Noobie Help

[Naria]

I don't want to type this up again, so crossposted from another thread:

The MSQ continues at 50 for a while (added in patches 2.1-2.55). These quests reward nice gear and exp, but you can only gain exp past 50 if you have purchased and installed Heavensward. Getting this exp is not necessary to get to 60, but if you plan on playing to 60 I'd go ahead and get Heavensward now as it is a nice boost. You will need to finish all of these quests in order to access any Heavensward content.

I would also rank up in your GC until you reach 2nd Lt, as the housing system is locked behind that rank. Personal apartments are being added this patch, if you want to purchase one you will need to be that rank.

Tomestones (sry, pet peeve of mine, it is a common mistake) come in a couple different varieties: Tomestones of Poetics, Lore and Scripture. Tomestones of Poetics are used to purchase level 50 i120 Ironworks gear, some crafting items, items for the ARR and Heavensward relics and a few minions. This gear can be upgraded to i130 using lvl50 raid drops or more poetics, and will last you until about lvl 55. As soon as you start doing level 50 content, it will start rewarding you with them, and you can get a bonus amount of them once a day doing the level 50 roulette. You will want to have the level 50 roulette unlocked at some point (you need to complete all ARR dungeons to do so) as poetics do have some limited use at 60 and it is good exp if you are leveling an alt class past 50. That said, it is not necessary at the moment. 50 plus the MSQ will reward you with appropriate gear to continue progressing; this continues in Heavensward. It is not really worth stopping to farm up and upgrade an Ironworks set unless you feel like it. Lore and Scripture tomes are used and obtained at level 60.

Completing the raids The Crystal Tower and The Binding Coil of Bahamut will get you some nice story and a bit of exp and maybe some gear. The Crystal Tower raids are 24 man raids that can easily be completed at 50 through the DF (though I'd queue on the weekends). Be aware that even if you are new the alliance won't slow down for you in the Tower. We've been running this thing for years and cheese most of the mechanics. Anyone new is just going to get dragged along for the ride. If you want explanations I'd look up a guide before entering.

Pretty much no one does Coil (called Turns 1-13 or T1-13) outside of level 60 unsynced parties, as some of these raids will still wipe your party at 60 if everyone is not paying attention (which happens a depressing amount in T9).

There are also Hard and Extreme mode trials at 50. You can ignore the extremes--most people do these unsynced at 60 to farm mounts and glamour gear, but you will have to defeat the hard mode primals in order to do patch 2.5's story and get to Heavensward. Some of these are part of the MSQ but Ifrit, Garuda, and Titan HM are not so you will have to pick the quests for these up at the Waking Sands. There is also a trials roulette and there are a few trials unlocked from side quests needed to unlock this, but I don't believe you need to do that to start Heavensward.

Just a quick addendum: Coil, Crystal Tower and the ARR Extremes all ended up being relevant to patch 3.4's MSQ, although only Coil progress effected the dialogue. So you might want to complete those before starting 3.4's storyline.

3.4 Starts with the lvl 60 quest "Promises Kept". If you want to, you will have plenty of time to do Coil and the ARR extremes at 60, before you get to that quest. If you haven't already, I'd stop and level up your sub classes to get your cross class abilities. One more piece of advice: If you are new and need a explanation, say so. If you don't even with the new play message people will assume you are an alt and act accordingly. If you say you are new, most groups will be accommodating. (With the exception of Prae, CM and the Tower)