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[ZetaEpyon]

Welcome to the Final Fantasy XI Community Thread!

With the recent release of the most recent stage of Rhapsodies of Vana’diel, and the resultant resurgence of rookie and returning adventurers, the community thread is ripe for revitalization!

Linkshell: IHOP
Server: Sylph - http://ihop.guildwork.com/
Sackholders: Talym, Aurellius, Chocobro, Grahf, Pancakesandsx, Seigyoku

IHOP is our social linkshell, and the de facto NeoGAF linkshell. If you happen to be on the server, contact an active sackholder for a pearl. If you’re start a new character, make it on Sylph. If you’re reactivating on another server, consider transferring and joining us!

Player Directory
Add yourself to our handy Google Docs player directory! It’ll make it easier to keep track of who is who here on GAF and in-game, as well as give us an idea if anyone’s missing a pearl.

If you used to play and are returning to the game, make sure to set yourself as active and update your character name if necessary!

Rhapsodies of Vana’diel is the ultimate conclusion of major story content for Final Fantasy XI.
It is free for all players and released in three chapters, with the first two having dropped in the May and August 2015 updates.
The final chapter has been released today with the November update.
Trailers: May | August | November

What’s New in Rhapsodies?

• Final main mission content that will be released for FFXI.
• New areas: Escha - Zi’tah, Escha - Ru’Aun, Reisenjima
• New events: Geas Fete, Domain Invasion
• New class of “super” weapon: Aeonic weapons
• Mission rewards that provide you with massive boons such as:
  - Cumulative, permanent 180% boost to experience point gains
  - Cumulative, permanent 90% boost to capacity point gains
  - Additional Trust NPC slots - up to 5, for a full solo party
  - An 80% reduction in home point teleportation costs
  - Relaxed costs and entry requirements: Dynamis, Salvage, Einherjar, Legion, Voidwatch, etc.
  - Access to many consumables and items like chest/coffer keys at low cost from an NPC
• A second Mog House floor and an accompanying second Mog Safe
• New job points, gifts, and other job adjustments

Notes on Rhapsodies for New Players
Due to its nature as the conclusion of main story content, Rhapsodies occasionally expects that players have completed certain portions of the base game and earlier expansions, and may contain some spoilers for those stories.

For the most part, Rhapsodies attempts to minimize spoilers on major plot points. You’ll get alternate versions of cutscenes depending on your mission progress, but you’ll likely see characters that you haven’t met yet as a new player. The rewards for completing the missions are significant, particularly for new players, but if you are a super stickler when it comes to spoilers, consider yourself warned!

Many of you will be playing Final Fantasy XI for the first time, or will be returning after so long it’s like a brand new game anyway. Here are a few things you should know.

Where to Buy
Steam | Amazon (Ultimate Collection) | Amazon (Expansion Only) | Gamersgate

Client Download
You can download the PC client directly from Square-Enix.

Version Update Trailers
November 2015 | August 2015 | May 2015 | February 2015 | November 2014 | August 2014 | May 2014 | February 2014 | December 2013

Resources for New & Returning Players

• Official Final Fantasy XI website
  A handy source of news and info about the latest updates.
• New Player Tutorial
  Added several years ago and contains some useful stuff that might give you a little more direction as you begin your adventures.
• Returning Player Guide & Version Update History
  BGWiki has a returning player guide that explains a bunch of the changes mentioned below in more detail.
• Adventuring Primer
  Contains some basic explanations of new content and what you should look into first if you're a new or returning player. Start here if you're overwhelmed by the community sites like BGWiki, etc.

General Changes

• Limit Breaks and virtually all missions are now soloable thanks to item level equipment and the Trust Initiative system.
• Dramatic changes to old endgame events systems:
  - Solo entry for Dynamis, Limbus, Salvage, Einherjar, Assaults, Meeble Burrows, etc.
  - Assault tag and Campaign op credit timers reduced to 10 minutes. **
  - Adjustments to make certain assaults more solo-friendly.
  - Dynamis, Limbus, and Einherjar can be entered once per day, or even more often. **
  - Dynamis, Limbus, Einherjar, and Legion costs significantly reduced. **
  - Kings are now popped with items obtained from KSNM99 and occasionally login campaigns.
• Artifact, Relic, and Empyrean armor can be reforged to relevant level 109 and 119 versions.

** Unlocked by completing Rhapsodies missions

Combat System Adjustments

• Enmity system overhauls mean tanking can be accomplished more effectively.
• Defense is more relevant and monster level correction has been altered or removed.
• Many weapon skills have received dramatic damage calculation changes.
• Magic bursts have received a dramatic buff, and are very powerful.

