[Kagemitsu]

Since topics regarding the subject are sprouting like mushrooms, and we get like 3 of them a day, I'll just compile a short list of FAQs with the relative answer for those thinking about coming back or starting fresh new:

Q: Is it worth it to start over with a completely new character?

A: Yes. Even if the game has been around for long time, it's constantly evolving (even if at a slow pace) and there's plenty of stuff to do. Even since the introduction of the Level Sync system, Fields of Valor and Campaign, leveling is not as time consuming and tedious as it used to be.

Q: I left a few years ago, what has changed since then?

A: It's completely impossible to make a list of what has changed, because it's too much stuff.
The most relevant changes are:
- Level Sync
- Fields of Valor
- New jobs from ToAU, being: Blue Mage, Corsair, Puppetmaster; new jobs from WoTG: Dancer, Scholar
- Campaign

Q: What's a good server to start at?

A: None, because they're all the same. Odin and Bahamut are the most crowded ones at the moment, and the creation of new characters on Odin is prohibited. Fairy and Ragnarok have the largest EU communities as far as I know, the rest of the servers is pretty much the same.

Q: I want a server with a good, stable economy and friendly players. Is there one?

A: No, there isn't one. Economy is made by players, and it's more or less the same on every server. So economy wise, every server is equal to each other. As far as communities go, no server is different from another. People on this game and on this earth aren't more friendly or less friendly, they're just people.

Q: Is it hard to make gil nowadays?

A: It always was, always will be, unless you're one of those blessed people that know how to play with the economy and make the most out of it. EVERY crafting skill is profitable if you know how to make the most out of it, and that requires a lot of research. BCNMing still remains the best way to make lots of gil in a short span of time, but that is completely based on luck. If you're a patient one, you could try farming for items.

Q: What are the current endgame activities?

A: Here's a short list:
- Sky HNMs
- Dynamis
- Sea HNMs
- Einherjar (ToAU)
- Salvage (ToAU)
- Assault (ToAU)
- ZNM - Zeni Notorious Monsters (ToAU)
- ISNM - Imperial Standing Notorious Monsters (ToAU)
- SCNM - Stronghold Notorious Monsters (WoTG)

And much more.

That being said, please refrain from spamming the boards with topics on your thoughts about coming back and looking for feedback from the community. Pretty much all you need to know is here.

Feel free to add stuff or delete the thread if it's irrelevant.

[metrical]

I would like to stress how much easier leveling has become within the game.

I just came back to the game less than a week ago after not playing for three years and I was amazed how much easier it is to solo and how quick I was gaining levels compared to the first time I grinded through the first twenty levels.

From my memories of the game, I remember FFXI being a grind fest, where I had to wait for parties once I hit 13 in Valkrum...sitting and waiting for an invite. Now with fields of valor and XP gaining items, I can solo as I wait for a party for a decent amount of XP and waiting for a party has been drastically reduced due to level sync.

[SilverKnight16]

Thanks for this; I hope my little thread didn't facilitate you going, "Son of a bitch, if I see another one of these threads, I'm going to find the author and set them on fire!" >.> You know...yeah, whatever.

Anywho, I resubbed a couple of days ago, and indeed, the changes are amazing. It's heartening to see that after seven years, SE finally threw the player-base a bone and gave a hint of solo ability while waiting for a group. While going to Selbina, I passed by no less than 10 people in various states of solo play, of all jobs and levels, thanks to FoV and the Signet bonuses. The fact that I couldn't wipe my ass without the help of five others is what facilitated my leaving. So, it really did make me glad, knowing that I could conceivably have a chance of leveling without spending hours waiting in X town for an invite.

Also, Level Sync is the most amazing thing in the history of forever. It's one of the more original ways to combat the natural inevitability of level gaps I've seen in a game yet, and I hope that its ingenuity will be picked up by other, future MMOs.

So yes, come back! It's not the pain in the ass you quite remember from 1-5 years ago, I promise.

[Saniiro]

Thanks for this; I hope my little thread didn't facilitate you going, "Son of a bitch, if I see another one of these threads, I'm going to find the author and set them on fire!" >.> You know...yeah, whatever.

Anywho, I resubbed a couple of days ago, and indeed, the changes are amazing. It's heartening to see that after seven years, SE finally threw the player-base a bone and gave a hint of solo ability while waiting for a group. While going to Selbina, I passed by no less than 10 people in various states of solo play, of all jobs and levels, thanks to FoV and the Signet bonuses. The fact that I couldn't wipe my ass without the help of five others is what facilitated my leaving. So, it really did make me glad, knowing that I could conceivably have a chance of leveling without spending hours waiting in X town for an invite.

Also, Level Sync is the most amazing thing in the history of forever. It's one of the more original ways to combat the natural inevitability of level gaps I've seen in a game yet, and I hope that its ingenuity will be picked up by other, future MMOs.

So yes, come back! It's not the pain in the ass you quite remember from 1-5 years ago, I promise.

I've been told that a system similar to level sync was used in Everquest... I don't know for sure, I never played it, just wanted to point that out.

I agree with everything else though. :3 COME BACK! I did!

[Kussese]

Two words: thank you.
Oh, and STICKY PLEASE.

