Returning player looking for direction

I haven't played in a very long time and I was surprised to find that the admin staff was able to recover my account. I have a character on Lakshmi and I'm finding the zones I used to hang out in are now ghost towns. The auction house is almost empty and I'm worried that maybe this isn't a server I should be on if I want to do anything with other players.

Should I look at moving to a more populated server or in general are all the servers fairly empty these days? Are there any guilds on Lakshmi or any other server that play casually that would like to have a new player join?

Hello. Firstly, welcome back!

Asura is still opened to anyone as it is the busiest server where you will not feel lonely in Vana'diel! There are a plenty of linkshells with different preferences. Good luck!

Keep in mind, there are bots, RMTs, and Mercs running around and almost no one cares anymore so it's up to you.

Back in the day I deleted my main to join some friends who I thought were going to stick around. Of course they didn't so my current character only has a few quests done such as the sub quest a few ranks into the nation quests and most of my jobs are 20 and under. Is starting over the best thing to do at this point?

Oh, and what faction should I choose?

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Originally Posted by Avin

I haven't played in a very long time and I was surprised to find that the admin staff was able to recover my account. I have a character on Lakshmi and I'm finding the zones I used to hang out in are now ghost towns. The auction house is almost empty and I'm worried that maybe this isn't a server I should be on if I want to do anything with other players.

Should I look at moving to a more populated server or in general are all the servers fairly empty these days? Are there any guilds on Lakshmi or any other server that play casually that would like to have a new player join?

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I don't really reccomend transferring. In the main cities, you will find NPCs called Linkshell Concierges. LSes looking for members can have these NPCs give out pearls and it can help you connect with playters on your server who do stuff.

I reccomend against transferring to Asura. It's overcrowded and there is disporportionately more cheating/mercing/gilbuying there. While the intent was good, I think things have gotten out of hand and you're better off without the corruption.

While it can be tricky to find what you need to buy, in many cases people on your server can help you find what you need and clear the content you want to do. By staying where you are, you'll be contributing to the experience of everyone who is there.

Also, regardless of server, most people are hanging out in jeuno or mhaura these days, and not the main cities.

Welcome back!

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Originally Posted by Avin

Back in the day I deleted my main to join some friends who I thought were going to stick around. Of course they didn't so my current character only has a few quests done such as the sub quest a few ranks into the nation quests and most of my jobs are 20 and under. Is starting over the best thing to do at this point?

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In case you do choose to play on a different server, I would say yes, it would make more sense to create a new character if you have no strong connection to, nor much done with the current one (it's not exactly cheap to transfer from one server to another).

Not sure what you mean by factions. Nations? I can't think of any reason why you should choose one over the other, aside from personal preference. :]

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Originally Posted by Zehira

Hello. Firstly, welcome back!

Asura is still opened to anyone as it is the busiest server where you will not feel lonely in Vana'diel! There are a plenty of linkshells with different preferences. Good luck!

Keep in mind, there are bots, RMTs, and Mercs running around and almost no one cares anymore so it's up to you.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

I reccomend against transferring to Asura. It's overcrowded and there is disporportionately more cheating/mercing/gilbuying there. While the intent was good, I think things have gotten out of hand and you're better off without the corruption.

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So, I'd like to address these two points.

My husband and I chose Asura for our server when we came back over an 11 or so year hiatus from the game. Looking up guides and other info, pretty much every one of them suggested Asura as the server to go to for activity/population.

As soon as I got into the game, I turned off /yell (I believe that is the channel that is used) and have not seen one gil/RMT seller since, nor has it affected our gaming experience.

Second, I had to look up what "mercs" are, and essentially they are what boxers are in EverQuest, one person buying multiple accounts to play at once. So what? Things like that have been going on for AGES, it's just now that programs and hardware make it easier to do now.

For the OP, figure out the main play times you see yourself playing and gauge where to go from there. If the server you are on now feels "dead" to you during those times, then come to Asura, or any other server you find that is active.