General Changes

• Many low cost, accessible teleportation options, including survival guides, home points, accolade warps, and more.
• Maps previously only quested can be purchased from an NPC.
• Mog house storage can be accessed from any mog house.
• New storage options, including the mog wardrobe, which increases your equippable inventory by up to 80.
• Base movement speed increased by 25%.
• Harvesting, Logging, and Mining points now have a visible indicator.
• Many gates and doors that required a few people can now be opened by a single person:
  Garlaige Citadel banishing gates | Quicksand Caves weighted doors | Eldieme Necropolis doors | Halvung doors | Sacrarium door

Crafting System Adjustments

• A new synthesis menu allows recipe selection, history, and favorites.
• New /lastsynth command repeats your last synthesis attempt.
• New crafting kits have been added for levels 1-50 for every craft allow you to produce the item with no other materials, but cannot result in an HQ synth. They are intended for use in skilling up.
• Synthesis skill-ups are now possible on recipes up to 10 levels below your current skill level.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Announcing Dual Campaigns: the Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign and the Discount Campaign! (11/04/2016)

In celebration, we're holding two campaigns simultaneously -- the Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign and the Discount Campaign -- so that you can enjoy the world of Vana'diel together with many of your adventurer compatriots!

Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign

Friday, November 11, 2016 at 12:00 a.m. (PST) to Monday, November 21 at the same hour.

Read on for details.

Discount Campaign

Friday, November 11, 2016 at 12:00 a.m. (PST) to Monday, November 21 at the same hour.

• Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition
  67% Discount - $9.99 (normally $29.99)
  
• "Seekers of Adoulin" Expansion Pack
  50% Discount - $4.99 (normally $9.99)
  
• World Transfer Service
  50% Discount - $9.00 (normally $18.00)

Read on for details.

Announcing the XI Day Campaign! (11/02/2016)

In celebration of XI Day, adventurers who log in during the duration of the XI Day Campaign will receive a special in-game item!

• Event Period
  Friday, November 11 at 12:00 a.m. (PST) to Monday, November 21 at 6:59 a.m.
  
• Special Gift
  Characters who log in during the campaign period will receive a silver mog pell, which can be traded for a wide variety of special items. This item will be automatically placed in your inventory, so be sure to make some room.
  * Characters are only eligible for one pell during this campaign.
  
• Items Available for Exchange
  Trade your silver mog pell to a festive moogle to receive one of the following items.
  * Only characters for whom 14 days or more have elapsed since character creation are eligible to exchange pells for items.
  * Festival moogles can be found in the following locations.
  Port San d'Oria (J-9) / Windurst Walls (C-14) / Port Bastok (J-13)
  
  60 Beastmen's Seals / 60 Kindred's Seals / 60 Kindred's Crests / 60 High Kindred's Crests / 60 Sacred Kindred's Crests
  
  Rolanberry Delightaru / Harvest Pastry / Cherry Tree / Far East Hearth / Pot of Wards / White Clematis / Pink Clematis / Birch Tree
  
  Cichol's Mantle / Segomo's Mantle / Alaunus's Cape / Taranus's Cape / Sucellos's Cape / Toutatis's Cape / Rudianos's Mantle / Ankou's Mantle / Artio's Mantle / Intarabus's Cape / Belenus's Cape / Smertrios's Mantle / Andartia's Mantle / Brigantia's Mantle / Camprestres's Cape / Rosmerta's Cape / Camulus's Mantle / Visucius's Mantle / Senuna's Mantle / Legh's Cape / Nantosuelta's Cape / Ogma's Cape
  
  10 Abdhaljs Thread / 10 Abdhaljs Dust / 5 Abdhaljs Sap / 3 Abdhaljs Dye / 2 Abdhaljs Seals / 1 Abdhaljs Needles
  
  Ambuscade Voucher: Head / Ambuscade Voucher: Body / Ambuscade Voucher: Hands / Ambuscade Voucher: Legs / Ambuscade Voucher: Feet

Announcing the Jingle Baaas Anniversary Event (11/01/2016)

Celebrate XI Day with a new anniversary event, Jingle Baaas, starting on 11/11!

This event features a reward fashioned by the famed Chacharoon and a variety of other items.

Event period: Friday, November 11 at 12:00 a.m. (PST) to Wednesday, November 30 at 6:59 a.m.

Read on for details.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

As you might expect from a game that has seen constant changes, updates, and expansions over 13 years, there are numerous game systems to be aware of. Over time, game systems move in and out of fashion for a variety of reasons, but several of the more important and currently popular ones are covered in this section.

Returning adventurers should note that many of the currently most-popular events feature relatively conservative time limits and participant requirements, meaning that you can make reasonable progress even with a limited amount of play time.

