New Player, please read

[mwillsbball33]

Hi. I just bought this game since I've been looking for a decent mmorpg for the 360 ever since I had stopped playing WOW on PC. I found this game and I'm just wondering, since I don't see many players in the starting areas...

1. What areas consist of the most players?
2. What is the most played on/best server for a noob like me?
3. I understand that this game is difficult, but how could I find other noobs? Everyone I've seen doesn't speak.
4. Can someone just give me a quick run down on things that can help me in-game, things that groups online do, terminology used on the forums, etc. because I have no idea what to do right now.

Thank you.

[Daemon]

Hey welcome to FFXI. What nation are you from?

Around this time many Japanese players are online. I don't know your server very well however, you will need to read up on using basic commands like Auto translation fuction for chat.

I have written a basic guide which is still in the works but might have some small articles to help you although it was written for Windurst nation, other nations should be similar.
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35870-FFXI-Beginners-Guide

Also a more advance guide however I do cover a lot of basic information in detail.
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/35308-Revelations-Strategy-Guide-FFXI

Starting out may not be easy as most players are beyond low levels. But as we get to know you, we can answer questions to help you.

[sc4500]

here some websites that will help you out.

http://www.ffxiah.com/

http://bg-wiki.com/bg/Main_Page

http://ffxi.gamerescape.com/

http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page


http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/

All those websites you will find everything you need help on and they all still got players updating stuff, Just some of them update faster then others and some of them got great forums also to help you out.

Edit: Also if not seeing many people there in this city called jeuno or in the city of adoulin. It one the bummers for new players. Makes the game look like no one playing.

[Umichi]

We are playing...just the adventurer influx from days of old has decreased and we've pushed out farther from the mainlands.....If you join Shiva I could show you around ahahaha :)

[Rustic]

Hi. I just bought this game since I've been looking for a decent mmorpg for the 360 ever since I had stopped playing WOW on PC. I found this game and I'm just wondering, since I don't see many players in the starting areas...

1. What areas consist of the most players?
2. What is the most played on/best server for a noob like me?
3. I understand that this game is difficult, but how could I find other noobs? Everyone I've seen doesn't speak.
4. Can someone just give me a quick run down on things that can help me in-game, things that groups online do, terminology used on the forums, etc. because I have no idea what to do right now.

Thank you.

Starting areas are often the quietest spots- because the game directs people towards a central city, Jeuno. The three starting cities tend to be sparse by comparison as a result. Folks have been very good about posting links, so that part's covered- what you normally see nowadays are players doing their first 10 or so levels solo. Very important note: the floating books just outside of the cities and many zone lines. Outside areas, they're "Field", dungeon areas "Grounds" tomes. These books give you simple "Kill X number of mob" quests that repeat as long as you can still get exp from the monster and don't cancel the quest/change jobs, and reward you with an exp bonus, Gil, and "tabs" you can then use to get buffs and teleport services from the same books. In additon, doing these in dungeon areas (the Grounds Tomes) will give you a special "Prowess" buff that lasts until you zone out, which generally means that extended dungeon-hunting will leave you powering up a bit extra over time (till you leave).

I usually suggest new players start off leveling to 10-12 or so in the areas immediately around their starting city, using those selfsame books to get some extra Gil and quicker exp. Then, swap jobs to something you'd find good as your "subjob"- for THF, I'd go with WAR or MNK to start with. Level that up the same way. Some of your gear will carry over fine to the second job, and again you'll pick up some money as you go.

Make sure that you get the "Signet" buff from the guards at the gate just before you exit the city. With it on, monsters will drop crystals- and a stack of 12 crystals on the Auction House is good bread-and-butter money for a newbie. There's also a gatehouse with a different guard near the Signet-buffer that will offer "missions" for your nation. Go ahead and pick them up, though you'll want to do them after a few level-ups first. Killing monsters with Signet up will also give you a currency called "Conquest Points", which the same guard can take in exchange for a variety of useful items. The more missions you do at the gatehouse for "nation rank", the more options become available- and the better all players in your nation do at this "Conquest", the more items are available per rank. It's a good way to end up in the low teens with a few solid bits of what would be "blue" gear in WoW.

Check around town. Especially map sellers. They'll save you a lot of pain in the long run, and some items are considerably cheaper off a merchant than the AH (the AH can be like 7-11 in that regard...). Talk to everyone, there is no "?" or "!" for quests in FFXI. Some NPCs will also change their tune as you complete those town quests and gain fame- merchants will sell you items cheaper and buy them for more, and new quests often open up as well. There's usually a tavern/eating establishment/inn somewhere in each starting city with an NPC that will tell you how famous you are there- FFXIClopedia has a good list for those.

