What race to pick...

[midnilux]

I know for tanking Galka/Elvaan would be best, for mages Taru is best, for DD Melees Mithra, all arounder is hume...

But I want to be alot of these classes eventually and dont want seperate characters for each, so is hume my best bet? Mithra seem to be good at alot of jobs too, but I don't know...

[TokeN]

Go hume if you are more melee. They sort of edge more towards that. Mithra if ur a more not? /laugh

[midnilux]

I decided to be a Galka because I want to tank mainly.

[Elusivellama]

Haha...I thought the same way too, at first. I would only go one kind of job, and NEVER try the other side. Or so I thought. A few months down the road, I went for the magic side, and found it very rewarding.

My point is, if you pick Galka, you're pretty much stuck being a melee. You can be a DRK or PLD if you want to try a bit of magic, but your mp pool will be quite low. As a DRK, this isn't such a big deal, as long as you have enough MP to cast Stun (at level 37). But as a PLD, it's not so good, because you'll need to be casting Flash and Cures to keep the hate on you.

Real mage jobs like the major three and SMN are not impossible with Galka...just extremely tough, and not worth it unless you're bursting with gil.

Summary, Galka is a bad choice for your first race, especially if you like having a char to do it all. Also, I think Taru is just as bad a choice as Galka for your first race, because they're stuck being mages, and turning melee as a Taru is pretty tough unless, of course, you're bursting with gil.

So that leaves Elvaan, Hume, Mithra.

Elvaan is basically like a Hume that is built for melee while sacrificing mage stats - still better than Galka for magic, though. This is a good choice for a starting character, especially if you're planning to be mostly melee, but still leaving options open for magic. About the whole Elvaan DEX issue, an Elvaan has around 3 dex less than a Hume, at any level. 3 dex = 1.5 accuracy, which means, practically no difference. Pick this if you want to be a 'generalist' who is leaning towards melee jobs.

Hume is definitely the all-rounder race. All average stats, second best MP, second best INT, no real weaknesses whatsoever. I would recommend Hume as a starting race, because of the Hume's versatility. It is tied with Mithra for my favourite race.

Mithra is also an all-rounder race, surprisingly. Same MP, INT, HP as a Hume, but slightly less VIT, STR, CHR and MND (like, difference of 2 or 3 points). In return, a much higher DEX and AGI. This is the 'generalist' race leaning towards RNG, NIN, THF and damage dealer jobs like DRG, DRK.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is, going Galka is a mistake which you might find yourself paying for in later levels. So, if your char is not too high, you might consider restarting as Elvaan, Hume or Mithra.

[ZQM]

Originally posted by Elusivellama
Also, I think Taru is just as bad a choice as Galka for your first race, because they're stuck being mages, and turning melee as a Taru is pretty tough unless, of course, you're bursting with gil.

I constantly party with Tarutaru melees (see the name of the LS I'm in) and they perform just as good as any other race, and this is w/o all expensive gear. The only class that I don't think Taru can do good in is a Warrior tank.

As for Galka mages, I've only partied with one and he was rank 10 with two astral rings, so I can't exactly say much for starting Galka mages.

[Malachi_Gage]

when people say Elvaan's can't hit worth crap, they're just going off what other people have said. I have played a Hume RDM, meleeing is part of that job (melee isn't a main part of RDM, just kind of a "side option." In other words you CAN melee if you want too and youll be good at enfeebling) and I missed pretty much the exact amount that I miss as an Elvaan WAR now. Honestly, I might miss once or twice more than I did when I was a hume.


The point of my rambling above- Don't think just cause you pick Elvaan, you'll miss a whole bunch. Besides, they look really cool.


P.S. That is...if you pick Elvaan.

P.S.S. Don't think that you're elvaan still won't need DEX+ equipment, I'd suggest 2 sniper rings. :D

[Elusivellama]

I've pted with a number of Taru melee (only one Taru tank so far, and NIN besides) and they do less dmg than the usual Elvaan/Hume/Mithra damage dealers that I usually pt with. Not so much less that I think they're worthless, but noticeably less.

The biggest issue is when they pull the occasional bit of hate, and bam, their hp drops into the yellow / red so much faster than the other races. No matter how good your tank is, damage dealer melee will have to take a few hits now and then. There is never a case when the damage dealer never gets hit - does not happen. If anything, AOE attacks like goblin bombs will hit all melee regardless, since you have to be right near the monster anyway to do your job.

So that is reason enough for me to give preference to damage dealers of other races, and apparently alot of people think the same way too, judging by the number of Taru melee that I see on my server (compared to other races). Besides, if I had to pick between a Taru and an Elvaan damage dealer of same level, and around the same rank, why SHOULD I pick the Taru if the Elvaan is available? Just my opinion.

[Crug]

as far as galkan mages go i think i can step up a bit on this one.

like some one said if your just bursting with gill and can afford a lot of mp and mnd up gear (as far as whm) you can do decent with it do not expect to be a primary healer for the group but you make a good back up and if things go horibly wrong you can take a couple more hits if hate shifts to you. its not a easy road to walk for a galkan but it is posible thats why you do not see many high end galkan whm or blm. not to many have the drive to do it. and/or no one will give them a shot at a pt.

granted while i was lvling bst with whm as my sub i was geting random invites right an left go fig.