You can click the header image for most systems to read more detailed information directly from Square-Enix or from BGWiki.

Several major systems have been introduced to aid leveling over the years.

• Fields of Valor
  Repeatable objectives that give bonus experience and a currency called tabs which can be used to get buffs and warp around.
• Grounds of Valor
  Same as Fields of Valor but these have a bonus for chaining them together and only exist in dungeons.
• Records of Eminence
  - Accessible at any time from the quest log.
  - Can set up to 30 at any given time.
  - Give a currency called sparks which is useful for purchasing low and high level gear from the npcs, as well as items for special endgame armor.
  - Some also give you items upon first completion.
• Trust Initiative (see below)

Limit Breaks are still a part of the game every 5 levels from 50 to 99. These need only be done once per character (not per job), but certain jobs have special ones that are part of a larger quest line, so you may want to do those too for fun!

Trusts are NPCs from the storyline that you can summon to adventure with you as party members. For new players and aspiring mission soloers, the Trust Initiative is probably the single most important support system in the game!

• Progressing through missions and special story quests gets you access to more.
• You can initially summon 3 trusts at a time (provided you have room in your party), and this can be increased to 4 and later 5 by completing Rhapsodies of Vana’diel missions.
• Some Trust NPCs are given away via events like login campaigns and such. While these are generally time-limited, they do get cycled back in from time to time. Watch the official website for details.
• BGWiki maintains a list of all the currently and previously available trusts. FFXIclopedia has a similar page that’s arranged a little differently and might be more useful for new players.

• Records of Eminence is a recent, super important section in the quest log. Especially check out the Tutorial RoE quests!
• Quests are a needed component to get fame in many cities. Fame affects your ability to flag quests (including inventory expansion), vendor prices, and more, so even the smallest quests are often worth doing.
• The game won't tell you when you get quests. You can check your log, but there is no other indicator for when something counts as a quest besides some fanfare when you complete one.
• Once something hits your log, try looking it up if it’s not immediately clear what to do. FFXI is very critical reading oriented, and admittedly sometimes just obtuse, but that’s part of the charm, right?
• FFXIDB is a great resource for what monster drops items you might need for a quest, as well as where on the map those monsters spawn.
• For Seekers of Adoulin quests, check out Pan’s Adoulin Quest Tracker.

The primary storylines of Final Fantasy XI are played out in the missions.

• Missions are like really important quests, and are acquired from the gate guards in your starting town. Expansion missions are usually triggered by entering relevant areas once certain conditions have been met.
• Access to certain areas of the game, and many forms of endgame content are locked behind missions.

High-Tier Mission Battlefields are difficult versions of classic, previously unrepeatable mission fights. Rewards include some relevant gear as well as currencies required to reforge armor to level 109 and 119.

• Participants: 1-6 (18 for Divine Might)
• Minimum Level: 95
• Entry Requirement: Key item purchased with 10-20 merit points
• Time Limit: 15-30 minutes

Unity Concord is an Adoulin-era event system centered around Records of Eminence. Participants join a Unity Faction led by key figures from throughout Vana’diel and comple Records of Eminence quests to earn accolades. Unity accolades can be used to start wanted battles, confrontation-style fights that reward unique weapons and armor, as well as items used to upgrade them. Additionally, with the November 2015 update, lower ranked Unities receive a capacity point bonus.
For Unity Wanted Notorious Monsters:

• Participants: 1-18
• Content Level: 75-135
• Entry Requirement: Unity Accolades (amount varies depending on NM)

Skirmish is an Adoulin-era instanced battle event that features a variety of mechanics depending on the zone entered. Later updates added the Alluvion Skirmish variant and a new tier of powerful rewards. Rewards include augmentable weapons and armor as well as the variety of stones required to augment them.

• Participants: 1-6
• Minimum Level: 95
• Entry Requirement: Simulacrum or Eudaemon key item made from pieces acquired by Adoulin coalition tasks, monsters, HELM, reives, and login campaigns.
• Time Limit: 15-60 minutes, based on simulacrum and area

Incursion is an Adoulin-era high-level, instanced battle event where you invade the Velkk stronghold in Cirdas Caverns and work to clear a series of bosses. Rewards include experience and capacity points, unique armor and weapons, and augmented job-specific capes. Defeating a full set of boss Notorious Monsters unlocks a new difficulty level.

• Participants: 3-18
• Minimum Level: 95
• Content Level: 123-143
• Entry Requirement: Velkk fetish key item obtained by defeating Velkk
• Time Limit: 45 minutes

Delve is an Adoulin-era high-level, instanced battle system featuring notorious monsters with interesting damage gimmicks. Rewards include augmentable equipment and the items used to augment them, as well as a variety of weapons and accessories.

