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Why you should buy XI
Kingleopold
Member Posts: 26
I've seen plenty of people asking if they should buy XI, but I don't think the following reasons have been covered as much as they deserve to be.
1. The story is very strong. In most MMOs, you get a paragraph "story" to go with a task. If you get two paragraphs or a bit of history, you can count yourself lucky. In FFXI it's a little bit different. For example, note the opening cutscene for the first mission of Chains of Promathia, an expantion. It can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdR52RjaxVo&search=Promathia. Spoiler free. If you'd prefer more convincing, a partial story compilation (first 31 chapters) can be found at http://www.shadow-ffxi.com/HistoryofVanadiel/.
2. Jobs are in-depth and thought provoking. With a wide degree of equipment, a player can experiment with many options and balence many priorities when building their character. In later levels, there is rarely a single peice of armor that dwarfs the rest. For nearly every job, strategies are dynamic, varying with the party build and the opponent type.
3. Armor in this game is complex. While City of Heros and other MMORPGs allow much more custimization for individual peices of armor, Final Fantasy XI instead focused on designing diverse suits of armor. The end result is the armor very good. There's a lot of choices, especially at the endgame.
4. The community is strong. One big advantage of having a single character able to switch between all jobs is that you keep the same login-name. People are more thoughtful when they know you'll see them again next week. The playonline utility, intended to become the eventual hub of all Square-Enix online games, has a lot more infrastructure then the game needs right now. Like the controls, it is confusing at first, but shows its strength over time.
5. The zones are complex, and most are unique. You can easiliy spent several hours in each, and still recognise a fraction of their content. Questers will look at an area much differnetly then someone searching for Experience Points or crafters looking for items. You'll appreciate things differently as a Beastmaster (the soloing job) then you will in a more party-oriented position. There are always quiet nooks and landmarks if you keep your eyes open.
Comments
try to check gamersloot.net for games, be sure you know what you want so
you can have fun playing..
Many thanks!!
Now, I know I need to buy FF!
There are many online games, but a game is not only graphics!! ALL the game is important! And, FF has, like you said, all that
I am the type of player where I like to do everything and anything from time to time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor - pre-WW2 genocide.
Which FF Character Are You?
I am the type of player where I like to do everything and anything from time to time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor - pre-WW2 genocide.
Which FF Character Are You?
Now I'm not trying to tell anyone not to buy FFXI but to really know if you want the game you should know of the pros and cons. In my experience I have found that waiting for groups, as people before me have said, is very dull and uneventful, unless of course you find something to do while waiting.. like crafting or something. Crafting though, I also found long and tedious, and this is coming from a long time EQ2 player... if anyone knows what the crafting was like there you'll understand where I'm coming from. Also, transportation in FFXI is very long, I thought. I would rather be playing than traveling to my next destination..
I do agree with the original poster, don't get me wrong, I'm just letting everyone know of the things that i didn't like about FFXI. Other than those things, this game is great.
Have fun!
crafting is part of killing i find, get a signet cast on you then kill and then you get crystals to craft with, if you get a fire crystal then you know you can make money, stacks of 12 are sold for about 3k to 5k on average
Which FF Character Are You?
crafting is part of killing i find, get a signet cast on you then kill and then you get crystals to craft with, if you get a fire crystal then you know you can make money, stacks of 12 are sold for about 3k to 5k on average
I know it isn't perfect, it was just my opinion. I actually still play the game even if I don't like to wait for air ships or 15 minute travel time even on a chocobo, etc. I know that I like to see both pros and cons when I'm picking a game, so I decided to list the things that I personally think are cons.
crafting is part of killing i find, get a signet cast on you then kill and then you get crystals to craft with, if you get a fire crystal then you know you can make money, stacks of 12 are sold for about 3k to 5k on average
I know it isn't perfect, it was just my opinion. I actually still play the game even if I don't like to wait for air ships or 15 minute travel time even on a chocobo, etc. I know that I like to see both pros and cons when I'm picking a game, so I decided to list the things that I personally think are cons.
i do apologise i must have typed it like i disagreed with your opinion, i was trying to imply that not everything that is a con can be terrible. i am sorry about that. i agree they are cons and i hope that square enix fix them but square enix have announced they are working on a new expansion with new graphics (if i find the link i will post it) so i am happy to put up with the cons for this new graphics.
