Dearth of gear on AH makes leveling a new character almost impossible

[Kraggy]

So I have a new character destined to be a dancer .. except she won't because there's almost no daggers on the AH for anything other than end-game and I'll never get her through the level 70 LB.

Why?

Because Behemoth knives which are clearly a MUST for this fight are rarely sold on the AH. There is no remotely equivalent weapon available in-game when crafters simply don't make them any more and camping the AH for a spawn rarer than HNMs isn't a fin game experience. :mad:

SE must make more gear available now that crafters clearly only want to make end-game gear.

[Arbalest]

Sparks gear.

[Kraggy]

Sparks gear.
Like I said, nothing remotely similar .. best Sparks is the level 62 Cermet, 22 DMG while the Behemoth is 31 with +HP and +8 Attack .. Cermet is a guaranteed LB fail.

That LB was fine when level 70 gear was freely available, that was 5+ years ago, it needs 'adjusting' for today's reality.

[Arbalest]

Like I said, nothing remotely similar .. best Sparks is the level 62 Cermet, 22 DMG while the Behemoth is 31 with +HP and +8 Attack .. Cermet is a guaranteed LB fail.

That LB was fine when level 70 gear was freely available, that was 5+ years ago, it needs 'adjusting' for today's reality.

Then gather the materials and shout for someone who can craft them..? I don't really know what to tell you.

[Kensagaku]

I will admit that it does make things more difficult, but at the same time, as the poster above me suggested it is best to get a crafter through /yell in Jeuno or Adoulin. Same for a lot of valuable tools like a Scorpion Harness, etc; with V.Claws down to ~10k (on Valefor) you can get the materials and find a crafter to make you the tools. Use the wiki to find materials and see what's reasonably priced for you. Behemoth Knives shouldn't be too bad; with people going for KB and all the easy Beastly Shanks available, there are always horns up on the AH, so you shouldn't have any problem getting them crafted.

While the lack of lower level gear on the AH makes it difficult - I tend to camp it for my mule's equipment - part of what also makes it difficult is not requesting the services of crafters; a lot of people just expect the items they want to be up. If you provide the materials and a tip, then people will be more than happy to take twenty seconds to make it.

[Pixela]

So I have a new character destined to be a dancer .. except she won't because there's almost no daggers on the AH for anything other than end-game and I'll never get her through the level 70 LB.

Why?

Because Behemoth knives which are clearly a MUST for this fight are rarely sold on the AH. There is no remotely equivalent weapon available in-game when crafters simply don't make them any more and camping the AH for a spawn rarer than HNMs isn't a fin game experience. :mad:

SE must make more gear available now that crafters clearly only want to make end-game gear.

My experience is that this game has almost no thought put into new players or returnees, and when they do it's badly implemented. I've almost given up on the prospect of finishing my returnee char and just swapped to my main, they make it just way too hellish to do do anything.

Good luck.

[Olor]

So I have a new character destined to be a dancer .. except she won't because there's almost no daggers on the AH for anything other than end-game and I'll never get her through the level 70 LB.

Why?

Because Behemoth knives which are clearly a MUST for this fight are rarely sold on the AH. There is no remotely equivalent weapon available in-game when crafters simply don't make them any more and camping the AH for a spawn rarer than HNMs isn't a fin game experience. :mad:

SE must make more gear available now that crafters clearly only want to make end-game gear.

Your point re:lack of gear on AH is valid, but given that DNC never used to have dual wield and people completed this fight... and now DNC has DW (and the foe doesn't) suggests to me this fight can probably be completed with what's available with sparks. Did you even try? Or just assume? You get 3 tries on 1 testimony now I believe so might be worth giving it a shot.

Otherwise, try shouting for either a crafter or someone to sell the knife.

[Kensagaku]

Pixela, do you ever stop the constant train of negativity? You can say there's no thought put into newbies, but I disagree highly:

1) RoE System - free experience points and points to spend towards weapons and scrolls, coupled with a chat message that literally bothers you every time you enter the zone until you start it. Through this system, people can see how to start quests for new jobs, or for limit breaks; people can see where to begin crafting, or different places they can kill things. It's a great leveling system that's far superior to how we used to have it.

2) Trust System - With the game being top-heavy, this provides players with allies that do not detract from EXP gain and in fact make it far easier to EXP. Windurst offers a healer right off the bat; all you have to do is complete for your nation if you're not from Windurst. Can't get there? San d'Oria is good backup, and though Excenmille is only /PLD for healing purposes, those cures are good support and give you a chance to get out in the world. Believe me, I know how hard it is without having them; while I'm leveling my mule's character, I ended up leveling WHM to 30 first to get Sneak/Invisible so that I could make it to Jeuno and get my chocobo license to get to other zones. Of course, you could just buy oils/powders and look up a few maps, and you'd make it just as easily to Jeuno.

3) HP Teleport system - With the HP system, you only have to get anywhere once; you only have to take the airships/chocobo ride once, and from there you can hop around much more easily to do things in multiple nations. This allows for easier unlocking of job quests, and when coupled with Survival Manuals gets you to a variety of different places (I use the one at Qufim to get to Lower Delkfutt's, since Windurst never has the zone to let Illu get the OP ><).

New players actually have a system that's very friendly to them. The only problem is that A) most are afraid/unwilling to ask for help or information, and B) it's a very lonely ride up to the middle/upper levels unless you have friends to do it with. The early levels are indeed quiet, which is why I'm glad I have my linkshell; even leveling solo with trusts, I can at least talk to people, etc. So if anything, I think the biggest detriment to new players is the lack of community around them. There need to be more purely-social shells around to help people out, but that's on the community and not SE.

Back to the OP, I still think shouting for help works wonders. Ironically, I was just shouting for a crafter to make me a Scorpion Harness a few minutes after suggesting it to you. Took about twenty minutes of shouting every 3-4 minutes (but I was eating lunch at the same time, so it wasn't a time detriment) but I got a tell soon after and the crafter was more than happy to come to me to craft since I don't have Adoulin access on Illu just yet. NQ'd it, but it only took 20 minutes and about 20k in materials off of the AH to get it crafted. Low-end stuff that people don't really buy now, but by interacting with the community, I got what I was looking for. You should really try getting the materials and shouting for the items you're looking for; it'll save you a ton of time, and with crafters at the higher levels, you may get a handful of HQs too.

[Pixela]

Pixela, do you ever stop the constant train of negativity? You can say there's no thought put into newbies, but I disagree highly:

1) RoE System - free experience points and points to spend towards weapons and scrolls, coupled with a chat message that literally bothers you every time you enter the zone until you start it. Through this system, people can see how to start quests for new jobs, or for limit breaks; people can see where to begin crafting, or different places they can kill things. It's a great leveling system that's far superior to how we used to have it.

