FFXI "re-spec" servers

[Hogie]

For the longest time I have thought how awesome it would be to have a server designed solely around going through the expansions one at a time, kind of like a "re-spec" if you will. I think Everquest did this after the same became unbalanced for people to go back and start from the beginning and have to complete challenges as a linkshell to be able to unlock content further down the line.

As a example, you would need to say kill certain ground HNMs to unlock RoZ, then kill all sky gods and Kirin to be able to unlock CoP, then so on to unlock (AV aside obviously) ToAU and WoTG.

If somehow SE actually created a server like that where you would start from scratch and no one would be able to server transfer to or from it, would anyone be interested in it? I thought it would be so fun to start again from the beginning knowing what everyone knows today (With up to date patches of course), but it would suck to just start again on your own.


EDIT: I couldnt remember what the Everquest server was called they did it on so i just called it "re-spec"
EDIT 2: I tried to put a pole in for like "Like it" "Dont like it" but it wont let me

[Mojo]

would be fun

[Zilong]

Not gonna work that well unless they provide gil drops and NPC that sells decent gears.

[Hogie]

Not gonna work that well unless they provide gil drops and NPC that sells decent gears.

Yeah there would have to be some changed to things just like say say NPC's selling gear

[Ksandra]

If somehow SE actually created a server like that where you would start from scratch and no one would be able to server transfer to or from it, would anyone be interested in it? I thought it would be so fun to start again from the beginning knowing what everyone knows today (With up to date patches of course), but it would suck to just start again on your own.

It's funny you say this. I decided to roll a new toon on FFXI on saturday, just to dick around for a bit (I'll probably quit in like 3 weeks). Let me tell you though I kinda pity anyone trying the game for the first time, as the three cities are completely dead, so even when you farm up stuff to make some starter gil, they pretty much won't sell on the ah (this even includes crystals lmao), so you're almost forced to either lvl with like no gear, or try to do a run to jeuno to sell stuff there (which is fine for me since I know how to get there, but for a new player not so much). Added also to the fact there's little to no gear to buy on the starter cities ah to begin with as well.

If they did make a fresh server I'd totally love to try it.

[Therin]

If FoV existed from the beginning I don't think it would be that difficult. This game is very friendly to new players these days. The problems Ksandra noted are still there, but with the tutorial NPCs and FoV I can't imagine playing the game from scratch being that difficult as long as you do your research.

I'd probably load up a Taru BLM or BRD and play it until I got bored. It would be too much work to start over as a tank or DD though.

[Jaunty]

Added also to the fact there's little to no gear to buy on the starter cities ah to begin with as well.

Combine all Auction Houses! Its the way forward. Have tried to start over a few times, but the idea of all the quests and missions I'd have to do again always stopped me getting to far.

The way I seen it for new players was that they should have a server to themselves. Trial accounts and such you know. That way, if they get enough trial players over a period (excluding rmt) it would be more enjoyable for them. Then after the trial period transfer to one of the existing servers (for free of course).

Sorry, that wasn't really on topic. To be honest I loved all missions, its my fave part of the game and if they made a server like that would join it instantly, just need to hope not to fall too far behind.

[Ksandra]

Combine all Auction Houses! Its the way forward.

tbh at this age of the game they should do just that. They haven't given any incentives to get people to use the starter area AHs so might as well make them all one to make it easier on newbies.

[Guyverarmor]

Honestly if they made a new server, I would go and start again. As much as it it is a pain to do it in some aspects...just the thought of reliving the missions and quests sounds fun.

[Guyverarmor]

tbh at this age of the game they should do just that. They haven't given any incentives to get people to use the starter area AHs so might as well make them all one to make it easier on newbies.

If they did this, I honestly would start a new character and level it all over again. Starter cities could see some re-surgance(sp?) if they did this. I always loved Windurst's music but since I am a smithy, I have to spend time in Lastok >_>

[Dowzer]

It's funny you say this. I decided to roll a new toon on FFXI on saturday, just to dick around for a bit (I'll probably quit in like 3 weeks). Let me tell you though I kinda pity anyone trying the game for the first time, as the three cities are completely dead, so even when you farm up stuff to make some starter gil, they pretty much won't sell on the ah (this even includes crystals lmao), so you're almost forced to either lvl with like no gear, or try to do a run to jeuno to sell stuff there (which is fine for me since I know how to get there, but for a new player not so much). Added also to the fact there's little to no gear to buy on the starter cities ah to begin with as well.

If they did make a fresh server I'd totally love to try it.

You can avoid the AH all together. A lot of the lower level gear is sold by npcs, the quests you do will help raise fame to lower the prices as well. Some of the gear depends what rank your city is in conquest. There are repeatable quests like 2 bat wings for 200g as an example, that's in San doria but I bet other cities have em too.

