LogFAQs > #948871748

Xfma100 posted...

Welp, just picked up two copies on sale, so it looks like I'm finally going to start FFXIV.

Any tips or links to decent starting guides?

Playing on a SSD helps, especially once you get to 50+, because of load times.

Your starting city, and thus starting quest line, will depend on your first combat class. You can unlock and change classes later, and swear a sort of loyalty to one of the three major cities' Grand Companies later one (something that, in itself, can be changed if you see fit), but those quests leading up to level 10 or so will be locked to your first city. Neither of them matter, really, though I liked Limsa's story more of the trio. So what I am trying to get at is pick the class/job you think will interest you most.

The first 30-40 levels are slow in terms of combat because of that 2.45 second global cooldown on abilities. On one hand, use this time to learn and understand combos for a basic rotation, which you can figure out by reading the abilities' tool tips, but on the other you receive additional abilities you can weave into those global cooldowns the more you level up, many with their own cooldowns or conditions you'll learn as you go. I wish early levels in FFXIV were better designed in regards to patience versus handholding, but it's technically fine now.

Dungeons drop gear you will need as you are leveling up. From Halatali (level 21) and up, you may wish to do one or two runs per dungeon to make sure you have what you need, or you can buy weapons and gear. Acquire social connections with crafters like myself, and gear can be made at no charge instead. xD

Should you wish to do Thaumaturge/Black Mage or Conjuror/White Mage, be warned that wands and cudgels are garbage, and the shields those classes can wear pre-50 aren't worth it. Staves are the way to go with them.

Find a social circle willing to help you through various story content so you aren't waiting for stuff . . . though healers and tanks tend to not wait for very long. lol

Take in the scenery and music every once in a while. It's one thing to run through the quests at neckbreak speeds, but take a breath or two to enjoy the world's design, despite there being little for combat classes outside of fetch quests, endgame hunts, treasure maps, and FATEs (interactive events that help with leveling up). Some of the flavor text in quests, FATEs, Leve quests, et cetera, tend to be great as well.

Speaking of quests, the ones you want to look out for are either blue icon ones, for unlocking content or features, and meteor-shaped bubbles for continuing the main story. Seriously - the main story. You can maybe see the ARR zones without going further than being let back out of town on the main scenario, but the story bars just about everything including those unlock quests at various points. Don't worry too much about the other quests unless you feel a completionist streak coming on. haha

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