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Interested in FFXI? FAQ's answered here! *please sticky*
Suplyndmnd
Member Posts: 553
After reading the forums, it seems the same questions are asked and answered time and time again so i'm hoping to compile (with the communities assistance) some FAQ's that people can just read without making post #1,000,000 about which server is better for new players. 
Q: I'm new to the game and am not sure what server to choose. Which one is better for new players?
A: All servers have an influx of new players on a regular basis and unlike other MMORPG's this game allows even seasoned veterans to use the same character on new jobs. So you will probably party with seasoned vets as well as new players alike.
Q: What's the best job for someone who's just starting out to get used to and will help me later in the game.
A: There is a post already stickied that can be used an excellent guide to jobs www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/147054
Also with this comes this answer Look for jobs that can be leveled and used later as subjobs. The most used subjobs are going to be Black Mage and Warrior. Black Mage can be subbed to a lot of jobs as can Warrior so it's best to generally level up on these to see how you like them.
Q: How easy is it to find a party?
A: This varies greatly from the job, level, your rank, time of day, day of the week, etc. Expect not finding a party frequently until you are better known and start getting more into it and start meeting more and more people. So, at first, it's not quick. As time goes on, you'll start to find parties easier. If after 6 months you are still having issues then you should probably re-evaluate your play style or behavior. Perhaps even choosing another job you are better with.
Q: I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to the game, should I even bother?
A: Short answer? No. This game requires time and dedication. If you aren't willing to give both, then this game isn't for you no matter how much you like the franchise.
Q: Does everyone really play together on the same servers?
A: Yes. PC, XBox, and Playstation all play on the same servers as does all areas of the globe (JP/NA/EU). This is a great feature that makes for a great time as you get to learn more about other cultures and interact and meet great new people you wouldn't have other wise.
Q: How much is the subscription fee and do I have to put in a credit card even though I get the first month free? Also, what about pre-paid subscription cards?
A: The subscription fee per month is 12.95 plus 1 dollar extra for each additional character. Yes, you also have to put in a credit card even though you get the first month free because they do automatic billing. There is also no pre-paid subscription cards right now. Any credit card will work as well as debit cards with the Visa/Mastercard/ logo's on them as well as reloadable credit cards.
Q: I have a fairly old PC. Will my PC run the game?
A: Here are the basic requirements for running the game. Pentium III 800 Mhz CPU, Windows 2000/xp, 128 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive, Direct X 8.1, Nvidia GeForce or ATI Radeon 9000 or higher, 8.5 GB free hard drive space. Internet (TCP/IP) connection required.
Q: Is there player housing in FFXI?
A: Yes, you have your moghouse that you can decorate to your hearts content and now you can allow other people to enter as well
Q: Do I need to buy the base game + all of the expansion packs separately, or is there a compilation disc? If so, what is it calloll before ed?
A: The Playstation 2 and Xbox 360 Vana'diel Collection 2008 has the base game + all the expansion packs, including the latest one. The only Vana'diel Collection available for PC though is the 2007 one, which does not include the latest expansion pack, but everything up until it.
Q: Can I run FFXI on a slim PS2?
A: No, you have to have the PS2 that has a HDD
Q: Where can I find PlayOnline's/Square Enix's contact information?
A: secure.playonline.com/supportus/index.html
Q: Is FFXI for the PC compatible with a joystick controller?
A: Yes, just have to configure it with the tool before you can use it.
Q: How long can a character stay inactive before it gets deleted automatically?
A: 12 Months. However, inactivity counts as not paying a monthly fee. If you pay each month (regardless of wether you play that month or not) it will not count as a month of inactivity, despite not having logged on.
Q: Is there a benchmarking program that can determine my PCs performance for FFXI?
A: www.playonline.com/ff11us/download/media/sysinfo01.html
Q: I am having some trouble running PlayOnline on a PC with Vista as the OS, is there a way to fix this?
A: You have to download POL from SE. www.playonline.com/homeus/headline/news01.html THIS IS THE NA VISTA CLIENT!
If anyone has more questions, post them, i'll edit and add them to it.
EVE - Sharvala
FFXI - Shazamalicious
Guild Wars - Xavier Lucifer & Charlize the Necro
"Ranged...stuck...tree...15 random words... suck... noob fanboy... I MAKE GUIDE!"