2) Trust System - With the game being top-heavy, this provides players with allies that do not detract from EXP gain and in fact make it far easier to EXP. Windurst offers a healer right off the bat; all you have to do is complete for your nation if you're not from Windurst. Can't get there? San d'Oria is good backup, and though Excenmille is only /PLD for healing purposes, those cures are good support and give you a chance to get out in the world. Believe me, I know how hard it is without having them; while I'm leveling my mule's character, I ended up leveling WHM to 30 first to get Sneak/Invisible so that I could make it to Jeuno and get my chocobo license to get to other zones. Of course, you could just buy oils/powders and look up a few maps, and you'd make it just as easily to Jeuno.

3) HP Teleport system - With the HP system, you only have to get anywhere once; you only have to take the airships/chocobo ride once, and from there you can hop around much more easily to do things in multiple nations. This allows for easier unlocking of job quests, and when coupled with Survival Manuals gets you to a variety of different places (I use the one at Qufim to get to Lower Delkfutt's, since Windurst never has the zone to let Illu get the OP ><).

New players actually have a system that's very friendly to them. The only problem is that A) most are afraid/unwilling to ask for help or information, and B) it's a very lonely ride up to the middle/upper levels unless you have friends to do it with. The early levels are indeed quiet, which is why I'm glad I have my linkshell; even leveling solo with trusts, I can at least talk to people, etc. So if anything, I think the biggest detriment to new players is the lack of community around them. There need to be more purely-social shells around to help people out, but that's on the community and not SE.

Back to the OP, I still think shouting for help works wonders. Ironically, I was just shouting for a crafter to make me a Scorpion Harness a few minutes after suggesting it to you. Took about twenty minutes of shouting every 3-4 minutes (but I was eating lunch at the same time, so it wasn't a time detriment) but I got a tell soon after and the crafter was more than happy to come to me to craft since I don't have Adoulin access on Illu just yet. NQ'd it, but it only took 20 minutes and about 20k in materials off of the AH to get it crafted. Low-end stuff that people don't really buy now, but by interacting with the community, I got what I was looking for. You should really try getting the materials and shouting for the items you're looking for; it'll save you a ton of time, and with crafters at the higher levels, you may get a handful of HQs too.

This is the point I'm making, new players and returnees don't know those things exist. As such when they do add good things they are badly implemented.

The game also has horrible hurdles in it to make a new/returnees life horrible enough that the game is barley worth playing, difficult road blocks in content that nobody does anymore etc. They don't seem to get that difficult roadblocks on party based content is fine, when people do it. When everyone has done it and doesn't do it anymore it becomes the job of mercs or begging to get done. That's not a game.

They add nice things but you don't know they are there, when I came back I had no idea at all about RoE or Trusts so I got to 30ish incredibly slowly just doing FoV. You can't search for something if you don't know it exists on Wiki and the game sure does a poor job of telling you unless you read the patch notes at implementation. Of the 3 people that I know that used to play XI and went to XIV, they quit within 2 months of a return and knew nothing about those things, when I came back I only randomly found out about them by watching a youtube video lol I also have seen players getting to 16 with no trusts and just flagging in Valcurm dunes. The game is flat out retarded in terms of guiding a new/returnee player into the game and the longer it takes them to know the good additions are there the less chance they will stick with the game because a solo player game with horribly slow leveling is BORING. Don't make excuses for incompetence, it's what will lead to this game finally having updates ceased.

In the past you could forgive their lack of guidance, because other players helped you out. Now there are no other players during leveling to 99 so it's criminal that you see the horrible state of the game and the amateurish XI part timer developers unable to understand what is needed and them then scratching their heads and horrible player numbers and returnees quitting shortly after a return.

The game is terrible for new or returnees and the only thing worse than that fact is people like you making excuses for that horrible state.

[Arbalest]

This is the point I'm making, new players and returnees don't know those things exist. As such when they do add good things they are badly implemented.

The game also has horrible hurdles in it to make a new/returnees life horrible enough that the game is barley worth playing, difficult road blocks in content that nobody does anymore etc. They don't seem to get that difficult roadblocks on party based content is fine, when people do it. When everyone has done it and doesn't do it anymore it becomes the job of mercs or begging to get done. That's not a game.

They add nice things but you don't know they are there, when I came back I had no idea at all about RoE or Trusts so I got to 30ish incredibly slowly just doing FoV. You can't search for something if you don't know it exists on Wiki and the game sure does a poor job of telling you unless you read the patch notes at implementation. Of the 3 people that I know that used to play XI and went to XIV, they quit within 2 months of a return and knew nothing about those things, when I came back I only randomly found out about them by watching a youtube video lol I also have seen players getting to 16 with no trusts and just flagging in Valcurm dunes. The game is flat out retarded in terms of guiding a new/returnee player into the game and the longer it takes them to know the good additions are there the less chance they will stick with the game because a solo player game with horribly slow leveling is BORING. Don't make excuses for incompetence, it's what will lead to this game finally having updates ceased.

In the past you could forgive their lack of guidance, because other players helped you out. Now there are no other players during leveling to 99 so it's criminal that you see the horrible state of the game and the amateurish XI part timer developers unable to understand what is needed and them then scratching their heads and horrible player numbers and returnees quitting shortly after a return.

The game is terrible for new or returnees and the only thing worse than that fact is people like you making excuses for that horrible state.

All I can say about this post is that people looking for a new game to play should do a little reading.

When I came back to play almost two months ago, I had no idea most of this stuff existed at all.. Not RoE, didn't know jack about Trusts, or even Adoulin stuff. But when I logged into POL, there's this little thing called the Adventuring Primer.

The primer pointed hints at me of things like Records of Eminence, Sparks, and the like; so, like any smart person should, I decided to google these things and figure out what they were all about.

When I started actually playing again, the first thing I did was hop back onto the Abyssea train, and I farmed sparks with the right objectives to get like 30k in an hour and a half. Voila, I had a full set of sparks gear and some weapons for my jobs.
The rest of it came to me on it's own after some reading out of pure curiosity.

Long story short, if people spent any time reading about ANYTHING, they'd know what's easy, what's not, and what they need to look out for when leveling. Google is your friend.

[detlef]

The game is terrible for new or returnees and the only thing worse than that fact is people like you making excuses for that horrible state.If you assume all new or returning players are illiterate and are not resourceful enough to even consider looking online for help, then you have very low opinion of people. If FFXI made in-game tutorials catering to the kind of players you're describing, the game would be unplayable for everybody else.

