The Journey - Is It Still Wanted?

[Nikita]

I have some really fond memories of my leveling experiences in FFXI, though I have just as many bad memories (getting trained by mobs outside of Kazham anyone? )

I like Yoshi-P's idea that if someone wants to be power leveled, they can be. Nobody is forcing you to power level. I play on Selbina, the same server as a particular anti-powerleveling fanatic who says they cannot escape it, and I haven't been in a party that has even tried to find a power-leveler since it was broken and level range didn't matter.

It is all about choice, while I haven't participated in power leveling in a while, I would still like the option to do so. The areas in FFXI were quite beautiful, but it faded after leveling in those areas over and over. Also, I will most likely be leveling up through PvP quite a bit, too!

Both sides have a lot to say on this matter, but in the end, I support Yoshi-P's decision on player choice, the freedom to do either.

[Nullie]

I would say in a sense starting with this game from release to now has been a journey. All the changes that have been made and everything in between. The events we have had and now these primal fights. Starting from earning skill points on using certain skills to hitting fatigue. I was actually able to fish here. I was never able to get past level 11 fisher in 11. Changing shells. Adjusting skills. Going with leve parties on dunes, rainine and levinshower. It has been an experience for me and my own journey.

I can understand where you are coming from though. A lot of my time was spent in uldah area. Just brown color. Kinda dull. I've enjoyed the game and all the changes and have had fun the way I have played it. I can remember the first time I hit Mor Dhona. I was like "Oooh, ahhh. New music! Different colors!" and then fog happened and I was even more amazed. Doing the NM battles with my shells. Running through Darkhold. It has been great for me. I do wish there were more areas, but that is coming in 2.0. Who knows how the game will be by then? Perhaps I will make a new character to play with friends or family who start the game. We will see.

[lordvr]

plvling is completely broken. You can go from 1 to 50 in one day. The change in 1.19a didn't fix anything.

[Reverser]

plvling is completely broken. You can go from 1 to 50 in one day. The change in 1.19a didn't fix anything.

Evidence plx. I'm calling BS on this.

[tachikoma]

Evidence plx. I'm calling BS on this.

Is 271k exp in under 50min. good enough proof? This party took a rank 40 glad to rank 50 in alittle over 3hours. And 40-50 is half the total EXP from 1-50. R30-40 can be done with a PL doing add/drop on raptors netting around 150k/hour exp.

[RathSkybreaker]

Evidence plx. I'm calling BS on this.

easy, get a group together, log in you know? Go outside to thanalahn find the camp of cactuars.. rank 27 ish? thats easy rank 1-30 then get a group and start plvling at nanawa.. then just stronghold grind.. 1.3k+ sp/kill on wolves in natalan? Thats ridiculous yet it happens.

[Estellios]

Nullie brought up something that I forgot, myself.

Personally I feel like every major update to the game is a milestone, it's created lots of memories of both the good and bad and it's cool seeing all these changes =P

[Allistar]

Hi All,

With the lively discussion in a recent PL thread, the topic of the Journey was brought up. Seeing the diverse opinions on the subject, I'm curious:

• Do people still care for the Journey from Level 1 to Max? Specifically the dreaded "G" word, known as the Grind?

We know Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0 is promising a wonderful reboot and a complete World Redesign (joy!). But even then, will Yoshida-san keep the super fast speed and pace of leveling as it is now? And if so, will people even get to enjoy most of the new areas before they're at Max Level doing End Game-only content?

While I agree that killing your 2,000th Raptor isn't going to teach you how to beat an End Game Boss, there is something to be said about the Journey to get from Level 1 to 50.

During Final Fantasy XI (in the early days), some of my fondest memories were of things like...



Traveling to Valkurm Dunes for the first time. Seeing all these strangers and fellow low level players braving the beaches and trying to get a high enough level to progress further. Running back into the coastal town with accidental links to prevent dying. LOL Or Shouting for a Raise for a dead party member and finding a friendly high level White Mage who helped us out. Or someone accidentally pulling Valkurm Emperor thinking it was another dragonfly (back in the early days .



