The Game Done Changed... Same as it ever was?

[RJO]

Hey all,

I'm coming back after not playing seriously in years and I'm curious how the game plays these days. What I mean by this is leveling used to be such a huge part of the game and it seems like they've trivialized that a bit now. So the question I have is what has filled the void?

Despite their rapid increase in level cap have they managed to fill the gap with content? Is there still plenty to do? Can you still find groups, etc to do older content?

What does a typical play session in FFXI look like these days?

I'm having trouble wrapping my head around an FFXI where it is easy to level! Help me out here

[Alhanelem]

It's easy to level. Just wrap your head around it.

That doesn't mean people don't kill things and fight over drops and improve their characters or anything like that.

For the most part, old content is being renewed with new features for higher levels, though a few new things are on the way for 99.

[Mirabelle]

What fills the void in levelling is Abyssea.

As a new player its quite a journey to obtain boss wins, abyssites, atmas, empyrean +1 seals, empyrean +2 items, empyrean weapon drops. Most people who have been playing regularly these last two years probably have forgotten all that went into getting all that stuff, but for a new player its going to take some time unless you have good friends that will leech you around.

[Greatguardian]

What fills the void now is what has filled the void for years. The plethora of Endgame content available in FFXI. Dynamis, Limbus, Nyzul Isle, Assaults, Salvage, Sea, Sky, Einherjar, Dreamlands, ZNMs, VNMs, Abyssea, Voidwatch, and Ultimate (Relic/Mythic/Empyrean) weapons.

For a new player who hasn't had the opportunity to do all of the content I listed above, you would be doing yourself a grave disservice if you were to ignore previous endgame in favor of just spamming Abyssea. Old gear is still relevant in many cases, there is a mountain of game lore for you to cover, and frankly the old stuff is still fun while being "easy" enough now that smaller, newer groups are able to complete them despite their previous "Endgame" status.

Leveling has been a means to an end in FFXI for a very long time. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the kind of things you can do after reaching the level cap. Make a couple adventurous friends who like to explore the game and have at it.

[Vold]

I'll also add that you should check out the Abyssea page on our wikis and spend some time at study with it. There's a lot of stuff there and trust me, people will thank you when you know wtf is going on and not asking 20 questions. Basically learn what the lights do, how chests work, and how procs work and it will go a long way to getting off on the right track.

There's a lot of stuff to be had with Abyssea but despite popular average Joe opinions there's far more to FFXI than just Abyssea, unless you done did everything else there is to do.

[RJO]

Thanks guys.

I'm glad to hear the old content is in its way viable. I guess I'll get in and get started. When should I start lfp?

[Zumi]

Basically what it boils down to is, leveling in abyssea, get gear in abyssea. The majority of new gear comes from abyssea. Most of the old content is obsolete and nobody does anymore. Allthough they did revamp dynamis which some people do on a daily basis for currency. Since you can do it solo now.

[Zaknafein]

For years the casual to moderate player spent large quantities of time xp'ing. They were not happy with the fact that they had to join serious end game shells for events, or camp HNM's till the cows came home to get fancy pro gears. Mostly the "lifers" stuck to, and enjoyed that scene.

SE decided to raise the cap, and change the focus of the game for the past year. Instead of many hours spent xp'ing now xp is stupidly easy. The focus of the game has shifted to acquisition of reasonably powerful gear that equals the time invested. That is achieved through abyssea, and magian trials.

Once you have your xp, and those shiny af3's you have the option of Voidwatch, Walk of Echoes, building empys, and of course the end game events that were available @75 including some that have been refurbished.

While the transition has been rocky in some ways, you can start to appreciate the symmetry of the 75-95 journey. More players are doing "what they want to be doing" nowadays. With one level cap remaining people are putting the finishing touches on their arsenals, in preparation for the challenges of 99 end game.

The beauty of today's FFXI is you can pick back up, or start fresh, and with some dedication have a job 1-95 with a respectable set of gears in a relatively short span of time.