Board 8 > Teach me how to play Final Fantasy XIV

(+) Yeah! (+)

So... I've never enjoyed MMORPG's. I've never really been much of a PC gamer. Never had a good setup/etc. Also I don't particularly like playing videogames with others unless it's a fighter.

I want to give FFXIV an honest try, because of all the good stuff I've heard about the story in the expansions. It's free, I have a PS5... why not.

I literally have no idea how to actually play this game though. My main desire is to declutter the HUD. I can find "HUD Settings" on the menu, but I can't figure it out from there.

Beyond that, if anyone has any tips for someone who doesn't particularly enjoy MMO's to get through this as quickly as possible to get to the "good stuff," I'd appreciate it.

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while we're at it can anybody tell me how i roll for loot in a dungeon with a controller

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Regarding the loot selection, and menu tabbing in general, press the touchpad. Use X to select once it toggles to the section you want. Need on everything you can and Greed if you can't. There is no downside, and 9/10 times nobody is actually in need of that dungeon gear. If you don't need it you can sell it or store it, whether for glamour, future jobs, or just to break down for materials if you ever want to get into creating.

For the hud, you can turn off all that stuff that pops up when you launch the game. You can also downside every element if you want by selecting it from hud settings. The UI is basically 100% customizable from a hud and positioning standpoint. If it's not an elent that you see on your screen, don't worry about it until it becomes relevant (I don't think unique actions even appear anywhere in the trial content)

As for the general tips: absolutely no sidequests. There is NONreason to do any of the gold teardrop shaped generic sidequests. Doing EXCLUSIVELY the main scenario quest, which is always in your too left by default, is all you need to do to progress. You will. Absolutely gain all the EXP you need.

The exception to this is Blue quests, which will be obvious once you see them. These are unlocking and job quests, you should do ALLLLLL of these. They unlock dungeons, raids, jobs, dungeons, game features, etc.

TLDR; fastest progression is MSQ and Blue Quests.

My top tips:

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Here's a picture of my standard out of combat UI as an example.



Oh, also, you're going to mess with your hotbar eventually for combat once you have a bunch of skills. This is a long ways away though. Once you start getting hotbar bloat, there are tons of YouTube videos about setting up your hotbars for control pad on YouTube with stepnby step guides.

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Living up to the company board motto I see

I did finally figure out how to get the quest log and map off the HUD. Playing this is starting to make sense.

This is a total noob question, but I can just turn this off whenever right? Like how's the autosave on this?

I'm a total basic idiot so I went with human gladiator. Again, I've never enjoyed an MMO so I just went with what I thought might be the easiest/most braindead to play.

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colliding posted...

This is a total noob question, but I can just turn this off whenever right? Like how's the autosave on this?

A question that haunted many 1.0 players <_<

You can log out anywhere, but you want to log out in towns or around aetheryte crystals (attune to all of these! When you get to a town make it your first mission) because you'll get a rested EXP bonus while you're logged out (and you don't have to waste 20 seconds). There's really no risk of losing anything, it's all saving constantly server side.

Oh, and a decent starter video I watched back in the day.

https://youtu.be/3xw4GI12ToU

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Yeah, the server is constantly overwriting data as you play so you can log out when you want. Although make sure to do so in a settlement with an aetheryte so that you get resting exp whilst you're offline (you'll know you've done this right if it doesn't make you wait 20 seconds to log out).

Tanks, such as Gladiator, are simple enough in the overworld. You should be self-sufficient enough to not worry about dying compared to, say, a DPS. In dungeons though a tank is accepted to take the initiative and lead the way, since they pick up monsters for everyone to attack. So there's a little more responsibility there compared to other roles, but if you feel like you can quickly explain that you're new to a dungeon to your party at the start, and they should be understanding and allow you to take your time.

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Thanks for the legitimately helpful advice.

One last question: what in the world are these green and blue dots in the bottom right corner?

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colliding posted...

I'm a total basic idiot so I went with human gladiator. Again, I've never enjoyed an MMO so I just went with what I thought might be the easiest/most braindead to play.

This is a common thing that happens so just a heads up, what you've actually started as is a Tank. Tank's are very simple as far as the rotation in combat goes, but they're actual role in content (specifically dungeons for the most part) is actually the leader of the party. You're the one tagging all the enemies to take and hold all the aggro, and deciding the pace of the progression through a dungeon.

