I think I'll just take the plunge

Heimlichkeit · July 2009

I've been in and out of this board talking about how I'm considering registering. I think I'm going to, since for the past couple of years I've been having phases where I want to, and don't want to play.

Anyway, it would be nice if I could get a buddy key to start me off. If that's too much, then I would just like to know if the first month after purchase is free? Thank you.

Satimasu · July 2009

There is a 14 day trial. If you buy the game, first month is free.

Heimlichkeit · July 2009

Thanks Sati. I just read a little bit on it while waiting for the download though, and I was curious about the customer service. It seems they were charging hidden fees, and there have been some problems. Also, didn't the monthly fee used to be $10? Was it bumped up, or am I imagining things?

wrongfeifong · July 2009

No hidden fee, The problem is when you register you will get your 30 free then charge on 1st day of the month.

However, when you unsubscrible and redo it, you need to beware that first month payment will not appear on your visa YET. It will appear as a double charge on your SECOND month.

The game has and always been 12.99 per month It was since the game went retail and still is unless you have extra character.

Also the game will charge you the month if you resubscrible even on the 30th of the month.

Satimasu · July 2009

Not really complicated. The first fee is prorated after the free month. They charge at the beginning of the month. So what he meant was if you cancel and resubscribe a couple of months later around the end of the month, you'll still be charged for the whole month still. So when you do something like that, it's best to just wait till the next month so you won't have to worry about it.

Make sure to check filters and all that. It might be getting hung up somewhere. Maybe even try a different email if you have to.

Heimlichkeit · July 2009

So 5 resends later and I've finally received it XD

It was in my spam folder no less.

Anyway, I'm playing on Carbuncle, and my handle is TacticalHound, and my current character is Casturdoom. Feel free to hit me up. As you're aware, the learning curve is steep, and currently all I'm doing is running around in circles in town, and suffering epicfail on tiny mandragors.

I'm playing as a Hume Black mage, hopefully a fulfilling class.

Satimasu · July 2009

Can't really do that except over POL since you're on a different server. Could do that if you were on my server Kujata. We're still here to answer questions though.

Heimlichkeit · July 2009

Why aren't more people as supportive as Sati?

But, should I grind mobs, or should I do questing to level up? I want to gain as many levels as I can in the two weeks to more approriately critique the game, and decide whether to purchase it.

Gameslave · July 2009

Originally posted by Heimlichkeit

Why aren't more people as supportive as Sati?
But, should I grind mobs, or should I do questing to level up? I want to gain as many levels as I can in the two weeks to more approriately critique the game, and decide whether to purchase it.

The great thing with MMORPGs is that it's your choice. Questing is nothing but payoff. You're never impeded by questing. Doing it early gets bonuses like raising the first couple levels of fame out of the way for more important quests later. What I do is go around talking to every NPC in town (before I started going to ffxiclopedia.org and finding out who gave quests, specifically) and by the time I'm done not only have I grown a few levels, but have a substantial amount of gil and items at my disposal.

I don't think you should let the grind be your appropriate basis for critique. Especially not this late, as the server population today mostly consists of moderatly seasoned to hardcore devoted players. Arguably, as a newb it's best to party with newbs for the true experience of the game, developing and adventuring together (with advanced players that sense of adventure is somewhat lost as you're told how to play, where to go, and escorted through places). Instead, let the story line and social interactions be your basis.

Lately they've made it more soloable by adding the field manuals; lists of monsters to kill for field support and bonus exp. upon completion, repeatable every game-day. Whatever your job might be, those will surely help.

Heimlichkeit · July 2009

Thanks Slave, though I've mostly been grinding while doing a few quests.

It seems hard to find a group since I don't have any shells to communicate, and no one responds to /say, and I can't just start whispering people.

