looking for the right community...

with little more than some pants* and a stick

*Pants optional

[Laynton]

Re: Looking for the right community...

Not sure if i understood you completely. Were you wanting to play solo or just thats all you are doing atm?

What server are you on? Theres proabaly a high chance that theres someone on here thats on the same server and could give you some in-game help.

[Dessau]

Re: Looking for the right community...

If you're already a level 11 Warrior you can probably join a low level party now. Try making your way to Valkurm Dunes and put your 'looking for party' flag up. Chances are there's going to be a few folks hanging out there leveling who wouldn't mind having you along to tank for them.

.
I'm almost done with my second Gustaberg FoV Manual. I was thinking of going to Konschtat or maybe getting my Bastok Rank up to 2. Would you say that Dunes would be the better choice ATM?

Not sure if i understood you completely. Were you wanting to play solo or just thats all you are doing atm?

What server are you on? Theres proabaly a high chance that theres someone on here thats on the same server and could give you some in-game help.

.
Sorry, I could have been more clear with that. I'm currently soloing since I don't know any FFXI players, but I'm not opposed to group play. I guess I just expect to solo. I tried to pick a more active World based on recent stats and ended up going with Cerberus, but I'm not sure about the population breakdown [i.e. friendly or not, Job popularity, EU/NA/JP, etc.]

*Pants optional

.
Sounds good.

Thanks again, all.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Looking for the right community...

You'll have to pass through the highlands to get to the Dunes, so you can easily hang out there and work on hunting down Fetich items for the rank mission and level solo while you wait on a party invite. It's the best of all worlds.

Bonus points for picking the correct nation by the way.

[Laynton]

Re: Looking for the right community...

Im not on cerb and i honestly dont know if its a good or bad server, but youll find good and bad players on any server so any server is good as any other i guess. ive only been on caitsith and sylph(current) and both i enjoyed.

cid was saying that you should head to the Dunes to find a party not to solo. (clarifing if you misunderstood) imo you should stick to kon. highlands if your soloing. Btwn FoV and the general range of the mobs there you can easilt solo to 15ish in no time and that will make the dune a less of a headache.

A couple suggestion: The way my brother levels his lower level jobs is by get 3-4 DD and a PL (power leveler if ya didnt know) and just run around a zone and trash everything that is tough or very tough. way faster exp than any party at lower levels. Hard part would be finding a DD with a PL even though a PL is more common than it use to be.

If your going to solo using FoV try to focus on chapters that let you fight easy prey and decent challenge mobs. you can kill faster and have less down time than you would fight even-matches. ya smaller exp/kill but youll get better exp/hr. i can get easily 5-6k/hr doing that (with exp ring of course). oh and dont forget to get the regen from FoV it dramaticly cuts down your downtime.

just my way of doing things you can do what ever you find most comfortable to your style of play.

[Dessau]

Gear Drought?

Hopefully, continuing to use this thread is okay.

I've managed to solo to 17 and hit Bastok Rank 2, but I haven't met any other players yet. I had a couple of party invites during my first trip to Konschtat, but I didn't have the time to dedicate at that moment and decided to decline. Despite my undeserved feeling of accomplishment, I seem to have hit a wall in terms of gear: none of the armor or weapons available to me at this level or coming levels are to be found at AH. Most seem to have had last sale somewhere between 1-5 weeks ago, which feels like a long interval to wait to update my equipment.

Alternately, I wondered if this would be a good time to start crafting [so I could just make my own armor], but from what I have read it is expensive and requires time spent farming scattered mobs or additional investment in AH material stacks.

I guess what I'm asking is: what is the best way for someone in my position to update my equipment? Am I just using the wrong AH [need to go to Jeuno, for example]? Is crafting the best way to go at this level?

[Laynton]

Re: Looking for the right community...

Yes, Jeuno is were you want to go to get your new upgrades.

You can also check people bazaars in Bastok, they usually have pretty decent gear at cheap prices. Double check prices at FFXIAH.com just to be safe and you dont get ripped off. Might have to do a bit of searching the area and maybe a little /shouting if you know exactly what you want.