This is NOT hard to do, I'm just letting you know that's what you're in for. You get to set the pace even reduces the stress a lot because you're not forced to follow along with someone else without getting your bearing. Just say it's your first time tanking in chat for the first few dungeons and all will be forgiven even if stuff goes south. You even get the befit of waaaaay faster queue times!

Or, you can switch to a DPS job and nobody will give a shit what you do, lol.

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colliding posted...

Thanks for the legitimately helpful advice.

One last question: what in the world are these green and blue dots in the bottom right corner?

That's just your inventory. Stuff on the left represent your equipment slots and the 4 big chunks are each page of normal inventory.

It's honestly pretty irrelevant. Just make it as small as you want purely to know if you're about to run out of space. Even the the game starts giving you warning when you're getting low so you could just take it off altogether.

...In fact I don't know why I haven't.

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Also a basics tanking guide to watch in your spare time. Real beginner stuff.

https://youtu.be/n5d_bowU7PQ

There's a super good one that just came out but it's 80 minutes long so doubt you want that, lol.

But you won't actually be tanking until you hit MSQ level (quest level, not personal level) 16, so this is still a bit away before relevance.

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And you know, if you decide you don't want to Tank or just want to experiment around, here's a quick job overview from Larry who's always a quality dude.

https://youtu.be/k_vH-1WZQ3A

Jobs you'll be able to access from your starting city Ul-dah (best city) after hitting level 10;

Pugilist/Monk
Thamaturge/Black Mage

Though once you start traveling you can access anything.

Dark Knight, Astro, and Machinist aren't available until starting Heavensward. If you buy Stormblood, Red Mage and Samurai become available after hitting 50 with any class. Shadowbringers unlocks Gunbreaker and Dancer after hitting 60 with any class.


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Also it should be noted that the specifics of some of the jobs mentioned in that video (not that you'll understand most of the specifics anyway having just started) are going to be changing in about a month with the release of Endwalker as jobs get new abilities, rework old ones, etc.

It's still useful to more or less see what the jobs are like though.

It's still a good indication...except for Summoner, Endwalker's secret 3rd new job lol.

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UshiromiyaEva posted...

This is a common thing that happens so just a heads up, what you've actually started as is a Tank. Tank's are very simple as far as the rotation in combat goes, but they're actual role in content (specifically dungeons for the most part) is actually the leader of the party. You're the one tagging all the enemies to take and hold all the aggro, and deciding the pace of the progression through a dungeon.

This is NOT hard to do, I'm just letting you know that's what you're in for. You get to set the pace even reduces the stress a lot because you're not forced to follow along with someone else without getting your bearing. Just say it's your first time tanking in chat for the first few dungeons and all will be forgiven even if stuff goes south. You even get the befit of waaaaay faster queue times!

Or, you can switch to a DPS job and nobody will give a shit what you do, lol.

See this kind of stuff gives me anxiety just thinking about it. I wish I could just have AI party members or something. Am I gonna have to buy a headset/ type with the PS5 keyboard? We'll see how it goes I guess.

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colliding posted...

Am I gonna have to buy a headset/ type with the PS5 keyboard? We'll see how it goes I guess.

It's sounds stressful on paper, but it's really nothing.

In my initial runthrough I actively did not know what I was doing and still never had to chat. I was doing some EMBARRASSING stuff as a Black Mage. Sleeping enemies in dungeons, finishing solo combos with Flare, not casting fire on fire enemies. It never actually caused a problem , and nobody called me out on it. I wish they had! This community actually has a problem of not calling people out ENOUGH.

I do have a keyboard (any USB keyboard and most Bluetooth keyboards work on PS5, doesn't have to be a PS5 keyboard), but that's only to help out other people if THEY have questions, after having finished the MSQ.

NOBODY uses a mic for regular content. Mic talk stuff is only for super high end raiders and they're usually just in Discord anyways, not in game mics.

Honestly, other than greeting and thank yous at the start and end of content, you likely won't even see much of any chatting. Probably some meme stuff in the last 3 instances in 2.0, more here and there as you go. Someone else saying that they're new maybe.

As for AI party members, they do have that in regular content for Shadowbringers. By the time you reach that, you won't actually want them though because you'll be BEYOND into the groove of things.

ARR does have the Squadron you can use in some dungeons, but they are, uh....bad...

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AI partners foreverrrrr

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colliding posted...

See this kind of stuff gives me anxiety just thinking about it. I wish I could just have AI party members or something. Am I gonna have to buy a headset/ type with the PS5 keyboard? We'll see how it goes I guess.