Which FF Character Are You?
There are a lot of things about FFXI the younger typical MMO player will NOT like:
1. You will NOT be able to kill people and run around with their ears on your neck or in a pouch. You will not get their Ebow after you beat them (2nd best bow in the game). When they die, they keep their own stuff; you get nothing from thier inventory. No one will know you killed whoever, and nothing will have your name listed as the best PvP of all time on FFXI. Killing real people will NOT get you exp towards your character cap, so if you want to level from 40-75 just killing real people, its not feasible. (unless their has been a change in that)
2. If you are a rude, ignorant, immature or otherwise uncivilized person, you will get blacklists and you will be one level above Gilseller status. (Gilsellers are mostly Chinese players who monopolize any given Notorius Monster, get the items, and sell them for gil, then sell the gil for REAL money thru sites). They are the most hated thru FFXI servers. They are pretty much known by most GMs who they are, but FFXI staff rarely put an effort forth to stop them. Mostly, it goes like this: Gilseller uses a bot for awhile, beating reg players to every mob. Reg players get tired of complaining to GMs and such about the cheating. Some reg players give up and buy gil to get the item they cant compete with. Some others d/l the cheat to compete with the sellers. FFXI only does "fix" after the reg players join in and start screwing the economy over. They will tolerate a "little" cheating by some, but not a lot by many. Once you are blisted, you will get parties here/there but most ppl will avoid you, or quit if you join their group.
3. Huge, HUGE time invested. As was said earlier, this isnt WoW, or GWars where you can solo half the stuff. You will need help unless you pick one job: Beastmaster. That is the only job that can successfully solo to 75 in the least amount of time. I was a 75 BST, along with 75 Ranger, 75 Blackmage, and 75 Redmage. Bst was my favorite, because I could log on, get some exp and log off. No waiting, no dealing with children, no sharing gil or drops from mobs. Solo BST can thrive and used to be the strongest in game character ( one BST could wipe out a whole party with MPK before an update) But, BST is kind of a hated job because you use mobs to kill other mobs, and most always are next/near some party who is killing the same thing. where they get 100 or so a person, you get 300. just takes a little longer. If you die, dont plan on that party raising (rez) you, because you are A) taking mobs away from them,
taking their healers aways from them to raise you. Doesnt matter now, just use a Reraise item and you can stay there. Any other job would be hard pressed to solo that far that fast. Next highest strongest solo job is Summoner, but because it uses Magic, it cant sustain a real solo rate. Redmage can solo, but it will take a Redmage forever to kill one thing, so not worth it.
4. Modesty is the best policy. No one cares how good you are. No one cares how much stuff you have. No one cares what your name is or how loud you shout out nonsense. As a matter of fact, the BEST players are the ones who have all the stuff but say nothing. They just go about their business killing things you wish you could kill. If you are the "look at me" type, you will absolutely hate this game. If you name yourself something like "Destroyerman" or "Yourbabysfather" or something nutty, you will mostly be shunned. I hate to say it, and it is judging a book by its cover, but no one wants to go face a IT mob (hardest type) with a guy named "Iwillkikuass". That simply will not fly. So, if you arent the humble type, you shouldnt play this game, braggards are pretty much kicked off the island. While Leroy Jenkins was funny as hell, you cant do that kind of stuff of FFXI. You will never get another invite until you hook up with people who think like you, which are few and far between on that game.
5. Sharing/self sacrifice. You will be expected, depending on your job, to die for the group at times. And when you do, do not cry and whine about it. If your group gets two mobs attacking it at the same time, and its sure everyone will die, to sacrifice yourself so others can leave is the most noble thing you can do. You WILL get a super rep from acts like that and that is how you build your name. You will become known and be invited to the best Linkshells. Likewise, if those mobs are attacking and you run away, cowardice is rewarded also. You will be shunned and get a bad name. Since FFXI is about a community (you will come to know quite a few ppl there thru reputation) you will have to leave that server at some point or join a outcast group (if theyll have you) like Gilsellers. Unless you speak Chinese, good luck.
