Happy 20th to Final Fantasy XI

[Krokov]

20 years ago today Final Fantasy XI released. Me no doubt like many others started 1st on XI and came over to XIV. I met my best friends in RL there and developed a love for MMO'S. One of my best memories is winning the airship battes and getting to Sea (Al'Taeiu). Thanks SE for the great and continuing memories and leading me into XIV, concerts, memorabilia and so forth.

What are some of your best memories of XI?

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

People talking up the community and how good it was, getting stuck in the dunes where parties broke up quick and no one in the "beginner friendly helper ls" I was invited to wanted to spend any time there, and then quitting.

[aveyond-dreams]

Defeating Shiva after many failed attempts and then summoning her for the first time. She’s still my goto in most battles in that game.

The only other moment that tops that is when I obtained Carbuncle’s Ruby for the first time and began my journey to unlock Summoner.

[Krokov]

Defeating Shiva after many failed attempts and then summoning her for the first time. She’s still my goto in most battles in that game.

The only other moment that tops that is when I obtained Carbuncle’s Ruby for the first time and began my journey to unlock Summoner.

Ah farming Carbuncle's Ruby man was glad when it finally dropped from those dang leeches, then traveling all over Vana'diel for the weather effects.

[Anienai]

The WAR/WHM lay face down in the sands of Valkrum Dunes. BST could shut down a zone if provoked. BRDs and RDMs were the princess of the party and BLM were left to solo goblin pets.

[Skivvy]

People talking up the community and how good it was, getting stuck in the dunes where parties broke up quick and no one in the "beginner friendly helper ls" I was invited to wanted to spend any time there, and then quitting.

This sounds like the equivalent of a new player joining XIV, ending up in a poo-poo FC, then claiming the entire community and game suck because of that early experience. I have some hilarious memories from the dune levels and I also met some of my first game friends there....so YMWV.

But anyway, I love me some XI! Now if only I could convince some friends to play with me. .

Kudos though for hitting 20 years!

[Sebazy]

Oh man I have so many vivid and incredible memories from FFXI.

Not all of them were positive for sure and there was a hell of a lot of rough alongside the smooth, but I wouldn't change a thing in hindsight. That game at it's peak was an unrepeatable experience in community, world building and engagement.

I was the second non JP BRD main on my server to get the Abj for a Dalmatica, I worked damn hard to earn that, it meant a lot to me that my LS chose to give it to me over another rando BLM and I literally cried IRL when the crafter promptly blew up the Synth for it. When I did eventually regather mats and got it made successfully it made me cherish that thing just that bit more. Items in FFXIV are disposable fluff, to be thrown in the gutter at worst or stashed away for glamour purposes at best. Meanwhile that simple +50mp +mp regen top that made my Taru BRD even more squishy than normal came with more memories in tow than most entire single player experiences.

FFXI genuinely made a sport of kicking you into the dirt and had no qualms about laughing at you whilst it did it. IMHO it made me a stronger person for finding the will to pick myself up of the floor and go again but better each time this happened.

I doubt any game would ever have the guts to be as outright nasty in this day and age and it's frankly a shame in some ways.

[Seraphor]

I literally just decided to start playing XI, and as I go to register and install it, I find out it's the 20th anniversary and there's a sale. I had no idea. What are the chances?

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

This sounds like the equivalent of a new player joining XIV, ending up in a poo-poo FC, then claiming the entire community and game suck because of that early experience. I have some hilarious memories from the dune levels and I also met some of my first game friends there....so YMWV.

But anyway, I love me some XI! Now if only I could convince some friends to play with me. .

Kudos though for hitting 20 years!

People do that all the time with XIV tho, have you seen the "gcbtw" people here? Lol

I'm sure XI was a fine game, but it definitely was no accessible to newer players who didn't find the right group.

I spent two weeks shouting for parties, both trying to join and create. I think I gained 1 whole level.... Maybe... And then just quit out of frustration.

[Anienai]

We need Maat's cap in game.