International Server?

[Murugan]

Btw how do you write using hiragana in this game do you use some 3rd pt software to do it?

What Raj said is true learning another language is not easy as you can probably tell from my numerous grammar errors =D

I probably could only write simple phrases like "that guy", "yes/no" and "run" in Japanese but it would be cool if there was some way to write using Hiragana that I know. Besides it would be good practice in learning new words. Ofcourse nothing beats school teaching (4 days of Japanese/week ugh), but being able to use what you know would be a good motivation to my studies.

So can you only write in Japanese with JP copy of XIV and a Japanese keyboard or is there a western workaround out there?

You need to enable IME for Japanese character input support in windows. If you look it up on google there are numerous tutorials of how to do this. No you don't have to have a JP copy or a Japanese keyboard. It does require quite a bit of functions as their alphabet is larger than our own, I personally find it easier to use a combination of auto-translate and a list of game terms/common phrases that should have been included in Auto-translate I have compiled with the aid of our leader who speaks Japanese fluently; which I then paste in as my response (I find it is quicker this way).

If you would like I could see about putting them up here or in the public forum of our linkshell's website or someone might be able to point you to a better collection elsewhere.

<Mithra> <fun> <hole> <Can I have it?> was one of my personal faves...

But, on topic: I've grouped with JP several times, and with my friend at translate.google.com I can generally get a grasp of what they're saying. I've only been booted once, only because the PT lead was a xenophobe. He said "外人" (gaijin, or foreigner) shortly before I got booted. As a general rule if you can put forth *some* effort to understand most are willing to work with you. (The opposite seems to be true as well. Admittedly, it doesn't seem as prevalent as it was in XI when I played.)

I just want to say that http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/ is a MUCH better tool than google translate.