• Participants: 3-18
• Minimum Level: 95
• Entry Requirement: Yantric planchette key item acquired
• Time Limit: 45 minutes

Vagary is an Adoulin-era high-level, instanced battle system in which combatants take on the minions of the Xol Triumvirate, sinister forces key to the storyline of Seekers of Adoulin. Rewards include powerful equipment, weapons, crafting materials, and items required to reforge Empyrean armor into their level 119 versions.

• Participants: 3-18
• Minimum Level: 95
• Entry Requirement: Prototype sigil pearl key item
• Time Limit: 45 minutes

Sinister Reign is a Rhapsodies-era high-level, instanced battle system available to players who have completed the Seekers of Adoulin storyline. Challengers face waves of prominent figures from the Adoulin story and are rewarded with high-end augmented equipment, crafting materials, and unique Trust ciphers unavailable elsewhere.

• Participants: 3-6
• Minimum Level: 95
• Entry Requirement: Macabre simulacrum key item purchased with Bayld
• Time Limit: 15 minutes

Geas Fete is a Rhapsodies-era high-level, confrontation-style battle system that occurs in the areas introduced with Rhapsodies of Vana’diel. Your alliance battles powerful notorious monsters that are spawned using key items acquired by a variety of means. Rewards include powerful augmentable equipment and the items used to augment them, abjurations for high-end cursed equipment, as well as experience and capacity points.

• Participants: 3-18
• Entry Requirement: Tribulens or Radialens key item purchased with Silt
• Time Limit: 15 minutes

Domain Invasion is a Rhapsodies-era high-level, confrontation-style battle system that occurs in the new areas introduced with Rhapsodies of Vana’diel. Participants take on ferocious great wyrms and their minions. Based on an evaluation system, you are rewarded with experience and capacity points, eschan silt, items used for augmenting gear, and the chance at several useful accessories. Additionally, for defeating the wyrm, the server is rewarded with temporary zone-wide boons in the area.

• Participants: Server-wide
• Minimum Level: 99
• Entry Requirement: Elvorseal key item acquired in the confrontation zone
• Time Limit: 30 minutes

While no longer as featured as those listed above, many other systems are still important in Final Fantasy XI today:

• Voidwatch
  Although most of the gear is no longer relevant, many of the materials are still used for crafting or reforging various pieces of equipment. Note: Participation requires stones that you can begin accumulating at level 75!
• Abyssea
  Required for acquiring Empyrean armor and weapons. Additionally, drops from many Notorious Monsters are used to reforge Empyrean armor. Note: Entry requires stones that you can begin accumulating at level 30!
• Salvage, Einherjar, and Assaults
  Needed for creating Mythic weapons. Farming Alexandrite can be a money-maker if you aren’t making a Mythic weapon.
• Dynamis
  Needed for creating Relic weapons and acquiring Relic armor. Farming Dynamis currency can be a money-maker if you aren’t making a Relic weapon.
• Walk of Echoes
  Needed for unlocking powerful Empyrean weapon skills without constructing the full weapon.
• Coalition Assignments
  Needed to increase Adoulin fame and advance at certain points in the Adoulin storyline. Coalition assignments award experience and bayld that is not dependent on job level.
• Reives
  An ad-hoc battle event in which both monsters and obstacles are fought to clear the way and make the harsh Ulbukan terrain easier to traverse.
• Mog Gardening
  A new way to acquire items previously only available via gardening, harvesting, excavating, logging, mining, and fishing.

Less-commonly Encountered Systems
Not everything can be as popular as it once was, for one reason or another. However, don’t let that stop you from trying this stuff out. You never know, you just might find your niche!
Besieged | Campaign | Legion | Limbus | Meeble Burrows | Moblin Maze Mongers | Monstrosity

 

[ZetaEpyon]

• Is this game free to play yet?
  No, and given that this is supposed to be the last major content update, almost certainly never will be now. Deal with it!
• If Rhapsodies is the last major content update, does that mean the game is ending entirely?
  No! The current word is that PC support will continue indefinitely, there just won’t be any further major content updates after November 2015.
• I heard that they’re dropping support for PS2 and Xbox 360, is that true?
  Yes, you heard correctly. PS2 and Xbox 360 support will end in March 2016, well after the final chapter of Rhapsodies of Vana’diel is released. If you currently play on PS2 or Xbox 360, you can download the PC client directly from Square-Enix and continue to play that way, even after those platforms are no longer supported.
• Hey, I used to play this! Can I get my old character back?
  Yes, use the Character Reactivation Service. However, if you never got that far into the game, or want to relive the entire story, do consider just starting a new character and joining us on Sylph.
• How long will it take me to solo the main story?
  If you were to do every main mission from all the expansions, it would probably take you roughly as long as playing a standard single player FF for the first time. Don't burn yourself out though, there's a whole world to take in. The side quests can be just as, if not more rewarding than the main storylines. Some jobs will have an easier time of soloing some missions than others, so it's good to have options as well.
• What makes this game so good anyway?
  Loona’s awesome post and linked article from massively give you an idea why Final Fantasy XI sticks so hard with people.
• How do I get access to the Mog Satchel?
  You can buy a security token for about $10, or get the free software token for your smartphone (don’t lose your reset code!).