Getting to Jeuno, and then exploring the zone underneath known as Qufim Island was another memorable experience during my grind. I remember scared warnings from fellow adventurers to retreat when it got dark (night), because Qufim Island at night turned into a completely different horrific environment compared to daytime (for low level players). But it was fun, being scared and staying huddled, waiting for the sun to come back up.



Or wandering Rolanberry Fields, a scenic detour near Jeuno and meeting all sorts of strangers there on their way to Crawler's Nest...



Which was a pretty crowded, popular area to camp those giant Crawlers. Sure there was fighting over mob spawns, but it was also filled with nervous, fun memories of overcoming and pulling Crawlers across long portions back to your camp, like bringing a prized kill back to your family (party) to enjoy (EXP off of).



Gustav Tunnel was another memorable place I had some fun EXP Parties at. I remember the first time I ran around a corner to come face-to-face with this big Wyvern-like NM, Bune! :O I was so freaked out and it proceeded to destroy my entire EXP Party, LOL.



Pashhow Marshlands was another interesting area filled with Quadavs (Beastmen) and a visually distinct environment to party in.



And of course, wandering into Beadeaux and finding Quadav NMs was always interesting.



Running into Castle Oztroja, and fighting Yagudo (Bird Beastmen) was another fun time sink, and memories of Mee Deggi The Punisher are forever burned in my brain.



Kazham and the 2 Jungles and the Tonberry Temple were other very memorable EXP Places that I met and discovered new friends while on the grind.



And places like The Boyahda Tree, and someone accidentally pulling Aquarius NM (thinking it was a regular crab) was hilarious thinking back on it now.

The pace of the original Grind from Level 1 to 75 in Final Fantasy XI was definitely too long in this day-and-age, but I had many good memories as I made my way to my first Level 75 job back then.

I learned about Skillchains and helped teach fellow players how to Skillchain. We learned our abilities and weaponskills, how to handle multiple (accidental) aggro, built up confidence, and just generally grinded (true). But I had fun.

The new Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0 World Redesign is truly AMAZING! (If you haven't seen the PDF with images, do so now! -

Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0 World Map Art (thanks Starlord!)
http://aniverse.net/attachment.php?a...3&d=1318757548

http://aniverse.net/attachment.php?a...4&d=1318757561

http://aniverse.net/attachment.php?a...5&d=1318757639

http://aniverse.net/attachment.php?a...6&d=1318757654

http://wdl.square-enix.com/ffxiv/download/en/FFXIV_2.0_Specs_EN.pdf

Will people still want to spend time EXP'ing in these areas given the feelings on the boards about how good the super-fast pace of EXP is right now?

All I know is, I can't wait for new classes to open up for an opportunity to take a new Level 1 class through and explore all the new world areas in Final Fantasy XIV Version 2.0. (^_^)

Don't get me wrong, I want a complex, well-developed pantheon of End Game Content (many choices for many people (Instanced Dungeons, Non-Instanced Dungeons, HNMs, Large Scale PvE Areas, our own XIV version of SKY or SEA or Dynamis (original days)), but I'd love to just adventure and explore the new, distinct world in 2.0 with fellow adventurers.

How does everyone else feel?

I still want the journey...everything you stated IMO is what an MMO should be about...wonder...amazement...awe...inspiring...fearful...and FUN!!!

[Jynx]

Personally the journey is the biggest reason I play MMO's and I do hope FFXIV has a decent journey when 2.0 arrives. the current

Can't walk anywhere, can't fight anything, can't risk anything because it wastes my precious time mentality needs to go.

[Kiara]

Personally the journey is the biggest reason I play MMO's and I do hope FFXIV has a decent journey when 2.0 arrives. the current

Can't walk anywhere, can't fight anything, can't risk anything because it wastes my precious time mentality needs to go.

Hi Jynx,

Good to know you and others here still enjoy the Journey. I really can't wait for 2.0's new world design.