6. Did I mention the exp grind? LOL^^ at 75, you can earn merits which will make your character even stronger.. (More STR, INT, Dexeterity etc) or you can, with the last update in TaU, earn stronger spells and skills. If you want to learn, say FlareII as a BLackmage you must be a 75 BLM first. Then, you must go out and earn 30k MORE exp to get that spell. Yes, I said that right. MORE Grinding. And if you want that spell to be more effective, you need to raise your Lightning damage or INT. Lightning up will cost you another 30k for the first point, then 30k more for another, and another etc. To do INT, you need 30k for the first point, then 60K for the next one, then 60k... you get the point. You are gonna be exping your arse off. I will say this, most true dedicated FFXI ppl do not mind the grind for exp, since its what you are used to after several years. I did not think the new spells were fair, in my opinion, thats why I recently quit. To make me go exp after doing 4 75 jobs just to get the top tier spells was uncalled for. I thought they should have made the spells rare/ex, which means only you can get it, and once you do, you cant sell it to anyone after that. It would not have made gilsellers rich, nor tipped the game unfairly. But meh, maybe after 3.5 yrs it was time to go anyways.
Overall, FFXI is worth it. The graphics are a bit dated, but only compared to other games newer ones. GWars is a much better graphically represented world, but the overall story/gameplay just does not hold up to FFXI. Same for Wow, although to me WoW looks like bad Saturday morning cartoons to me; I still dunno why ppl say those graphics are good. Too blocky and sharp, and looks like a box of crayons exploded. But I can understand the younger trend towards that game, its more like McDonalds.. quick, disposable, fast food. FFXI is more like a nine course meal or something.. you have to sit down and eat the whole thing to appreciate it.
What about community? is it english speaking or some other language speaking?
I am the type of player where I like to do everything and anything from time to time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor - pre-WW2 genocide.
The language barrier IS present but by no means an unbreakable one. I know about 3 japanese phrases TOTAL and I have partied often with all Japanese or mostly Japanese parties. The translator is one of the most ingenious things I've seen in online video games and I have to say Japanese players are usually VERY nice, patient, and ... (don't kill me) generally better players ^^;;...
This has been mentioned earlier, your reputation is very important in this game. FFXI community does not tolerate emo's and drama whores. If you act like an idiot and refuse to be an agreeable and understanding person, you WILL be shunned and ostracized from the general community. FFXI's fighting system is highly specified, each player with his or her individual roles that also closely interact with that of others, so when partying it's very, very, easy to tell if a player is trying, or sucks, or is very good. People will forgive newbies for simple mistakes but if you keep making errors that are generally and widely considered as idiotic (e.g. have an underleveled subjob, have very bad equipments, not paying attention to hate/other players, etc) then you will have a hard time finding friends.
Although it seems like a trial to new players, once you understand and follow the basic rules of the game and be a generally nice person, you will have a VERY long friendlist and you will be pleasantly surprised on how many people are willing to help you out with quests and stuff.
2-3 hours isnt bad Jimmyman, but keep in mind, depending on job you pick, youll be able to get a party right away or youll spend 2hrs waiting for group.
Example: If you pick a Whitemage which is the main healer type, youll get a group probably even if you dont put seek up. People will scan Whitemage 40-45 or w/e and see your name. If it says you arent in a party, you will get a invite. 75-80% of Whitemages go /anon (anonymous) simply because everyone and their brother are starting a party so you need a healer. WHM is the best at it. Summoners who wish to main heal also have no problem looking for a group. RDM with combinations (bard, corsair) can get groups also, but theyd need certain subjobs to do it. (a RDM/NIN is not going to get an invite as a main healer, unless.. well ppl are really really really desparate). Conversely, if you are a Dragoon, you will have the WORST time getting a party. less than 20% of normal exp parties want a Dragoon. They arent weak, its just that if you have a choice, youll take a warrior/ninja or Rng/nin or Monk/war or THF.. anything but a dragoon. If you make friends with a WHM he can demand you join the group as a condition of him main healing, which some ppl do.