Trailers and Media
Aloha Iroha - 4-koma Manga released with Rhapsodies
Seekers of Adoulin Ending Theme “Forever Today” Promotional Video
Special Video for Tokyo Game Show 2015

Rise of the Zilart Mission Video w/Voiceover - Rise of the Zilart spoilers
Treasures of Aht Urhgan Mission Video w/Voiceover - Treasures of Aht Urhgan spoilers
Wings of the Goddess Mission Video w/Voiceover - Wings of the Goddess spoilers

Final Fantasy XI Treasures of Aht Urghan Trailer
Final Fantasy XI Wings of the Goddess Trailer
Final Fantasy XI Ultimate Collection Abyssea Edition Trailer

Final Fantasy XI Seekers of Adoulin Vanafest Trailer
Final Fantasy XI Seekers of Adoulin Pre-Release Trailer
Final Fantasy XI Seekers of Adoulin Launch Trailer

A Little FFXI Story
Knockin at Heaven's Door - Seekers of Adoulin spoilers
The Prince of Ephramad - Treasures of Aht Urhgan spoilers
Future Fabulous - Wings of the Goddess spoilers
Norio Wakamoto Promotional Videos
Scenery Video
Crystallize: Final Fantasy XI 10th Anniversary

Other Links
Official Forum | BG Forum | Windower
Windower is a popular 3rd party tool that adds things like recast timers and other useful features. Version 4 is preferred as it auto-updates and includes access to all plugins and addons.

There are several very useful community sites which make it easier to manage (and be a part of) group content, and track your progress in game.

FFXIDB - Great resource for optimizing your quests and missions based on getting drops from mobs, and finding those mobs on maps.
FFXIAH - Auction house tracker, also tracks progress
Guildwork - MMO social networking site, incredibly useful
Linkshell Community - SE's Official LS community site

Special thanks to Pancakesandsx, Seigyoku, and Aeana for their help on this and previous threads!

 

[Hasemo]

I was thinking about getting back into XI for a while if the game went on another sale and just noticed that the sale starts tomorrow by randomly checking the official site.

My main concern is which version should I get (I'm going to start from scratch, since my lv 25 RDM from few years ago is worthless).
The account I'm using for XIV and which I have my old character and the previous version on is EU, but I was thinking about using the Japanese client and playing on a Japanese server, because timezones.
Last time I checked, this was a very annoying thing to do and required to have 2 versions of POL - Japanese for launching the game and European for changing the payment information.

My other concern is that the Japanese version required 3D Visa authorization last time I checked (5? years ago) and setting it up, while possible, is a royal pain.

I also have a question to people actively playing - how long does it take to clear the "story" portion of the game if one starts from scratch?

 

[B.K.]

I was thinking about using the Japanese client and playing on a Japanese server, because timezones.

There are no Japanese servers. Some may be more popular with Japanese players, but people from all regions play on the same servers.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

I also have a question to people actively playing - how long does it take to clear the "story" portion of the game if one starts from scratch?

Took me about a month to get my first job from 1-99 and use it to clear Bastok, Zilart, Cop and most of ToAU (JST midnight waits are a bear). I had some help with gimmicky fights like Rank 6, and found groups for some of the challenging Rhapsodies fights for lowbies.

In the second month I finished off ToAU, WotG and a fair amount of Adoulin.

Took a third month to finish Adoulin, mostly because I was preoccupied with getting as many jobs to 99 as possible during the various double exp campaigns going on, and because the final chapter of Adoulin isn't really soloable by most jobs without absurd amounts of powerful equipment.

So yeah about 3 months to see the core story. WotG and ToAU are by far the longest mission slogs due to mission/zone/quest design and some midnight JST waiting periods. I probably could have gone faster if I wasn't so frenzied by leveling jobs quickly.

 

[Hasemo]

There are no Japanese servers. Some may be more popular with Japanese players, but people from all regions play on the same servers.

I know how XI works
Yes, I meant servers with sizable Japanese communities, although I have to admit that I expected SE to physically split XI by regions like they did with XIV for better ping for players outside Japan.

