Problem with equipping weapons

[hexteria]

Hi guys! so im new here. i have only played for about 10 hours or so and my main character is a level 20 Thaumaturge and i want to be a black mage. so my problem is this. i have done my research and read a lot of articles that i have to be a level 30 THM and a level 15 ARC for me to become a black mage and that i only have to equip a bow to level up as an archer but i can not equip a bow because it has a class requirement of ARC or BRD and to be a level 1 archer requirement and im currently a level 0 archer based on the character menu.

btw, the bow that i have has an x mark on it's icon and all the guides i can search in google are from the year 2014 to 2015 nothing from 2016 or 2017. maybe something has changed? idk..

[Nixxe]

Go to the archer's guild in Gridania and there should be an NPC there to unlock the quest for you.

[Risvertasashi]

There won't really be new guides because this hasn't changed from release. But yes, you need to go to a guide and unlock the class there before you can equip weapons for it.

Also, to unlock other classes you need to have completed something like the level 10 or level 15 class quest for your starting class first (Since you're level 20 this should be np as long as you've been doing the Thaumaturge quests).

[hexteria]

Hi guys thank you for your fast replies. i have been doing all my class quests every 5 levels. btw, i already went to the archers guild and the only quest i have there is to join the archers guild. if i do join the guild, do i maintain my THM class? or do i become an archer? or both?

[Risvertasashi]

Hi guys thank you for your fast replies. i have been doing all my class quests every 5 levels. btw, i already went to the archers guild and the only quest i have there is to join the archers guild. if i do join the guild, do i maintain my THM class? or do i become an archer? or both?

Both! Guild membership is required and not exclusive.

Essentially... which class you 'are' is determined by your equipped weapon.

Equip a staff/rod? You're a thaumaturge (and later, black mage). Equip a bow, and you are an archer (and later, a bard). All your progress on every class is saved, you don't lose anything. There is nothing to lose by exploring other classes, so try as many as you like and find interesting.

[Enkidoh]

Yes you do, you retain all the levels and exp in your earlier class (each class has it's own individual exp and levels). So accept the quest at the ARC's Guild, and then you will be able to change to it and start levelling it - you will know you've unlocked it as it will say "Archer Unlocked!" at the very end and a help message will appear on screen instructing you on how to change class. (When you wish to change back to THM just equip your wand or rod again).

[hexteria]

omg guys thank you soooo much this really helped me and my friend. i'll do this as soon as the servers are up. again, thank you soooo much for answering this super nooooobish question of mine
#peace

[AmalonStar]

Also should mention that once you unlock your first class like archer you'll also get the gear sets unlocked. You'll be able to save your gear set for each job making it easy to switch between your jobs with just a touch of a button and be equipped with the gear you're using for it

[AmalonStar]

Oh and one more thing

If a mentor hasn't in items you into the novice network yet you can ask one to invite you. You can get a lot of advice and help from the mentors in there, not everyone that has the crown is a good mentor some just get it more as a status symbol but don't let any bad experiences with a mentor turn you off from mentors all together. Usually the mentors that talk in the novice network frequently help new and returning players.

[AnaviAnael]

I'd also like to drop this link for you:

http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/

This site has a wealth of information that can help you now and when you get higher in levels. Happy adventuring and welcome to the game.