I'm doing rather fine soloing right now though. I just dinged 6. One of my few disappointments however is you can't alt+tab during gameplay or it crashes. This makes it difficult to read a guide, or something when I'm stuck

I'm having fun so far though. Although, sometimes I get a little too anxious and I skip a lot of dialogue, and I also need to start marking things off on my map XD

Suplyndmnd · July 2009

Originally posted by Heimlichkeit

Thanks Slave, though I've mostly been grinding while doing a few quests.
It seems hard to find a group since I don't have any shells to communicate, and no one responds to /say, and I can't just start whispering people.
I'm doing rather fine soloing right now though. I just dinged 6. One of my few disappointments however is you can't alt+tab during gameplay or it crashes. This makes it difficult to read a guide, or something when I'm stuck
I'm having fun so far though. Although, sometimes I get a little too anxious and I skip a lot of dialogue, and I also need to start marking things off on my map XD

You can look in FFXI Config program to make it run in windowed mode and you can go to www.windower.net to get a program called "Windower". It's a good program and has plugins but they give you an advantage over console players. Puritans just use the Windower Lite as all it does is put it in a window with no plugins to make it equal footing. However, FFXI implemented a windowed mode but i heard its not great so it's up to you. A lot of people use Windower so it's highly doubtful they will ban people as they would probably lose over half of their people.

However, do remember it is against the terms of service. So you do take that risk. They won't do anything unless you go around shouting you are using it or are caught using hacks like Claim bots or Fishing Bots which are VERY VERY frowned upon in this game.

You will not be grouping until at best level 10. Since it's your first time through i'd reccomend solo'ing to 15 or maybe finding a person who just started as well. Sending tells to people is iffy. I don't mind if it's a "excuse me, but can you help me" tell. I'm always more than happy to help new players to the game as i remember that very sharp learning curve. I'm on Bismarck as "Oban" or Pandemonium as "Shazamalicious". If you decide to recreate a character on one of those servers i'll be glad to help.

DesudroAjyhc · July 2009

Shazamalicious on Pandemonium? Didn't you used to be Shazmalicious on Bismarck, too?

WSIMike · August 2009

Originally posted by Heimlichkeit

Well that sounds pretty complicated Fei XD

Now, how long does it take to receive a registration code? I've been waiting like 2 days, and I've request it 4 times now :-

Basically, for FFXI, SE only does billing at the beginning of each month, around the 1st.

So.. if you sign up after the 1st, it's not going to bill you for that month until the next month's billing.

So if you sign up on, say, August 10th, you won't be billed until September 1st. At that time you will see charges for August *and* September.. thus giving the impression of being double-billed... but you're not. Every month after that will be a normal bill.

The down-side to the billing is that they don't pro-rate the months. So even if you sign up at the end of August.. say the 29th... You'll still be billed for the whole month (the full $12.99). So if you find yourself wanting to play and it's near the end of the month, I would just wait 'til the 2nd or 3rd of the following month and sign up... at least then you're getting most of the month out of it.

WSIMike · August 2009

Originally posted by Heimlichkeit

Why aren't more people as supportive as Sati?
But, should I grind mobs, or should I do questing to level up? I want to gain as many levels as I can in the two weeks to more approriately critique the game, and decide whether to purchase it.

Then you'll want to "grind mobs" to level; do some Fields of Valor. Quests in FFXI aren't a means of leveling; they're a means of moving you through the different storylines.

Although there is a "payoff" for quests. But it's not in the form of xp. You earn "fame" in the nation you complete a quest for. For example, Windurst quests get you Windurst fame... It does get a bit more involved than that, but that's the gist of it.

There are levels of fame that you attain over time. Some of the key quests you might want to do will have fame requirements to them (e.g. level 3 fame).. So don't discount them completely. Quests *are* useful, and many of them have pretty darn good, some tying into the main story arcs.

There are other quests, like those to unlock Advanced Jobs, unlock your Subjob, etc... you'll want to do those as well. Also you get some good items from certain quests.

Though you're looking to get as far as you can in levels to get "more of a feel" of FFXI, let me tell you that leveilng alone won't give you a complete picture; not even close. Leveling is a means to an end in FFXI, not an end in itself. If you do nothing but grind levels, I can almost promise you, at the end you'll be left with a very limited view of what FFXI really has to offer. So... as a suggestion... do try to mix it up, do missions... do quests, etc...

Have fun!

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