The new player experience...

[Pixela]

I've been playing since 2004. I never got anything more complicated than levelling done without referencing a guide or asking someone else for help.

Lets say you started playing today, you saw the game on steam and thought "looks fun!"

You log on after making your character, you know nothing and there is literally nobody around at all to talk to...since that is the reality of FFXI now.

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists, how do you know how to get trust npc or even FoV? Try leveling without those 3 things solo to 99, see how long before you give up.

The point is to retain players that return to or try out FFXI.

[Xantavia]

Lets say you started playing today, you saw the game on steam and thought "looks fun!"

You log on after making your character, you know nothing and there is literally nobody around at all to talk to...since that is the reality of FFXI now.

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists, how do you know how to get trust npc or even FoV? Try leveling without those 3 things solo to 99, see how long before you give up.

The point is to retain players that return to or try out FFXI.

You talk to various NPC's in town like in every other RPG out there. I didn't know about the wiki's at all when I started playing years ago, and I think I spent like 2 hours exploring Windurst before leaving the city. If it was today, I surely would have run across the trust starter, RoE NPC, and even the gate guard who explains the basics of signet and introduces you to crafting.

[Zarchery]

Lets say you started playing today, you saw the game on steam and thought "looks fun!"

You log on after making your character, you know nothing and there is literally nobody around at all to talk to...since that is the reality of FFXI now.

See, when I want the answer to something, I use the wise and all knowing Google. Do a search on "Final Fantasy 11 help". What is the 3rd result? Or just Google "Final Fantasy 11" and look at the 5th result (not counting hits for shopping and images). When I was starting out in 2004, I had a linkshell to introduce me to some of the basics, but a lot of the more in depth stuff I found on GameFAQs and eventually Allakazham. Don't think the wikis were even around back then.

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists

The records of eminence system is the most clearly explained thing in the entire game. It's right there on your Quests menu, and it tells you exactly where to go to set it up.

how do you know how to get trust npc or even FoV? Try leveling without those 3 things solo to 99, see how long before you give up.

Trusts are a little opaque, but the entire Fields of Valor system is explained in the tutorial objectives and on the books themselves. If you read the text, it explains it.

But this whole "new player versus old player" thing is a false dichotomy made to give the impression that we have some sort of unfair advantage. Here's the thing; new content is constantly coming out and to a limited extent we all become "new players" every month. There are new Adoulin missions coming out in a few weeks that nobody will know how to do. Some people will figure it out. Others like me know how to research it. You say "new players can't figure anything out!!! This game is unfair". But if told about this free and easily accessible resource that will tell you everything you need to know, you say "oh that doesn't count".

[Babekeke]

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists

This vvvvvv

See, when I want the answer to something, I use the wise and all knowing Google. Do a search on "Final Fantasy 11 help". What is the 3rd result? Or just Google "Final Fantasy 11" and look at the 5th result (not counting hits for shopping and images).

[bungiefanNA]

How do you know how to get the Eminence system activated since you don't even know wiki etc exists, how do you know how to get trust npc or even FoV? Try leveling without those 3 things solo to 99, see how long before you give up.

Except, walking around your starter town, you are going to get the alert to talk to the RoE NPC, right near the town exit, and the position is given.

If I get stuck in a game, no matter the platform, I use a resource like GameFAQs or a wiki, like I have for almost 20 years. That or I post on a forum (again, usually GameFAQs) and ask. Heck, Youtube has tons of tutorials. SE has had links to the new player guide on the main page of PlayOnline Viewer, and the main web site for FFXI for a long time. It's prominently placed right under the Adventuring Primer on the main page. You're going to end up there anyway looking for account registration instructions and links.

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/contguide

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/newplayer/index.html

The Community link in the bar across the top, points to community sites:
http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/newplayer/index.html
which points to two wikis. It would be nice of them to link to BGwiki and FFXIclopedia (which GamerEscape forked from), but resources are there and easy to find.

BTW, you are also directed to a tutorial NPC, which should be near the RoE NPC, during the opening cutscene when you log in the first time on a character. It reminds you to talk to them on a regular basis (every time you enter the zone) until you do. They introduce you to accepting missions and getting your teleport crystals.