Returning player, any advice /welcomed!

[Sciobladestrife]

FFXI was my first MMORPG experience. Then in 2011 I started playing DCUO and FFXIV. It was nice to have a game to play during maintenance at first then I forgot about playing altogether. I recently gained access to the FFXIV beta and wanted to play some FFXI due to it. Last time I was here Wings of the Goddess was still new. My main job was 75 Ninja and had leveled woodworking to make my own tools. I loved going /Dancer because I could solo most anything my level. You can find me fumbling around trying to relearn how to play this game over on the Cerberus server.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Start abyssia as soon as possible. That's where all of your XP is.

[Hawklaser]

As someone who just recently dealt with returning, some advice I can give is work heavily on re-establishing a solid friend base and getting a good linkshell. As you won't have much of a problem going from 75-99 but in getting re-geared, and up to speed. Getting re-geared is going to likely be the harder part, as have two main options at the moment, opt for farming bayld to get those armors, or building +2 versions of the Abyssea JSE armors. And for Abyssea I'd recommend taking advantage of the upcoming event to get a leg up. Information on it is here http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/campaign/11th/abyssea.html.

[Daemon]

Going to repost my guide back up soon in a new thread. Wanted to properly title it than the last one.

Edit: Here is my guide. Still a work in progress made for the purpose of helping all returning player who need direction.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35308-Revelations-Strategy-Guide-FFXI

[alytez]

Is there any advice for getting equipment? The Auction House is pretty much flat out empty for low level stuff =( I guess thats because everyone jumps to 99?

[Daemon]

Is there any advice for getting equipment? The Auction House is pretty much flat out empty for low level stuff =( I guess thats because everyone jumps to 99?

Yeah auction house is pretty empty when it comes down to low level gear however here are some options.

1.Each nation has an armor shop where you can purchase NQ quality armor.
2. Shout and ask for a crafter willing to make the gear you need. In sure if its low level equipment, it won't cost much.
3. If you are new to FFXI, Ask in town if anyone is willing to help you out. Let them know that you are just starting and ask if anyone is kind enough to spare any armor people don't need or use anymore and that you are just learning the game. I'm sure there are players out there willing. Most of us did get help from strangers.

Also check out my guide

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35308-Revelations-Strategy-Guide-FFXI

[Babekeke]

Easy gear to get is the stuff that you can buy from conquest points. You might need to progress through the missions simultaneously to be allowed to buy the relevant gear for your level though. But if you have a high level friend, it is easy to do all the fights now.

[Glamdring]

Is there any advice for getting equipment? The Auction House is pretty much flat out empty for low level stuff =( I guess thats because everyone jumps to 99?

you can just screw arround in the NPC bought stuff since you'll probably be leveling in F/GoV alliances, there are enough higher players in those that sub-par gear is irrelevant. of course for that you need gil...

Check with your friends though, fair chance they might have some lower level stuff mothballed on a mule you can borrow, or they may be able to just craft something for you. I've done that for a few nooblets in my social shell. It's probably not great gear, but it'll help. and yes, the conquest stuff is viable until you get to 78 and can pick-up the el cheapo cruor stuff.

[alytez]

Thank you for responses :)

[Hawklaser]

As to low level gear, another option besides conquest points and npc shops are brown treasure caskets in multiple zones. They do contain gear that you can use in them, which may be usuable for you around the levels would be in those zones or since some are higher level gear can sell them to npcs to finance armor as well. Plus some of the crafting items you can find in them do well on the auction house.

[alytez]

Yeah auction house is pretty empty when it comes down to low level gear however here are some options.

1.Each nation has an armor shop where you can purchase NQ quality armor.
2. Shout and ask for a crafter willing to make the gear you need. In sure if its low level equipment, it won't cost much.
3. If you are new to FFXI, Ask in town if anyone is willing to help you out. Let them know that you are just starting and ask if anyone is kind enough to spare any armor people don't need or use anymore and that you are just learning the game. I'm sure there are players out there willing. Most of us did get help from strangers.

