Getting Started.

Mikdiz

Sub Job Unlocked
Adventurer
Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Messages
11
Location
Michigan
Linkshell
ShadesOfGrey
I just got this game Friday and have been grinding off and on since. Everything was going smoothly until last night. I was a lv4 RDM and had been stuck at lv4 for a couple hours. It seemed as though everytime I got to lv5, an Orc would show up and kill me. Even though when I checked him, it said it was an even match. So I guess my question(s) is:

- Did anyone else have a rough start to this game?
- What tips could you offer that would help me out?
- Where would be the best place to buy low-level spells? (Dia, Stone, etc.)

Any and all responses are much appreciated.
 
- Did anyone else have a rough start to this game?
Yes, it can be a bit rough at first, but you will have to keep grinding until you get higher and can party at about level 10 in Valkurm Dunes.
- What tips could you offer that would help me out?
After a certain point, especially as red mage, you will want to stick to exclusivly EP-DC for soloing. EM can be done, but will be too difficult if its an EM beastman.
- Where would be the best place to buy low-level spells?
Since im assuming you're from San d'Oria, try the Magic Shop in Port San d'Oria, they sell both Black magic and White magic for very cheap.
 
Thanks a bundle, as soon as I get home I'll check the shop. And could you clearify a few things for me? Like, what do EP-DC and EM mean?
 
Easy Prey, Decent, Even Match.
 
Hrmm...makes sense to me. I don't know why I didn't see it before.
 
It's faster to kill a bunch of easier enemies for low exp then a few bad guys for alot. If you know how to use the Auction House, go buy yourself some Melon Pies or some Ginger Cookies as they will signifcantly reduce your downtime needed to restore MP, or give you more MP to play with.

Heck, whats your in-game name? I can get you started.
 
You'll find that as you get higher in levels, the level of mobs you can take on will drop....

For example, an Easy Prey at lvl 5 and an Easy Prey at 50 or 75 is very very different...

At lower levels, you can take mobs that are rated harder (Even Match, Decent Challenge, maybe Toughs) but as you amble along, that gets more challenging.
 
Hmkiroko said:
It's faster to kill a bunch of easier enemies for low exp then a few bad guys for alot. If you know how to use the Auction House, go buy yourself some Melon Pies or some Ginger Cookies as they will signifcantly reduce your downtime needed to restore MP, or give you more MP to play with.

Heck, whats your in-game name? I can get you started.

The name's Mikdiz, in the Gilgamesh server. I have other friends on there, but they're too busy with their higher-lvl quests/missions. One of them, Darkasnight, is well over 75, so he's never around. As soon as I get up to about lv10, my good friend Puff (Ghanna, a BLK mage on Gilgamesh) is usually on, but is a couple lvls higher than me. Otherwise I'd just party with him.

And I don't have any spells. I started as a Warrior, then switched. Otherwise I'd at least have Dia. Not to mention I'm low on gil, so I may only be able to purchase a spell or two. I'd appreciate the help though, I mean, I still get lost in town every now and then, lol.

Oh, I almost forgot. I'd have to get back to town first. I was chased from West Ranfaure, to somewhere just south of East Ranfaure by an orc. It was mainly because I was low on health and didn't want to delevel again.
 
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Stick to EP mobs and get Signet, at lv 7 you will have 1000 Conquest Points then you get a experience points boost ring.
I take it you started in Sandy?
 
Oh, my bad. I keep forgetting to answer that, yea, I'm from Sandy. I was told to on account of all my friends being there too. They said it'd be easier if I needed help.

I'm thinking of just fighting the DC rabbits and worms then. That way the crystals they give can be sold for a little gil every now and then. I know they're used for crafting, but since I don't actually know how, they don't do me any good.

FYI, I have to get of here now. I'll be back on in just over half an hour.
 
