My Take on Low Levels

AKA The thread of "WTF is wrong with you people?!"

To start off, I made a new character (actually two of them- the first one on a wrong server) to test out the new play environment and provide feedback. Unlike most of you "XXX Level 50" posters (who seem to be the most vocal about how the game functions at lower levels). I think this gives my opinion some amount of weight.

Needless to say, the first thing you should come across when venturing outside are the plethora of monsters around the starting camps. Coblyns or cute lil' sheeps. Either way, both ate the blade of MY AXE. Repeatedly.

Looking back, it's easy to say firsthand that the game is absoluteley borkedz. The leves, and I mean this, are completely useless for fighters at level 1. Do the tutorial, ignore the rest.

Though, whether this matters or not is up to question. The only difference between what I did, and what the leves make me do, is a) less running around, more SLAUGHTERING SHEEP. B) No money off finished leves (200gil lost- I still can't stop crying over it) and b) you don't have a COOL User Interface stating -Sheep to Kill 4/8-. Needless to say I think the game would be fine if the starter leves were removed completely or made a part of SLAUGHTERING SHEEP. And yes, I used two b)'s because I am that bad-ass.

So, what are the benefits? Level 1-5 in 15minutes (I counted), levels six to ten in perhaps 45minutes? This with starting equipment of course. And (here comes the best part)- a smorgasbord of shards and crystals!

These shards and crystals have netted me around 50k so far, with another 50k(+) coming up once they sell. I also did the lower level scenario quests, as newbs tend to do, and managed to get another 25k or so.

Not to mention, now that I was a strong and capable level 10 Marauder, I of course took part in some level 10 guildleves (that reward you much more generously). Needless to say gil was not the problem here.

But what was the problem... nobody was selling the stuff I needed. So, knowing I was going to take up a craft anyway, I started researching. Sure enough, making equipment would cost me around 5k+ a piece...if I bought the mats from NPC.

You know, seeing that what people actually do is whine and bitch and what they don't do is make use of the fantastic possibilites low level crafting and generally making use of the economy provides, I'm going to make a small fortune off this.

Certainly not millions and billions like the brave souls who have stuck around for longer than I have made, but certainly enough to get by and make a living out of it.

The best thing about all of this is that money has an actual value right now, and so does equipment. There's things to look forward to as a fighter or as a DoL/DoH, whether it be to fight Ifrit or create items with 5 materias attached to them (and getting rich in the process). I don't do these things out of principle- I do them because they actually matter. That is what 1.19 is all about.

I'm not some MMO expert with limitless time and resources. I wasn't planning on crafting (I certainly shouldn't need to- somebody will tap on that profit you can make off low level gear if I don't) and I don't plan to level everything to make this possible. I did what made most sense to do and I am doing just fine. New players still need tutorials that explain the usage of Marketplace (hopefully AH soon) and other relevancies, but the fundamentals are there and I couldn't be more satisfied about my low level experience so far.

Aside from all the other crap that hasn't been worked on yet as of 1.19, but I am patient.

Yeah, it is pretty good for the low levels. I'm having a lot of fun.

i quite like your story and you bring up some valid points. i wish i could say this will stop all the bitching about hte new patch but i doubt it will. hopefully new players that see it will realise there not doomed by 1.19, like most of the new threads would have you believe. if there is one thing i could pick you up on on your little test, its the fact that you already knew where to go and what to do. but other than that your post gives us hope :D

Yeah, I knew where the Airship deck is and how to set up a retainer. These things newbs won't figure out without asking or without tutorial, but its still there. God I hope the retainer interface is changed however.

The shards will probably drop in price but so will the price of equipment once people figure this stuff out... the newbs of today can sell their stuff rather easily and make a living that way.

I am impressed with OP for once.