Also check out my guide

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35308-Revelations-Strategy-Guide-FFXI

I look forward to your guide for levelling, atm there is 470 people on my server, no one is low level, so very tough to make a party or alliance in gusgen, i wonder if there is places for low levels to duo (trying to lv with a friend)

[Hawklaser]

I'll repost a more solo oriented leveling path of mine from another thread, hopefully that helps you out. Easy enough to go from soloing to duoing in most spots. Some locations however don't have the mobs to support much more than 2 or 3 people though, as end up killing the mobs faster than they respawn.


For 1-99, since when I returned I tried to get a friend to join as well so started a fresh character. Without using my old character to support it, was able to get to 99 in about a week avoiding Gusgen Mines GoV parties, and Abyssea pre-75.

I'd recommend starting in Bastok if doing a fresh run. For a few reasons, several GoV locations near town, easy town to get around in, decent enemy drops in the area as well. Beehive chips, Wild Onions for gil, and zinc ore to start working on Tenshodo fame early. Have done this route on multiple jobs, if have problems in some spots, upgrade your weapon and spells first as they will make the largest difference.

1-9 South Gustaberg: Do the worm, bee or goblin FoV pages, staring near the town exit at first, then going up on Vomp Hill around level 6ish and make sure to open any brown caskets you come across for chances at free level 9-10ish gear like the Scale armor set.

9-23 Dangruf Wadi: Do the goblin page till around 16 or 17, then jump to the leech/bunny page til about 22-23. Keep opening those brown caskets, they can have level 70ish gear in them which NPC for about 6-10k on average, and some of the crafting materials that show up are 20k+.

23-43 Korroloka Tunnel: Start with the bat/worm pages which can be a little rough starting out depending on job and what most of the enemies are checking as they would be a DC-T range starting out, they last till 33ish, when can swap to the Leech page that can get you to 43. Still keep at the caskets, more 70ish gear and crafting items, but also the Rare Brachyura Earring which can be AH'ed for about 100k(Price on Siren), or kept for later as its effect can be handy.

After 43, can stay in Korroloka for Gigas till 50, but better to go to Upper Delkfuts tower as the Gigas there are the same level range, and more numerous, just need to be careful of Elementals spawning. If going to Delkfuts, work on getting your nation missions done before heading there, as there is one that has you going to the same place.

50-57 Garlaige Citadel: The Beetle and Siege Bat page is your friend, if you can camp by the Banishing Gate, will need sneak/invis to get there if want to avoid agro. The tri-bats and skeletons agro sound, beetles agro Sight, and the Seige Bats do link. Can also stay near the entrance. For the mages, one key thing to do is Aspir the beetles to help reduce downtime.

After 57, there are lots of options but not all work well for every job, so have to find one that works well for your job. Try and keep to GoV page areas though for fastest leveling. Crawler's Nest, Boyahda Tree, Sea Serpent Groto, Bostaunieux Oubliette, Gustav Tunnel, Kuftal Tunnel, and Quicksand Caves are likely your best options.

Now if you happen to get to know someone who is willing to burn pages on BST for you, I highly recommend the Antica page in Quicksand caves and go in the Western Altepa J-9 entrance. Stay at the bottom of the entrance, while they pull the Antica, alternating between the South and North sides. The mobs are barely EP to a 99 so they die really quick and there are lots of them. It is not uncommon to complete 4-5 pages per pull, and can pull almost non-stop.

[Sciobladestrife]

Thank you all for the responses.

I currently do not have any of the Abyssea add-ons or the seekers expansion, basically all the content that was suggested I do not have access to.
My goal for this post was not to find the quickest way to hit the level cap, but just some helpful tips about all of the changes over the years. For example I recently found out that we can mail Ra/Ex Items between our characters, this was huge news to me.

[Hawklaser]

Abyssea and SoA are really the only big changes since WotG, and they will be giving the three Abyssea add ons away free in an event in early August running until early October.

On top of the being able to mail some Rare/EX items, there is also the Mog Sack which can be purchased for 10k and is another on character storage option that macros can not access, essentially a Mog Satchel without the Token requirement.

There are also the Magian weapons, but outside of the elemental path ones, need Abyssea to be able to finish them.

[Daemon]

I look forward to your guide for levelling, atm there is 470 people on my server, no one is low level, so very tough to make a party or alliance in gusgen, i wonder if there is places for low levels to duo (trying to lv with a friend)

Are you from Bastok, Sandoria or Windurst? Your first character? What job are you trying to level? Please leave me details.