Took me about a month to get my first job from 1-99 and use it to clear Bastok, Zilart, Cop and most of ToAU (JST midnight waits are a bear). I had some help with gimmicky fights like Rank 6, and found groups for some of the challenging Rhapsodies fights for lowbies.

In the second month I finished off ToAU, WotG and a fair amount of Adoulin.

Took a third month to finish Adoulin, mostly because I was preoccupied with getting as many jobs to 99 as possible during the various double exp campaigns going on, and because the final chapter of Adoulin isn't really soloable by most jobs without absurd amounts of powerful equipment.

So yeah about 3 months to see the core story. WotG and ToAU are by far the longest mission slogs due to mission/zone/quest design and some midnight JST waiting periods. I probably could have gone faster if I wasn't so frenzied by leveling jobs quickly.

Thanks! I understand that it was 3 months of "hardcore" playing, not putting an hour here and there?

 

[Jeels]

When do these game servers go down?

 

[Ouren]

I'm over here sighing wistfully

Maybe I'll come back

 

[B.K.]

When do these game servers go down?

PS2 and Xbox 360 support ends in March 2016. PC support is going to continue for the foreseeable future.

 

[Jeels]

PS2 and Xbox 360 support ends in March 2016. PC support is going to continue for the foreseeable future.

Good, I do want to run through the story just so I can say I have played this one.

 

[23qwerty]

It's pretty astonishing that there was still PS2 support, are there really still people playing this on a PS2 in 2015?

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Good, I do want to run through the story just so I can say I have played this one.

Yo, you wanna play this sometime and go through the story? I've been thinking about it awhile now myself.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Good, I do want to run through the story just so I can say I have played this one.

Yo, you wanna play this sometime and go through the story? I've been thinking about it awhile now myself.

Only 10 bucks starting on Wednesday, if you don't have an account already. Join us on Sylph if you don't have a home!

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Thanks! I understand that it was 3 months of "hardcore" playing, not putting an hour here and there?

Not really hardcore, I only went insane in my leveling grind. The biggest time sinks are the ones that have always been big time sinks, like Headstone Pilgrimage, the escort missions in CoP and the sheer amount of running involved as you're going through every zone in the game at least once throughout each mission chain. The missions get more demanding as you go through them in order of release. I think I literally got from rank 1-6 Bastok in a day. ToAU took almost two weeks by itself. At a weekend warrior's pace you can still get through most of the missions in a reasonable time frame.

 

[KeRaSh]

Ah good times. I'm very glad I saw the last thread when Rhapsodies came out and I resubbed after years of not playing. Took me a while to get to know the new systems but it took me right back to my teens. My brother and I got our characters to DRG99 and had so much fun.
Unfortunately we never finished any storylines besides the vanilla one... I wished we had time to at least finish CoP...

Quick question. Do I understand that correctly? You can login without activating your account during the free login campaign? No need to go to the account site and do anything? Just start POL and jump in?

 

[Mr. RPG]

I started playing again last summer and had a great time, but unfortunately I couldn't keep playing after the campaign ended.

Looks like I'll be coming back for the next Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign in a few days. Hopefully I'll stick around this time.

I really miss this game.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Also, this latest update is massive, I feel like it's overwriting every file in the game. :V

 

[B.K.]

Also, this latest update is massive, I feel like it's overwriting every file in the game. :V

Eight hours to update for me.

 

[Tenebrous]

PS2 and Xbox 360 support ends in March 2016. PC support is going to continue for the foreseeable future.

Wow. Have to applaud Square for keeping PS2 support going for so damn long.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Wow. Have to applaud Square for keeping PS2 support going for so damn long.

Yeah it's pretty crazy. One of the reasons that PS2 support is ending is because they can't get devkits anymore to continue development.

Quick question. Do I understand that correctly? You can login without activating your account during the free login campaign? No need to go to the account site and do anything? Just start POL and jump in?

Pretty much. Check the link to the campaign page about it for the exact details.

 

[KeRaSh]

Pretty much. Check the link to the campaign page about it for the exact details.

So inactive accounts are eligible but cancelled accounts are not. Not sure what the status of my account is and I can't check while I'm at work. What's the difference?

 

[Hasemo]

Okay, I'll be grabbing a copy of the ultimate pack tomorrow, no idea when I'll start playing.

I have to ask my friend living in Europe to grab it for me - SE's eStore is sending codes, right?

 

[ZetaEpyon]

So inactive accounts are eligible but cancelled accounts are not. Not sure what the status of my account is and I can't check while I'm at work. What's the difference?

Basically you can cancel either the *characters* or the whole account. I think it's valid if you just cancelled the characters, but I've never been in the situation to know for sure.