If you've soloed to 17 id advise go ahead and get 18 and try to get your sub job quest items and level your sub job before you make the treck to jeuno. (good job aat gettn 17 btw)

And crafting is expensive...especially to someone who new and has very little source of in-game gil. You can of course farm every single piece of materials required for synthing but that takes a lot of time and isnt worth it to make low level armor. Materials are usually worth more as raw materials than the crafted item you make with them. Fishing is a pretty cheap craft that can make you some serious gil once you get it higher levels. Even at low levels its a good source of income and i highly recommend it.

If you really want to go to jeuno and get new gear by all means go for it. Just becareful that there are a LOT of mobs otw that will agro you and kill you. Grab a couple silent oils and prism powders if you are.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Looking for the right community...

Crafting your own armor is indeed a pipe dream. I can't really recommend crafting at this stage of the game, as it has a gargantuan start up cost and I still haven't seen much in the way of returns on my investment 30 odd levels of crafting later(Alchemy in case you were wondering). For straight up gil-making though, I'd recommend Zegham Hill in North Gustaberg. Just make the rounds there endlessly killing bees.

Depending on how far behind you are on gear you might be able to just get away with it until you can make your way to Jeuno. Unlike Laynton I don't actually think you need oils and powders. Back when I started my friend and I got to about level 20 and made our way there before we even knew about oils and powders. It was a very educational adventure, but in the end I learned how to dodge aggro and made it there. I'd honestly suggest getting to 20 first, just so you can also pick up a chocobo license when you cruise into Jeuno. It'll make everything so much easier once you can choco everywhere.

I wouldn't stress over unlocking subjob capabilities immediately after you hit 18. Just keep leveling towards 20 while hanging out near Valkurm Dunes and someone will eventually notice and offer to help you(and probably give you a linkshell too). Alternatively you could just shout for help. Go with whatever floats your boat.

So yeah, your goal should be to get a chocobo license because that will fix most of your problems by giving you easy access to the rest of the world.

[Dessau]

Good to know.

Thanks again for humoring my inquiry.

I guess I will follow a blend of your suggestions and put upgrading on the back burner [currently, I'm using a Greataxe and full set of Scale Mail] and instead focus on leveling for the trek to Jeuno. I didn't really consider spending time leveling as a Monk, but if it makes me a better Warrior [until I can make the transition to Dragoon much later], then it sounds like a good idea. Is that flawed thinking?

I'm actually kind of psyched to get hands-on experience with party tactics. Guess I better practice my macro book swapping technique in advance...

Chocobo riding sounds like fun, too.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Looking for the right community...

Yeah, you'll want to take up Monk as a subjob once you unlock it. It makes for a pretty snazzy sub as a Warrior, giving you access to fun things like Counter. Nothing like completely nullifying an enemy attack and then swatting it in the head with gigantic axe.

One thing I totally forgot to mention is that there are pieces of armor you can buy from the gate guards who give you Signet using Conquest Points. I think the mittens are the only thing that'd be an improvement over your scale mail set though

Good luck man, and keep us posted.

[Laynton]

Re: Looking for the right community...

Unlike Laynton I don't actually think you need oils and powders.

This is true...you dont need them but the can come in handy and make the trip a little easier. You dont need a whole stack of each either maybe 3 of each will get you through to jeuno and i agree 20 would be a better time to travel to jeuno than 18.

Personally I wouldnt take MNK past 18 at the most. That will get you to 37 on WAR with out having to go back and re-level it for post 30. Yes you can get drg at 30 and start leveling it but youll eventually have to go back and level war again if you stop at 30. I personally would level WAR to 37 first then you can focus completely on DRG and not have to worry about leveling WAR again. Ya you'll need to level nin, sam, and rdm or whm eventually but dont concern yourself with that now.
Anyways thats how id do it but if your just to stocked about DRG then by all means go level DRG right when you hit 30.