[alytez]

Are you from Bastok, Sandoria or Windurst? Your first character? What job are you trying to level? Please leave me details.

I am Bastok, friend is Windy

[Daemon]

I am Bastok, friend is Windy

Where do you plan on leveling up? Are you both new? Or do you have High level job and know your way around the game? Financially stable? If you level at windy I can help you.

Are you starting from level 1? What jobs are you going to play?

[alytez]

Where do you plan on leveling up? Are you both new? Or do you have High level job and know your way around the game? Financially stable? If you level at windy I can help you.

Are you starting from level 1? What jobs are you going to play?

We're both not new, just returning (left around abyssea) we have a couple 99's but we wanted to start some new classes from scratch, so we've been doing THF and RNG. We have gil thats ok and know most of our way around the game (excelt any of this voidwatch or new expansion, we dont have it yet)

We can go to Windy to level, it was very slow trying to level yesterday (didnt see Hawklaser's guide at the time), so I ended up just PLing my friend in gusgen. Would be just nice if we could both lv rather than pling each other just to 30 and kinda being forced to abyssea the rest. So looking for alternative leveling routes that might add a bit more adventure XD

[Hawklaser]

We're both not new, just returning (left around abyssea) we have a couple 99's but we wanted to start some new classes from scratch, so we've been doing THF and RNG. We have gil thats ok and know most of our way around the game (excelt any of this voidwatch or new expansion, we dont have it yet)

We can go to Windy to level, it was very slow trying to level yesterday (didnt see Hawklaser's guide at the time), so I ended up just PLing my friend in gusgen. Would be just nice if we could both lv rather than pling each other just to 30 and kinda being forced to abyssea the rest. So looking for alternative leveling routes that might add a bit more adventure XD

There are quite a few other options to what I put up, key to doing it well is sticking to dungeon areas when possible thanks to the GoV pages. Usually the problem for me was more of finding a convenient page to do. There are lots of pages that don't work well due to how far mobs are spread out, or the mobs are surrounded by higher level agro mobs.

I remember King Ranperre's Tomb having a nice goblin page, and Ordelle's Cave Sapling/Leech page was good too. Maze of Shakrami looks to have a good page or two as well. I tend to stick to the ones I mentioned earlier because of how close they are to towns to minimize travel times.

[Daemon]

Ok took me awhile to write the entire replay and edit, will repost it.

[Woxo]

I'll repost a more solo oriented leveling path of mine from another thread, hopefully that helps you out. Easy enough to go from soloing to duoing in most spots. Some locations however don't have the mobs to support much more than 2 or 3 people though, as end up killing the mobs faster than they respawn.

Just wanted to say thank you for posting this information.

I am not as far along as you are, but I too started a new player and eschewed any assistance from my main accounts.

I decided to go 100% solo for the challenge ( I do bring along a couple of my own mules ).

It would be great to see this fleshed out as a full-fledged guide.

Every response to the "I'm new, how do I get back into the game?" threads seems to be "Go find a GoV alliance."

Not only is it mindless and boring, but it does absolutely nothing to foster skillful play.

In addition, it may be responsible for the wealth of poorly geared / poorly played characters that are struggling to engage end-game content in a meaningful way.

Following a similar path to the one you outlined above has been a lot of fun, and much closer to the way I leveled my first 75 before the level cap was ever raised.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to actually learn the mechanics and enjoy this game.

[Hawklaser]

It would be great to see this fleshed out as a full-fledged guide.

Every response to the "I'm new, how do I get back into the game?" threads seems to be "Go find a GoV alliance."

Not only is it mindless and boring, but it does absolutely nothing to foster skillful play.

Outside of job specific stuff, and putting in exact locations not much more to add to it. Past 57ish, locations become much more dependent on which job one is playing as Mob HP starts to go up faster than your damage for most jobs, resulting in slower kills. With the amount of XP per level then, it helps to do some exploring and trying various spots to break things up.



In addition, it may be responsible for the wealth of poorly geared / poorly played characters that are struggling to engage end-game content in a meaningful way.

Following a similar path to the one you outlined above has been a lot of fun, and much closer to the way I leveled my first 75 before the level cap was ever raised.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to actually learn the mechanics and enjoy this game.

