Thinking of Returning need feedback

[Louie421]

Hey all, I'm new to the forum and I have a question.

I started playing FFXI the year it was released. I played it for 3 months and ended up dropping it due to time issues. I didn't play long enough to enjoy any of the expandtions except the one that was originally released.

From there I went to WoW for about 6 months and EvE Online for about the same. I'm thinking of coming back to FFXI now. I had a few questions.

Has the leveling improved? Meaning do you still have to level up the job and sub job separately ? Have they made leveling more enjoyable?

Just overall do you think it's worth it?

I am an avid FF fan, I have all the other ones from 6-12.

Thanks for your input guys!

~Louie

[Ellipses]

Re: Thinking of Returning need feedback

Has the leveling improved? Meaning do you still have to level up the job and sub job separately ? Have they made leveling more enjoyable?
Just overall do you think it's worth it?

You do still have to level main and sub jobs separately, and you always will, as that's an integral part of the game's design.

Leveling has gotten somewhat easier. They've decreased the amount of XP it takes to get to 75, made a wider range of mobs give XP, introduced items that give you bonus XP, introduced XP bonuses for smaller parties, given Signet buffs that help a bit, and so on. Plus the expansions mean more options for XP.

In general, though, it's still more difficult than it is in other MMOs, and it's still a matter of grinding XP in parties. They did not, and are not going to, turn FFXI into WoW.

Obviously, most people posting on this forum think it's worth it, or we wouldn't be playing. But what determines a game's worth varies from person to person, so any kind of blanket statement is hard to make. Other than the XP system, did you have specific questions about things you especially liked or disliked?

[Louie421]

Re: Thinking of Returning need feedback

Have they made the grinding any better? I mean I know it has to be done but it seemed really hard to get around in 11, and you were really limited on where you could go at low levels and just saw the same stuff.

Also any improvements to the travel times? That's the one thing I liked about WoW is traveling was a hell of a lot easier.

~Louie

[Ellipses]

Re: Thinking of Returning need feedback

It remains to be seen if the latest expansion will make any difference in lower level XP areas, but for the most part life before level 30 hasn't changed much.

There have been slight travel improvements. The big one is that they've reduced the requirements for Outpost Teleportation. Not sure if you're familiar with that, but you can always wiki it. For example, once you've done the supply run, you can now OP warp to the Dunes and back at level 10. Also, once you've done enough quests and done a lot of legwork for it, the capital city in the ToAU expansion allows teleporting to any of the four main cities.

The only other major transportation changes so far have been the addition of a few movement speed+ items, but those won't be available to you very soon. And the ability to raise your own chocobo and call it in places you could normally ride a chocobo. That's another quest, and takes a long time to complete, but it's there.

[ioshua]

Re: Thinking of Returning need feedback

I played and quit around the same time you did. I also ran the EVE and WoW tracks and ended up back here around the end of this summer. Leveling is much, much more friendly. I think the changes have been more of an appeal to people with limited time to play and they works out well. Lots of class changes also seem to help with the problems of class A or B not getting parties. The system is not perfect but should be far better than you remember. They also added npc adventuring bots you can summon to help flush out when you're soloing or in a group that isn't easy to self sustain. They won't shift your soloing into high IT++ gear but they will help soften the pain. They're quest so not something you do for your first job but they'll help on future jobs. IIRC the quest is soloable by anybody at 40, much earlier for some job/sub combinations.

Also, the economy has been unhosed by comparison. Looking at prices from then to now and most everything has dropped by 3 to 10 times in price. Also, many of the super popular farmed items were changed to R/EX.

Travel times aren't better that I can tell, however. Chocobo prices are much better. Jeuno was spiking from 1500-3000 when I quit before and, barring the post-expansion traffic, I hadn't seen it over 300 since I've been back. Whms also aren't asking 10k for any port either. Travel isn't easier on your watch but it is easier on your wallet.

[Louie421]

Re: Thinking of Returning need feedback

Ya it sounds good, which is bad for me as I have finals and choosing between the two is never a good thing .

That sounds good ioshua, the prices were insane when I left. I just got a choocobo when I quit, so I know the giant pain it was to get it.

Thanks also Ellipses great input.

Any server suggestions?

~Louie
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Also any suggestions on a starting class that isn't a pain to level up to start with? I'll have about a 2 week vacation to get my self started.

Thanks,
~Louie