To tell you the truth, when I first started the game my friend and I spammed that quest to buy basic stuff, until we later found out they sold on the AH for 2000g/dozen. Like you said, city auction houses are pretty dead nowadays.

It's a start and it can possibly get you to Jeuno.

For new players who don't research what they're going to do in situations that feel like they're stuck, they'll definitely have problems, especially on the trip to Jeuno. A little research has always gone really far in this game, know what you're doing, don't waste time and you'll progress.

On another note, SE should really have gave people information about good low level quests when a character is first made. Ultimately they did try, but due to FFXI not being windowed, they closed the website. lol

[FailureMidgard]

If FoV existed from the beginning I don't think it would be that difficult. This game is very friendly to new players these days. The problems Ksandra noted are still there, but with the tutorial NPCs and FoV I can't imagine playing the game from scratch being that difficult as long as you do your research.

I'd probably load up a Taru BLM or BRD and play it until I got bored. It would be too much work to start over as a tank or DD though.

This, and as for gear, with FoV existing, you can just spam augment useless random drops you get, items that only have defense can get a decent augment and be better than other low level gear.

[Ksandra]

You can avoid the AH all together. A lot of the lower level gear is sold by npcs, the quests you do will help raise fame to lower the prices as well. Some of the gear depends what rank your city is in conquest. There are repeatable quests like 2 bat wings for 200g as an example, that's in San doria but I bet other cities have em too.

l

Oh I am not referring to myself, as I said I know how to play the game. I was referring to new players who first start would have difficulty building up gil because the ah is no longer an option really. Also bought gear from npcs still usually miss things like rings/earrings/neck. You have to really look up the info to find out where to get these in quests/crafting/etc.

It really isn't that huge of an issue because if all else fails you get to 18 on really crap ass gear then you can make money in jeuno after that, I'd imagine however though to someone new that seems daunting.

[Dowzer]

That's where SE really fails. Most new players won't know where to look, if they do find a site like wiki, even then will they know what they're looking for? Chances are even if they do know, it takes a lot of time to swim through all that info. I thought you were having trouble but yeah, you know what you're doing and it'd be a lot more challenging for a brand new player.

[Ksandra]

That's where SE really fails. Most new players won't know where to look, if they do find a site like wiki, even then will they know what they're looking for? Chances are even if they do know, it takes a lot of time to swim through all that info. I thought you were having trouble but yeah, you know what you're doing and it'd be a lot more challenging for a brand new player.

ya that was essentially the point I was making.

FoV however is pretty awesome, I felt very op as a whm with refresh at lvl 5 lmao. That was a definite good move on their part.

[Guyverarmor]

Yeah it certainly does Ksandra. I remember leveling DRK with FoV regen using a GAXE just plowing through mobs, was epic.

[richardd]

my 1st big payment i ever got was from a rabbit charm i sold for like 10m... and it was to the guy i was camping against. whats worse is that i was too gullible and naive at the time, and think it was worth more lol. until than i struggled like hell with gil. at one point i even wore a fang necklace because i didnt have any neck equipped and i think someone who was skilling up crafting pitied me lol. yaya laugh it up, but i ended up making it far as i did w/o having to resort to shady shit even once. i cant imagine how hard it is for players now

[Isiolia]

I don't really think it'd be all that great. You'd be coupling the issues a completely fresh FFXI server would have with an added requirement of forcing content to be completed in more or less the same order it came out.

The only folks that'd really have much fun with that setup would be those that either transferred with a group, or got hooked into one very early on. Anyone else starting would likely get shot down with a "we killed those HNMs you need two weeks ago, we're doing Sky now, go find another group" and so on.
People loathe going back a mission or two to help others, much less entire expansions.

SE would need to majorly retool the game for it to work for that purpose and not just be a frustration-filled grindfest. With all the knowledge out there, it'd just be a race to finish moreso than a chance to relive the old days.
I mean, if you have the group, and you have the time, then you could just level a second account (or mule) up on your same server. Worst case you're stuck with a PL mule or something.

I'd consider an "offline" (or at least, not-MMO) version of the game if they made it though. Hosting a co-op game to play through that stuff, that could be interesting.

Honestly, you could probably accomplish 90% of what you're wanting there by collecting interested people and just picking a server to all start a new character on together. Just need to self-regulate instead of have the game restrict you.

[Cairthenn]

I think it'd be very nice as a not-online game

[Siniroth]

ya that was essentially the point I was making.

FoV however is pretty awesome, I felt very op as a whm with refresh at lvl 5 lmao. That was a definite good move on their part.

FoV buffs + Blood of the Vampyr Kupower makes you an invincible fortress of doom in starting areas