Any new players playing FFXI?

[Lisotte]

I'm just wondering... are there any new players to FFXI? I'm not exactly a new player; I've played more or less on and off for several years. But I'm wondering, are we getting to a point where everyone who plays has played for a while?

[Arcon]

I still see new players signing on all the time, both on my server as well as on these forums. It's hard to eyeball, but I'm pretty sure it's nowhere near what it used to be, but still surprisingly much, at least to me.

[Gilraen]

If naming conventions are any clue, then new players are joining all the time. I've seen many players sporting names that could have only been inspired recently due to their inspirations being only so old in the public eye, anime-inspired being the most prevalent. You just can't tell they're new at first sight cause of Abyssea...

[Hostee]

I am a brand spanking new player who just bought FFXI and all the expansions for the Xbox 360 version. So far I have to say that this game is RUTHLESS to the new player who has NO IDEA what's going on....LOL....

[nishnosh]

it is ruthless to the new players but when you get into it its like a drug >.> i used to play a good few years ago but today i am returning as i have always had that itch to come back so thought hey might aswel

[Reiterpallasch]

I don't know how many stay, but I've seen a fair number of trial accounts running about in starter zones. If SE does this next expansion right and actually advertises for it, we'll likely see a whole bunch more of them too.

[wish12oz]

I am a brand spanking new player who just bought FFXI and all the expansions for the Xbox 360 version. So far I have to say that this game is RUTHLESS to the new player who has NO IDEA what's going on....LOL....

PROTIP: Get off that xbox and get the game for your PC.

[Luvbunny]

The game is not ruthless, it's the players mentality, some select few elitist who look down to newbie. The good thing for new players these days, you have FFXI wiki, FFXI AH, and BluGrtrWiki, which all three combined are quite comprehensive in letting you learn a lot about the game and the various jobs. All you need is a good LS that are newbie friendly.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Just got like 6 of them into the LS over the last month.

[Lisotte]

I guess I brought this up because of a discussion with a friend I had a day or two ago. He played back shortly after it came out on 360, when there were many more new people playing. Back then you could play with other new people, be leveling for the first time, exploring for the first time and figuring things out for the first time (also many more places to level; you wouldn't spend 20 levels in gusgen for example).
His major complaint with the game at this point is that progressing in this game is essentially due to progression is paced by you being helped by someone much more experienced at the game. It's very difficult to get through all the lb quests and all the other stuff without high-level help, and no one's going through the stuff for the first time.

Sure there's new people at lvl 99, but my friend wants to be new at a low level, not max level. Most new people will probably end up spend waaaaaaayyy more time in aby and the other end-game areas. That's not what my friend wants to play, he wants to play the game in a more or less normal linear manner.

Any thoughts?

[Gilraen]

Given that Abyssea doesn't 'open up' till 30 you can effective learn your job's role in the time between 1-30. The problem, though, is PLing. People get hand-held from 1-30 and never really learn a thing. Valkurm, Qufim and Yuhtunga are crucibles that, I swear, must be endured if you're to truly get each job's role in the party. We all who endured those zones remember fondly, with great disgust, how much we learned from our parties there. Nowadays, hearing the 'horror' stories of those early parties people want to just 'skip to the end' like XI is some kind of dime novel. I think it's a mistake, personally, and everyone should at least be made to give Valkurm a proper go before doing any other kind of leveling.

[Daggerstrike]

I am new to the game and I am not sure how long I am going to last. The server I chose doesn't seem very active and I just got to 15 so I am at that point where I should be starting to consider parties but I haven't seen anyone actively playing.

[Gilraen]

Leviathan is one of the more populous servers, too... odd that. I'd try going to Valkurm anyway and shouting for a party. Who knows, you might get lucky. Just know, in this day of Abyssea, it's not unheard of to go a couple days without an invite.

[Zerich]

I am new to the game and I am not sure how long I am going to last. The server I chose doesn't seem very active and I just got to 15 so I am at that point where I should be starting to consider parties but I haven't seen anyone actively playing.

gusgen mines, put the flag up, receive pt

[Arcon]

Leviathan is one of the more populous servers, too... odd that.

Actually, according to the FFXAH database (http://www.ffxiah.com/database), Leviathan is the least populated server. It's still pretty active, but I'm guessing as with most servers, you don't notice it too much at lower levels.

[Daggerstrike]

Thanks to Arcon for answering my noob questions. Also for directing me to a Gusgen Mines party that was happening.

[Gilraen]

I've never really gotten the appeal of Gusgen, I had forgotten anyone partied down there. Mostly cause I don't like the place, so damn creepy. Iif I recall now, it's often an alliance with people just zerging the skeletons in the first area.

[Daggerstrike]

Yeah, that's pretty much what happened.