New/Returning Player Guide (Lv30-70) for FFXI in 2012

[Ryii]

Here is the link to the Lv1-30 Guide: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...r-FFXI-in-2012

Yay! You're Level 30 now!

Level 30 is always a great feeling in FFXI. It opens so many doors for you to do, and since you've been following my advice, your character is geared and skilled and ready to go!

Now, I should mention that by this time you should have a linkshell. Period. It doesn't have to be a crazy HNM, ENM, Endgame, Aby extravaganza linkshell. It can just be a social linkshell but you NEED to have one. This game is an online game and part of it is interacting with people. Once you get farther in the game it's good to have friends. Hopefully you've met friends along the road from 1-30 but the mindless grind of Gusgen Mines can often lead people to blindly level and not interact. I'm a huge supporter of friendships in FFXI. I have friends that I care so deeply about over the past 9 years and I've never met them! That's the magic of this game. So in any case, get a linkshell. If you're on Leviathan and want one, you can always find me and ask.

Moving on. You're 30 and now you can access Extra Jobs. These jobs include: Ninja, Samurai, Paladin, Dragoon, Bard, Dark Knight, Corsair, Dancer, Puppetmaster, Blue Mage, Summoner, Scholar, etc. There are many to choose from. There are some extra jobs offered by the FFXI Core game but most of them come from expansions such as Wings of the Goddess, Rise of the Zilart, and Treasure of Aht Urhgan.

I'd take some time researching what you think you might like to play and spend a few days unlocking jobs. Some are easier than others but almost all of them require a form of Sneak or Invisible. Especially the ToAU and WotG ones. I just unlocked all of them just because. I like to randomly level an obscure job I really have no interest in just for fun and I might get it to like 40 or something. It's always nice to have variety.

Now, once you unlock your new job you get to do the whole 1-30 again. But this time it's much faster since you know what you're doing! Right?!

Yay! You're Level 30 now!

Welcome back. It's at Lv 30 that a few things should happen to help you out in the future.

1. Start the Abyssea storyline. There are 3 quests you can do starting at Lv 30 that will unlock Abyssea but will also begin a collection of stones that are used to keep you inside Abyssea areas. You get a new stone every 24 hours. So even if you aren't playing in Abyssea areas (because it's not real FFXI), until end game, you will have a HUGE amout of stones built up and you won't need to worry about running out.

2. If you haven't already, get yourself to Rank 3/4 in your Nation. Rank 4 is pretty easy to solo and if you are having trouble you can ask for some help and you should be able to find it. This is when having a linkshell is great. You might even be able to get Rank 5 which is a LOT more time consuming and dangerous at Lv 30 but it's possible with help from high level players. Go to the FFXI Wiki to look up how to complete missions for your nation. It's important.

3. Go ahead and get started on Rise of the Zilart. Back in the old day it was required that you get your Kazham Airship Pass in order to level from 25~ but with Level Synch and a lack of inventive party locations most people don't get this. However if you have any interest in Ninja, Samurai, or Summoner you need to get this. It's a pretty basic quest where you have to get chest keys from various places. Check the wiki for details. After you get your pass, head to Norg and to start the missions. Most of them can't be done until later levels but this helps you from having to start 4 storylines at the same time. It's a pain.

4. Start on Chains of Promathia. This storyline is long. But it's awesome and you do get some good items as well as fun new locations. Go to Qufim and go to Lower Delk. Tower for a cutscene to start the missions.

5. Get your Adventure Fellow NPC. It's a little tricky at Lv 30 to get but you should get him soon. He's your own personal NPC friend that you can bring out once a day for 100 monsters and he helps kill things with you. He levels just like you do and they're great for helping solo through some stagnant levels. Check the Wiki for details on this because NPC Fellow is a WHOLE OTHER forum post.

So honestly, all of this stuff is probably about a week's worth of play for the average casual player. But now you want to level up, right?! Great! However, Lv 30 is kind of a weird place to be. In all honesty, I'd just try to find some solo GoV pages. You can head back to Gusgen Mines or lower Level Sync places but you won't be skilling up at all because you'll be stuck at a Lv 15 Sync.

I know on Leviathan there is still parties in Garlaige Citadel which might be a good option until the Lv 40's. You're a big kid now, so try to find something that works for you. You now know:

1. Level Sync under your job level does not give you any skill ups.
2. You can always find places to solo with FoV and GoV pages that offer decent XP/page.

It might be slower but at least you're learning how to play the game. In any case, I still say avoid Abyssea.

Lv40-60

Ok, here is where my opinion is really going to spew all over the place. KEEP YOUR GEAR APPROPRIATE TO YOUR LEVEL! It just makes you look like a stupid person. I have seen so many Level 45 players in Crawler's Nest wearing Lv1 Bronze Harness Set. STOP IT! Yes, leveling has gotten much faster but you just look like a stupid bimbo when you do that!

That being said, we get to the subject of Artifact Armor. I say, yes...to a degree. Often there are pieces of Artifact Armor that are useless because they loose their value after a few levels. And since it doesn't take a month to get a few levels I just skip them. A good example:

White Mage. White Mage AF Body piece is poop. Also it's REALLY A PAIN TO GET. It still took me like 5 hours on 99 THF. And you can just use Noble's Tunic in like 3 levels and it's SO much better.

So this is time for you to research. Is your AF worth it. It will take quite a bit of time to get. And you will need help. So. It's up to you. If you don't want to get it, cool. Get some armor that's similar and at least level appropriate. It's not that hard and will really help you, especially solo.

NOTE: At Lv 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and 95 you will have to complete a LIMIT BREAK quest from Maat in Jeuno (Ru'Lude Gardens) in order for your level to go to the next stage. Otherwise you'll be stuck at 50 forever! They get progressively harder as you go on but they are essential to progressing! Go to the wiki and search "Genkai" or "Limit Break" to get details for each of the quests.
Getting to Lv 65~ is not too bad. I use a mix of partying and solo stuff. Some good places are

Crawler's Nest
Garlaige Citadel (solo)
Wajaom Woodlands

And a few others. Just play around. Group with friends. If you're going solo, look for pages that are about 5 levels below you so that way your kills go faster but you're still getting XP. The xp/monster doesn't have to be big, it's about getting the page xp fast!

Once you hit 60/65, take some time to get Rank 5 as well as continue on ToAU, Zilart, and CoP storylines. I'd save WotG until 75.