[Kensagaku]

This is the point I'm making, new players and returnees don't know those things exist. As such when they do add good things they are badly implemented.

The game also has horrible hurdles in it to make a new/returnees life horrible enough that the game is barley worth playing, difficult road blocks in content that nobody does anymore etc. They don't seem to get that difficult roadblocks on party based content is fine, when people do it. When everyone has done it and doesn't do it anymore it becomes the job of mercs or begging to get done. That's not a game.

They add nice things but you don't know they are there, when I came back I had no idea at all about RoE or Trusts so I got to 30ish incredibly slowly just doing FoV. You can't search for something if you don't know it exists on Wiki and the game sure does a poor job of telling you unless you read the patch notes at implementation. Of the 3 people that I know that used to play XI and went to XIV, they quit within 2 months of a return and knew nothing about those things, when I came back I only randomly found out about them by watching a youtube video lol I also have seen players getting to 16 with no trusts and just flagging in Valcurm dunes. The game is flat out retarded in terms of guiding a new/returnee player into the game and the longer it takes them to know the good additions are there the less chance they will stick with the game because a solo player game with horribly slow leveling is BORING. Don't make excuses for incompetence, it's what will lead to this game finally having updates ceased.

In the past you could forgive their lack of guidance, because other players helped you out. Now there are no other players during leveling to 99 so it's criminal that you see the horrible state of the game and the amateurish XI part timer developers unable to understand what is needed and them then scratching their heads and horrible player numbers and returnees quitting shortly after a return.

The game is terrible for new or returnees and the only thing worse than that fact is people like you making excuses for that horrible state.

Aggressive, aren't we? I'm not making excuses, I'm saying that you're whining over something that's actually a fairly adequate system. Let's start with one thing at a time just from the list I gave.

Any new player should be playing around in the menu. Sure, they don't know the controls yet, but while they're fiddling, they should come across the Quest menu. They'll explore it, navigate things, boom, there's "how to start RoE" as your only Tutorial objective. It's even labeled under "tutorial" so that should be a key topic to any new player. Curiosity abounds, they click on it, and they're on their way to learning about RoE. Now, let's mosey on over to the place where the sparks NPC is, like the tutorial says. You enter the new zone, and... gasp! "You have a feeling you should talk to X, located at (pos)" or something along those lines. Hm, this person seems pretty important, let's go talk to them! The sparks thing isn't going anywhere. Said person introduces you to some basic things, you learn how to get Signet, how to use items from your menu (a la food), how to fight your first enemies and learn a weapon skill, how to use a weapon skill, how to craft, how to use the Auction House, and then, finally, points you to your first telepoint while encouraging you to go to new places as you get stronger.

During this time, let's say said player takes a break, and decides to investigate this sparks NPC they saw in the quests bit under Tutorial. Said tutorial shows you how to fight enemies, how to access a Fields of Valor tome, how to rest, and how to use a Grounds of Valor tome. Man, look at how little information they give you! In these last two sections, you not only get access to how to gain EXP more rapidly, how to recover health, how to use and synthesize items, how to learn weapon skills... and wait, what's this "Trust" thing? Oh boy, a new system to pick up, I should talk to this NPC! Do you see my point yet? Once you've done a few of the tutorials in the RoE, in unlocks more quests: how to unlock the different jobs, including the minimum requirements and where the NPC is to start the quest; where the various Guildmasters are to learn crafts; Mog House Exit quests. There's even listings for quests for AF armor for each job, for getting your Chocobo License, and inventory/level cap increases.

As for the HP system, it should be a common desire to click on a shiny Home Point crystal if you see it. When you do for the first time, it mentions registering it, and then it specifically says "You can teleport to this point from another Home Point." Oh look, introduced to how to warp around between points once you've registered it.

You can say this game is terrible for new players or returnees, but to me it seems like it gives you your first steps pretty quickly. It's less of SE's "poor decisions in implementation" and more that new players expect a lot of hand-holding... even though there's already a large amount there! If something confuses you, such as a quest, what can you do? Wiki it! You already know the quest, so you're not "looking for something you don't know about." Many of the "systems" within the game are explained through relevant NPCs, through the tutorials, and through actually getting out and doing things.

But anyway, we're getting horribly off-topic, Pixela, so why not take your "rawr, I hate how SE makes the game for newbies" to the other thread that's actually relevant?


Back on topic: OP, have you had any luck getting the materials and a crafter, or just buying the item directly? And for anyone else who is leveling a low-level character, how are you handling item gains? Myself, I'm leveling my same-account mule who is currently on his NIN33 right now, and I've been buying from the AH when I see items, otherwise if I feel there's a useful item that I can make use of (like the Level 14 Stat+2 rings) I'll buy the materials and shout for a crafter. I'm fortunate that I have a few in my LS, but if they're not around I'll still shout to try and get things made.

An idea of how I'm doing by camping the AH when possible and getting people to craft for me otherwise, using my equipment slots:
Main/Sub: Kodachi x2 (Sparks)
Ammo: Darts (bought)
Head: Empress Hairpin (Took the time to farm VE when I was bored, got lucky 1/2. And the NM listed on RoE as a Subjugation, too!)
Neck: Focus Collar (Conflict: Qufim objective)
Ears: Dodge Earring x2 (Lucky AH find)
Body: Chainmail (AH find)
Hands: Custom M Gloves (Shouted to buy)
Ring: Courage Ring / Balance Ring (Had a crafter make)
Back: Night Cape (AH, lucky!)
Waist: Warrior's Belt (Shouted to craft)
Legs: Phlegethon's Trousers (However you spell it; Valkurm brown chest)
Feet: Beetle Leggings (Brown chest in Valk or Qufim, I forget)

A few pieces, I admittedly got lucky on because I browse the AH now and again while I'm on. Between completing objectives for sparks/item rewards for first clears, occasionally shouting, brown chests, and a few lucky finds, even at 33 my mule's NIN is adequately geared. Paired with some trusts, he's good to go, and has no problems "soloing" even ITs. Calling it soloing with trusts feels so weird, though.

[Pixela]

If you assume all new or returning players are illiterate and are not resourceful enough to even consider looking online for help, then you have very low opinion of people. If FFXI made in-game tutorials catering to the kind of players you're describing, the game would be unplayable for everybody else.

How can you look for something you don't know exists?

[Vinedrai]

How can you look for something you don't know exists?

Why is it so hard to google for information or simply looking around the official page and forums? You could have just opened up the official page and check the archive to see what updates they did while you were away ("Past Topics" at the bottom of the main page) and/or check the forums for update info.

