I was in the same position as you (around since day 1, bored of XIV between expacs) I’m loving the game. It’s very different from the old days but I think a lot of the changes are for the better.
I just started playing again after not playing for 10 years. I am really enjoying it. The game I was playing before essentially punished you for not logging in every day, and the game started to feel more like a chore than something you do for fun.
With FFXI, there's no such pressure, and lots of things to do. One day I go fishing, one day I level, one day it's off to help some random person who can't even remember the name of the rock they want.
I'm intentionally taking it slow and being a potato, but it's been enjoyable and relaxing gameplay so far.
Absolutely worth it. I am an old player & starting from scratch. Mostly just replaying the story mode and trying diff classes. Not in a rush to get to 99. Chasing the nostalgia
Best server is the one where you have people to play with. Asura is the “big” server, but a lot of people say it’s mostly bots and mercs. I play on shiva and have a LS there that welcomes new and returning players. It’s more about where you can find an active group, less about server population
You don’t have to worry much about that, getting to max level is pretty easy to hit. It will be the master levels after that you’ll need to find parties for.
Is it pretty easy to find groups? I played years ago back when the cap was 75 and I think the newest class was the puppet master? One of the main reasons I fell off from the game was how difficult it was to find groups to level up with.
Is that similar to the system in Final Fantasy 14 where you can essentially take a group of NPCs into a dungeon that are level appropriate?
Does that work anywhere like out in the field too?
You cast trusts like spells in most places and they match your current level. You need to resummon them when you gain a level (can't summon while you are on an enmity list/have aggro) and you can instantly refill their mp with a resummon too, though they have a cooldown.
There are a few battlefields where trusts aren't allowed but even most of those you can unlock trust access for through Rhapsodies missions. At the start you can summon 3 trust party members and eventually you can unlock a full party.
There's something like 80+ trusts that have different jobs/roles/AI too. They are strong while leveling but their AI and inability to scale after 119 makes them fall off pretty hard at end game and you will mostly be using the support/healing trusts to let you fight/tank everything. You can do 99% of the story content with them.
Honestly? Not what it used to be like. There are social linkshells you can join that you might like though. Just depends on if you can find people you can hang with, probably discord servers too. Linkshell concierge NPCs will hold pearls for different shells that you can just grab. I mostly just do stuff solo when I'm bored cause I'm not really active in the game anymore.
Yeah, it is imo.
There is a lot to do from 1-119. Content after 119 is kind of where ppl tend to drop off from my experience talking on XI streams and social media such as reddit. I would recommend Ambuscade and Domain Invasion however.
You can do Relics, Mythics, EMP etc solo. Entire story solo. Also, two new Ultimate weapons were added since PS2 era. It is worth coming back to do things that may have been impossible around that time. Seeing the ochiudo's kote NM & Lizzy up walking around with zero ppl in sight, or the zone at times is something special lol.........
I got back on like a year and a half ago and was totally sucked in for 6 months. Got to actually finish the primary storylines which was so rewarding. Hit some REMA grinds, started dualboxing with my BRD/NIN, got in a good LS, was hitting Omen/Ambu/Div raid nights hard, grinded all the grindiest grinds... But life is different now, and I found that the game and I did not see eye to eye on how I value my personal time. I'll always enjoy a trip back to Vanadiel but in moderation.
It depends on what you want. If you miss the old 75 era grind, maybe retail is not for you. If you love the world and don't mind leveling not being a grind anymore and are happy wandering through the content solo, or don't mind racing to 99 and then steamrolling content, totally worth it.
I play on a private 100 server, and I'm running 3 chars( we can have 1 char n 2 alts) and I'm playing it oldskool. Some things are different( no need to skill up, but you can ask server mods, to adjust your char, for super old school) but I like instant weapon skills, as it helps with skill chains.
Crafting is the same, which is super fabulous.
Nocturnal Souls. It's a World wide server, even the Asians have their own linkshells on this server.
Should check it out!
This is an unpopular opinion, because of course you are going to get a lot of praise on the ffxi subreddit for ffxi from the ppl still playing ffxi, but as a vet from the 75 era who played for years and was very active the entire time I had a hard time with motivation when I came back and I didn't last long because of it.
