Final Fantasy XI

[Natalie]

I just started playing final fantasy XI a little over a week ago, and I am completely hooked. Its my first mmorpg and I love it. I have a Mithra character named Keeta who is currently leveling as a black mage on the server Asura. Anyone else playing FFXI right now? Is anyone on the same world as me?

[TheCoyote]

I was wondering what makes FF XI so different from every other MMORPG?  I know its your first one, but I was wondering if you can own buildings.  Or if anything striked you as very unique.

[The Jay]

Ever since this game came out I've been wondering whether or not I should invest in a copy. What I'm really interested in hearing about is the initial character creation system, I hear the job system is quite detailed, I just want to know how customizable the characters themselves are.

[Natalie]

In response to your question Mike, I have no idea is there is anything that makes FFXI unique from any other mmorpg, because I have literally never seen any part of another before. Sorry, you would have to ask someone else.

Jay, there are Five different races you can chose to be. Hume (Human) male or female, Elvaan (basically elves, the tall kind) male or female, Tarutaru (very cute short clumsey looking characters) male or female, Mithra (cat-like humans) female, or Galka (huge tough looking creatures) male. Once you chose the race and sex of your character, there are 8 different face types you can chose from, and 2 different hair colors for each face type. You can also chose to have your character be small, medium or large for their race type. It is rather rare to run into a character that looks exactly like yours. I have seen only one with the same face and hair color as me, but she was shorter. I hope that is what you were asking about  

[The Jay]

Yes that answers my question pretty well, I'm still debating whether or not I should get it, but I've heard some good things about it.

[Whispers]

I was wondering what makes FF XI so different from every other MMORPG? I know its your first one, but I was wondering if you can own buildings. Or if anything striked you as very unique.

Well, if I'm not mistaken, FF XI has a running plotline.  In short, if you're not on, you could miss something... this is similar to Asheron's Call, but on a much more involved and in depth scale.

Also, you have a BAJILLION japanese people running around (all of whom kick your ass)...

Given that I haven't played any MMORPG for more than 4 hours I'm not horribly qualified to comment, but this is all hearsay and secondhand info.... so some of it might be good.

[Natalie]

Well, I don't think the Japanese people can ever literally kick your ass, because as far as I have seen, there is no P2P combat in the game. Most of them are at a higher level, so I have not run into many in the areas I stick too. As far as forigeners go I have met a few Japanese who do not speak english, one Korean who spoke enough english so I could get his point most of the time, a Mexican guy with bad english grammer, and an Italian guy who spoke amazing english considering it was not his first language. It really is interesting to know that I am meeting people from so many places, brought together by our common geeky love of Final Fantasy, lol.

[CCC]

Per persuasion of one of my friends I'm starting FFXI and entering the Diabolos server sometime next weekend.  First MMORPG here too.  Watch me die within minutes. ^^;

[TheCoyote]

It seems you have gotten into the game, so I was wondering how you sold awesome items that you can't use.  And is it worth it?  Also, how easy is it to do this.  How is done?

As much detail as you can go into would be appreciated.

[The Jay]

Well, I got this game today, and it placed me right on Asura server. I haven't actually played it yet, just spent the last three hours installing it, then 20 more minutes trying to figure out how to move my character. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually!

[Natalie]

Yea!! You're on Asura! Cyphran, Mike, and I are all on that server so far. What is your character name? What job class are you working on?

[The Jay]

My character's name is Esthar, Elvaan Male, working on thief (haven't had much time to play so I'm only level 5 so far)

[Natalie]

Hm...I am having "this is my first mmorpg" issues. I love playing with other "real" people so much that I am having much more fun making friends than I am getting exp and leveling up. That's a problem I think, because most people get annoyed very easily if the party is not moving quickly and getting lots of exp.    Single player games are deffinatly easier to play than multiplayer games, but I think human interaction makes games more intricate. I suppose that would also depend on how everyone personally approaches intereaction with people in a game.....some just seem to view other people as objects to be used to reach their goal. Hm....just a few of my 3am ramblings after hours of FFXI gameplay. Maybe I make it more complex than it has to be....but I like it that way. ^^

[Cyphran]

Responses forthcoming, and perhaps, if I feel like it, a comparison to another MMORPG that I have spent some time on: AO, and perhaps a comparison to EQ (I spent like no time on that game, but I do know basic gameplay to compare)

[Natalie]

Ugh...too much class....must play FFXI....being deprived...(this is not healthy at all, I know.) ^^