There has also been a guide on the official site (I think it is also linked in POL) with info on RoE, Trust and many other beginner stuff to get new and returning players back on track. It has been there for people like you to check for quite some time...

http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics/ff11us/backnumber.html
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/forums/84-Version-Updates
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/forums/294-Implemented
http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/contguide/

See? Not so hard, isn't it? <.<

There is no excuse to not even check the official sources...

[detlef]

How can you look for something you don't know exists?Can you even play the game on Windows 7 or later without visiting the Playonline website?

[VoiceMemo]

What I tell any returning player is find a linkshell and ask questions. There are linkshells out there for returning players that will give out information if asked in linkshell. The only stupid question is not to ask. Or if returning player hopefully the linkshells you were in still exist and thats a bonus.

[Trangnai]

I'm sorry but I have to say this. Its simple. FFXI is not a hand-holding MMO, where you can do everything solo without ever needing a guide or another person to help you.

Older MMOs are a co-operative effort among the playerbase. If you want an MMO that holds your hand, go play WoW, or FFXIV, or any moden MMO. Your information and resources come from the playerbase. You need to communicate or lookup information that the players have gathered to understand this game. I'm sick of hearing people say "how can a new player know what to do when they don't know what it is" Simple, Ask. A simple question may bring forth more questions but you will always receive answers. Even if the answer is to look it up on the web, you can find out where to go to get your information. Google is also your friend here.

Shouting for crafters will help alot, but always offer some type of reward for there efforts. OP knew to come here and complain, thought I wish It was more just asking for help. When I first returned I did alot of research, rolled a new char and enjoyed playing for a while. Entirely because I wanted to see what the new player experience was like. I enjoyed it, which back when I quit. I was mainly aggravated because it was very hard to level new job classes due to lack of gear, pt invites, etc. With RoE and the Trust system. This issue has been mainly relieved. All of us at some point were new players. At some point we didn't know or have resources, they were shown to us, given to us, or we created them. We joined Linkshells, made parties, and made friends and acquaintances to further our experience.

I sometimes wonder if people realize. When we were new players we were just as lost. Yes it was a different game then, but I had no idea what missions were unless I took the time to talk to every NPC. Nothing guided me there, there was no tutorial of any kind (now there is, both for beginners and RoE, while the beginner tutorial is a lil dated, it still gives free items and a basic understanding of the game). I didn't know what Signet was or Conquest Points for anything like that. I just wondered and talked to people. NPCs and players I met while playing. Eventually I discovered things like Somepage and Allakazam which made my life a lil easier.

So please, stop complaining that SE hasn't given you enough because they are not making it so it completely holds your hand and gives you every single piece of gear you may ever need for free.

[Pixela]

This is why XI is dying so badly and why every player lost will never be replaced, why western player numbers at peak are around 500-600 players and everyone wants merges.

The game is simply not good for returnees or new players, FFXI needs to hand hold players that just started or returned or it will never get any traction at all. There are many, many players unhappy with XIV that would play this but it's just so terrible to get back into once you have been out of the game for a while. I mean astronomically terrible to get back into running speed on this game or to start.

To say FFXI is not a hand holding MMO because it's a community title is asinine, the game is DEAD outside of well geared end-game players. There simply is no community to this game unless you are already well established. When I started 7 years ago there were so many people around and lots of very active linkshells so that it was fine, they taught you everything. Now the game is deserted so the same rules do not apply.

Many that stick with XIV stick with it not because they love it, but because they are simply too far behind on this game to go back to it now.

[Karbuncle]

Asura sit at around 1000 players during NA time thanks... and I see shouts daily for "New and Returning player" Linkshells.

But moving on, Pixel, you seem to be on a crusade for new players, which is not a bad thing, but explain to me in a step by step detail how SE should treat new-returning players. Now. I mean detailed. I want cutscene interaction, NPC dialogue, I want map opening/markers, I want every little detail. Because if you think SE is so terrible at hand holding new players, explain to me how you would do it... because frankly I don't know how much more hand-held the earlier levels could be considering as a low level player theres nothing to do but level up to 99, its not that hard to figure out. And being too lazy to look it up online is no excuse, and not asking people in game for help is even less of an excuse.

Seriously though, outside of leveling up to 99, theres nothing to hand-hold a 1-99 player too. The entire game between 1-98 is "I should get level 99", nothing in this game cannot be done at level 99, RoE gets you to 99, and teaches you a lot of important things (especially the /heal system). The problem is that new players don't look for community, they treat it like XIV or new MMOs where its basically "Solo everything with background noise", XI is not, which is why Trusts were introduced (Even a tutorial for Trusts in RoE, WOOO).

Now, you say XI is dead outside of endgame players? Have you ever played a 13 year old subscription based MMO? Even WoWs numbers are consistently dropping, its a fact of life. No one wants to play a 13 year old game when theres a brand new one out with the same brand name, so all we have left is the hardcores. "New players" are going to be there, but very rare, and usually are sent over from XIV out of curiosity, which means once they realize XI isn't as hand-heldy as XIV, they'll go back to XIV. FFXI was a lot worse back in its heyday, It's gone a long way to introducing players to relevant things... you have RoE Quests for AF armor, which originally was never told to you in game. You have RoE quests for level cap increases and storage increases, again, things normally not told to you in game. All the important quests are snug in RoE Trials, and it doesn't take much to open those up.

The only thing I think that could be pushed more would be teaching new players to find a linkshell that will help them, otherwise the game does a pretty darn good job.

[Mefuki]

I feel like you haven't been reading the responses you're getting. The game now flat out tells you to talk to the sparks person and tells you where they are. It tells you when you check the glowing, sparkling crystal that you can teleport from/to that location. Gear is provided via sparks for every level gap. There are official guides written on the front page of Playonline. Trusts allow for better low level partying than you could ever hope to get with PCs and they're at your beck and call. RoEs are in such an obvious place to check it's almost impossible to miss(who's going to pick up an RPG and NOT check the quest log?).

And if that isn't enough, what do any of us do when we don't know what to do in ANY game we play, single player or MMO? We look it up or ask someone who knows. This is not a cop-out answer. This is what any of us would do to better understand the game we're playing, virtual or otherwise.

I don't know how much more directed you can get at this point outside of straight up putting new and returning players in a flat grey box and bludgeoning the information over their heads until all the player can think about is, "Yeah, I get it.".

[Trangnai]

This is why XI is dying so badly and why every player lost will never be replaced, why western player numbers at peak are around 500-600 players and everyone wants merges.