Whats nice about doing a path like this is it does help keep combat and magic skills closer to cap and helps one learn some of the finer points about how to play a job, which can make a world of difference when one is trying to do their first Maat fight. Though have to keep in mind party and solo mechanics differ greatly for some jobs. As to gear, problem pre-75 anymore is a general lack of gear on the auction house.

[Woxo]

Outside of job specific stuff, and putting in exact locations not much more to add to it. Past 57ish, locations become much more dependent on which job one is playing as Mob HP starts to go up faster than your damage for most jobs, resulting in slower kills. With the amount of XP per level then, it helps to do some exploring and trying various spots to break things up.

I guess what I had in mind was a thread specifically for the information, and perhaps more elaboration on the WHY.

I'm not sure much elaboration has been offered yet on the advantages of an alternative leveling strategy.

Also, in the past I have always just done the limit breaks with a 99 account. This time I will be attempting them without outside intervention.

I won't have the feedback yet on how to do so, but it would be good info for players looking for a challenge.



Whats nice about doing a path like this is it does help keep combat and magic skills closer to cap and helps one learn some of the finer points about how to play a job, which can make a world of difference when one is trying to do their first Maat fight. Though have to keep in mind party and solo mechanics differ greatly for some jobs. As to gear, problem pre-75 anymore is a general lack of gear on the auction house.

I have been hearing the complaint about AH gear a lot.

The good news is a player leveling on the path you described will have significant amounts of conquest points versus a player in a GoV alliance.

While the conquest gear is nothing to write home about, it is a start.

[Hawklaser]

I guess what I had in mind was a thread specifically for the information, and perhaps more elaboration on the WHY.

I'm not sure much elaboration has been offered yet on the advantages of an alternative leveling strategy.

Also, in the past I have always just done the limit breaks with a 99 account. This time I will be attempting them without outside intervention.

I won't have the feedback yet on how to do so, but it would be good info for players looking for a challenge.




I have been hearing the complaint about AH gear a lot.

The good news is a player leveling on the path you described will have significant amounts of conquest points versus a player in a GoV alliance.

While the conquest gear is nothing to write home about, it is a start.

If you would like to use the path I posted and make such a guide, feel free.

For the limit breaks, only the first two may need assistance. The first one needing the mob items can be done solo by finding multiple ???'s in the zones the enemies drop the items, but thanks to all the different warps a higher level can use can still be faster for them to kill the mobs for you. The one up in Xarcabard with the ???'s guarded by NM's, helps to have some one run interference, or have access to multiple reraises.

[Daemon]

We're both not new, just returning (left around abyssea) we have a couple 99's but we wanted to start some new classes from scratch, so we've been doing THF and RNG. We have gil thats ok and know most of our way around the game (excelt any of this voidwatch or new expansion, we dont have it yet)

We can go to Windy to level, it was very slow trying to level yesterday (didnt see Hawklaser's guide at the time), so I ended up just PLing my friend in gusgen. Would be just nice if we could both lv rather than pling each other just to 30 and kinda being forced to abyssea the rest. So looking for alternative leveling routes that might add a bit more adventure XD

Disclaimer: Opinion... not fact.. um.. subject to human error... debates will always happen even if its not one... Yes trolls still exist... Yes i edit my posts to correct errors, not change my words to make you look bad...and all other things that you see in every other disclaimer.

Ok great. Just wanted to cover my back first before I go on lol.

Here are my suggestions. Although can be a little vague as its hard to determine a precise answer based on many factors of not knowing your gear, ability, skills, experiance, and other things. However I did the best I could to give you a general estimated guess.

Use Field Manuel's for doing pages. Usually you are required to do 5-6+ monsters before gaining a decent exp reward. Setting it on repeat until mobs turn to "too weak."

It really does make that much of a difference. Rather than how much exp mobs give, just killing the number required can be faster once you're strong enough to eliminate quickly.

Don't forget to use Emperor band or sub /COR for Corsair roll to help you gain extra exp. I believe both roll and band can stack.Note: You gain extra exp bonus from mobs but not from page objectives.

Before heading to Gusgen Mines duo, id stick on the map outside of your home nation until you reach 10-12. Then move to the next map and stay until 15-18. If you have tabs it helps to get protect, Regen buff, also refresh if you plan on subbing WHM. Old school we use to level crafting to 50 and make melon juices, so if you don't have tabs, you can make or buy them in AH.