[ZQM]

Originally posted by Elusivellama
I've pted with a number of Taru melee (only one Taru tank so far, and NIN besides) and they do less dmg than the usual Elvaan/Hume/Mithra damage dealers that I usually pt with. Not so much less that I think they're worthless, but noticeably less.

There is a difference, but I wouldn't say it's noticeably less. Noticeably less would be somebody who has a weapon that's far from being capped or horrible gear.

The biggest issue is when they pull the occasional bit of hate, and bam, their hp drops into the yellow / red so much faster than the other races. No matter how good your tank is, damage dealer melee will have to take a few hits now and then. There is never a case when the damage dealer never gets hit - does not happen. If anything, AOE attacks like goblin bombs will hit all melee regardless, since you have to be right near the monster anyway to do your job.

I completely agree about their bad HP. Tanking wise though, I love Tarutaru PLDs because of their huge mana pool, NIN doesn't matter because they shouldn't be hit, and I already said WAR is bad :p. When it comes to damage dealers, I'm not going to invite somebody because of their HP, I'm going to invite them because of their damage. And as for long AOE's like Gob bombs, I hope they don't get off in my party. With so many people with either a sleep or stun ability, I really hope somebody can stop it. Those instant one's are a pain though. :mad:

Besides, if I had to pick between a Taru and an Elvaan damage dealer of same level, and around the same rank, why SHOULD I pick the Taru if the Elvaan is available? Just my opinion.

I'm in no way saying that Tarutaru's are the best at melees. Race is the absolute last thing I look at but I would invite an Elvaan over a Taru. That doesn't mean that Tarutaru's are gimped though like a DRK/BRD or something.

[Macht]

Taru Melee can do just as fine as any of the other classes. I've had a party of Taru DRK/BLM, Galka WAR/MNK, and Galka DRK/WAR. Out of the three I was surprised to see the Taru DRK being the one to easily draw hate away even though the Taru and Galka were pretty even matched in equipment and level.

I don't could just be that the monsters really hate the cute little guys. o.O

I've had Taru's go as tanks they do a good job with it, really the only thing that makes someone bad at doing something is if they are just a bad player. I've seen Galka mages and their abilities when played by a good player can make the other race mages look pathetic.

In this game really any job combination and race is viable it just depends on the players skill to make it so.

[Elusivellama]

Ok for Galka mages...not only do you need more skill to make up for being a Galka mage, but you also need better equipment just to be better than 'subpar'. I don't doubt there are level 60 - 75 Galka mages out there. But chances are, those guys are JP and have started in a melee job when they first got the game. They have had lots of time to farm up lots of gil, and have a big network of peers to rely on. To them, being a Galka mage is what keeps their interest in the game going.

The thing to keep in mind here is, just because you see a Galka mage with tons of mp and doing a great job, doesn't mean that all Galka can be like that uber Galka mage. Check out that Galka mage sometime...you will see full RSE, two Astral rings, Morion Earrings, Ocean Stone, Red Cape +1, etc etc. It is not easy being a Galka mage, much less being a good Galka mage.

Another thing to consider, when I'm looking to form a party, I never think 'oh is that Galka mage one of those uber players with uber equipment', I simply avoid the problem of getting a n00b Galka mage by NOT inviting said Galka mage (unless I have seen him at work). Unless the Galka mage is rank 8 - 10, fully levelled subjob, search comment with all appropriate info, he will get passed over for Taru, Hume/Mithra, Elvaan. There are just that many more flaming hoops for the Galka mage, and few of them make it through without getting their ugly tails burnt.

[Vertigo]

Originally posted by Macht
Taru Melee can do just as fine as any of the other classes. I've had a party of Taru DRK/BLM, Galka WAR/MNK, and Galka DRK/WAR. Out of the three I was surprised to see the Taru DRK being the one to easily draw hate away even though the Taru and Galka were pretty even matched in equipment and level.

I don't could just be that the monsters really hate the cute little guys. o.O

I've had Taru's go as tanks they do a good job with it, really the only thing that makes someone bad at doing something is if they are just a bad player. I've seen Galka mages and their abilities when played by a good player can make the other race mages look pathetic.

In this game really any job combination and race is viable it just depends on the players skill to make it so.

Anyone with a decent brain and a bit of game knowledge should be able to do well in this game. From that point on its the tiny skillwise things that make the difference, that and your race/equipment.

Just don't forget that a big part of the game is made out of numbers, stats, which are a big deal as they effect a lot of things, on a rather big scale....

[midnilux]

I am early enough to start over, but I dunno....

[Vertigo]

Originally posted by midnilux
I am early enough to start over, but I dunno....

If you want to be a Galka, be a Gala

[Elusivellama]

Ok, be a Galka, but just keep in mind what I said...Galka is good for non-spellcasting melee, gimp-ish for PLD and DRK, and real gimp for mage jobs. You want to be everything, go Elvaan, Hume or Mithra. But its your choice, if you don't want to start over as a more 'general' race, then its up to you. Maybe when you get to level 30+ you'll have a better idea of what it means to be galka.