[(Balmarog)]

So I'm coming back to FF after a long long break. I used to play a BST, but I'm starting with a fresh, new character. Bare in mind, it's been years since I played BST. lol. I assume soloing is still pretty much the same, but how about BST in parties? How does that work? Also, were there any changes in XP lost due to having a pet or anything like that?

Thanks in advance

[Byrthnoth]

Regardless of when you quit, BST has changed a ton:
1) Monsters despawn now when they are idle outside of their natural wandering area, which changed the way BST was played pretty dramatically.
2) Charmed and jug pets no longer cause you to incur an experience point penalty.
3) You can choose what TP move your jugpets use.
4) SE introduced "Dancer," which makes a pretty fantastic sub job for BST. It uses TP to cure itself.

One thing hasn't changed:
1) BST still isn't a high-demand XP party job.

[(Balmarog)]

Byrthnoth, on 11 December 2009 - 10:48 AM, said:

Regardless of when you quit, BST has changed a ton:
1) Monsters despawn now when they are idle outside of their natural wandering area, which changed the way BST was played pretty dramatically.
2) Charmed and jug pets no longer cause you to incur an experience point penalty.
3) You can choose what TP move your jugpets use.
4) SE introduced "Dancer," which makes a pretty fantastic sub job for BST. It uses TP to cure itself.

Crap... Are there any up to date guides that can help this little nooblet? lol. I'm actually not sure what job I'll take up, but I was pretty fond of BST back in the day.

Byrthnoth, on 11 December 2009 - 10:48 AM, said:

One thing hasn't changed:
1) BST still isn't a high-demand XP party job.

ROFL

[Tonka]

FINAL FAIL XI, AMIRITE?! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Balmarog]

Tonka, on 11 December 2009 - 12:01 PM, said:

FINAL FAIL XI, AMIRITE?! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Don't be hating. D:

[Byrthnoth]

Again, I don't know how long ago you quit, but ffxiclopedia has a lot of information and a few guides. Some other notable things you might not know about are Empress bands (get them from the Signet people for extra xp) and Fields of Valor. They also changed the experience points system so that it gives dramatically more xp for DC/EP monsters. I know I used to be able to get 12 xp/kill for the lowest level of EPs, and I think now it's something like 40? Anyway, mowing down EPs has never been a better way to get xp than it is now.

You have to consider what you want out of the game. If you want to get good gear and be invited to group events, go BLM -> 18, WHM/BLM -> 37, BRD/WHM -> 75 as fast as you can and get into endgame while you level whatever job you want for fun.
If you're looking to have fun and like playing BST, I'd go WHM->18, BST/WHM -> 30, DNC -> 37, BST/DNC -> 75.

Personally, I reactivated and am leveling BST/DNC just because I find it fun. I started at 28 around Thanksgiving and I'm 44 now just doing training regimes on DC/EP monsters and my 3k of Empress band per day. I have probably less than 150k in BST gear.

[Balmarog]

/DNC eh? I might check that out

[Nattack]

balmarog is a familiar name to me, were you active in the forums? alla? KI?

[Balmarog]

Nattack, on 13 December 2009 - 04:29 PM, said:

balmarog is a familiar name to me, were you active in the forums? alla? KI?

Yup. Years ago
I played on Garuda back in the day.