You earn tabs by completing 1 page per Vanaday.

Gusgen Mines can be easy for both of you at about level 15+ as long as you don't link skeletons or pull ghouls. Can most likely stay there until 29-30, at around lvl 27, skeletons might check as too weak but ghouls should be easy prey. Survival & ease also depends on gear and food. Very easy if you can bring a Blue Mage with "Bludgeon" to Level Sync with you at 18. The spell is massive against undead.

Note: Becareful when using Cure or HP drop at low levels if you decide to play Gusgen mines. Skeletons will link and agro from far away. Which is why I suggested 15+.

You could also level up in Buburimu Peninsula by outpost (Just watch out for Goblins) or Maze of Shakarami. Those areas would better suit you if both were level 15+. Although I think staying in Tahrongi Canyon would be faster and easier.

Valkurm Dunes might be safe at around 15+ and stay there til around 20.
Start off either on Rabbits or Lizards and work your way up to crabs and higher monsters.

You also can level up in Giddeus until 15-18. Pretty easy for 2 man setup. Best place to skill up Clothcraft for free. Also best place to desynth ingots for Smithing.

If you do decide to play in Windurst, you can stay in West Sarutabaruta and select either Mandragora or Bee objective. Bees near town are weaker than near exit to Tahrongi Canyon. Both of you could stay there til 10. Outer Horutoro Ruins is great at level 5+ if you want to earn some gil off Fire Crystals / Wild Onions.

Tahrongi Canyon I would do saplings and mandies (Lv. 12-15)until you are strong enough to do pages for Dahmel. Those (Dhamel) should be easy at around +15. You can do page with Bee, Mandragora, Sapling, objective, before taking on Dhamel/Crawler.

Unless subbing Dancer, It's easier to survive and might allow you to do those at around 13-14 depending on gear/skill etc. Just don't sub it for Gusgen Mines as Drain Samba or Drain type spells in general do not work on undead. Ninja sub is also a waste as skeletons often use AoE ability to blind which kills Utsusemi shadows.

Qufim Island can be done around 22+ with 2 people doing worms and crabs, then giants. If you cannot progress past level 28 in Gusgen mines, Qufim downstairs port Jeuno can fill the gap for you to make it into Abby. Around 26-28+ you can stay near Delkfutts Tower until 30. (Watch out for Weapons if you decide to level here, you might want carry silent oil or sneak your way pass them.) also watch out for banshee and ghouls at night until you are 26+.

Outside of Kahzam Yuhtunga Jungle can be done at 26+ Duo. Watch out for goblins. Again it also depends on gear, the job you play and your skill. Some people might be able to play this area at around Lv.24+.

Yhoater Jungle maybe 27+ or Higher.

I also suggest buying HQ armor sets. I know gear was implemented at certain levels like 1/7/10/16 etc.
I believe Scale/Solid was 10, Beetle set was 16..kind of like Tier levels.
If you cannot find them in Auction, shout and ask for a high level crafter to make them for you. Crafters stopped putting up armor because people were not buying them anymore.

Food and Armor does make a difference how well you survive and how fast you can kill. Especially at low levels outside of abbysea.

Recap: From the view of 2 people duo partying. This is my LVL Requirement suggestion for these Areas.

West Sarutabaruta 1-12
Tahrongi Canyon 12-18
Buburimu Penensala 15-20
Valkurm Dunes 15-20
Maze of Shakarami 15-20
Gusgen Mines 15-30

Qufim Island 25-30
Lower Delkfutts Tower 25-30
Crawlers Nest 30+

Yutunga Jungle 25-30
Yhoater Hungle 30+

In my guide one of my tips I added will help you in this situation which I will copy and paste here. It's not done but I've been working on it here and there adding stuff when I'm free.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35308-Revelations-Strategy-Guide-FFXI

Copied from my guide:

Pro Strategy Tip
Instead of moving up to higher level exp mobs, once exp starts to go down, stick with fighting the lower levels instead because you can kill these easier opposed to spending more time killing higher level ones.

Example
If you gained 150 EXP from 1 Crawler.
And you gained 95 EXP from 1 Mandragora.

