Starting city for friends playing together

[taberlong]

I just bought the game for my friend and I. We want to play the game together but the characters we are playing starts us in different cities. Can anyone tell me what level we can start questing together? Or if there is a way we can quest together from level one without being the same class? Any help is appreciated.

[Enkidoh]

Welcome to Eorzea!

What city you start the game as is determined by what class you choose to start as (specifically, the location of that class's 'Guild', because one of the first tutorial quests involves joining up with that Guild). These are the cities connected to each class:

Gridania: Conjurer (CNJ), Lancer (LNC) and Archer (ARC)
Ul'dah: Gladiator (GLA), Pugilist (PGL) and Thaumaturge (THM)
Limsa Lominsa: Marauder (MRD) and Arcanist (ACN)

At level 15 by undertaking the storyline you'll gain the ability to travel by airship freely between the three main cities (as well as ride the ferry between Limsa Lominsa and Vesper Bay, near Ul'dah), but if you start in either Ul'dah or Gridania you can actually travel between those two cities far earlier on foot, or from level 10 by rental chocobo/chocoporter. Another option is to have your friends choose to start as a class in the same city you started in, as you can change your class to any other at level 10 as well if you don't want to have them wait til level 15 to be able to travel freely.

[taberlong]

Thank you very much for this! I plan on playing Archanist and he most likely will play Thaumaturge. I'll level up my archanist to level 15 now before he gets his copy on monday and that way when he gets his game I can play a gladiator with him up to 15 in the same city

Also just curious you wouldn't happen to know which city the rogue starts in would you?

[Squintina]

Thank you very much for this! I plan on playing Archanist and he most likely will play Thaumaturge. I'll level up my archanist to level 15 now before he gets his copy on monday and that way when he gets his game I can play a gladiator with him up to 15 in the same city

Also just curious you wouldn't happen to know which city the rogue starts in would you?

Rogue isn't a starting class. It's only available by first getting another class to level 10. (there are also crafting and gathering classes, which are only available by switching after level 10 as well). The rogue guild is in Limsa Lominsa.

[Enkidoh]

Rogue is gained from Limsa Lominsa, however you cannot actually start the game as that class because it was only added into the game recently in a patch. By unlocking the Armoury System at level 10 and completing the quests given to you by your starting class's Guild (in your case, the Arcanist's Guild) up to the level 10 one, you'll be able to unlock it then like unlocking another class.

The Rogue's Guild is found down on the docks south of the Fisherman's Guild on the Lower Decks of Limsa and is kind of hidden - you have to speak to the roegadyn outside to enter, and he'll only let you in once you're level 10 and have unlocked the Armoury System.

But it's unlocked in Limsa Lominsa in any event.

[Kinseykinz]

Thank you very much for this! I plan on playing Archanist and he most likely will play Thaumaturge. I'll level up my archanist to level 15 now before he gets his copy on monday and that way when he gets his game I can play a gladiator with him up to 15 in the same city

Also just curious you wouldn't happen to know which city the rogue starts in would you?

Small Suggestion:

So once you hit level 15, you'll start doing some 4-man group dungeons. The queues as 2x dps are far longer than the queues as 1 tank/1dps or 1heal/1dps. This is because all 4-man dungeons require 1 tank/1 healer/2 dps. S

Tank roles=MRD(LL) and GLA (Uldah)
Healer role sub 30=CNJ (Grid) (ACN can unlock SCH...but only at level 30)

As an ACN and as a THM to a lesser degree, you'll need some cross-class skills from CNJ anyway. So...it might not be a bad idea for 1 of you to level CNJ and play it first/at least up to level 34 (for Stoneskin). You can even both do it and swap 'who's the healer tonight' But really, when you're low-level and duoing...and new to the game, you likely don't have a lot of friends/support that can roll a quick dungeon run with you when you need. Also, since you'd like to be ACN anyway, you really will be able to roll healer level 30+ as SCH. (even if you wish to main SMN, being able to switch over to SCH for 'quick queues' is sexy).

I know it's fun to first explore the game on your chosen role, but healing isn't too stressful for a newbie (tanking kinda can be), and it might ease your enjoyment if you can more quickly enter instances when duoing.

Just a thought.

[taberlong]

Small Suggestion:

So once you hit level 15, you'll start doing some 4-man group dungeons. The queues as 2x dps are far longer than the queues as 1 tank/1dps or 1heal/1dps. This is because all 4-man dungeons require 1 tank/1 healer/2 dps. S

.

That was the plan I was going to main healer/support with Archanist/Scholar and he was going to be a DPS class (he hasn't decided which though). But even if I am a level 15 archanist can't I queue up as a healer? I have the one heal as an Archanist and it only requires level 2 I think to get heal on conjurer? Or would that be bad?

Also thank you everyone else for all your replies

[Kinseykinz]

That was the plan But even if I am a level 15 archanist can't I queue up as a healer? I have the one heal as an Archanist and it only requires level 2 I think to get heal on conjurer? Or would that be bad?

