Anyone play Final Fantasy XI online?

[ViviTheMage]

I used to play...back in 03...I am trying to reactivate my accounts on playonline and for the game itself...it'd be fun to go back for a bit.

Are there a lot of people on it, or has it kind of died off?

 

[bockie]

People still play FFXI.

SE has made it easier to level.
-Level Sync allows you, if you have a higher level job, to essentially cap, or sync, it to a lower level.
-Easy Prey (EP), Decent Challenge (DC), and Even Match (EM) prey now give larger amounts of EXP.
-Signet gives an evasion and defense bonus vs. EP, DC, and EM prey.
-Fields of Valor allows you to partake in a training regime with Gil / EXP / and other bonuses such as Regen / Refresh
-Jobs have received lots of adjustments over time.

You didn't specify when you stopped playing. A few expansion packs have been released:
-Chains of Promathia
-Treasures of Aht Urhgan (Blue Mage, Puppetmaster, & Corsair Jobs)
-Wings of the Goddess (Dancer & Scholar Jobs)

At 1:15pm EST there are 1670 people on the server Fairy which isn't really a prime time anywhere.

Other resources you may want to look at for more information include:
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.bluegartrls.com/forum/
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/

I'm not much for posting on topics, but since there weren't any comments I figured I'd dig out my login and give you some info.

--Bockie

 

[DannyLove]

man, I played FF-online when I first took a break from Eve Online.
I joined a really nice linkshell and was addicted heavily on this game. Our linkshell started to drop in members and my interest went with it. I was a white mage around level 50, and I'm wondering if my account or character is even active. This was back in 2003, I quit sometime early 2004.

I moved recently and found my FF box along with my manual that had my keys and info. I wouldn't mind giving it a whirl only if I know my account is still alive. Good times.

 

[bockie]

SE has "The Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign".

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/campaign/wcb/

This limited-time campaign offers customers who have deleted their characters an opportunity to adventure through Vana'diel once again with their original characters. When you obtain a FINAL FANTASY XI Content ID during the campaign period, you can have previously deleted character data restored onto that ID, and resume play immediately!

So if you're looking to get back into the game, there is a really good chance they will be able to restore your character.

--Bockie

*Edited Quote Formatting

 

[MrPickins]

As long as you have your login info and didn't actually delete your character (just deactivated the content ID), you should have no problem reactivating it and picking up where you left off. I did that last year after a 2yr break.

Pickins - on Siren

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: bockie
People still play FFXI.

SE has made it easier to level.
-Level Sync allows you, if you have a higher level job, to essentially cap, or sync, it to a lower level.
-Easy Prey (EP), Decent Challenge (DC), and Even Match (EM) prey now give larger amounts of EXP.
-Signet gives an evasion and defense bonus vs. EP, DC, and EM prey.
-Fields of Valor allows you to partake in a training regime with Gil / EXP / and other bonuses such as Regen / Refresh
-Jobs have received lots of adjustments over time.

You didn't specify when you stopped playing. A few expansion packs have been released:
-Chains of Promathia
-Treasures of Aht Urhgan (Blue Mage, Puppetmaster, & Corsair Jobs)
-Wings of the Goddess (Dancer & Scholar Jobs)

At 1:15pm EST there are 1670 people on the server Fairy which isn't really a prime time anywhere.

Other resources you may want to look at for more information include:
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.bluegartrls.com/forum/
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/

I'm not much for posting on topics, but since there weren't any comments I figured I'd dig out my login and give you some info.

--Bockie

Thanks bockie! Where did you get the server stat information?

I stopped back in 03....so I am definitely behind on expansions.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: DannyLove
man, I played FF-online when I first took a break from Eve Online.
I joined a really nice linkshell and was addicted heavily on this game. Our linkshell started to drop in members and my interest went with it. I was a white mage around level 50, and I'm wondering if my account or character is even active. This was back in 2003, I quit sometime early 2004.

I moved recently and found my FF box along with my manual that had my keys and info. I wouldn't mind giving it a whirl only if I know my account is still alive. Good times.

It is! I actived my 15 red mage from 2003....


I am going to do a crapload of playing tonight...

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Originally posted by: bockie
People still play FFXI.

SE has made it easier to level.
-Level Sync allows you, if you have a higher level job, to essentially cap, or sync, it to a lower level.
-Easy Prey (EP), Decent Challenge (DC), and Even Match (EM) prey now give larger amounts of EXP.
-Signet gives an evasion and defense bonus vs. EP, DC, and EM prey.
-Fields of Valor allows you to partake in a training regime with Gil / EXP / and other bonuses such as Regen / Refresh
-Jobs have received lots of adjustments over time.

You didn't specify when you stopped playing. A few expansion packs have been released:
-Chains of Promathia
-Treasures of Aht Urhgan (Blue Mage, Puppetmaster, & Corsair Jobs)
-Wings of the Goddess (Dancer & Scholar Jobs)

At 1:15pm EST there are 1670 people on the server Fairy which isn't really a prime time anywhere.

