Level up one class or several from the beginning.

[Saldek]

Hello,

I'm just curious how people play the game. Are there benefits from leveling each class up at the same time or should I focus on just one battle class first? I started playing a bard until mid 20's and then joined each guild for at least a few levels. Lately I've been doing just the crafting classes but feel it's so time consuming maybe I should try and get further along with just one class doing dungeons.

I don't have a lot of time to play, around 2 hours on weekdays, maybe 10 hours a week max. How much gil do you need at the upper levels?

Thanks!

[Shougun]

Once you reach level 30 on a class you will get the opportunity to unlock a job, which will add significant power to your class - that is one bonus for leveling a particular class up. You will need to level one side classes up to half of that in order to unlock the job (consider leveling two for cross class abilities).

Certainly play whichever fits your fancy if it means having fun; however, in terms of efficiency keep in mind of the Armoury bonus which works by granting you extra EXP when you level jobs lower than your highest leveled job - which is 100% until 50. That can mean a lot for the lower leveled jobs and classes. To be specific 100% exp bonus for jobs under your highest leveled job till level 50, and 50% for jobs under your highest leveled job past level 50.

Also you will have once a day special bonus for running each Roulette found in the Duty Finder, they're all pretty good but the low level roulette has been known for its great exp bonus. Guild Hests also have a unique one time bonus exp for each DoW/DoM class(/job) that exists outside the bonus of the day from the Guild Hest Roulette. Talking about bonuses, the Job (type) in need bonus is each time- so if it says it needs a tank and you get 5K gil you can continue to rerun that content for that bonus till you're not the job in need ;P (tanks and healers are almost always in need).

So for efficient use of time, I recommend running at least the low level roulette once a day bonus to level, and to level one job you like up to 50 following the Main Story line. The main story has added rewards to help gear you to heavensward content since heavensward was added, you shouldn't be spending much gil on gear so long as you pick up dungeon gear and quests that pass by with nice rewards. Also, you can scan leves for gear rewards if you really needed something to wear as they sometimes have equipment as a reward. I do not recommend leves for battle classes past level 15 (unless you see something you want). Leves as well as Ixali beast tribe quests and Grand Company Turn Ins are excellent leveling opportunities for crafters and gatherers however.

This link has some info on exp too: http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Experience

See challange log and hunt log for even more EXP opportunities, some of which will happen with very little modifications to the way you are already playing but will reward great bonuses.

Edited for armoury bonus clarification.

[Urthdigger]

Starting out, I'd say to pick one class, level it to 30, level up whatever secondary class is needed to unlock your job to level 15 (which for Bard is pugilist) then keep leveling the initial class to cap.

Main reason for this is that there are a lot of things unlocked via progress in the main storyline that you may want access to, especially when it comes to daily/weekly lockout things. You can still hit your daily/weekly events you need, and once those are done use the rest of your time to level your side classes.

[Garlyle]

One big thing is that when you are levelling battle classes below your highest levelled one, you get a very massive EXP bonus - +100%, to be specific (Or +50% for the 50-60 stretch).

That said, experiment with classes as you desire! One of the biggest advantages to testing out other classes for a couple levels is that you are able to cross-class certain actions from other jobs, giving you a couple extra actions you'll be able to use on your main one - some of which can be very valueable!

Depending on which class you decide on as a main, there's also one class you will absolutely want to level to 15 as well to meet the prerequisite for the Job unlock when the time comes (level 30).

Either way, XIV lets you go at your own pace. Feel free to focus on one job all the way to 60 (making sure to get your Job though all the same!), or level up a bunch, or whatever.

[HighMarshal]

With my Highlander whose last name is Stormblade, I decided that I wanted to level up all classes/jobs that used a bladed weapon. I am getting Lancer to 30 and then plan on getting Marauder to 15 followed by Gladiator and then rogue. I am not sure about pugilist as only some of their weapons have blades though I will have to get it up to 15 if I want ninja. I do plan on getting Dark Knight when I can. The only variation is that I will probably get Conjurer up to 30 for the Unicorn mount unless they add a Pegasus mount somewhere down the line.

[Saldek]

Thanks for the info everyone! I didn't realize there was a 100% exp bonus once I get a class to 50. That will definitely help me focus. There's so much to do in this game!

[Niwashi]

If you plan on leveling them all eventually, then the timing of when you level your first and when you branch out to others is almost entirely a matter of personal preference. The only two caveats are:

(1) you should get the needed secondary class to 15 by the time your main is 30 so you can unlock your job, and

(2) there are a couple of non-progression related features (specifically personal housing and glamours) that aren't unlocked until level 50, so if those are important to you, it might be a reason to try to hit 50 on at least one job sooner rather than later.

The rest of what gets unlocked at 50 (or actually by completing the original 2.0 story, which requires being level 50) is only pertinent to your level 50 job, so whether it comes before or after leveling other classes/jobs is irrelevant, as you won't be using any of it while leveling those other jobs.

(I can't say much regarding the Heavensward leveling from 50 to 60 as I haven't done that part myself. I don't see any reason to until finishing all the ARR content.)

[Lanatir]

I thought the extra 50% bonus was only given once you reach 60, not 50??

[Garlyle]

I thought the extra 50% bonus was only given once you reach 60, not 50??

Nope. The Armoury bonus is entirely tied to whether the class being lower levelled than your highest. The amount of bonus EXP received is then dependant on what level your class in question is at - classes below 50 get +100%; classes from 50 onwards get +50%.

[Niwashi]

I just verified it on an alt whose highest class is level 26. His level 24 class gets the full 100% Armoury bonus (in addition to 50% rest XP, so it showed up as +150%). Neither level 60 nor 50 are required. All you need is something that's higher than your current one, the same as before.