With so much choice.. how on earth do you decide?

[Rhona]

Seems like I have fun with each and every class in different ways. I'm finding it impossible to choose a 'main class' to progress on with.

How do you decide? I really need some pointers here or I'll never get to higher levels.

[Rivienne]

I tried each role up to the main dungeons. Once I got a feel for how the role worked in dungeons in a group setting, I started to find which ones worked best for me for the long haul and have focused most on that: in my case I have focused most on WHM, though I also still dabbled in Archer for a long time.

So I would take one role up to Level 20, and the first 3 story dungeons Sastasha, Tam-Tara, and Copperbell, and the 1 non-story dungeon Halatali. If you really like it, stick to that for the rest of the progression. If you still aren't sure, take some other roles up the 20 as well until you find the one that suits. Just be warned that you will probably want a group of other players on your server to help you out with this, especially for damage classes.

I wouldn't keep dabbling after level 20 if possible because leveling takes longer and longer after 20, but you can easily get most classes to 20 in a short amount of time enough to play with each role in dungeons.

Also I forgot to mention! Be aware, that each class gets an option to unlock a specialized job at level 30, based on having a secondary role at level 15. For example to unlock white mage, you need conjurer at level 30, and arcanist at level 15. So you really want to have several classes at least to level 15. So you really want to get other classes to level 15 anyway since jobs are really useful in dungeons with parties.

Then once you unlock a job, there is always a third class that has skills you can use on that job beyond the first two, in the case of Conjurer you want Thaumaturge up to level 26 to get Swiftcast. This lets you do one spell instantly every minute. Most people use this to be able to instantly raise someone in battle.

So yeah, don't stress. Some of those classes you are going to need later anyway.

[Niwashi]

Well, there's always the option of not bothering to decide, but continuing with all of them. Of course, that will start to take a long time as you get into higher levels, but I can think of worse things than spending a lot of time playing a fun game.

Anyway, regardless of whether you continue them further or not, Rivienne has a good point about playing them all long enough to get to the first set of dungeons. In particular, I'd start with leveling a DPS, a tank, and a healer that far. Having each of the main roles covered makes it easier to help out any FC members who need a group to get through that portion of the storyline. Then continue trying others to get a feel for how each one works.

For instance, when I started out and was going by descriptions of the classes, I coudn't really relate to what it is that an arcanist does, so didn't expect to like that class. When I started playing it, I found it a lot of fun. On the other hand, I'm not having as much fun leveling my lancer class, so I might stop on that one once I get it up to around 20 or so.

Another advantage of leveling all the classes far enough to get into some group content and learn a number of their primary skills is that when you are in a group, you have a good idea of not only what you can do, but what each of your other teammates can do. It really does seem to make it easier to coordinate your actions.

And in any case, one of the really nice features of this game is that the classes aren't exclusive. Advancing one won't prevent you from changing your mind later and advancing another one. So play whatever you feel like playing at the moment, and if later you feel like doing something else, go ahead and switch to something else.

[Naberrie]

I don't consider myself as having a main. I started as BRD and got it to 50, but it's in a holding pattern till I see what changes SE will wrought. In the meantime I'm leveling WHM, which is already 46; WAR, which is 32; and working on crafting. I don't consider any of those my main, and I might go days without ever playing any of them.

[xRitzx]

The advice given so far is good but keep in mind that if you have one DoW/DoM class that is at a higher level then your others, the lower level DoW/DoM classes will gain 50% more XP for each kill and FATE (doesn't apply to quest XP). So I would suggest having a primary class that is always one level higher than the others for most efficient leveling.

[Chrono13]

I really wanted that sick DRG gear so I went with that first. Once I got him to 50 I decided to lvl all the other classes to 20 which im in the process of doing now.

After that I am taking one at a time to 30 until I have all the jobs

[Pronsolo]

Ive have always been a fan of Black Mages so it was a no brainer for me!

[Cairn]

I don't have a "main class". I play PLD as tank, WHM/SCH as healer, DRG/BLM/BRD as dps.
I rarely touch WAR/MNK/SMN though.

[L33K]

gnna catch em all!!!

[Maero]

This has been my problem so far, i am pretty much working every single class
And now my problem is also the DOH classes i am doing the same thing
Because many members of the FC i am in are already level 50 i figure i can at least contribute by crafting for them for now
Must really get back to the main story, lol
But yes you can even work up all classes to level 15 as your main class will need level 15 anyhow of another class once you reach level 30