Comments
Yeah. How much is the subscription fee? What are the System Requirements? Some people don't want to go all the way out and find out they don't have the right stuff for it.
Thanks Chin-chilla, i added those 2. Cant believe I forgot the two most popular ones lol.
EVE - Sharvala
FFXI - Shazamalicious
Guild Wars - Xavier Lucifer & Charlize the Necro
"Ranged...stuck...tree...15 random words... suck... noob fanboy... I MAKE GUIDE!"
Noone else has any FAQ's that can be added?
EVE - Sharvala
FFXI - Shazamalicious
Guild Wars - Xavier Lucifer & Charlize the Necro
"Ranged...stuck...tree...15 random words... suck... noob fanboy... I MAKE GUIDE!"
Is there player housing in FFXI?
Do I need to buy the base game + all of the expansion packs separately, or is there a compilation disc? If so, what is it called?
Can I run FFXI on a slim PS2?
Where can I find PlayOnline's/Square Enix's contact information?
Is FFXI for the PC compatible with a joystick controller?
How long can a character stay inactive before it gets deleted automatically?
Is there a benchmarking program that can determine my PCs performance for FFXI?
I am having some trouble running PlayOnline on a PC with Vista as the OS, is there a way to fix this?
Just a few questions off the top of my head.
Is there player housing in FFXI?
Yes, you have your moghouse that you can decorate to your hearts content and now you can allow other people to enter as well
Do I need to buy the base game + all of the expansion packs separately, or is there a compilation disc? If so, what is it calloll before ed?
Vana'deil collection has all of the expansions. i dont think it has wings yet though (the newest one).
Can I run FFXI on a slim PS2?
No, you have to have the PS2 that has a HDD
Where can I find PlayOnline's/Square Enix's contact information?
secure.playonline.com/supportus/index.html
Is FFXI for the PC compatible with a joystick controller?
Yes, just have to configure it with the tool before you can use it.
How long can a character stay inactive before it gets deleted automatically?
3 months, after that their is "Return to Vana'deil" that runs usually yearly where any deleted character can be restored but it may be damaged (usualy some lost items/merits and rarely lost levels)
Is there a benchmarking program that can determine my PCs performance for FFXI?
www.playonline.com/ff11us/download/media/sysinfo01.html
I am having some trouble running PlayOnline on a PC with Vista as the OS, is there a way to fix this?
You have to download POL from SE. www.playonline.com/homeus/headline/news01.html THIS IS THE NA VISTA CLIENT!
That being said, here are some more that I have seen some people ask...
What is the path of the folder on my hard drive that allows me to alter the graphical resolution of the game?
Why is it that the highest my FPS ever goes is 30?
Honestly, i've never seen anyone ask these lol. The first one I dont know so if you care to answer it, that would be helpful. Secondly, outside of a lack of system resources, the second one is unknown to me. Is there a reason other than just a slow system? Is there a lock? Also, guys, if you have questions I dont have, please answer them. I don't pretend to know the answers to it all so, be helpful if you included them as well. Thanks. Also, i'll add all the other questions as well. Wanting this to be a community thing and all
.
EVE - Sharvala
FFXI - Shazamalicious
Guild Wars - Xavier Lucifer & Charlize the Necro
"Ranged...stuck...tree...15 random words... suck... noob fanboy... I MAKE GUIDE!"
Honestly, i've never seen anyone ask these lol. The first one I dont know so if you care to answer it, that would be helpful. Secondly, outside of a lack of system resources, the second one is unknown to me. Is there a reason other than just a slow system? Is there a lock? Also, guys, if you have questions I dont have, please answer them. I don't pretend to know the answers to it all so, be helpful if you included them as well. Thanks. Also, i'll add all the other questions as well. Wanting this to be a community thing and all
.
Seen a few people on this and other forums ask those questions, thought I might bring them up. For the first one, the path to alter your graphic settings is "C:Program FilesPlayOnlineSquareEnixFINAL FANTASY XIToolsUS". As for the second one, the PC users who have fraps tend to notice that their FPS caps out at 29.97 (sometimes flickering to 30 for a brief second). The reason why is because Square is gimping the PC version of FFXI to PS2 standards so that no PC user gets a better FFXI experience then what a PS2 user would get (although there were rumors of a DirectX 9 upgrade from DirectX 8 (meaning the FPS cap would be raised) at the release of the Wings expansion pack, but it never happened).