leveling with BST compared to PT

[knox]

is leveling as a BST much slower then leveling in a PT? Obviously that depends on how quick you get invites, but in general. I don't have an immense amount of time to play, but i'm intrested in BST.

[nhusted]

Hmm I feel lvling bst (post 35) is faster then leveling with a party due to 2 factors:
1. No wait time for a party.
2. You can log out where you level.

Before 35 you will level much slower then a party(unless you have a duo partner, get lucky, or many other things), but that is the price of BST. Either way when you die you only have to blame yourself, your luck, or the anti-BST code in the FFXI! That's what I enjoy about being a bst.

[Starcrossed]

I get this question a lot, and I generally tell people we level about 2/3 as fast as a normal pt when we solo.. its usually about 1000 to 2500 per hour. Of course, when we duo or do a larger bst pt we keep up with and often exceed the exp most parties can crank out. (3000-6000 per hour)

Combine it with no wait times and the ability to exp for say 15 mins, log out and come back later and do it again, it is a wonderful freedom. The danger and challenges that await bst are what draw most of us to the job. Theres a certain charm in being puller, hate controller, damage dealer and healer all at once LOL. Definitely beats the monotony of only doing one of those things for many hours straight. I really enjoy being able to go anywhere and do anything without fear of every single mob in the whole area aggroing me.

Bst is also a major moneymaker job even if most people don't like to admit it, but if you are trying to level it up for getting cash, you will face a long hard road before it ever starts to pay off. BCNMs, soloing aquarius or other high level NMs ensure most bst have plenty of cash. But let's face it, bst is also a VERY expensive job. We have to fill all those roles and hence we need gear to accomplish everything. Personally, I own:

-A set of lots of mana gear (astral rings and such)
-A set of melee gear (spiked earrings, wrath tabar and such)
-A set of charisma/charm gear (for BCNM or emergencies)
-Light and Dark Staves (for charm and downtime cutting)

It gets expensive quickly! Someday I might even get a hauberk

Streak
57 bst/whm
60 thf/nin

[Fooma]

Don't forget the super secret bst trait: we can farm seals. You can get 15 seals/hour if you farmed easy prey. Average half beastman half kindred. No other class can do this. I'm currently sitting on 440 beastman and 300 kindred waiting for the next BC run

[Dexster]

I am currently a low level beastmaster. I only play it when i am extremely bored and i am just helping out someone with my second computer (its a 40 whm). But i really do enjoy playing it and i think after i get to 75 with my dark knight i might start leveling it up because it is the only job you can solo with in FFXI. Which really is a shame that only job can do it but i am glad its a job like beastmaster.