<-- Plays on Fairy server (Talym). :Q

Anyway, this is all very true.

A lot of the more recent updates have been oriented to making it more friendly to a casual style of play. That's not to say that it's as accessible as many other MMOs, but it's certainly going to be a lot different than you remember. Some of the newer stuff is so casual-friendly that I was able to level Thief from 62 to 75 alone, without any real difficulty.

Another really significant thing to know is that SE has knocked out a lot of RMT, and fights them rather aggressively now. As a result, the economy is FAR more stable than it used to be, and prices are much much lower in general. For instance, the Noble's Tunic that I bought pretty much at the peak of inflation for 12 million gil, now sells for 150,000 or some such.

Certainly, some people are quitting, and maybe the overall player base is on the decline, but I've actually had a number of old friends start playing again recently.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Geeez, I forget what server I was on...I think there was only one to choose from ^_^. I started on release day if I recall.

I forgot how confusing that playonline system is...anyone want to start back up with me?

I was hoping it would be tough level...was getting sick of the easy grind of WoW.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Well, it's still a far cry from something like WoW.

It's just that there are actually options now.

Edit: And yeah, PlayOnline is still horrible.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Why didn't SEO take handle of it and split off from playonline?

I hate when companies have two different companies serving up MMO's...

 

[ZetaEpyon]

What? FFXI is Square Enix only, as is PlayOnline itself.

The only variation might be on the Xbox 360 version, but I don't know for sure.

 

[ViviTheMage]

SEO = square enix online

I just hate playonline...haha.

Can ps2/3,pc , and xbox players all play together?

 

[ZetaEpyon]

Yes, all the platforms are integrated together, no separate servers or anything like that.
Sometimes it drives me nuts, because my opinion is that the continued PS2 support is holding it back graphically.

 

[ViviTheMage]

which is a shame, they could totally revamp it for current times...make it look a lot better.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

It is unfortunate. If you've ever seen any of the models from the game rendered in something like 3D Studio Max, they're far more detailed than you would expect.

Honestly they could offer different rendering engines anyway, it's not like it would have to have any impact on the underlying mechanisms. I don't think they want to invest that sort of effort into an old game, though, so they feed us the PS2-compatibility line.

 

[ViviTheMage]

EVE did that at one point...

Do they ever plan on a new FF online type of game?

 

[ZetaEpyon]

I've heard rumors of a new MMO from them, but that it would not be related to FFXI.
Whether that leaves a general FF link open... who knows.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Not exactly press worthy I guess...they pump out a decent amount of single player FF games...and 3 expansions announced for FFXI. Doubt they 'need' to do a new one.

 

[bockie]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
Thanks bockie! Where did you get the server stat information?

I stopped back in 03....so I am definitely behind on expansions.

[/quote]

I play FFXI on the server Fairy as Malibu. I just did a '/sea all' and it tells you how many people are on the server.

Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon
<-- Plays on Fairy server (Talym).

Nice! I couldn't help but to look you up on http://www.ffxiah.com. Thief was my first job to 75 and am working on White Mage right now. I'll have to track you down in-game sometime and /wave.

All in all, I enjoy the game, hence I still play it. I don't plan on playing any other MMO's after realizing how much of a time sink they are. With all the improvements it is a lot less frustrating than when it was when I started (a couple months after NA PC Launch).

--Bockie

 

[ViviTheMage]

bockie, ill have to look yo up

I will be the level 15 red mage ^_^

 

[abaez]

Do they allow you to download the original game/expansions if you've bought them? I don't have the cd's anymore.

NM, you need your original CD key. Oh well.

 

[bockie]

Yes abaez, you will probably need your original key. However, you may be able to contact PlayOnline support to see if they are able to retrieve your information based on your name / address / billing method. Your key should be stored on PlayOnline correlated with your account.

You are able to download a free trial:
http://www.finalfantasyxi.com/
Check the bottom right for the Free Trial link. It probably only includes the original, though I bet if you are diligent enough you can find the expansions if you are able to retrieve you keys from PlayOnline.

--Bockie

 

[Entity23]

You can also server transfer once every 3 months for $25 if you have any friends still playing that you want to play with.

Be prepared for about 4-6 hours of patches. It's kinda brutal.

The one daunting thing about FFXI is making money. It's pretty hard if you are new and takes a while.

 

[DannyLove]

Originally posted by: Entity23
You can also server transfer once every 3 months for $25 if you have any friends still playing that you want to play with.

Be prepared for about 4-6 hours of patches. It's kinda brutal.

The one daunting thing about FFXI is making money. It's pretty hard if you are new and takes a while.

YEP, that was the problem I had. But when I managed to reach my high levels (40s) I ended up making a lot of money by killing all the Earth, Fire, Wind, Lighting Elements and selling off their crystals. I had a system down where they spawned and everything, man how I missed this game.

I will go home tonight and see if in fact my account is still alive. I can't imagine leveling back up to the 50s + completing all those quests to get where I once was.
In terms of finding a new set of friends and linkshell, well thats a whole other story!