Rate of Leveling and the New Player Experience

[Castanica]

I came back recently, here are what I saw as the biggest failings of current FFXI (so far).
FoV is something you have to know exists, as much as it pains me to say it the book should have a big ! on it (maybe a feature linked to teh newbie icon being activated) or some way to make people know what it is and that it's important. the wording inside that book should also be made more easy to understand and less hiding behind menus.
The new questing system is great but it's hidden, why? I was leveling for ages without even knowing it existed, not until I watched a YT video did I know about it. Why add something that good and hide it in a sub menu? There should be no limit on the quests you can get and they should be given automatically.

The regen and refresh features from the book should be given automatically and they should be far more potent than they are, the point is for leveling to be fun and not boring. HAving to rest half my HP back up after each fight on an EP-DC mob really should not be something we have to do, also imo DNC should be a standard job these days and not something that you have to unlock, /dnc makes the game so much more fun for dps classes.

If you are going to "wowize" FFXI then at least do it right, the quest rewards should be gear you can wear and not garbage things like useless rings and mantles.

Also I really wish this game had a social world chat channel so it doesn't feel so DEAD while leveling, also possibly a community linkshell (open to all) for people that don't have one and indeed won't be getting one since the chances of seeing another human being during leveling is near to nil. I've been leveling for about a week and I can count on 2 hands the number of people I've seen outside of Jeuno.

I don't know if this has already been added but if not then all atmas should be given to everyone that reaches 75 outright, that way they can actually enjoy Abyssea instead of being almost totally unable to get atmas anymore.

I wanna have fun with FFXI. I loved Abyssea on my main character but the thought of going through all the rigmarole of getting atmas (which is really hard for a new 75 with one job, bad gear and no contacts) etc before I can go mess around in...what is honestly a deserted zone sucks all the ideas of having fun in there out of it.

Old FFXI is dead, the new team is adding elements from WoW and they are kinda cool but they aren't being added right imo, don't be shy about it. Add that stuff in and put it in so everyone knows it is there. A new player coming in or an old one coming back is not going to want to do all the boring stuff or be forced to watch videos/guides to do basic things. People want to play this amazing game and have fun, not drudge.

I'm someone that played hardcore for about 7 years before I quit a few years back, I did everything there was to do in this game during that time. I'm back and I'm on the cusp of having fun with the game again, but the thought of all the long-drawn out things I have to do and the hiding of new additions is killing that in me.