[alexxisonline]

please sticky so we get FFXI: Info back :/ <3 thanks

[Saniiro]

I was actually thinking about starting a new character and logging the progress to see how long it takes to get from 1 to 75 now when playing at casual pace... I might actually reprise that plan.

It would be a "from scratch" playthrough, no assistance from my other characters or people I already knew. Just pure "If I were new" style playing. Think it would make for an interesting and encouraging guide/experiment/blog... or however I'd do it.

[SilverKnight16]

I was actually thinking about starting a new character and logging the progress to see how long it takes to get from 1 to 75 now when playing at casual pace... I might actually reprise that plan.

It would be a "from scratch" playthrough, no assistance from my other characters or people I already knew. Just pure "If I were new" style playing. Think it would make for an interesting and encouraging guide/experiment/blog... or however I'd do it.

Well, from what I've noted so far, I'm able to solo EPs and DCs with my subless 14 Mithra WHM with a fair amount of ease (though DCs will often require resting for a few ticks), provided I have my beloved Refresh buff and Signet.

Without Signet or Refresh, DCs eat me alive, and EPs feel significantly more difficult.

Oh God, I'm not looking forward to going to the Dunes.

[Myther99]

Hey,

I have recently come back online and was wondering what has changed with the Solo levelling Exp?

Its a good idea to solo whilst seeking

[SilverKnight16]

They effectively doubled EP/DC exp gain. Before it was 15-36 for EP and 50 for a DC. Now it's 30-75 for EP and 80/90 for a DC. It's made leveling solo a lot easier, especially in the early levels.

[Corrderio]

With a little revision I'd support this as a sticky.

[Sebazy]

How critical are the newer expansions for exp and merit parties now? I've only got Zilart which I assume is going to cause issues with getting groups going?

I'll probably try to get back into the things either tagging along with quests/missions on the bard, or trying for groups as whm or blm (69 and 50 respectively if anyone has any advice where groups tend to go at those levels), meriting as the bard would probably be a bad idea till I'm at least warmed up on the interface, controls and song radiuses again as the job's role in parties looks to have changed a lot since I last played. Wheres an AF1 coffer party when you need one =o

Any advice is well appreciated, ty in advance!

[Kagemitsu]

How critical are the newer expansions for exp and merit parties now? I've only got Zilart which I assume is going to cause issues with getting groups going?

I'll probably try to get back into the things either tagging along with quests/missions on the bard, or trying for groups as whm or blm (69 and 50 respectively if anyone has any advice where groups tend to go at those levels), meriting as the bard would probably be a bad idea till I'm at least warmed up on the interface, controls and song radiuses again as the job's role in parties looks to have changed a lot since I last played. Wheres an AF1 coffer party when you need one =o

Any advice is well appreciated, ty in advance!

Considering how cheap the whole package is now (I think about 20$ dollars for the 2008 Collection, which contains the base game + all the expansions) there really is no reason to not own them all =)
Generally before 53ish, people group in FFXI and Zilart Areas, with some rare exceptions people will camp in WoTG areas. From 53 on it's mostly ToAU only.
As WHM 69 you will probably start getting invites for Caedarva Mire parties (don't forget to bring echo drops) and unless you're very lucky, you're gonna have to solo all the way to 75 with your BLM. The wiki has an awesome guide to soloing on BLM being this one..

@Corrderio: what do you think should be changed/revised?

[Sebazy]

Unfortunately I imported the game to the UK at the NA launch, I assume EU keys will still not work with the NA client? I'll have a dig on fleabay I guess, I hardly recognise any of the zone names mentioned in that blm solo guide.

I'm rather suprised that BLMs are not popular for damage anymore though =o

[Icerat]

The release of the Aht Urghan expansion killed many things, BLM's and skillchains being two of them. There should be a way to get all of the expansions and have them shipped to you, you will most likely need them or find advancing very difficult. It would be great if you could make a static party with people that didn't mind leveling in the old areas and that would allow you to level your BLM.

[Symbios]

They have D2D downloads of FFXI now, but I'm not sure if the CD keys come with it.

[Kagemitsu]

It would be great if you could make a static party with people that didn't mind leveling in the old areas and that would allow you to level your BLM.

Actually, leveling BLM is very possible even in ToAU areas, you just have to avoid the colibri route.
It'd be something on these lines: 55-60 Lesser Colibri (which still don't reflect magic), 60-63ish Crawlers in Aydeewa Subterrane, 63-68 Crawlers in Mount Zhayolm, 68-75 Imps and Flies in Caedarva Mire.
You just have to pray all the gods you know that you find a PT willing to follow that route instead of the fast, comfortable TP burn on squishy lolibri.

@Symbios: yeah, keys are included with that.

[Sebazy]

They have D2D downloads of FFXI now, but I'm not sure if the CD keys come with it.

You're a legend (And you've probably just saved me a bunch on comedy import duty too), I didn't think of trying D2D at all, thanks

[Sebazy]

Bah, just when I thought it would be easy, it won't let me buy it from outside the US

Back to fleabay with me I guess

[Symbios]

The good thing is that most people on ebay will always give you the option of letting them just email you the CD key, and you can go download the software easily off any torrent site.