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Starting the game and Beastmaster questions:
-_Lavos_-
Member Posts: 11
Hi everyone,
So I have decided to start playing FFXI. Looks like i've read a lot of great things plus square enix is well, my favorite game producer to date and I cant see this being bad.
I do have some questions about starting the game and the beastmaster quest though.
First off: I started reading on FFXI alakazham and it sounded like I couldnt start off as a bm. Is this true? It had something about a beast whistle so maybe I am reading wrong but I just wanted to clarify.
Also, if i am a Bm do groups really ever use them? I know its the only real solo class int he game, but groups are still fun, so please let me know!
Aside from this, what is another good job to start off with? Never was big into just being a solo class, and really into magic ones. Which ones get groups the easiest and are not to bad to start?
Thanks!
Comments
Actually I just saw that you cannot get it until lvl 30.
My question is then, what is the best class to start with if I want to be a beastmaster later on?
On the plus side, Beastmaster is the easiest job to unlock, with you only needing to do a little talking, and the spell Sneak. Which you would have if you raised White Mage up to 30, as it is the best sub for Beastmaster, or you could always spend a small amount of cash to buy you an item to do the same thing. The Beast Whistle is an item you get from finishing the quest, and it is a decent Neck Piece, though you can get better ones for cheap.
In a group, BST fills the role of Damage Dealer, and while they can do the job about as well as anyone else (Better if a few rare camps), they're really nothing special. And about 8 other jobs also take up this role (more if you want to count Ninja and Black Mage), each which can do more damage than a Bst, or have some other utitlity to make themselves a bit more noteworthy for exp.
So, as a Bst you will pretty much never get a party invite for a pick up group, but you can perform just dandy if you make a group with friends or something. Just don't expect to be able to put up your LFG tag and hope to get a random party, as it will probably not happen.
If you want to be a Beastmaster it is best to Blackmage to 18, get your sub job, take Whitemage to 30 (37 if you don't want to come back later to re level your sub) then begin playing as a Beast.
White Mage and Black Mage will get the most invites of the starting jobs early on, though Red Mage will become more popular than them from the mid levels on. If you want to play the most popular job at pretty much every level, Bard is a good choice. Groups love them, they're dirt cheap to play, and easy to boot. Only downside to Bard is you're one of the worst solo'ers in the game.
No, you can't start off as a BST. When you start play, the only jobs available to you are Warrior, Thief, Monk, White Mage, Black Mage and Red Mage. The other jobs are "advanced jobs"; the right to switch your character to these jobs must be earned through quests (there's one quest for each job). The NPC who issues a given advanced job flag quest will only give you the quest if your current job is at least level 30. You do get a beast whistle as an additional item bonus for completing the BST flag quest, but that's separate from being flagged for BST--you can trade or sell the whistle away without affecting your BST job.
Groups *can* use a BST, but getting in one can be difficult. There's an old rumor that having a BST with a high-level pet in your party gets you an exp penalty. That's not true, and it's never been true, but some people still believe it--partially because it was promulgated by the old Brady strategy guide (which was rife with errors). Also because BSTs mostly solo, most people aren't familiar with them in parties (I've never partied with one myself, but I'd have no objections to doing so) and thus tend to stick to what they know. Upshot: you may have difficulty getting invites to a party unless you can cultivate a circle of friends who know what you can do in a party.
Of the starting classes, in the early going, WHM is definitely the easiest to get invites with. It's a bit difficult soloing the beginning levels because of your lack of offensive power, and you don't really want to to start partying until level 11 when you get Cure II, but then you'll always be in demand. Every party needs a healer, and WHM is the best healer. As an additional bonus, given what you've said about wanting to be BST, WHM is generally the best subjob for BST, particularly when you're soloing.
Chris Mattern
triple post
No that IS NOT TRUE. Please don't spread this rumor any further. Thank you.
Chris Mattern
No, it's not even true if the pet is higher level. They changed it a few months back in an update. It affects the BST but not the rest of his party.
Chris Mattern
For a new player that wants to go BST i would lvl WHM up first. Later on (74) bst can use /nin and /war but the bread and butter sub for BST is whm.
This is just advice really, since your going to use whm as ur sub, and money is always an issue.. id unlock and lvl BRD to sub for your whm. Why? cause even if you just take it to /sub lvl you can go back and lvl it for BCNM useage (for any new player).
As a BST you will wear gear later on that even i as a 75 DRK use (haru/thich etc)... and this requires $$$ lvling sub is the best way to earn that money you will need (wish i did this instead of farming my brains out).
For the legit players (non RMT) one of the major early causes of burn out is gil.
Rites of the Four Horsemen
http://www.rotfh.com
I am not going to claim i know allot about bst, cause frankly idk what it is anymore, its just never gotten the love from SE that others have *coughSMN*cough. BST from what i see at end, has no front load damage and no real DPS (because they lack the inate tp building / accurracy that other jobs have *coughWarrior*cough).
Bottom line, when someone can pick up your A+ weapon and do twice the amount of damage you do... something is wrong... but like i said im a DRK... so im just jaded by nature.
Rites of the Four Horsemen
http://www.rotfh.com