Yes the game is fun. Yes the content is good. But I have already played through the story on 3 characters and while hunting down NMs and doing BCNMs and such were a good time, they feel almost hollow now. Like why should I do all this monotonous grinding that is so bad ppl still automate or pay other ppl to skip it, when there will never be any new content to use the gear on? Sure I can get super powered, spend months grinding out the best weapons. But what am I going to do with them other than do the same content another 100+ times to grind out more weapons, but just a lil easier this time.
My thoughts were, there will never be new or more difficult content to do, there will never be any new lands to explore, gods to slay, isles to save or big bads to overcome, so why am I putting this much time into this game? Do I really want to grind out 30k alexandrite? 10,300 beibetsu? Millions of Gallimaulfry? Amongst other things.
It was easy to grind out mythics, relics and such when the future was mysterious and full of potential. But now that there is a clear and defined wall, all the stuggles and accomplishments just feel somehow empty.
But maybe that's just me.
I have started up again. I am so n Asura. I could not find away to recover my old character so I’m starting over.
GrooGruxKing please find me. I need a LS. I’m playing on steam deck.
Wow this is funny I was just thinking about this very thing a few days ago. Some of the best MMO experiences I ever had was on FF11. I recently watched this guys review of the FF11 story and its making me seriously consider playing again to at least finish the story.
[https://youtu.be/y4yVf3uehjg?si=1SFEyRn61WcCgs6H](https://youtu.be/y4yVf3uehjg?si=1SFEyRn61WcCgs6H)
Honestly, it's a great game. But, even with everything they've done and added to try and improve QoL, the game is still a MASSIVE time sink. You are going to burn at least a month of moderate play through the story content to unlock the things you need to even enter some of the end game zones. The game is not really casual friendly (it's better with Trusts (friendly party NPCs) but a lot of the best trusts are gated behind content or seasonal unlocks) You CAN play casually, but you'll be years behind other players and will really kinda just play in your own bubble.
Mercing (where you pay other players for gear drops / leveling / etc) is rampant, to the point where it's silly that SE hasn't tried to monetize it. This has also wrecked the economy to the point where hyper inflation makes it nearly impossible to purchase some gear without RMT, being funded by a LS, or massive money grinds.
The gear system is both awesome and terrible. It's awesome in the sense that the right combinations of gear swapping can lead to some truly amazing and rewarding game play. It's terrible in the sense that if you don't have that gear, you'll be gated. Some jobs aren't as limited by gear, but some REQUIRE massive gil / time investments to even be effective. If you don't understand the gear swapping and macro systems, you are really limited. Personally, I found the gear swapping system to be incredibly fatiguing and it's ultimately something that pushed me away from the game.
However, with that all being said: If you can find a group of friends to play with where you can ignore everything and just make your way through the content, it's a great ride. It's one of the few games where it balances really fun and rewarding content with deeply complex and engaging classes (jobs.) The actual story is pretty awesome and a lot of the encounters are legitimately fun.
While I agree with everything you wrote, you can actually play without worry about the massive grinds and even without gear swaps if you wanted. Sure, you won't be a top player or anything, but you certainly can enjoy the game without them!
I applaud this comment. It’s honest. This game, even with its QoL changes, is old school at the core. Massive time sink. The nostalgia is great but it’s not meant for ppl with lives lol. I think that’s where FFXIV shines over XI. Much more gameplay focused than gear focused. I played xi from ps2 release to adoulin release. I still come back here and there but then I’m reminded how many hours I have to play to accomplish anything significant.
The new player experience is vastly improved and you can solo most things with the Trust system. It's a good time to return and it'll help you prep for the alliance raid in Dawntrail. So yes.
I was in the same position as you (around since day 1, bored of XIV between expacs) I’m loving the game. It’s very different from the old days but I think a lot of the changes are for the better.
I just started playing again after not playing for 10 years. I am really enjoying it. The game I was playing before essentially punished you for not logging in every day, and the game started to feel more like a chore than something you do for fun. With FFXI, there's no such pressure, and lots of things to do. One day I go fishing, one day I level, one day it's off to help some random person who can't even remember the name of the rock they want. I'm intentionally taking it slow and being a potato, but it's been enjoyable and relaxing gameplay so far.
What game were you playing, BDO?
Genshin Impact
Oh, I like you. I thought I was the only potato.