The game is simply not good for returnees or new players, FFXI needs to hand hold players that just started or returned or it will never get any traction at all. There are many, many players unhappy with XIV that would play this but it's just so terrible to get back into once you have been out of the game for a while. I mean astronomically terrible to get back into running speed on this game or to start.

To say FFXI is not a hand holding MMO because it's a community title is asinine, the game is DEAD outside of well geared end-game players. There simply is no community to this game unless you are already well established. When I started 7 years ago there were so many people around and lots of very active linkshells so that it was fine, they taught you everything. Now the game is deserted so the same rules do not apply.


Back in WoTG pre level cap increase most of the playerbase was "Well Geared End-Game Players" It didn't stop new players from joining the game and having fun, meeting people and playing the game. RoE is intended to help players (new and old) on the path to 99 and starting with End-Game Content. Why else would they shoehorn in the iLevel 117 gear into RoE? It is intended to be a stepping stone to the current End-Game. It is no different (purpose wise) then your AF gear, or the cheep AH gear you bought before starting 75 Endgame. There are problems within the playerbase and job balance. But SE is trying there best, they can't force you to use groups that are not PLD, MNK, RNG, BRD, BLM, WHM only. And complaining that they "must know the fight" or they can't get in (this is an issue with XIV as well).



Many that stick with XIV stick with it not because they love it, but because they are simply too far behind on this game to go back to it now.

I have friends who have given me that reasoning on why they would not return to the game. After explaining how the game is now to them there response was "Well I don't want to pay $12.99 a month for an old game when I can pay for a year of XIV at $7.99 a month and have unlimited chars." (Said person is a Legacy player on XIV so he already gets a discounted monthly fee). I have more issues with FFXIs billing system (the whole $1 per extra char thing for exapmle). Then I do where they are taking the game currently. I don't think the game needs mini-maps and !s over every quest giver. I mean, its an RPG right? Last I checked talking to people in an RPG is something you should be doing anyway. Those stupid !s all over my map always broke my immersion in XIV anyway, thought I feel the beginner tutorial may need some updating. Including pointing the player to the Quest Menu and the RoE NPC.

[SMD111]

you can get to lvl 70 with out any other gear(armor) then what you can buy and all the weapons you would need are for sale with sparks

[Glodean]

My returnee experience has been fun. So much to do, learn and get involved with.
I solo most of the time and have no urge to rush to 99 or enter Abysea.
Started crafting, leveled THF for farming mats.
Not sure how anyone can get to 30 and not notice others running around with 3 NPC companions but I suppose it's possible. Everyone knows how to Google to see what's new.

Got WHM to 70 and realised I was capped, read about that LB being hard so leveled up WAR to same lvl and taught Maat a lesson in under a minute.

I always loved the combat in this game, that's why I come back, the effects when you hit something both visually and audibly are second to none, even soloing THF that last bit to 80 in in the Sandy sewers has it's moments.

It's never been better. You can solo with one NCP who hastes you and has Refresh, or all three and SC the mob hard, chaining Toughs and VT's making levels fly by.
Killed an IT with ease, didn't even know it was IT till I checked.

Game is better than ever for me.
Cooking, Fishing, Crafting, leveling, researching, farming, gardening.
Firsts for me include, making my own bolts, and att food.
Making my own rods and bait.
Alc to 70+ has taken about a month and keeps me coming back.

Anyone could do the same since google will show you making GIL is easier than ever via SPARKS.
Everyone know GOOGLE.

Anyway after all that complaining there's no way I'm coming back for another month.
TTFN.

[Pixela]

But moving on, Pixel, you seem to be on a crusade for new players, which is not a bad thing, but explain to me in a step by step detail how SE should treat new-returning players. Now. I mean detailed. I want cutscene interaction, NPC dialogue, I want map opening/markers, I want every little detail. Because if you think SE is so terrible at hand holding new players, explain to me how you would do it... because frankly I don't know how much more hand-held the earlier levels could be considering as a low level player theres nothing to do but level up to 99, its not that hard to figure out. And being too lazy to look it up online is no excuse, and not asking people in game for help is even less of an excuse.

Probably my last post since I'm not re-subbing past this month and I'll most likely lose access to the forum so you won't have to argue with my anymore! :P but anyway.

Eminence system:
Why is the questing eminence system opt-in when it's so important to the game now? Why not unlock it automatically when you exit a town? If you enter a new zone, you have to select that zone quest from the menu. Why? What possible reason is there for such idiocy when it's an integral part of leveling and gearing.

There is no reason at all for this important system to be as vague as it is.

FoV:

Why is it that the FoV system isn't either automatically given to new players when they start in the newbie zones or they get a cut explaining it?

Trusts:
Give a cut-scene explaining the trust system when players attempt to leave a starter town for the first time, there are no XP parties anymore so this is the only players they are going to be leveling with. Make sure they can make use of it and know it exists.

Also give players 4 basic trusts automatically, a player starting in bastok has to get to windy to get a healer?

Linkshells:
Add a server based community linkshell system that everyone can get automatically at the start. In the time you don't have one they can talk amongst themselves in that and get help and advice. Since you rarely see any living soul the chances of getting a shell are pretty slim, nothing like it used to be.

Old content:
If old content has road blocks in it that was designed to be unlocked in a party based environment and are still difficult in some way, take that into account in future patches and lessen the road blocks on outdated content.

Abyssea atmas are so hard for new players to get, why has this not been changed by now? Make all atmas 50% without red and give players a basic set when they enter (also give all 3 lunars). It's old content, let people access it.
Win required for JSE weapons at a point when nobody really does them anymore, or at least won't take spark geared players.
Dynamis clears, mobs casting death?
There are tons of other things but I won't list them all.

Also age has nothing to do with anything, the reason XI is in the shape it's in is because A) the game was starved to death because of XIV funding and B) Square made a very similar title directly competing with the niche of players they had.

WoW is still one of the biggest MMO titles that exists, certainly the biggest p2p title and it's almost as old as XI. You can start any zone and see tons of people, people try to get you to join guilds all the time etc. They also put a lot of thought into retaining any new or returnee players.

The only thing that would kill WoW anytime soon is WoW 2, which is why it will never happen. This is what decimated XI, XIV is one of the prime reasons for the shape of XI. Age has nothing to do with it.

[Ramzi]

Pixela, where do you think new players are coming from? Serious question.... do you think people who have never played FFXI before are subbing to it now? The "new" players are returning players... there are no NEW players these days. Returning players do research. Sorry you didn't have the foresight to, but most do. I came back after watching some youtube videos, and seeing RoE and Trusts in action. I knew all about it before re-subbing, and didn't need to be force fed cutscenes.