 

[Loona]

Neat post.
I'd add a link to FFXIDB.com to it if possible - it's proven invaluable to optimize quests and missions based on getting drops from mobs, and finding those mobs on maps.

I did not expect a post of mine to be directly referenced, and it's not even one that goes into the game's music.
Seriously, Naoshi Mizuta and Kumi Tanioka are geniouses - also they made a point of refining their tracks by listening to them over and over until they couldn't get tired of them, and it's amazing not only how it shows, but also how fitting many tracks are to their respective areas and story context at times.

Looking forward to the grand finale.

 

[KeRaSh]

Basically you can cancel either the *characters* or the whole account. I think it's valid if you just cancelled the characters, but I've never been in the situation to know for sure.

I only cancelled the character I think so I should be good to go if I decide to continue the storylines... My brother is probably busy playing Fallout 4 so it might not matter anyways.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Neat post.
I'd add a link to FFXIDB.com to it if possible - it's proven invaluable to optimize quests and missions based on getting drops from mobs, and finding those mobs on maps.

I did not expect a post of mine to be directly referenced, and it's not even one that goes into the game's music.
Seriously, Naoshi Mizuta and Kumi Tanioka are geniouses - also they made a point of refining their tracks by listening to them over and over until they couldn't get tired of them, and it's amazing not only how it shows, but also how fitting many tracks are to their respective areas and story context at times.

Looking forward to the grand finale.

Added, thanks!
And you have pancakes to thank for digging up your post from the old thread.

 

[The Illiterati]

With Fallout 4 and Trails SC I have no time for this, but next year I'd love to finally play through it. Can buy the game and just sit on it without losing the free month?

 

[ZetaEpyon]

With Fallout 4 and Trails SC I have no time for this, but next year I'd love to finally play through it. Can buy the game and just sit on it without losing the free month?

While I cannot say with 100% certainty, I'm pretty sure the digital download just gives you a code to use when registering your account. So as long as you don't create an account right away and apply the code to it, I'd imagine that you could just save it for whenever you have time.

Perhaps someone who's actually bought it during a discount campaign can confirm.

 

[Mokujin]

Oh, the memories!! So much fun had in Vanadiel, while I've enjoyed FFXIV it lacks some things that made FFXI memorable for me, real danger, meaningful crafting and spooky low visited zones (Arrapago, Onzozo, etc...), good xp parties, chocobo digging...

Damn, I hope I can resub at some point to at least clear Adoulin and Rhapsodies.

Gret OP btw!

 

[Muskieratboi]

Screw it, I'm in. XI was an awesome FF, so I'll be happy to jump back in. Think I stopped playing cause I burned out trying to level all my classes to 99, and that godawful worm grinding area.. did they fix that?

 

[jiggle]

Lol finally getting put out to pasture
And looks like they are gonna shit on bst some more on their way out(?)
Well then

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Damn, I hope I can resub at some point to at least clear Adoulin and Rhapsodies.

Gret OP btw!

At least jump in for the free login return campaign that starts on Friday! And thanks!

Screw it, I'm in. XI was an awesome FF, so I'll be happy to jump back in. Think I stopped playing cause I burned out trying to level all my classes to 99, and that godawful worm grinding area.. did they fix that?

I don't think anyone really grinds out levels in Abyssea anymore - it's probably just as fast (if not faster) and much less sanity-threatening to do other stuff with Trusts now.

Lol finally getting put out to pasture
And looks like they are gonna shit on bst some more on their way out(?)
Well then

What? Beastmaster has been fantastic most of this year - it was the hot bandwagon job until the last update, and it's still pretty good.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

So... when is FFXI Offline coming?

 

[Fou-Lu]

Interesting... So I can basically solo the game? And treat it like FFXII? Is the story worth it? And would soloing it be fun?

 

[Herbs]

Awww, good times with this beast. Was so hard to find a White Mage to group with.

 

[theDeeDubs]

Any good spots you guys like to go from 90-99?

 

[jiggle]

What? Beastmaster has been fantastic most of this year - it was the hot bandwagon job until the last update, and it's still pretty good.

Well it was fantastic
I couldn't stop gushing about the game to old ffxi buddies cuz of it

Too bad they turned the job, and the game, into putrid horse shit over night though

 

[Loona]

So... when is FFXI Offline coming?

Years after people stop subscribing, at best - there's a mobile version on the way, but with the Trusts system, it simpler to adapt to single player than ever.

Interesting... So I can basically solo the game? And treat it like FFXII? Is the story worth it? And would soloing it be fun?

