I can honestly say that my favorite time ingame when I was xping, was from 70-75. It was nothing for us to do 20k+ xp in a session, and we still had fun. But then I had some of the best NA players imho to xp with.
My tanks included:
1. Prophecy
2. Grayswander
3. UltraSeven
4. Pauk
5. Villarel
6. Angelous
7. Firestreak
My Blm's included:
1. Laur
2. Everlasting
and I know there are more, but I'm drawing a total blank now ...
My Rdm's included:
1. Uzor
2. Genna
again, I had some other kickass Rdm's and drawing a total blank ...
My DD's included:
Ujio (Sam)
Unphazed (Thf)
Reality (Rng)
Beiro (Sam; he was post 60, but pre-70, but I just had to add him^^)
Maseki (Drg)
Tenkax (Drk)
Svina (Smn) (putting Sv in this class cuz he just did some unreal damage post 70; totally blew me away every time)
Anyway, there are a ton more to add to that list, but again, I'm drawing a total blank right now.
When we went out to party back then, we knew we'd be partying a minimum of 4-6 hours for xp (not including party build time and getting to a camp). But again, we still had fun. I guess that's why alot of us are with Proph now in OutterHeaven. We've all sorta slowed down a tad cuz we have RL crap that takes precedence for us now (although if Proph had his way we'd still be on 24/7; such a damn slave driver!!!! j/k Proph :lol: ). Also, some of us have been together and playing well over a year. Then some of us have quit, some of us have gone our separate ways (Laur in Valkrys, I in OutterHeaven), but I still miss those who don't play anymore, and in the case of those who aren't in OH, I try as much as possible to still say hi when I see them.
Most of the above people are not just fellow internet players playing a MMORPG to me. They have become my friends. They have been/are with me thru good times and bad times, and I with them.
This game is what you make out of it. If you aren't into xping (or aren't having fun xping anymore), then by all means take some time away from it. But if that's how you are, don't join a party post 60 and not forewarn your fellow party members that you're gonna want to leave after 2 hours. Two hours in my book is the very LEAST you should party post 60 and that does NOT include the time it takes to get to camp. Imho if you don't have at least 3 hours to "party" (I'm including an hour to build the party and get to camp here), then don't put your flag up please. One of my oldest and very dearest friends online and in this game is Equinoxs. We have been friends since well before FFXI. We met each other a few years ago playing a game called NeverWinter Nites. Anyway, he HATES to xp. It's like pulling teeth. But he loves to craft and mine and make gil. And that's okay. If that's his preference, good for him. I have another friend, Kyrial. She also hates to xp. But she loves to do the quests. She is the Quest Queen!!! And that's okay too. That's really the key to FFXI. There are so many things you can do ingame besides xping. And that is what each individual who plays it needs to find out for him/herself.
And lastly Vang, I too liked your post. I've heard you're a great player. Mebbe someday I'll get to party with your Elitist Bastard happy ass and find out for myself :wink: . Onions, I hear you're a riot to be around. Good combo for you two imho. Hope you both stick together.