[Dark-Mage]

Hello all, I should be getting FFXI soon and I have decided to play a Taru black mage.

I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on how to get started, I apologise if this is in the manual but I don't actually have it yet so I won't know.

Anyway, some of the things I would like to know about are:

1. Do I start of with my level 1 spell or do I have to go somewhere to learn i.

2. The kind of enemies i should be fighting?

3. How do I go about getting the Gil for starting equipment etc?

[Tyrinis]

Dark-Mage :

1. Do I start of with my level 1 spell or do I have to go somewhere to learn i.

You start the game with the level one black mage spell "Stone". It's a scroll you have to "use".

Dark-Mage :

2. The kind of enemies i should be fighting?

No matter what nation you start in there are pleanty of low-level monsters right outside your cities gate to start with. Experiment with your character now because you start losing xp after attaining level 5.

Dark-Mage :

3. How do I go about getting the Gil for starting equipment etc?

Best advice for new characters is to always have a signet casts on you. You can get this from a gate guard standing close to the exit. With signet on you can harvest crystals that when stacked sell for decent money to crafters through your towns auction house. Learn to use the auction house, it's a must!

Good luck!

[Dark-Mage]

Thank you very much

[Neoapoc]

Amen Tyrinis... if you go by that, you will succeed. Once you hit lvl 5-10 just start doing repeatable tasks for some $$$ Also, you'll want to pick a trade to start in pretty early so that you can work up your skills as you go along. I chose fishing cause it's easy and you can get some $$$ from it. But all of the trades have an upside! Good luck, hopefully see you on the server!

[Dark-Mage]

Yeah you mihgt as I am going for Asura since my friend from college is there.

I probably will do fishing.

Can someone explain theese crytals things to me that Tyrinis mentioned?

[Tyrinis]

I live and die by fishing. It is the one and only reason I've been able to succeed at my higher lvl.

If you need a world pass for Bismarck let me know.

Are you playing the PS2 version when it comes out?

[Dark-Mage]

No I live in the Uk mand I will be playing the PC Version.

Thanks for the offer for the world Pass but my mate from college who plays it is on the Asura Server so I am going to try for that one

[Taga]

Crystals are used in every crafting recipe and cannot be bought from a store. They are only dropped from monsters while you have signet on.

If you start in windurst kill bees and yagudos for wind crystals (sell good) until level 6 or so and then go to ruins and kill goblins and bats (wind and fire... fire sell the best). Once signet wears off go back to town and renew it '-'

[Tyrinis]

http://www.killingifrit.com/plug.php?p=faq&cid=11#70

[Dark-Mage]

Thanks for the info

[Dark-Mage]

How do I stack these crystals. I have a few wind ones but they arent stacking as I thought they would do?

Also, what price should I put on them in the AH

[Scatman]

Two words: Ash Pole. Do not forget these two words, or levelling will be a lot harder than it has to be. The second you hit lvl 5, get an ash pole and between your spells and taking a couple whacks, it'll be clear sailing up to lvl 10.

[Tristram]

Oh. Dark, to stack you need to do a three step process.
Open the main menu (-)
Go to items, hit enter.
Hit the (+) on the numeric pad.
Hit okay. Then you're all set.

Some things don't stack in unrefined form. Sheep Skin, Lumber etc.

[Dark-Mage]

Thanks for your help and I found that out as soon as I got back on the game Tristram

Is there an guide anywhere for what levels a soloing black mage should fight certain enemies?

[kryptlor]

its all about fishing
if your gonna be a black mage learn how to make money =)

[ThiefOfGods]

I'be been to a lot of sites recently and here is the message i get
Level 1-6 - Learn In Your Countries Back garden!
Level 6-10 - Venture Out And Take Another Step into the World!
Level 11-16 - Ah Time For Some Valkurm Dunes Exploring!(with parties of course)
Level 16-29 - Spring Forth Grasshopper! Time To Explore The World!
Level 30+ -And Now The Apprentice Has Become The Master! You Have Done Well My Young Pado-Wan!

Oh I forgot to mention at 18 get your LS to help you with your sub-job quest and at 30 get them to help you with advanced jobs!

Thank you for listening to Lokkin's automated Hitch Hiker's Guide To FFXI!

[Hamburglar]

Dunno if anyone has said this, but since you're a taru, start in Windurst to get your Windurstian ring.

[Tyrinis]

[b

]ThiefOfGods :[/b]

Oh I forgot to mention at 18 get your LS to help you with your

sub-job quest and at 30 get them to help you with advanced jobs!

Thank you for

listening to Lokkin's automated Hitch Hiker's Guide To FFXI!

No, that was Lokkin's automated Hitch Hiker's Guide to Leeching and Begging in

FFXI.

When this game launched in the US most of us earned our sub-jobs and advanced

jobs together.

(and the rest begged JP's)

[ThiefOfGods]

i

was trying to help leave me alone Tyrinis when i said get help i meant ask anyone who is

same level in your ls if they want to go party or something
fine just judge me without

knowing the full story