Everything up to late Seekers of Adoulin and more endgamish stuff is pretty much soloable.
As for stories, there are plenty of them and they get pretty interconnected - it was neat to notice in today's patch notes that one of the new Adoulin quests has as a requirement one of the old quests from a line of quests involving going back and forth between Mhaura and Selbina to settle issues between a father and a son - which likely has to do with the fact that the newer quest has involved Cid's kid Mid.


Also, have some pseudo-spoilers for Treasures of Aht Urghan in the form of interpretative dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVsBONItA6o

 

[Loona]

The arcade Dissidia Twitter account just posted a very brief bit of Shantotto footage:
https://twitter.com/DFF_Arcade/status/664043002302627840

Looking appropriately arrogant, and quite the fitting day to post that too.

 

[thedan001]

I used to play this game hardcore back in the glory days, definitely thinking about reactivating and playing again with that free to play campaign and the rhapsodies update

I'm probably gonna transfer my account over to slyph and join the neogaf linkshell. Look for me in the next couple days!

One question, is linkshell/group runs at high level content still a thing and does the neogaf LS do those together?

My account has around 10 or so jobs lv99 with weapons from the SoA update (gtk from trex , dagger from shark, etc) Where am I in the progression path and what should I start doing/focusing with the current FFXI lifecycle?

Last question, I used to dual/trio box. But with the new NPC thing, is it still worth it? I haven't done any quests to summon NPC

Please let me know, I will appreciate all the info and the help!

 

[Loona]

Last question, I used to dual/trio box. But with the new NPC thing, is it still worth it? I haven't done any quests to summon NPC

The Trust quests are pretty simple, and for the questables ones, the more quests you've done that are related to the character, the more they're likely to reference those events during the unlock cutscenes, which is a neat touch.

Personally I think it's worth, since the range of benefits is pretty great - some of the trust don't even affect combat directly, they just follow you around and bump your chances of skill ups and whatnot, if you're so inclined. Personally, I like to bring an army of healers with me when possible, but I haven't been doing high-end stuff where damage is of the essence.

 

[pancakesandsex]

I used to play this game hardcore back in the glory days, definitely thinking about reactivating and playing again with that free to play campaign and the rhapsodies update

I'm probably gonna transfer my account over to slyph and join the neogaf linkshell. Look for me in the next couple days!

One question, is linkshell/group runs at high level content still a thing and does the neogaf LS do those together?

My account has around 10 or so jobs lv99 with weapons from the SoA update (gtk from trex , dagger from shark, etc) Where am I in the progression path and what should I start doing/focusing with the current FFXI lifecycle?

Last question, I used to dual/trio box. But with the new NPC thing, is it still worth it? I haven't done any quests to summon NPC

Please let me know, I will appreciate all the info and the help!

IHOP runs shell events on tuesdays, we typically run whatever the folks who show up can manage. (So whatever is inclusive of the attendees). Shell is kept primarily casual, but has no shortage of great players hanging around looking for stuff to do.

If you've cleared delve stuff and are decked out in 119 gear, then you'll want to get whatever JSE you need still whil moving on to escha content.

Dual boxing is gonna be very different than the trust npcs in that you have full control over the other character. That said, you'll probably be fine just asking other people t do things. We can always use more people willing to get an event going.




Additionally Thanks for handling the thread Talym, looks great.

 

[Toth]

IHOP runs shell events on tuesdays, we typically run whatever the folks who show up can manage. (So whatever is inclusive of the attendees). Shell is kept primarily casual, but has no shortage of great players hanging around looking for stuff to do.

If you've cleared delve stuff and are decked out in 119 gear, then you'll want to get whatever JSE you need still whil moving on to escha content.

Dual boxing is gonna be very different than the trust npcs in that you have full control over the other character. That said, you'll probably be fine just asking other people t do things. We can always use more people willing to get an event going.


Additionally Thanks for handling the thread Talym, looks great.

Agreed, the thread looks fantastic.

I am actually pretty pleased with the update and the fact more content, albiet small ala new battlefields, is still coming in the future.

 

[Loona]

SE's email about the update includes this image - looking interesting, seeing all those characters together:

I wonder what's past that entrance, and if Shantotto being in the middle has anything to do with that Shantotto II trust's look...

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Update server must be borked, wondering if I should cancel/restart at this rate.

 

[Boss Man]

Man, I can't believe I still have the itch for this game after so many years. Lost count of the hours spent and the times I've returned. Don't think I can get away with saying any other game is my favorite of all time.

 

[Parshias7]

That 2100JP gift tho...

But they fixed the beetle's foot, so the game can finally be put to rest.

Spoiler

They announced more updates through next December.

 

[KeRaSh]

That 2100JP gift tho...

But they fixed the beetle's foot, so the game can finally be put to rest.

Spoiler

They announced more updates through next December.

The note about the beetle's foot is funny... Was there some internet outrage over it?