Returning/new player and late to the party

[Fatestaynight]

So I heard it was easy to lvl up and wanted to check out the changes, so I came back, havent playing FFXI in almost...3.5 years. So I made a new character Albrobiont Elvaan Male Warrior lvl 12 on Fenrir. I was looking for some Gusgen mines party or even Valkurm dunes but noticed that there was nobody at all around my level range in any of these zones. Not sure if it is a Fenrir world problem or all the worlds kind of like that at the moment? If it is a world problem considering how easy it is to level up willing to delete that character and go into another world unless I'm stuck on Fenrir for now having made a character there.

Basically I'm looking for advice on Soloing until what level for parties? Also if you have a LS on Fenrir and would welcome a new player that would be greatly appreciated, it feels kinda lonely to not be able to talk to anybody in game.

As for what Main Job I'm going for...probably either Samurai or the upcoming geomancer in 2013 expansion sounds like a lot of fun, just trying to level up and make some gil to be able to afford whatever gear I need for a real main job.

[Corey]

good luck. no one talks to elvaan face 5

[Fatestaynight]

Well that's a shame! =) ah well, guess reading some more recent guides. I just realized that 6 man parties basically don't exist anymore, time to just focus on soloing for awhile.

[Corey]

yeah, soloing can be tedious and time consuming. but it's what's expected these days. you'll find grounds of valor most useful. just search it on wiki and find a page that fits your level. (if you're from sandy, king ranperre's tomb has a few options for GoV) also, alliances are in gusgen mines, crawler's nest and bostanieux oubliette.

if you wanna be twins, remake on Phoenix

[Fatestaynight]

Thanks for the offer but well since it's apparently the same everywhere might as well stick on Fenrir and apparently just received my Destrier Beret in my account this morning. I'll go equip it with the xp rings and ground of valor, just read more about it, guess it will be fine.

[Arcon]

I was looking for some Gusgen mines party or even Valkurm dunes but noticed that there was nobody at all around my level range in any of these zones.

They are kind of situational. Sometimes there's no one there, sometimes you'll find more people than fit in an alliance. Just keep looking for now (you can check how many people there are by typing /sea gusgen). But don't bother looking in Valkurm, it's not used for EXPing at all, unless it's for soloing a few levels in a certain range (similar to Buburimu Peninsula).

[Fatestaynight]

I'll do thanks for the advice.

[Waldrich]

nowdays it's pretty much 1-10 city level up > 10-30 Gusgen Mines Book burn level up > Bostaunieux Oubliette Book burn level up (I'd only do this place for skill or when I don't have cruor to be Key master [the guy who open chests into abyssea for more exp])!

Usually it's 1-10 city > 10-30 Gusgen > 30-99 Abyssea. leveling isn't a issue anymore, but once you're level 99 hunting seals for your jobs will be a issue (A real one).

Nowdays MMORPG is all about end game/character customization, I don't think this is a easy process since you gotta need to skill up and this is still a time sink for some jobs/skills like SMN, PUP, Dark Magic, Enfeebling Magic and stuffs like that...

After VWNM gearing a job to the best isn't so easy... since you can go 0/1000 if you have bad luck.

What Arcon said is pretty much true.

[Fatestaynight]

I'm doing not too bad if I should say so myself lvl 51 war so far.

[bungiefanNA]

http://www.bg-wiki.com/bg/Returning_to_Vana%27diel

BlueGartr also has a returning/new player question thread with a lot of currently relavent information. Leveling now is a quick FoV solo to the teens, then Alliance GoV or Abyssea parties until 99. Campaign if you just want to solo for a bit.