Remember, in the end, it is what you want to do that matters.

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Originally Posted by Avin

Oh, and what faction should I choose?

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Honestly, I would go with Bastok since you are a Hume. You get a Bastokian Ring since Humes and Galka are native to Bastok. Also remember that you can switch nations at a certain point so you can do each storyline mission. If you start in Windurst or Sandy you won't get that unique ring. Though I just jumped back into the game after a decade long break (WotG was such a bummer when it was released) so they might have changed it by letting you get the ring of your nation when you switch nations.

I take back my post recommending Asura.

I do NOT recommend Asura, it almost made me want to Quit after Six months of being on that World.

Populations nice, but I tell you right now, the amount of Botting, Gil Buyers and Cheaters makes for a Horrible experience.

You can't do Salvage, you can't, its packed with Bots 24/7 with tons of them blocking entrance.
You can't do Dynamis, Botted 24/7. Zeni NM, Tokens, Assault, areas packed with Bots.
Bots botting crafting shield drops in all areas 24/7.

Give the other Worlds a try.

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Originally Posted by Avin

I haven't played in a very long time and I was surprised to find that the admin staff was able to recover my account. I have a character on Lakshmi and I'm finding the zones I used to hang out in are now ghost towns. The auction house is almost empty and I'm worried that maybe this isn't a server I should be on if I want to do anything with other players.

Should I look at moving to a more populated server or in general are all the servers fairly empty these days? Are there any guilds on Lakshmi or any other server that play casually that would like to have a new player join?

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Asura and bahamut are good servers for english speakers, Bahamut peaks 900-1750 Asura 2000-4000 i think

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Originally Posted by BST

I recommend Asura because we have a huge active population, never mind the /yell for Merc and trash-talking, disable it as mentioned above!

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I don't think it is as huge as the "player" numbers in /sea all suggests.

It's good IF you find a good Linkshell that is on your level, and obviously active during your time zone.

Outside of that, it's a very lonely experience, especially for new players as the merc culture has pretty much destroyed the community aspect of the game.

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Originally Posted by Sirmarki

I don't think it is as huge as the "player" numbers in /sea all suggests.

It's good IF you find a good Linkshell that is on your level, and obviously active during your time zone.

Outside of that, it's a very lonely experience, especially for new players as the merc culture has pretty much destroyed the community aspect of the game.

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As I found out, this is very True, the Mercenary culture has Destroyed the Asura community.

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Originally Posted by Alphie

So, I'd like to address these two points.

My husband and I chose Asura for our server when we came back over an 11 or so year hiatus from the game. Looking up guides and other info, pretty much every one of them suggested Asura as the server to go to for activity/population.

As soon as I got into the game, I turned off /yell (I believe that is the channel that is used) and have not seen one gil/RMT seller since, nor has it affected our gaming experience.

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The problem is /yell is where people look for members and stuff. You can turn it off to blanket ignore RMT, but you'll also have a harder time knowing when people are looking for groups for stuff If you're on another server, most of the /yell activity you do see will be actual players rather than RMT as well. Second, there's more to a server than "activity/population." For one, Asura is actually overcrowded, and sometimes there can be a wait to get into certain things (though that has been improved with updates). It also means the game can be laggier sometimes. Also, other servers may have a smaller population, but it tends to be a higher quality population that does more to help each other out with fewer cheaters and RMT. Sheer player numbers is not a good metric to pick a server by. You couldn't pay me to move to Asura. I have friends here and most people help each other and tend to be far more friendly.

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Second, I had to look up what "mercs" are, and essentially they are what boxers are in EverQuest, one person buying multiple accounts to play at once. So what? Things like that have been going on for AGES, it's just now that programs and hardware make it easier to do now.

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Mercs are people who sell drops or content clears for gil so that people who don't want to do content can pay other people to do it for them. Multi-boxers are not necessarily mercs, nor are mercs necessairly multi-boxers. Mercs can be a party of actual people.