Observe factors such as "Over the course of time" and pace.

So if it took 1 minute to kill X1 Crawler but also took you 1 minute to kill X3 Mandragoras.

That means killing X3 Mandragoras will give you 285 EXP as oppose to 150 EXP from fighting X1 Crawler. Therefore lower EXP mobs can sometimes prove to be easier and better in the long run.

Fighting something that's higher level may give you more EXP but because its harder and has more HP "over the course of time" may prove to be slower than fighting something slightly weaker and lower in experiance points.

This way of leveling will help you to gain exp without wasting so much time. Buffs from field manual will help and also 1 person sub Cor while the other sub WHM, you can get refresh at the NPC.

Buying Jesters Hat is nice to have for an occasional Cure II. It has Cure II enchantment unlike other items where you deplete charges and toss out, this one has unlimited charges with a 10 minute recast per use. Can be worn at Lv.5.

Check out my guide also as I'm making it to help new and returning players who are lost or new.

Again link is here: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35308-Revelations-Strategy-Guide-FFXI

Hope that helps.

[Legomike]

a good place to grind GoV pages is upper tower first page roughly caps at 49 can start low 40s or sooner with other people casket offers you the potestas bomblet which sells for a nice 1-2m on Lakshmi. middle tower good exp spot also

[Glamdring]

I look forward to your guide for levelling, atm there is 470 people on my server, no one is low level, so very tough to make a party or alliance in gusgen, i wonder if there is places for low levels to duo (trying to lv with a friend)

plenty, go to wiki or gamer escape and look for the old dancer solo leveling guides, with a duo they are all viable. for that matter, get your NPC fellow out, they help alot, almost as much as dual boxing (there is a stupidcast problem and downtime to consider but the thing does help alot).

[Daemon]

plenty, go to wiki or gamer escape and look for the old dancer solo leveling guides, with a duo they are all viable. for that matter, get your NPC fellow out, they help alot, almost as much as dual boxing (there is a stupidcast problem and downtime to consider but the thing does help alot).

Wiki is helpful but to those who are totally lost asking for help is like when you ask someone in game if they can help you kill a boss for seals only for them to tell you it can be done solo lol.

[Glamdring]

Wiki is helpful but to those who are totally lost asking for help is like when you ask someone in game if they can help you kill a boss for seals only for them to tell you it can be done solo lol.

lol, my primary job is beast, I know all about "you can solo it", translation: "go F yourself you lazy <expletive>". strange that noone ever thought the reason I was asking for help is because while I might technically be able to I wasn't interested in burning 40k in food/meds that I wouldn't have to in a party, not to mention that way anyone else that needed the same whatever could get it as well. I referred to the dancer solo guides because-prior to F/GoV burns-that was how I solo levelled all of my jobs after NPC came out or when I could find a duo buddy.

[Hawklaser]

lol, my primary job is beast, I know all about "you can solo it", translation: "go F yourself you lazy <expletive>". strange that noone ever thought the reason I was asking for help is because while I might technically be able to I wasn't interested in burning 40k in food/meds that I wouldn't have to in a party, not to mention that way anyone else that needed the same whatever could get it as well. I referred to the dancer solo guides because-prior to F/GoV burns-that was how I solo levelled all of my jobs after NPC came out or when I could find a duo buddy.

Know about the whole "Go Solo it" stuff too, another factor people seem to forget about is a person may also not have the right gear, or atmas in case of abyssea stuff, to be able to solo it, and the item/atma that would allow them to have better chances at soloing stuff is the one they are currently looking for help on.

[Daemon]

lol, my primary job is beast, I know all about "you can solo it", translation: "go F yourself you lazy <expletive>". strange that noone ever thought the reason I was asking for help is because while I might technically be able to I wasn't interested in burning 40k in food/meds that I wouldn't have to in a party, not to mention that way anyone else that needed the same whatever could get it as well. I referred to the dancer solo guides because-prior to F/GoV burns-that was how I solo levelled all of my jobs after NPC came out or when I could find a duo buddy.

Lol that's why I spend a couple of hours writing out that info.

[OmnysValefor]

Not even trolling, welcome back to the game. I've almost replied a few times that you should run away while you can. This is hardly the game it was, and in most ways, has gone downhill.