I will say that there are still some unneccessary roadblocks, such as level cap quests starting at 50. I was just doing these on my mule, and the one to allow leveling to 65 in particular was a complete pain in the ass. I am a level 70 monk on my mule as well, and Maat has kicked my ass twice... I mean I wasn't even close. I'm hitting him for 50 dmg per punch, he's hitting me for 150 - criticals for 250 and a 40% counter rate on me. Um... wtf? So if I don't use opo necklace and sleep - TP to start the fight I have no chance? Seems a bit unreasonable. Leveling a different job to have a chance to beat him seems unreasonable too.

Need a new monk's testimony? Can't farm one on my main, and send it to my mule, because.... not sure. Anyway, that's my only beef at the moment. No reason to slow players down these days. All limit break quests should be completely removed.

[Mefuki]

I disagree with your statement that there are no all new players. That just isn't true. Off the top of my head, there's at least 2 all new players that have joined my LS in the last month.

[Malithar]

Off the top of my head, there's at least 2 all new players that have joined my LS in the last month.

Have they complained about any of the issues that have been presented in this thread as terrible road blocks that make them want to quit the game immediately? Agree as well, to a degree. There are new players here and there, perhaps they're just now trying out a FF they missed while catching up on the series, or they came cause some friends on another MMO came back, etc.

But lets be real, new players aren't exactly flooding in either. And no amount of hand holding added to the game at this point will change that, unless they re-market it.

[Ramzi]

I didn't mean there were literally no new players, but not enough to warrant sweeping changes to the game. Most new players are returning players. Like Malithar said, nothing they can do will change that, unless a huge marketing boost which probably won't happen.

[Mefuki]

Have they complained about any of the issues that have been presented in this thread as terrible road blocks that make them want to quit the game immediately?

Not really. We tell them about all the awesome community resources around(wiki, FFXIAH, etc) They just ask people in the LS for advice on what to do if they don't understand something. Even the level cap quests have produced a kind of comradery with most of the shell. Like their victory is our victory. One WHM in particular is trying to get through her Maat fight right now and most are offering advice and helping her get testimonies and such.

The vast majority of complaints I've heard are either really petty(like having to run around once and collect Home Points) or are things that pertain to remnants of old FFXI(JP midnights, camping lottery spawn NMs, Dynamis bosses cast Death while fighting them solo, Synergy is confusing and tedious, etc).

Meanwhile, our at least 6+ returning players(some not having played in 6+ years) seem really excited to play again. Even the players that never seemed to have the motivation to play on their own and just mainly logged in for events, I'm seeing logging in and advancing their characters on their own now. Why? The primary reason seems to be how much they feel they can accomplish. One returning player, for example, was a DRK. He used to log in, put his flag up and turn to his TV and play another game. Many days he wouldn't get a party at all. All night.

But now? They're all excited about making steady progress toward the end goals because they feel that there's virtually nothing that's out of reach for them.

Edit: As I recall now there was a complaint about the only starting Trust that can heal, you can only get in Windurst. I could see that needing to change.

[Malithar]

Edit: As I recall now there was a complaint about the only starting Trust that can heal, you can only get in Windurst. I could see that needing to change.

Feedback like that is what these threads need. Excenmille cures, but not quite the healer type like Kupipi is. I'd feel for any new player starting in Bastok as none of their early ones cure at all. Maybe it's time for another round of base trusts added to the starter cities, spreading out different roles.

Good to see you guys have a pretty good community going within your LS like that. Hopefully whatever planned changes they mentioned before regarding LSs will come in the near future, making it easier for returning/newer players to get connected.

[Lithera]

The only white mage trust is from windrust, yes. At least until you have completed Chains and Bonds mission of CoP. Or if you have enough fame to do the serpent generals quests. The two starter trusts in Sandy both come with cures so yes if you start out in bastok you are semi screwed. Though you have to go to the other two cities anyway for your 2-3 mission anyway. Also when is synergy not semi confusing? At least for those who don't normally use it.

To the OP if you can't find someone to craft you two behemoth daggers try finding a lower pair that has attack on them. It also never hurts to over prepare for one's maat fight.

Also to anyone doing a whm maat the easier win is to out heal him than to try and melee him down as it's hard to find and obtain good whm melee gear.

[Olor]

well this month there was the whm from sparks... Mr. Coffin. I'd like to see him remain available forever - or another whm trust you can get with sparks. That way every new or returning player will have an easy to acquire whm in their home city

[Zarchery]

This is why XI is dying so badly and why every player lost will never be replaced, why western player numbers at peak are around 500-600 players and everyone wants merges.

Why is it that every malcontent who hates the game with a burning passion instantly projects that hatred onto everything else? Why is "I hate this, so it's inconceivable that anyone else will like it" so prevalent? I have been hearing this exact same thing for NINE YEARS.

[Zarchery]

Eminence system:
Why is the questing eminence system opt-in when it's so important to the game now? Why not unlock it automatically when you exit a town? If you enter a new zone, you have to select that zone quest from the menu. Why? What possible reason is there for such idiocy when it's an integral part of leveling and gearing.

You're so uppity about the Records of Eminence system being too difficult. Did you ever consider that new players aren't as stupid as you? I honestly wonder how you even figured out the forum software well enough to make your posts in the first place.

[Kensagaku]

Let's not turn this into a confrontation, please. ^^; Why don't we get back onto the original topic? That being said, even though shouting is (and should be) a valid option, I would like to make one of two recommendations:

1) Make brown chests somewhat more common in GoV areas. In FoV regions I get tons of chests and a good portion are brown chests, so I can generally get "basic" gear as I level up; i.e. NQ Beetle Gear, NQ Cuir gear, etc. However, should I choose to level in a GoV zone like I am now, in Sea Serpent's Grotto, chests are almost always blue and have a lower frequency. While I understand that the prowess for finding chests helps here in getting any chest period, is there a way we can ensure more brown chests and not just a ton of blue ones? Some equipment around my level even when I'm in GoV zones would be handy, and I'd hate to leave zone to re-gear myself frequently and end up losing my prowess buffs like Acc+, Atk+, and Combat/Magic Skill Increase Up.

2) Offer "basic" gear for visible slots like that listed above in FoV chests via Sparks of Eminence. You could do two sets per level gap (say Bronze Harness and Leather sets for the 1-10, etc) and ensure they're just basic NQ gear with nothing but defense on them, enabling players to still remain geared up to level but not giving an advantage over those who choose to get things crafted for +1 versions or more potent gear with stats on them.