I can play with people on Shiva any time of the day even with a fraction of Asura's numbers. As a percentage I don't feel any other server's population is less "active" than Asura's. every one of them has their share of multibox accounts and bots., in fact Asura most likely has a larger porportion.

Just returned from a very long time away. Used to play on ps2 but now i need to set up on a pc. Do I need to purchase the game all over. I logged in and reactivated my old account on square enix. Would be more than happy to change worlds and join up.

ty

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Originally Posted by NathanHedera

Just returned from a very long time away. Used to play on ps2 but now i need to set up on a pc. Do I need to purchase the game all over. I logged in and reactivated my old account on square enix. Would be more than happy to change worlds and join up.

ty

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Welcome back!

You can download the installation media from the official PlayOnline website, so no need to re-buy anything that you already have registered to your account.

EU: http://www.playonline.com/ff11eu/dow...stall_win.html
US: http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/dow...stall_win.html

As noted earlier in the thread, I reccomend against changing servers, unless you have friends still playing who moved and you want to be with them. The game is perfectly fine and playable on any server and you'll be helping to make whatever server you're on a better place by being there.

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Originally Posted by Alphie

My husband and I chose Asura for our server when we came back over an 11 or so year hiatus from the game. Looking up guides and other info, pretty much every one of them suggested Asura as the server to go to for activity/population..

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No you been there based of Blue Gartr which has been always a more elitist group. They provide information but that is the only existing place that actually recommend Asura. Clopedia, ZAM, even Reddit don't do such thing.

I got baited into that and if you wish to really play the game and enjoy it, it is a mistake. RMT everywhere, bots in every zones farming endless and killing everything on sight. Competition in every zones, rude people doing mob stealing. Never any party invite unless you REMA, if it's for a quest, you still on your own unless you hire because Asura is a merc culture based server, either it players or RMT.

People who recommend Asura don't even do themselves a favor by constantly recommending it, FFXI is JUST not designed to have this much character in one place. Even in prime days it never had this many players by server. And above all, end up ruining the game for actual new players who may have legitimate question or are in need of real help.

So I ended up having to Move off of Asura after Six Months, the fact EVERYTHING is extreme-level Botted makes it really, really difficult to enjoy playing there.

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Originally Posted by BST

So I ended up having to Move off of Asura after Six Months, the fact EVERYTHING is extreme-level Botted makes it really, really difficult to enjoy playing there.

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My personal experience is that a greater porportion of the players on other servers are legit players and not RMT/other undesireables.

Of course, really SE should be doing more about these things, but it seems like they gotta get at least $12.95 out of every cheater before banning them or something because it seems like that's how long it takes.

Not everyone can enjoy the endgame content (included myself). Sure, voice chat is what makes the community great. Some people have to use a program to lower the stress from healing/buffing other players.

Best of luck, small servers! :)

Welcome Back! I'm on Asura and am in a nice small LS with people who are new or returning as well. Lots of helpful people inside. The LS is Rubicon and we have pearls on the Conceirge, but later today do a /sea all Symbolah and I can get you a pearl!

Anyone interested in playing or returning I recommend you make a Character on any world but Asura and try out the real communities, because you will find that playing on Asura, you will have a really difficult time advancing legitimately.

You will not be Crafting, because everything is ran by exploiters that run Bots 365 days of the year.
Dynamis areas Botted 365 days of the year.
Salvage areas Botted 365 days of the year, cannot even enter unless Bots out of Assault Points (might get lucky to enter once every 6 months)
Popular Sparks areas like Escha - Zi'Tah 365 days of the year EXP/Merit/CP Merc(BSTx2 Bots) and Aeonic Merc, Domain Invasion full of Bots/Alts/Mules, Pulse Weapon Merc/Bots/Sellers.
Voidwatch unplayable when campaigns on due to Bots/Mules/Merc using script to claim Spawn points.
Campaign full of Bots.
NMs for Trials Botted(Empyrean Mercs) in all Abyssea areas.

