Starting out Guide

In the beginning...



...There I was, somewhere in this strange place called Bastok for the first time. Beings of all sizes running past as i venture through the streets, just trying to grasp the lay of the land. I found myself in the markets, amongst merchants, and warriors alike. I finally made my way to the gates.... Dare I roam the wilderness? With a quiver down my spine, I stepped back, about to return to the safety of the city streets. Then a feeling of immense courage took over. Thoughts of adventure and great battles flashed through my mind. A hero's tale I would make for myself. I WILL become strong! As I walked past the gatekeepers with my head held high, my sword at my belt, and the sun on my face, all fear left me. What battles awaited me on the long road ahead, I did not know, but I was not afraid. No, not afraid, but eager....... to see what beast would be the first to fall at my feet!



When you first start out in the world you will be anxious to get your legacy started. To become the greatest warrior that ever roamed the wilderness. To be a living legend... but patience is a virtue. Patience is one of the best qualities when playing Final Fantasy XI. Keep your cool, and never loose it.



Beginnings...

Ah, I remember my first day. I was all giddy and excited to finally, after many months of waiting, have my copy of Final Fantasy XI. I was actually in Vana D'iel! It was a glorious day for me as I'm sure it will be for you. I remember walking around "just trying to grasp the lay of the land" when this enormous Galka stopped in front of me. He kindly gave me some pointers on what to do as a newcomer to the game. He basically said it was best to:

• Go out and fight and
  
  
• talk to people

These are two very important points when starting out. One of the best ways of gaining experience in the fighting department is to actually go out and fight something. Experiment on fighting different monsters to see what you can handle and what you can't. Don't be afraid to die a few times. Loosing some exp (experience points) is well worth it if you gain some knowledge in the process.



You NEED to talk to people, especially if your a newbie. Remember that you can learn a lot from just a simple chat with someone. The more people you talk to, debate with, and even argue with, the more knowledge you gain. Let me tell you from experience:

• Those with knowledge prosper!

Basically, if you know stuff... people want to be your friend! Try to gain all the knowledge you can, and you may even form some strong friendships in the process.



Vana D'iel

The world of Vana D'iel is both beautiful and dreadfully dangerous. It is strange and mystical. Just when you think you've seen all there is to see, you realize that you haven't even scratched the surface.



During your travels your going to see many things. And I hope you take the time to experience all that you can. Final Fantasy XI is the most beautifully designed MMORPG out there, and to not see all of the incredible things there are to see would be a shame.



Be You

There's just one more thing to mention: Be yourself Being yourself can be one of the most difficult things to do in many situations. In an online situation like this, it's easy to stray from who you really are, although in Final Fantasy XI, most of the gameplay is based on friendships and meeting new people. When you start grouping up, you want to make a good first impression on people so that they will want to party (group) up with you again later on. That first impression is very important:



Good first impression vs. Bad first impression

• When you make a good first impression, later on in the game people will be wanting you in their party because they know that you're a cool person to play with instead of some random person they've never meet before.
  
• When you make a bad impression on people, they will be telling their party leader to pick that other guy because they know that you're not good "party material".