I feel either of these two systems will help address that gap in gear, most particularly the second one while still making crafting valuable to those who are leveling and want to do it in a more effective manner. This is just my two cents, however.

[bungiefanNA]

Probably my last post since I'm not re-subbing past this month and I'll most likely lose access to the forum so you won't have to argue with my anymore! :P but anyway.

You don't lose access to the forum until your cookie expires, which it only does if you log out or check your profile once your account is inactive. You won't be able to log in on any new computers, but any computers you've already logged in on will still work.

[Glodean]

Hi to Ramzi.
Job testimony's are available via log in points.
I guess that could be used as an example of the other person's complaint.
Who would know that unless they checked that particular moogle for all available prizes?
That source doesn't come up on the wiki.
I enjoyed getting the drop though.
The items for the 95 break are there also.

I hear you about the limit breaks. I haven't tried the 50 and 65 one's recently but with three NPC's I would guess I wouldn't have much probs with the first one, if I was careful with avoiding links.
Someone said the 65 is still rough since the NPC's ran out of MP, almost makes me want to go try it for myself.

Also I know levelling a new job to beat Maat isn't for everyone, it worked for me since I love levelling War anyway.
Did you follow the advice on the shattering stars wiki page for mnk?

Looks like they're introducing a guide to available quests for player's level this month.
Hopefully she'll be back to find fault with it.
Onward!

[Glodean]

well this month there was the whm from sparks... Mr. Coffin. I'd like to see him remain available forever - or another whm trust you can get with sparks. That way every new or returning player will have an easy to acquire whm in their home city

I agree completely. Coffin is a superb boost to anyone's enjoyment of the game.
Should be a permanent fixture.

[Lithera]

Hi to Ramzi.
Job testimony's are available via log in points.
I guess that could be used as an example of the other person's complaint.
Who would know that unless they checked that particular moogle for all available prizes?
That source doesn't come up on the wiki.
I enjoyed getting the drop though.
The items for the 95 break are there also.

I hear you about the limit breaks. I haven't tried the 50 and 65 one's recently but with three NPC's I would guess I wouldn't have much probs with the first one, if I was careful with avoiding links.
Someone said the 65 is still rough since the NPC's ran out of MP, almost makes me want to go try it for myself.

Also I know levelling a new job to beat Maat isn't for everyone, it worked for me since I love levelling War anyway.
Did you follow the advice on the shattering stars wiki page for mnk?

Looks like they're introducing a guide to available quests for player's level this month.
Hopefully she'll be back to find fault with it.
Onward!

The reason most don't point to the log in campaign is because most of the list changes each time. Also they're normally plastered on PoL, or BG wiki. If someone doesn't post something about the current campaign on here.

You don't even have to fight on the lv 50 limit break anymore. The only two hard parts for the 65 would be getting the crimson orb KI and learning the password for the castle. Always nice to bring a friend for distracting the nms as people still camp them for scrolls.

[Ramzi]

I've seen testimonies on the login campaign before, but they are not available now unfortunately. I was going to wait to see if they added them next month, but I was determined to beat the old fart on Monk, so I went and killed about 2 dozen Orc Champions until I got another testimony, and I proceeded to kick his ass on my next try. I went in more prepared, with capped evasion and h2h skill this time, so I'd have a better chance. I also caved in and bought opo necklace to get 1500 TP to start the fight. I shouldn't say I kicked his ass- it was still close, but I won.

Then something strange happened. I went to do mission 5-1 (the skeletons in Fe'yin), and I read the testimonies on the wiki saying it was a joke with NPC's, so I went in, buffed up, and went to call my NPC's. "You cannot use trust magic at this time" .... so can you use trust for these battlefields or not? I am going to fight Shadowlord next, and I would like to know before I go whether I will be able to call my trusts for help or not.

Keep in mind this is just my mule, but everything is new to me since it's been years since I did this on my main, and it was all party based then. Completely different now.

[Malithar]

For most of those BC fights, you need to call out trusts before you enter the actual BC, in the pre-entry area. It seems to be sorta buggy for some areas though, and NPCs may despawn on entry into the BC.

[Xantavia]

What Malithar said is correct. Call your NPC's before selecting the BCNM to enter. It appears it only works up until 5-2 for the city missions. Going through Windurst on my mule it hasn't let me call them again for the few fights that aren't on the world map, so kinda stuck on 9-2 right now. I have yet to have an issue going through CoP though. They have been with me every step of the way with only 2 fights remaining.

[Lithera]

Though they did say they are changing the calling trust for BCs to once you're inside.

[Glodean]

What trusts should a DD be using in a tough mission battle?
Is one WHM or PLD much like the other and is Tenzen for example more aggressive than Ayame?
I'm using Coffin and the Taru WHM atm although they cast the same heal on the same person time after time thus cancelling out the avantage of having two WHM><.
That is quite whacky since they AI is rather good in most other ways.
Knowing Ayame will use a WS at the start when she's not in range for example I can deal with.

[Xantavia]

I personally find Trion to be the most effective tank out of him, curilla, and exenmille. I prefer Ayame over Tenzen since she is more predictable with her WS. Once you "prime" her by using a WS, next time you get 1000tp she will attempt to open a WS that will chain with the last WS you used. As for a whm, its usually kupipi for me. She won't haste you, but is much more responsive with removing status ailments. Cheruki won't auto-attack, so shes good if you want to keep her out of AoE range. Mihli and F. Coffin I pull out if I want some extra damage.

[Malithar]

I'm using Coffin and the Taru WHM atm although they cast the same heal on the same person time after time thus cancelling out the avantage of having two WHM><.

As far as I know, all main Whm trusts follow the same rules as far as curing, which creates these instances of both trying to cure you at the same time. Perhaps we'll see another Whm at some point that follows a different set of rules, so they can be a more useful 2nd Whm, should one be needed.

Personally I run with Cherukiki (haste and cures), Joachim (songs, -nas, and emergency cures), and Nashmeira (comedic relief, -nas, emergency cures, light DD, and skill chain potential since she only uses a single WS) on most of my jobs. The two with emergency cures seem to not cure you until you're well past 50% HP, sometimes even lower. It helps for when Cherukiki's out of MP or just off being a dumb Taru.

[Pixela]

As far as I know, all main Whm trusts follow the same rules as far as curing, which creates these instances of both trying to cure you at the same time. Perhaps we'll see another Whm at some point that follows a different set of rules, so they can be a more useful 2nd Whm, should one be needed.