The idea of running with real people seems very stressful before you actually do. It's honestly surprising how quickly the feeling fades after one or two dungeons.

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nah I'm still sick to my stomach 150 hours in

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Yeah but you're an insane crazy person who's doing every sidequest in the game.

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I haven't actually played since Diablo 2 Resurrected came out

just logged in real quick to the DQ event though

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i hope they bring the yo-kai watch event back one day for you shine
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I've never played Yokai Watch!

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thats not why i want it for you!

the most bullshit timed grind ever lmao
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UshiromiyaEva posted...

It's still a good indication...except for Summoner, Endwalker's secret 3rd new job lol.

what do you mean by this? i was thinking of starting this game and I'm lookin at Summoner, but hasn't that been around forever?

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They're completely changing everything the class does for Endwalker

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CoolCly posted...

what do you mean by this? i was thinking of starting this game and I'm lookin at Summoner, but hasn't that been around forever?

Summoner is getting an absolutely absurd rework in Endwalker. It's entire flow and fundemantals as a job will be different. Before it was a class that had big janky summoning phases between low impact damage over time faces, it didn't really feel like a Summoner. It was also one of the most complicated classes to master, even if it was casually pretty straightforward. Now it's ALL about the summons, and is going to be MUCH smoother, not to mention way cooler aesthetically.

https://youtu.be/TPbS4L-sLU8

https://youtu.be/cNG1QNQPlNE

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Regarding dungeons, the great thing about them is that you're very unlikely to run into your random party members ever again. So if you embarrass yourself, nobody but those three people will know and you're never going to have to interact with them again! Plus running into bad players in dungeons is such an everyday occurrence for most players that nobody remembers specifics unless you're also a generally unpleasant person.

Most of the advice given here is good (especially follow the MSQ! everything is locked behind MSQ and it gives huge experience for your first class!), I just want to add two things:

1) FF14 has active GMs who take bad behavior seriously. If someone is a dickhead to you, report them! The process is kind of convoluted (it's in the main menu > support desk) but it works - the few times I've had to report people I've gotten messages back from the GMs within an hour saying they got my report and are looking into it. The more specific information you can put in your report, the more likely it is the GM reading it can do something about it.

2) Whenever you're in combat, always be casting something. If you're a healer and the party is at full HP, cast your nuke; if the trash pull is down to two or three enemies and you're not sure whether you should be AOEing or using your single target skills, pick something and attack. Get used to keeping your global cooldown rolling and staying active in combat. If you're at all interested in improving your performance the most important thing you can do is always be casting.

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UshiromiyaEva posted...

Summoner is getting an absolutely absurd rework in Endwalker. It's entire flow and fundemantals as a job will be different. Before it was a class that had big janky summoning phases between low impact damage over time faces, it didn't really feel like a Summoner. It was also one of the most complicated classes to master, even if it was casually pretty straightforward. Now it's ALL about the summons, and is going to be MUCH smoother, not to mention way cooler aesthetically.

https://youtu.be/TPbS4L-sLU8

https://youtu.be/cNG1QNQPlNE

Hmm, I'll have to look at this more. That Larryzaur guy seems to think this transforms the Summoner into a "true" summoner class but it looked like it just makes something next to you that casts a big ability then disappears rather than creating an autonomous guy that does stuff for you. This doesn't seem like a summoner to me, rather just a nuker whos spells are visually themed as if they are a summoner...

Is there a good place that consolidates guides and info on things, like a wiki or an icey veins or an elitisk jerks or something ????

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CoolCly posted...

Hmm, I'll have to look at this more. That Larryzaur guy seems to think this transforms the Summoner into a "true" summoner class but it looked like it just makes something next to you that casts a big ability then disappears rather than creating an autonomous guy that does stuff for you. This doesn't seem like a summoner to me, rather just a nuker whos spells are visually themed as if they are a summoner...

Well thats what summons were for much of Final Fantasy history, from their introduction in III up through IX (and then again in XV).


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It isn't like summoning in X, or even XIII (which is what I assume you're thinking of there), but it's much more of a thematic summoner now than it was pre-rework, which was essentially a caster class with a pet summon (carbuncles and egis), that also used poison spells like Bio, and other non-elemental ones like Ruin. I'm sure there's reasons why there aren't larger summons that hang around for a longer period of time, be they game balance or technical.

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CoolCly posted...