I ran my own LS and moderated it the best I could, I would say honestly that EVERY single non-cheating, hard working, nice, genuine player lasted a few weeks, then MOVED Worlds, this is a common theme and ultimately is why i left.
Community on Asura has Disposable mentality.

The level of complicity toward Cheating is no joke when I say its at an Extreme level.

Towns have a lot of Afk mules/Alts/Merc /yell content sellers. that is a large amount of the population online, so really, it isn't actually as populated as it might seem. When you find people running 2 to 17 alts each, very common to have at least 1 or 2, you start to get a picture of how Asuras community is, actually not much more populated than other Worlds.

So, when you sit back and take a good look at Asura, here is what you find:
3500 Online, wow!?
50~ SAM JP Bots
100~ GEO all of them Bots for JP.
100~ COR all Bots for JP
200~ THF Bots in Abyssea/Dynamis/Salvage
20~ BST Bots EXP/Merit
100~ Misc Lv1/Anon in Towns that never move.
20~ Misc in Selbina, Mercs and there alts selling Lilith gear, Odin and Cait Sith.
Personally found around 40 of my own Linkshell members using AFK automation to CP/EXP/Merit/Craft item drops for Shields, Kicked as found over duration of four months.

I could go on, like Ambuscade, but I wont because that is about the only thing you'll be doing to make Gil if your a legitimate player, just have to wait in line.
Grouping up is a Horrid experience a lot of the time, just think about that...don't be complicit in others using Automation, but good luck finding someone not using it, few and far between.

Don't get me started on all the other Bots 365 days of the year farming Beit/Pluton/HMP and the like.
So really, how many of those 3500 are in fact individual players, playing legitimately, as, Not Alts, Mules, Bots, actually looking to play the game as it was designed and earn gear, meet new friends, have fun... Kind of doubt its many from my actual adventures around Asura.

Of course, the amount of bots on Asura is no surprising. I am not against anyone wanting to move out of Asura. We are kind of shadowing everyone's back with our alt characters so I had to post this in any way to end the toxicity. I personally like being a multi-boxer myself so I can enjoy my unique experience. I am currently a member in an endgame linkshell. Yes, a friendly group I say. I chose Asura because I don't like ghost towns and a lack of goods in the AH. I don't have time to help everyone out even I still play both FFXI/FFXIV.

I am no way a psychologist even if I sound like one but I understand that we often hear those "legit" players complaining from Asura so it's safe to say Asura isn't the best place for any legit player. However, placing your negative opinions on the official forum would have your reputation ruined and you would feel like no one wants to welcome you. Also, openly attacking on me would, indeed, make you to look bad. That's why you have to join a linkshell if you want to do the content together, you don't watch for shouts. Being more flexible in the big community is the key.

To all the small servers, I wish you the best of luck! :cool:

@Zehira how do you manage to afford multiple accounts?

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Originally Posted by tiamatis

@Zehira how do you manage to afford multiple accounts?

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I have active subs for both XI and XIV, and I work in a grocery store. Since the worker shortage began last fall in this industry, ive been working more hours and for more pay since they've been raising it more and more to try to get help.
$12 a month is more trivial now than when FFXI launched, for certain. It certainly doesn't buy as much as it used to elswhere, at least lol

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Originally Posted by tiamatis

@Zehira how do you manage to afford multiple accounts?

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Hello Jhuani!

I work, of course. I don't pay other subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc.. Mostly XI and XIV.

By the way, welcome to Vana'diel! :D

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Originally Posted by Zehira

Hello Jhuani!

I work, of course. I don't pay other subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc.. Mostly XI and XIV.

By the way, welcome to Vana'diel! :D

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Man I thought I was like the only other person in the world that doesn't do any of those streaming services.