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A good rule of thumb is to figure even match = 50% chance of death, lol. As a starting character with no subjob and (I'm assuming) minimal gear, you're much better off just xping on the easy mobs. It will take a lot more kills, but that also means you'll get more drops to sell.

Also be sure to look into some of the quests in Sandy, there's a lot of good starter gear you can get for free just by talking to the right NPC's. Compare prices between the vendor and Auction House on your gear and spells, 90% of the time you'll find it much cheaper if you can buy from an NPC. The magic shop is in Sandy port, armor can be bought in South Sandy, and weapon shops are in both North and South. The various shops should be marked on your maps.
 
I mainly just need to get strong enough to take on a Wild Sheep. I'm on a quest where if I bring this Mithra 3 Sheepkins, she'll make me something. After that, I'll take the quest to get the Orcish Axe. Should be easy enough. I just have to get stronger is all.

I've pretty much got the basics of the game though. I just need to stay away from goblins and any EM or tough mobs. Which brings me to another couple questions. What is the origin of the word "mob" in FFXI? And, how are you able to take screenshots of the game? I tried last night and it didn't work. You just press the "Print Screen" key, right? I tried that and it didn't work. Does it not work while looking at the map or something?
 
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It's a general video game term really, especially for online games. It pre-dates FFXI.
 
- Did anyone else have a rough start to this game?
Yes, a very rough start. I started as a WAR and It was very difficult because there were no WHMs. So I did the most intelligent thing and changed my main to WHM. I was one of that selective group of WHMs who loved his job. I would get PTs in seconds after flagging up and sometimes PTs fought over me because there were VERY FEW healers. So you starting as a RDM is not a bad choice.

I had a blast untill my 1st GENKAI (damn that Ancient Papyrus!). Because everyone was doing it at the time there were no 75s around. So I went everyday in search of my paper. It wore me down to the point of almost quitting the game. But thx to a lvl 71 Knight in Shining Armor who soloed those skelletons for my drop because he felt sorry for me, I got it (he ran by me everyday for 3 weeks untill he decided to help me out)! I hope he achieves the best this game has to offer and everything goes his way. Because he showed me help is everything, at a critical point in my days in this game. His name was Rooi btw.

- What tips could you offer that would help me out?
Do Bubbly Bernie and ECO-WARRIOR to gain gil. Thats what I did in the early days of Nego. The gil will help you buy spells and you get XP too. You need a group for ECO (or a PL).

- Where would be the best place to buy low-level spells? (Dia, Stone, etc.)
The Magic Stores in Bastok, Windy or Sandy. But, I went to the mines and killed Quadav Mages for their Spell drops.

Good Luck in your travels. ^^
 
Mikdiz said:
I mainly just need to get strong enough to take on a Wild Sheep. I'm on a quest where if I bring this Mithra 3 Sheepkins, she'll make me something. After that, I'll take the quest to get the Orcish Axe. Should be easy enough. I just have to get stronger is all.

I've pretty much got the basics of the game though. I just need to stay away from goblins and any EM or tough mobs. Which brings me to another couple questions. What is the origin of the word "mob" in FFXI? And, how are you able to take screenshots of the game? I tried last night and it didn't work. You just press the "Print Screen" key, right? I tried that and it didn't work. Does it not work while looking at the map or something?

You have to press the Scroll Look Key first then press Print Screen.
 
Okay, Scroll Lock then Print Screen. At the same time or one after the other?

Sharpe said:
Oh he has lol.

Are you Rooi? Or do you just know them?
 
While I'm at it, I guess I'll ask for your opinions. I was thinking of being a Red Mage with Blue Mage as my sub-job. What do you all think? Will it work? I don't know too much about pairing jobs up like this, so I thought I'd ask before I got too far into the game.
 
The most useful sub for RDM is White Mage, though people expect you to have Black Mage leveled as well since it can also be beneficial in some party setups or locations. Part of your role in parties will be backup healing, hence the importance of /WHM and its ability to cure status ailments.
 
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