This doesn't seem like a summoner to me, rather just a nuker whos spells are visually themed as if they are a summoner...

That's literally what FF summoners are though lol

Yes, up to 9, summons were one and done spells.

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All I can say is I'm seriously stoked that Yoshida & Co. are looking at incorporating Shadowbringers' Trust system into earlier content in the months and years to come. Taking on FFXIV's dungeons with a party of fellow Scions, who will comment on events and whatnot - completes the experience for me. <3 I'm not sure if trials (the big singular boss fights) and especially raids/alliance raids can feasibly ever turn into that? But if so, holy heck. Might be my favorite game of all time.

That said, you can tell I'm coming from the perspective of someone whose only multiplayer interest is in doing random sidequests and exploring the world, haha. Most folks - while they'll praise how much content can be done singleplayer relative to other MMOs - aren't like me. :P
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Regardless of what summoning means to you, it's inarguable that Summoner was a bit of a mess. Having the caster with the highest mobility punished for moving while in their nuke phase for no reason other than animation priority...no thanks. Not to mention ability clipping.

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today I went out and killed some level 2 monsters and finished up the side quests I (foolishly) accepted before really understanding what I was doing

like it's hard for me to accurately explain just how confusing I find this game to be. it took me forever to find the main aetherite crystal for example... yes, the one you "return" to.

the only thing that isn't confusing so far is the battles. I walk up and hit things a few times and then they die. I will stick with this and not just give up and replay hollow knight (x100).

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It'll all fall into place like a glove, lol. I was right there with you.

Nowadays I can basically navigate Ul'Dah with my eyes closed...not that I have much reason to be their anymore.

As for the map, in case you weren't aware, Square toggles it on. Then you can hit square to unselect it and leave it on, or you can keep it selected and adjust it with the sticks.

Feel free to ask literally any question, no matter how small. There are definite blind spots in some of those tutorials that assume the player has some MMO knowledge prior. If anything feels tedious or off to you, there's a possibility that there's a solution that.

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Yeah it's honestly pretty amazing how comfortable it all ends up being eventually, even if it feels utterly overwhelming at the start. Stick with it, follow the story, and you'll feel at home in no time.

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It has actually had the side effect of making me less comfortable in other games, lol.

....I'm terrified to /playtime.

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I have no idea how to tell this marauders to "face me." I've tried putting it in the chat and emoting and nothing seems to do anything.

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assuming it's the right guy you have to be currently targeting them and then use the emote

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UshiromiyaEva posted...

It has actually had the side effect of making me less comfortable in other games, lol.

....I'm terrified to /playtime.

Total Play Time: 202 days, 0 hours, 10 minutes

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nevermind I was looking for an emote called "face me" and it's just called "me"

i swear to god I'm not going to make it

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Yeah select them X first then emote/type depending on the instructions.

Matching capitalization matters which is....dumb...

Also, when fighting, tapping R1 will toggle enemies if you're trying to pick something out of a pack.

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colliding posted...

nevermind I was looking for an emote called "face me" and it's just called "me"

i swear to god I'm not going to make it

To be fair I specifically remember this job quest and it stood out as stupid, lol. Not the norm by any means.

In fact, this one and a scene 100s of hours from now in the Shadowbringers MSQ are the only WTF typing moments I can remember off the top of my head.

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I did a blue quest that made me go to some place called the goblet, which I assume is just some sort of social gathering spot that I have no interest in

someone just made a car materialize on the world map. now I'm getting second life vibes.

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The Goblet is Uldahs housing ward. You need a lot of money (and a ton of luck and/or time) to actually get a house, so I wouldnt worry about it anyway

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colliding posted...

I did a blue quest that made me go to some place called the goblet, which I assume is just some sort of social gathering spot that I have no interest in

someone just made a car materialize on the world map. now I'm getting second life vibes.

The Goblet is housing for Ul'Dah. Even I haven't done housing yet other than a room in my FCs house, which I never touch. Good to get unlocking it out of the way, though.

That's the FFXV car so ironically it's on brand.

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Just had my first boss battle with Metroid's very own Ridley. It was extremely easy.

If there is a story at this point it's gone completely over my head. Basically I can tell you there was a disaster a few years ago that everyone mysteriously forgot about. There's been two mysterious swordsmen NPC's: one in the bar and one helping me fight a space pirate alien. There are some throwaway lines about world building / politics but I didn't follow any of it. Other than that it feels like I'm just doing odd jobs.

Anyway that's it for today.


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