Personally I run with Cherukiki (haste and cures), Joachim (songs, -nas, and emergency cures), and Nashmeira (comedic relief, -nas, emergency cures, light DD, and skill chain potential since she only uses a single WS) on most of my jobs. The two with emergency cures seem to not cure you until you're well past 50% HP, sometimes even lower. It helps for when Cherukiki's out of MP or just off being a dumb Taru.

Why not use Ayame?

She has AI to skillchain with you, use a WS you want to skillchain with and she will hold TP to skillchain every time. Will even use meditate etc.

[Karbuncle]

IDK What he could be fighting or on what job to need 3 Healing NPCs and using Cherukiki over Coffin (who Melees at least, as well as haste), preferences though, so thats okay.

Personally, I used to swap to whatever I hadn't used lately (aside from healer) since I didnt really need any of them (Except maybe healer, though as THF/DNC I dont even need that)... But my go-to team right now is Mumor, Ulmia, and Ferro Coffin. Ferro for Haste/Cures/Melee, Ulmia for Double March, and Mumor for Haste Samba, Stun, Steps, and her ridiculously good weaponskill numbers. (I'm talking REALLY good WS numbers for a trust NPC).

Seriously though if none of you know about how Mumor is as a trust... Here's something from my own personal experience on enemies in Ceizac Battlegrounds



Shes in her early outfit, Single Wielding a Heart club.

Melee Hits 110~150 Damage, Criticals for 300+.
Uses only Skullbreaker, which on the mobs in Ceizac was doing 2500-3100 damage
Uses Violent Flourish to stun TP moves, Flourishes doing more damage than her melee hits usually by 3-4x.
Uses Stutter Step exclusively
Will Haste Samba when you're above 50% HP, Drain Samba III when below 50%
Uses Saber Dance whenever the timer is active.

[Malithar]

That setup was mostly for Geo cleaving in Foret, Morimar, Marjami, etc. The SCing bit of Nashmeira was a minor bonus, having access to 3 that would cure at varying HP lvls was the main reason for the setup. As a melee, I'd agree with Ayame if you're fighting anything that'll live long enough to warrant a SC dictated by her. But then you lose the comedic factor of Nashmeira. T_T

[Ramzi]

Cherukiki seems to follow different curing rules than the rest. For example she will regen if yellow HP, so if you want two WHM's but don't want them cure bombing you, cherukiki is probably great for a backup/haste.

Gotta get me Murmur though- actually gonna do it now.

[Fynlar]

Anyone who thinks it's "tough" to get into this game now must have no flippin clue what it was like years ago. Nowadays it's a joke in comparison.

The real problem is that it's top-heavy (inevitable, given how long the game has been around) and therefore if you're not part of that top-heavy crowd, the game will look like and feel like a ghost town. People don't start playing a monthly-subscription MMO to feel like they're playing a single-player RPG and I'm sure that's why a lot of newcomers and start-overers wouldn't stick around nowadays.

For anyone that can see past that and get past that (which, no matter what way you want to slice it, is still way easier to do than it was ages ago... fighting on your own is way easier, EXPing is way easier, getting around is way easier, etc), they'll be able to see that it's not a total dead zone in Adoulin.

[Glodean]

Thanks for the great tips on trusts, I'm trying to do the Promies, got past the airship fight at 85 when I switched to Trion, F Coffin and Kupipi.
Murmur sounds better than I thought too but I missed out on Cherukiki until I finish Dawn.

[SMD111]

it best all around trusts i have found while solo leveling are
Moogle for mp
Sakura for hp
Nanaa Mihgo
Mihli Aliapoh

[Xantavia]

Thanks for the great tips on trusts, I'm trying to do the Promies, got past the airship fight at 85 when I switched to Trion, F Coffin and Kupipi.
Murmur sounds better than I thought too but I missed out on Cherukiki until I finish Dawn.
Good luck on those. I had to break down and get help with the Tenzen fight early 80's. Couldn't put out enough damage on BLU to kill him before his 4-step skill-chain. Only other sticking point was the 4 pot fight right before Promanthia. Finally got it solo at 95 (Trion, Kupipi, and Curilla because I messed up and called her instead Cherukiki). Was a blast to be able to go through the story again at my own pace.

[madmartin]

Asura sit at around 1000 players during NA time thanks... and I see shouts daily for "New and Returning player" Linkshells.

explain to me how you would do it... because frankly I don't know how much more hand-held the earlier levels could be considering as a low level player theres nothing to do but level up to 99, ..

That's not really true i returned the game a few weeks ago, im level 51, havent done any abyssea burning and hasn't felt like a grind at all, ive been doing missions and fighting the monsters as i do them with trusts for help for example i battled my way to the top of delkfutts tower at lvl 30 odd, did the promyvians by fighting through them at 35-40, - now on mammets! Also just started doing my artifact armor quests! its been real fun not in any rush to get to 99, i dont want to out level the missions before i do them because i like the challenge! When i returned i did some reading, there was even a guide on pol which told me about roe and trusts i think. This game is more accessible for new players than it has been for a long time.

[detlef]

That's not really true i returned the game a few weeks ago, im level 51, havent done any abyssea burning and hasn't felt like a grind at all, ive been doing missions and fighting the monsters as i do them with trusts for help for example i battled my way to the top of delkfutts tower at lvl 30 odd, did the promyvians by fighting through them at 35-40, - now on mammets! Also just started doing my artifact armor quests! its been real fun not in any rush to get to 99. When i returned i did some reading, there was even a guide on pol which told me about roe and trusts i think. This game is more accessible for new players than it has been for a long time.Well done. Would you believe that there are people who think that new players like yourself need their hands held the whole way through the game? Enjoy your stay.

[Karbuncle]

That's not really true i returned the game a few weeks ago, im level 51, havent done any abyssea burning and hasn't felt like a grind at all, ive been doing missions and fighting the monsters as i do them with trusts for help for example i battled my way to the top of delkfutts tower at lvl 30 odd, did the promyvians by fighting through them at 35-40, - now on mammets! Also just started doing my artifact armor quests! its been real fun not in any rush to get to 99, i dont want to out level the missions before i do them because i like the challenge! When i returned i did some reading, there was even a guide on pol which told me about roe and trusts i think. This game is more accessible for new players than it has been for a long time.

Guess I should have qualified that... and basically said "Nothing to do but level to 99 that can't be done easier at 99". Which is true, not saying that great, but true. Back when I started there was stuff like... BCNM30, BCNM40, Eco Warrior, BCNM60, so on... Level 58 equipment could be best in slot at 99 for some jobs... I mean, the game was different. I miss those things sometimes.

Lastly, what Detlef said... do you know how much of a diamond in the rough you are?