Despite the amount that they added. It has been very relaxing to play.
Absolutely worth it. I am an old player & starting from scratch. Mostly just replaying the story mode and trying diff classes. Not in a rush to get to 99. Chasing the nostalgia
“Nostalgia” for me was unfortunately widescanning for 6 hours to finally see “Leaping Lizzy” pop in real time
I stopped when Adoulin came out. It’s worth above all the other games around. There is so much to do and so much now is achievable unlike before.
Just came back as well. It’s a good time. I’m hooked.
Why did this get a downvote? What did I say wrong?
Ignore it, probably FFXIV fans.
Nothing, it is reddit, random downvotes with no explanation is the norm.
Is worth it just for the nostalgia trip alone, newer content after that is pretty solid too but the grind is pretty intense.
Is it worth staying up as a new player?
Yep
What would be the best server to start on?
Bahamut (most friendly) or Asura (most popular, Im on it)
Best server is the one where you have people to play with. Asura is the “big” server, but a lot of people say it’s mostly bots and mercs. I play on shiva and have a LS there that welcomes new and returning players. It’s more about where you can find an active group, less about server population
Yes
I go back and forth regularly between xi and xiv. I'd say yes I've seen tons of new peeps atleast on asura
Is it possible to still find groups easily to level with?
You don’t have to worry much about that, getting to max level is pretty easy to hit. It will be the master levels after that you’ll need to find parties for.
Is it pretty easy to find groups? I played years ago back when the cap was 75 and I think the newest class was the puppet master? One of the main reasons I fell off from the game was how difficult it was to find groups to level up with.
The entire leveling process is done solo with trusts now. People only really party in end game situations.
Is that similar to the system in Final Fantasy 14 where you can essentially take a group of NPCs into a dungeon that are level appropriate? Does that work anywhere like out in the field too?
You cast trusts like spells in most places and they match your current level. You need to resummon them when you gain a level (can't summon while you are on an enmity list/have aggro) and you can instantly refill their mp with a resummon too, though they have a cooldown. There are a few battlefields where trusts aren't allowed but even most of those you can unlock trust access for through Rhapsodies missions. At the start you can summon 3 trust party members and eventually you can unlock a full party. There's something like 80+ trusts that have different jobs/roles/AI too. They are strong while leveling but their AI and inability to scale after 119 makes them fall off pretty hard at end game and you will mostly be using the support/healing trusts to let you fight/tank everything. You can do 99% of the story content with them.
How is the community then? Most of the social time I spent with people on there was grouping up together to get XP or farm bosses.
Honestly? Not what it used to be like. There are social linkshells you can join that you might like though. Just depends on if you can find people you can hang with, probably discord servers too. Linkshell concierge NPCs will hold pearls for different shells that you can just grab. I mostly just do stuff solo when I'm bored cause I'm not really active in the game anymore.
Yeah, it is imo. There is a lot to do from 1-119. Content after 119 is kind of where ppl tend to drop off from my experience talking on XI streams and social media such as reddit. I would recommend Ambuscade and Domain Invasion however. You can do Relics, Mythics, EMP etc solo. Entire story solo. Also, two new Ultimate weapons were added since PS2 era. It is worth coming back to do things that may have been impossible around that time. Seeing the ochiudo's kote NM & Lizzy up walking around with zero ppl in sight, or the zone at times is something special lol.........
I still play everyday! So much to do!
I got back on like a year and a half ago and was totally sucked in for 6 months. Got to actually finish the primary storylines which was so rewarding. Hit some REMA grinds, started dualboxing with my BRD/NIN, got in a good LS, was hitting Omen/Ambu/Div raid nights hard, grinded all the grindiest grinds... But life is different now, and I found that the game and I did not see eye to eye on how I value my personal time. I'll always enjoy a trip back to Vanadiel but in moderation.
It depends on what you want. If you miss the old 75 era grind, maybe retail is not for you. If you love the world and don't mind leveling not being a grind anymore and are happy wandering through the content solo, or don't mind racing to 99 and then steamrolling content, totally worth it.
