New Player

[emeposk]

A bit of an update, I'm level 21 now. I managed to make it through 3 dungeons this weekend to advance my story line quest. I did notice some of my armor seems to have slots for materia, but I haven't found any materia yet at this point. I'm curious as to exactly where I would find some materia. I'm also curious of what the soul link to my armor does. At least, that's what I think it was called.

[Bixby]

A bit of an update, I'm level 21 now. I managed to make it through 3 dungeons this weekend to advance my story line quest. I did notice some of my armor seems to have slots for materia, but I haven't found any materia yet at this point. I'm curious as to exactly where I would find some materia. I'm also curious of what the soul link to my armor does. At least, that's what I think it was called.

Once armor is 100% spiritbound, it can be converted to materia. (Unless it's non-convertible, which is generally anything with a green or blue background, some special unique gear, etc.) There's a quest at level 19 that unlocks the ability to convert gear. It starts with Minfilia in the Waking Sands, and she sends you to Central Thanalan for another quest that actually unlocks the ability. You may need to get to a certain point in the main scenario; can't quite remember.

Generally, the type of materia you get is based on the type of gear you're converting. Tank gear can give parry, vit, etc. Mage gear can give spell speed, int, etc. Pretty much anything has a chance to give elemental resistance materia. You can also find materia created by other players on the market boards.

There's another quest at the same place when you reach level 19 on any Disciple of the Hand (except Culinarian) that unlocks the ability to affix materia to gear. And then another at DoH level 25 that teaches you to overmeld gear (any gear that can hold materia can hold up to 5, but only the sockets have guaranteed success; materia meld attempts past the # of sockets have a chance to fail).

You can also request melds from other players. The DoH that's listed as the gear's class for repairs on the tooltip is the same one that can meld materia to it. E.G., you need a Weaver of the appropriate level to meld materia to cloth armor. Once you have the materia and the appropriate catalyst (Grade 1 Carbonized Matter for a level 1 materia, grade 2 for a level 2, etc.), you right-click on the player, select "Request Meld," select the gear and the materia you want added to it, put in a tip amount if any, and proceed, and the meld happens automatically.

[emeposk]

I guess I shouldn't have sold all my 100% spiritbound gear to shop keepers, whoops.

[Niwashi]

I'm curious as to exactly where I would find some materia.

If you've noticed the "Spiritbond" line in equipment tooltips, it indicates how much you've used the equipment and it relates to making materia. There's a level 19 quest called "Forging the Spirit" that unlocks the ability to convert items into materia once you've established a 100% spiritbond. (A main storyline quest called "Life, Materia, and Everything" will take you into the right area at about the right level, and it explains a bit about how materia works, but it's the sidequest you'll find there "Forging the Spirit" that actually unlocks it.) Be sure to pick up that sidequest when you're there.


Ah, Bixby beat me to it.

[Bixby]

I guess I shouldn't have sold all my 100% spiritbound gear to shop keepers, whoops.

Live and learn. Even if you don't actually use the materia yourself, some of it can bring in pretty good gil on the market boards. Almost always more than selling the gear to a vendor, though it depends on what materia you end up with.

[Naberrie]

It's not the end of the world if you sell low level gear that was spiritbound. You're going to end up with plenty. It's the materia you convert from high level gear that will really be what you want.

[rabbitzero]

2 - Try everything!
...
Overall, I'd recommend trying some of every flavor before you put a ton of time and effort into one class.

That's something i love about this game, you aren't locked into a class for your character, so if you don't like to play something, you don't have to delete and start over. I'd recommend trying different classes, granted, getting to the job stage is longer, you can get an idea if you like the idea of the class pretty well getting to 15 or 30.

[juniglee]

snip

I don't see the relevance of your point.

Any fresh 30 will have a few skills they can cross-class with. Some recommendations are just given based on the experience of older players here. To begin with, it's mix and match.

PLD (CNJ 15): Cure, Raise, Protect, Cleric Stance
WAR (GLD 15): Savage Blade, Convalescence, Flash
DRG (MRD 15): Skull Sunder, Foresight, Bloodbath, Fracture
MNK (LNC 15): Feint, Keen Flurry, Impulse Drive
BRD (PUG 15): Featherfoot, Internal Release, Second Wind
BLM (ARC 15): Raging Strikes (there's a few more but not too familiar with Archer skill set)
WHM (ACN 15): Physick, Virus, Ruin
SMN (THM 15): Surecast, Blizzard 2
SCH (CNJ 15): Cure, Raise, Protect, Cleric Stance

For anyone who is just starting out, 5 slots is more than enough, since it's not going to be optimal cross-classing anyway, unless they decided they want to take some time to level the other classes for the relevant skills.

If anything, new players should not be intimidated by information. Information gives knowledge, and knowledge is power.

[ShadowDan]

In my opinion, it's when you explore your first dungeons in a class, with other players, that you can really decide wether you like it or not. Barring the bad or antisocial players you can sometimes get, having a few good runs will let you judge if tanking, or melee damage or healing or whatever is the thing for you. Worst case scenario, you switch to another class and can even make some use a few of the abilities learned in the first one.

Have fun exporing the Armoury system, that's what it's there for.

[AzucenaC]

Just for curiosty's sake, I was wondering how you were finding everything. Have you had a bit more opportunities to play?

It's too bad you didn't start on the Midgardsormr server. I would have invited you to our Free Company right off the bat