Also thank you everyone else for all your replies

No you cannot queue as 'Healer' as ACN. ACN is considered a DD. You can only start healing as 'ACN' once you unlock SCH, which won't happen until level 30. But if you really are planning on being SCH anyway, then it wouldn't be bad at all for you to level CNJ to 34 (go to 34 for Stoneskin). Then do the remaining dungeons as SCH.

You shouldn't have too much trouble keeping your ACN/SCH on par level-wise with you CNJ because you can level your ACN via the mainstoryline (sans dungeons) and quests...and use dungeons and party play (like guildheists) for your CNJ.

But if you do this (take cnj to level 34), it'll mean by level 30 on SCH, you'll have:

Protect
Aero
Cleric's Stance (this is crack for a SCH)
Stoneskin

Also, at some point, you'll want to level THM to at least level 26 for Swiftcast (Swiftcast+Ressurection is an expected combo for a SCH in endgame...but can be back-burnered until you reach level 50)
I also like keeping Surecast as a cross skill (this is a low-level thm skill), but I've seen other SCH's opt for Aero instead.

[taberlong]

Once I get Archanist to 15 can I switch to conjurer and start leveling that up? I don't want to level up archanist past 15 since I want to level with my friend once he gets to 15. Would I be able to level conjurer in the meantime and then switch back to Archanist and level with him at 15? That would help get the level 34 you were referring to.

[Kinseykinz]

Once I get Archanist to 15 can I switch to conjurer and start leveling that up? I don't want to level up archanist past 15 since I want to level with my friend once he gets to 15. Would I be able to level conjurer in the meantime and then switch back to Archanist and level with him at 15? That would help get the level 34 you were referring to.

Yup.
Once you hit level 10 actually, you can unlock EVERY OTHER CLASS in the game. Whether it's Conjurer, Gladiator, Botanist, Weaver etc. doesn't matter. At level 10, you are free to unlock everything (although I think you only gain easy access to all 3 cities aroun level 15 if I remember correctly).

OH, one little hiccup though. Since you are leveling ACN first, you're 'stuck' in Limsa Lominsa until you get far enough in the main storyline that you are asked to travel to the other city-states (you can't leave w/o using an airship basically). So while in theory, at level 10 you can unlock ALL classes, the reality is you're 'stuck in Limisa' until you get to the 'go to the other cities' point in the Main Storyline (which is around level 15). Still ALL of the main story up to this point (and a bit after) is designed to be soloed. So you could level your ACN to 15, unlock this much of the main story, then travel to the other cities and unlock CNJ, attune to the aytherites in Uldah/Gridania etc. And then do the side-quests in Gridania to help level your CNJ while your friend levels THM in Uldah. (since you could tele to Uldah if you attune to it's aytherite, you could easily visit him/play with him until he can travel freely as well if you desire).

And really, you'll have plenty of leveling options so it should be easy enough to keep both your ACN and CNJ at basically the same level so you and your friend can play together. (heck, he might want to duo-level a class as well with you).

Leveling Options:
Main Story Quests- the majority of the main story exp is given to you outside party/dungeon play. So you can do these on ACN.
Side Quests-you'll find many of these in the same area/same level as your main storyline takes you. Again, you can do these on ACN to help level it.
Hunting Logs- Each class gets it's own hunting book that by killing the mobs listed=bonus exp. Do this on BOTH CNJ/ACN
Leves*- Can do on either class to 'catch up' keep them at the same level. You'll gain access to these around level 10 I think. Also, you get a daily allowance of 4? (I always have max so I forget) a day. They stack to 99. Basically, unlock them and then let them build for when you're bored/need them.
Guildheists-Once again, you'll have a 'daily roulette bonus' for doing these once a day. Also, you get a bonus in exp the first time you complete one of these on a new class. So take advantage and queue each one at least once as both classes. However, as you can do the daily roulette each day for a bonus in exp, I'd queue whichever role is behind in exp for this each day. These also unlock around level 10 (also, even though this is party content, you cannot duo-que for it).
Daily Low-level Roulette- I'd queue CNJ for this as it's likely the role you'lll be 'behind' on...but if your ACN slips behind, this is an option. Again, this roulette is a SOLO queue...so you can't do this with your buddy...but the bonus exp it gives, typically ='s one new level on a class a day. (not too shabby). Typically queues for healer are 1-5 mins...DD is more like 30-40mins for these.
FATES: If you don't have any more Sidequests/Mainstory missions and if you've done your Daily roulettes for the day, these are your next 'best' exp option. You can do on whichever role needs to catch up, and you can do them with your buddy. (Heck, later you can do them with your buddy+your chocobos). Many many people use FATES more or less soley to level their alt roles.



* Many people who are trying to level a Gathering or Crafting role opt to save their leves for leveling these jobs rather than battleroles as the exp earned for battle roles is /meh, but it's FANTASTIC on DOL/DOH. But they do regen over time, and if you aren't planning on leveling a gathering or crafting job right away, no need to save them.