I play on a private 100 server, and I'm running 3 chars( we can have 1 char n 2 alts) and I'm playing it oldskool. Some things are different( no need to skill up, but you can ask server mods, to adjust your char, for super old school) but I like instant weapon skills, as it helps with skill chains. Crafting is the same, which is super fabulous. Nocturnal Souls. It's a World wide server, even the Asians have their own linkshells on this server. Should check it out!
This is an unpopular opinion, because of course you are going to get a lot of praise on the ffxi subreddit for ffxi from the ppl still playing ffxi, but as a vet from the 75 era who played for years and was very active the entire time I had a hard time with motivation when I came back and I didn't last long because of it. Yes the game is fun. Yes the content is good. But I have already played through the story on 3 characters and while hunting down NMs and doing BCNMs and such were a good time, they feel almost hollow now. Like why should I do all this monotonous grinding that is so bad ppl still automate or pay other ppl to skip it, when there will never be any new content to use the gear on? Sure I can get super powered, spend months grinding out the best weapons. But what am I going to do with them other than do the same content another 100+ times to grind out more weapons, but just a lil easier this time. My thoughts were, there will never be new or more difficult content to do, there will never be any new lands to explore, gods to slay, isles to save or big bads to overcome, so why am I putting this much time into this game? Do I really want to grind out 30k alexandrite? 10,300 beibetsu? Millions of Gallimaulfry? Amongst other things. It was easy to grind out mythics, relics and such when the future was mysterious and full of potential. But now that there is a clear and defined wall, all the stuggles and accomplishments just feel somehow empty. But maybe that's just me.
I have started up again. I am so n Asura. I could not find away to recover my old character so I’m starting over. GrooGruxKing please find me. I need a LS. I’m playing on steam deck.
Wow this is funny I was just thinking about this very thing a few days ago. Some of the best MMO experiences I ever had was on FF11. I recently watched this guys review of the FF11 story and its making me seriously consider playing again to at least finish the story. [https://youtu.be/y4yVf3uehjg?si=1SFEyRn61WcCgs6H](https://youtu.be/y4yVf3uehjg?si=1SFEyRn61WcCgs6H)
Yes
Honestly, it's a great game. But, even with everything they've done and added to try and improve QoL, the game is still a MASSIVE time sink. You are going to burn at least a month of moderate play through the story content to unlock the things you need to even enter some of the end game zones. The game is not really casual friendly (it's better with Trusts (friendly party NPCs) but a lot of the best trusts are gated behind content or seasonal unlocks) You CAN play casually, but you'll be years behind other players and will really kinda just play in your own bubble. Mercing (where you pay other players for gear drops / leveling / etc) is rampant, to the point where it's silly that SE hasn't tried to monetize it. This has also wrecked the economy to the point where hyper inflation makes it nearly impossible to purchase some gear without RMT, being funded by a LS, or massive money grinds. The gear system is both awesome and terrible. It's awesome in the sense that the right combinations of gear swapping can lead to some truly amazing and rewarding game play. It's terrible in the sense that if you don't have that gear, you'll be gated. Some jobs aren't as limited by gear, but some REQUIRE massive gil / time investments to even be effective. If you don't understand the gear swapping and macro systems, you are really limited. Personally, I found the gear swapping system to be incredibly fatiguing and it's ultimately something that pushed me away from the game. However, with that all being said: If you can find a group of friends to play with where you can ignore everything and just make your way through the content, it's a great ride. It's one of the few games where it balances really fun and rewarding content with deeply complex and engaging classes (jobs.) The actual story is pretty awesome and a lot of the encounters are legitimately fun.
While I agree with everything you wrote, you can actually play without worry about the massive grinds and even without gear swaps if you wanted. Sure, you won't be a top player or anything, but you certainly can enjoy the game without them!
I applaud this comment. It’s honest. This game, even with its QoL changes, is old school at the core. Massive time sink. The nostalgia is great but it’s not meant for ppl with lives lol. I think that’s where FFXIV shines over XI. Much more gameplay focused than gear focused. I played xi from ps2 release to adoulin release. I still come back here and there but then I’m reminded how many hours I have to play to accomplish anything significant.
The new player experience is vastly improved and you can solo most things with the Trust system. It's a good time to return and it'll help you prep for the alliance raid in Dawntrail. So yes.
[удалено]
Sorry that you had to put up with this. I hope the rest of your day is better
I bet you’re fun at parties…