Once you've got a main and subjob-to-be leveled up, stretch your legs! Gusgen Mines is the most common next step- which is a relatively easy run from Bastok, a longer one from San d'Oria, and an actual ship ride from Windurst (via Mhaura). Groups of players generally get together there in "alliances"- larger parties of 1-3 groups of six - and fight the skeletons at the first part of the dungeon. This can easily get you into the mid-20's or 30's, and the rate of exp gain is considerably higher "page burning" in alliances than solo. Selbina- where the Windurstians make landfall off the ferry, in Valkrum Dunes - has a quest that'll take a "magicked skull" frequently dropped in Gusgen, a "crab apron" and "damselfly worm" dropped by the crab and fly mobs in Valkrum, respectively and unlock your ability to subjob- basically, to use a second job's abilities and powers at a maximum of 1/2 your current "main" job. This'll be another big boost to your abilities.

Once you're in the 30's and subjobbed, north of Gusgen is the Pashow Marshlands, then Rolanberry Fields, and finally the city of Jeuno. It's a long run as a newbie, but it's worth it- because you'll be able to use chocobos and your travel options rapidly increase from there. Speaking of travel options- if you're in La Theine, the Highlands, or Tahrongi Canyon- you'll see a big white structure, often called a "crag". There will be a "telepoint" on a platform there (not a "broken" one, which is a different thing). Click on it, get a "gate crystal", and White Mages have a spell that can teleport you back to that crag later on. Very handy time-saver.

[Miradel]

Hi new guy!

I think you've got some good suggestions and references so far, so I'll just say this:

I'm on your server, look me up in game if you need any help. Though I might not be online this weekend (FFXIV open beta). I might be online tonight, starting around 7pm Pacific time. I can help you get sub-job items, finish some nation rank missions and eventually help with your limit break quests :)

Hope you have fun in game :D

[Anjou]

One thing I can definitely say is this: You're not gonna find what job you want right off the bat, in fact you might not for a while. The early stages are the experimenting phase, level all of your jobs evenly, this gives you tons of conquest points, skillups across the board, and of course you get gil for turning in things like rabbit hides if you're san d'orian, or zinc ore for the tenshodo to get some quick change in your pocket. It's gonna be slow, but if you take the time to do it it'll be the most fun, PLUS you'll be able to fit any role with your jobs leveled evenly since the 6 starting jobs work well with each other.

WAR/MNK
MNK/WAR
THF/WAR
RDM/BLM (Or WHM)
BLM/WHM
WHM/BLM.

[Anjou]

Also if you can tell me what nation you started in, I can give you the low down on every NPC you can buy stuff from, be it crafting items, armor, weapons, etc etc.

[Spectreman]

First things first: Move to Asura because its a high populated server.

Second: Search these sites for info, they will be vital for you: FFXIAH (check prices of auction house), Blue Gartr and FFXICyclopedia for info abut everything in the game and guides.

Third: Whenever you are about to leave your starting city, talk to the gate guard and get a buff called Signet. It will give you Conquest Points to exchange for items that you can sell for money, it will make enemies drop crystals that you can sell in stacks of 12 for money and you can rest much faster to recover HP and MP to keep fighting.

Fourth but not least: Redeem your Destrier Beret and Chocobo Shirt for super bonuses that will speed up your leveling of any job till 30.

Fifth: After leaving town there will be small books nearby called Field Tomes, they allow you to get bonuses as regen hp/mp, defense bonus etc. Choose the page 1 and keep killing the monsters in that page for bonus experience.

Sixth: Get an item from the gate guard after you have some conquest points called Empress Band. It gives you 1000 exp bonus and has 7 charges that you can recharge with few conquest points. It will also speed up your leveling by a lot.

Seventh: From 1-13 level in the starter area like South Gustaberg/West Ronfaure/East Sarutabaruta, depending on the nation you chose. After that move to Gusgen Mines in Konschat Highlands for your first Grounds of Valor party where you can reach level 30+ and get your hardest sub job item as well, the magicked skull.


Read the guides for jobs and choose what you like most (probably will be rdm lololol)

[Spectreman]

Btw i suggest starting in Bastok because it will be much less of trouble getting to Gusgen Mines.

[Bearstar]

!!!!Welcome to the game!!!!

The starter areas do tend to be empty, you're only there for a few days at most leveling level 1 jobs. At 15 Gusgen Mines become a hotspot. Eventually you'll need to hit up Jeuno, its the game's major hub.

FFXIclopedia will be your best friend, it has everything and anything. Jobs, Quests, Missions, Fame, Items, Armor, Weapons, NPCs. Spend some free time poking about there. Its a good read.

Also if you come to Bismarck, I can help you out ^^ I <3 helping new people.

[Bearstar]

Oh! How are you enjoying the Sunbreeze Festival? Instructions for the games can be found at the Sunbreeze Festival 2013/Guide on FFXIclopedia. (Spoiler: I'm a major contributer to the guide)