Ninja has no problem with a group as a tank, and Padadin normally. These are the tanks, so they are needed. Ppl will pick NIN 80% of the time, unless you are fighting a dragon or something like that. Ninjas are made of paper, but they can negate most damage. Also, time of day you log on has more to do with it than anything. If you log on for play around 12pm est on a weekday as a PLD, youll get a group. Asian players from overseas are going to sleep or actually have already been slobbering on their keyboards so they arent accepting invites. College students, ppl playing hooky from work are looking to get exp right away, and they will take the first full group without being picky, and stay out there for several hours. If you log on in the PM, lfg, much more ppl so your job will demand your picking order.
One thing you have to realize, certain places also depend on how much youll exp on any given day. say you log on at 3pm est. It takes you 30 mins-45 mins to form your party, have them get food, gear etc. then you go out. Takes them another 15 mins or so to get to the camp (someone is ALWAYS slow). now you are down anywhere from 45 mins- 1 hour already with no exp. If its a high aggro area, someone is gonna die on the way (melees never bring sneak oil/inv powder, so you have to buff them or they die), so add another 10 mins fighting, healing the dead guy. Then you get to camp, someone has to go pee or eat, or mom called and said take out the trash or w/e. Now, you are down almost 1.5 hrs or so, no exp. Then you kill something for 1k exp and someone has "connection lost", so you wait another 10 mins till they come back. Or someone has a linkshell event they forgot to tell the group about. (really, they only needed 1k to level, so they get that to put on new gear and leave). Party breaks cause everyone is tired of this: your day: 2hrs= 1k exp. When you need 40k to level, well, you get the idea. And if you died somehow along the way, you made 500 exp lol.
I used to get parties when I first started playing for hours. Im talking, wed go to a spot where no one was, start fighting and if no one left, or few breaks, wed stay there for 10 hrs. Straight killing the same things over/over/over. I once had a party like that for 11 hours or so ( day off), left to go eat, sleep, (shower..wooo!) woke up, came back on looking for group. Got invited to the same spot I was in when I left, and some of the same guys who had took my place, I just retook their place. LOL!
Thanks again and good luck in your journeys!
I am the type of player where I like to do everything and anything from time to time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor - pre-WW2 genocide.
Those are some good reasons why people should buy FFXI!
That is why I bought it in the first place a couple years ago, and then restarted an account 6 months ago. Hopefully this post will help bring some new players to the game
.
The game ought to be called Final Wait. And when you're not waiting you're proving to the game that you have the patience to kill 50 million monsters even though you've sufficiently proven you can kill 50 just fine. I mean, seriously... The most convincing argument I have ever heard for a grind is so players can learn how to play their class and keep the "noobs" from the higher levels. But that only justifies killing maybe 500 or so mobs, not having to kill 50 million.
Leveling doesn't just give you a new spell, job trait, or job ability It provides:
1. Safe access to new areas.
2. An edge in Ballista, Brenner, Burning Circle Notorious Monster battles, Assult, Expiditionary Force, Besieged, and Garrison.
3. Ability to complete the six mission Arcs (Bastok, Sandoria, Windurst, Rise of the Zilerat, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urgan).
4. Access to Quests and Money.
5. Access to new armor (there are some really cool armors later on ^^)
6. Easier Access to Crafting Materials.
"Yo! Go kill 30 rabbits and come back here!"
next quest
"Hey good job on those rabbits! Now kill 30 deer!"
See? It's the same thing except WoW tells you what you have to kill, FFXI doesn't.
What Ever You Do
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAmbryZealot/
To start with, let me give you this link, which eventually answers your question.
http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/guide/development/census/06/index.html
Basically, the six starting jobs are more commonly found then the rest, and Elvaan women are rare. A note about class combinations for a bit; Final Fantasy allows you to pick a Subjob, which you level independantly and grow to become half your main job's level. Subjobs enhance the abilities, spells, and traits of your main jobs. They won't "round out" your character, or fill in your weaknesses. No one job is great at everything, but all jobs can be great at something. For better or for worse, some jobs afford more flexibility in subjobs then others. Useful subjobs have been discussed for years at the Job boards at http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/ so start your research there.
As per which of the jobs are easier to play, I'd wager that Monk, Black Mage, and Thief are easier then White Mage, Red Mage, and Warrior. Hope this helps.