Two questions

ZeroNite

Question one : Would you recommend this game to someone who has never bought an MMORPG before?

Question two : I forgot while writing question one

Oh well.

Pimpslayer

As a newcomer I would not reccomend it right away. It was my first. If you do choose to get it. Go solo til lvl 10. Then I would reccomend joining a Linkshel (guild). Once you join a linkshel they will help you get started and this will be better than any other game.

If you wish to join my Linkshel when you join contact Me, Pimpslayer or Ryiden(our leader). You can also visit our website for any other questions before/if you buy.

gdiclan.guildportal.com

Celebrindor

Question- are you a fan of final fantasy for consoles?

The reason I ask is because this was my first MMORPG, and honestly it will probably be the only one I'll ever play.  I enjoy it immensely, as I have all the final fantasies that have come out for SNES, PS, and PS2.  I will say this- do plenty of research online about character choice, missions, quests, equipment, and how to play your job.  Unlike console games, this game is not one where you can play it through without help from a guide.  Other people are depending on you as well, so make sure to make the most of their time! ^^  Do this and you'll quickly build up a good reputation.

Linkshells are critical.  My LS has helped me with Rank 3 (the first time I asked for help on anything), Rank 4 and Rank 5 missions, and they are getting ready for me to make level 41 so they can help me with my AF weapon quest (Fencing Degen, lv41 RDM).  A great linkshell is an incredible thing, and even in the beginning when you feel overwhelmed, just explore.  I had no clue what to do for the first 5-8 hours of gameplay time!  Don't worry, you'll learn.

If you liked FF in the past, I think this is a great first MMORPG.  If you have plenty of time (not always all at once, but are willing to really spend time to get anywhere high level in the game, I mean), its a great MMORPG.  If you want fast results, a little simpler gameplay and storyline, this is NOT the game for you.  Try WoW from what I've been told.

Pimpslayer

 I did the same thing. The first days or two I walked around endlessly trying to find the purpose of the game. It all comes in time, there are so many things to do that this game will last you for a very very long time. Longer than most MMOs.

I was amazingly hyped up about WoW. I droped FFXI when it came out but a few months later I found myself back at FF.

johnyspiper

My opinion is go check them all out be open go and look at screenshots and see what one is for you. I wouldnt stick to one game when say its ur fisrt mmorpgs go out and search hehe. My first mmorpg was eq and how I came to it is my dad actually bought the game im like thats going to be stupid. well when me and my mom started playing it was fun.. so just have an open mind when it comes ot mmorpgs.

ZeroNite

wow, thanks for all the advice.
I have been a big final fantasy fan since I bought 6 anyway.
I checked around, and this seems like the perfect one for me. It was either this or world of warcraft, but i've never really got into that series.
Thanks again

Shadrak

FFXI is not newbie friendly at all. The community as a whole are not very tolerant of newbies either at least that has been my experience on Odin.
I would love to see an end to the Multiplatform mess.
I would love to see localized serers.
MMorpgs should have challenges but communication/translation should not be one of them.
Do away with the level down. I think this is the ONLY game on the market now that still has that.."feature"
Make grouping easier. Groups should not require so rigid a preordained mix

Celebrindor

---

Originally posted by Shadrak

FFXI is not newbie friendly at all. The community as a whole are not very tolerant of newbies either at least that has been my experience on Odin.
I would love to see an end to the Multiplatform mess.
I would love to see localized serers.
MMorpgs should have challenges but communication/translation should not be one of them.
Do away with the level down. I think this is the ONLY game on the market now that still has that.."feature"
Make grouping easier. Groups should not require so rigid a preordained mix

---

Sorry to hear that's the case on Odin- I've had a very different experience on Pandemonium.  Not saying you did this at all, but the game is relatively unfriendly to newbies who spam asking for gil or help constantly, and especially of n00bs (note difference) who are not willing to take advice in the game.  There are some players who have been playing this game for years literally, so take advice when given, process it and see if it applies.

As for me and my first couple days- the first upper level player I met, a Galka named Ninz, waved to me on a choco my first day on and /tell'ed me "I'll keep my eye out for you!"  Well, he did, and he helped me get my first rank 3 mission completed as well as helped me get rank 5 (when you get an airship pass for those of you on this thread who haven't played yet).  We talk every time we're both on, and recently I was able to help him level his ranger job by "power leveling" him with my 36 RDM from 6-10. (power leveling= an upper level character curing you while you fight mobs who would normally kill you fast for high experience).

The deleveling thing stinks- no way around it- but I'd hardly call it a reason not to play the game.

And while groups may seem rigid, at least through my current level I've had all kinds of parties that have succeeded- yes, there are general "categories" of jobs needed in every party....such as a tank to take damage, damage dealers, and a healer.  But there are 3 jobs who can all tank extremely well-Warrior, Paladin, and Ninja, numerous damage dealers- Black Mage, Ranger, Monk, Thief(later one with SATA), Dark Knight, and Dragoon, and even a couple healers- of course White Mage, but even Red Mage in a tight pinch (or later on Red Mage is a great healer) or even a summoner with a white mage subjob can manage to main heal in the right setup.  I even was in a successful party of two Ninjas, a Samurai, a Ranger, and two Black Mages (I was one of the Black Mages).  True, both Black Mages had a White Mage subjob, but it worked and was a lot of fun.  There have even been people who have partied with 6 Black Mages in one party and on the right enemies done very well.  There are set rules per se, but they are not absolutes- only proven techniques that are the easiest situationally.

One final note- I love partying with Japanese players!  They've had more experience in the game than any North American or European player simply due to the fact the game was released there first, so often they are my most productive parties.  At times the translation is difficult, but the game has an "auto-translate" function that at least lets you get by, if you use it.  Not always perfect, but you learn how to adapt.

ShaystaMang

I havn't started playing yet so this is a question for the pros: Do any of you foresee any major expansions or additions to FFXI that will help it keep up with other games (such as free location choice for where your house is placed or the addition of pvp)?

Celebrindor

Just wanted to clarify my vote- Square Enix has stated there will be another "expansion"- or more accurately an update to finish the Chains of Promathia expansion that's already out.  They have not released all the content on that expansion even though it has been out for over a year.

There is currently a PvP mode in the game called ballista.  Thankfully you can only do PvP in Ballista, not any point in the game.  I fear what would the game would be like if you could be attacked from other players at any time!

Your "house" will always be in the residential distict of your country you select.  You can "rent-a-room" in any other country for free, with access to everything except your storage.  Storage is different from your "mog safe" which does travel with you country to country and is accessible in your room or a rent-a-room.  There really is no need to change this system in my opinion- you can access the residental region of all cities from any zone in that city, and with the completion of a quest in each city leave your Mog House TO any zone in the city, regardless of which one you entered.

So no, I don't envision the changes you mentioned, but updates and expansions are certainly in the works or already planned.

cerebrix

ffxi will give you exactly what it should give.  final fantasy, massivly multiplayer.

 

think about that for a moment.  think about HOW you played ff 7, HOW you played ff8.  FFXI is basically any other final fantasy game youve ever played (since it went from 2-d to 3-d anyway) except this game is online, allows you to chat with other "characters" in the final fantasy universe.  There are even little cutscenes just like the other ff games (in engine).

 

anyway, if that sounds like the kind of game you want to play then by all means this is your game.  keep in mind the one thing that most american players complain about most, its multinational, multicultural, and multiplatform prescence.  is the one thing square considers its primary focus.  Don't expect that to change anytime soon let alone ever.  square is very proud of the fact that this is the only game to ever span platforms online from console to pc and soon, another console making the consoles more than one and by more than one hardware manufacturer.  a huge historical accomplishment and a testiment to what the game actually has to offer i think.

 

You will hear things like "they dont like newbies" or "they dont like americans".  Keep in mind these comments are coming from people that have 9.99 times out of 10, have never ever been to japan (id also remind you to remember how many racists there are in america to help you take comments like that with a grain of salt but thats a topic for another discussion i guess).  Comments like that are false.  There are some very welcoming players in ffxi but they key is, you have to try to get to know them.  They can be a bit reserved at times but there is also the wild fun loving omgwtflol crowd just like in any other mmorpg.

 

is ffxi for you?  i have no idea, but if yer a fan of any of the 3d final fantasy games, i think youll like it at least for a month.