Celebrating the North American FINAL FANTASY XI 8th Year Anniversary!

[Zerocool]

I've been through about 4 girlfriends and 20 girls since i first started playing xi, I quit the first time because I realized I was starting to ignore my gf at the time. I remember her trying to get my attention by giving me head under the desk and I'm like wait a minute, I'm trying to do something in the game lol

One of those classic followup responses to the age old saying "You know you're addicted to FFXI when....." lol

I only played for about 4 years, but in that time it was some of the most fun I've had in an MMO. And also, to this day, still the most immersive MMO I've ever played. Could have a lot to do with it being my first MMO, but I don't know, just something about it. I think it was mostly just the people, it really just had a community that you can't seem to find in today's modern MMOs.

[Guitarman]

FFXI was my first MMO, and it was amazing to me. The first time i stepped out into south gustaberg and heard that amazing music was incredible. There was a level of grandeur I never knew existed in games. I to this day will fight anyone that says another mmo has better music than FF did. Gustaberg, Zi'Tah, such incredible scores.

I remember getting lost in bastok...god help me if i had started in windurst. I probably wouldn't have played beyond that first day. I remember getting level 5 on my warrior and asking the people in my group "provoke? what does that do?" they explain, me: "why the hell would i want the monster to attack me?". lol. I had no clue about party roles. I still remember meeting my first friend, Pyreon, a level 8 black mage resting in Konschtat. We were solid friends for 6 years up until he stopped playing. I still to this day talk to some people i met on FFXI on facebook. Once i hit level 30 i was so excited to be a paladin, yet the shitty LS i was in wouldn't help me with the quest. so, looking up the lolbrady guide, I did the only advanced job quest I could solo: Dark Knight. I fell in love. I poured all my heart and soul into that class. DRK was always looked upon as a gimp job, half because sushi hadn't been added yet, and half because it attracted so many idiots. I set out to prove everyone wrong. Time and time again I would get a /t from someone saying "wow you're an amazing drk". For the class no one wanted, I quickly gained huge respect from others and would often be the first one blind invited to parties before even the healer. Early on, I even became a kind of symbol for the DRK community on shiva. I had others saying i should start an all-drk ls to guide others how to play it properly, and random lower level dark knights would somehow hear about me and randomly ask me questions about this or that.

Exp parties were epic too. Distortion or bust. Being DRK exping on toramas before sushi was brought into the game and with only one acc ring was HELL.

I loved FF, and still look back fondly on the great times i had. I would give anything to relive those moments, but Looking at the 100+ names on my friends list and seeing no one on for weeks or months at a time became too depressing.

[The_OG_Nelta]

I remember Hidden Power on Asura.

[Ferechild]

I remember Hidden Power on Asura.

You still in contact with Tuan? lol

[Omniyoji]

My favorite n00b moment in FFXI was when my friend Emperor was helping me collect my gate crystals. He asked which ones I already had. I replied, "All I got is earth." Didn't seem funny to me at the time but now that I look back it's quite LoL

Miss those old party places where we'd SC+MB in LoZ, Kuftal Tunnel, Bibiki Bay, VoS, Boyahda Tree, and moon. BLM was fun then...

[BadKarma]

I played from 2006 (xbax launch) till 2009. Came back briefly in 2010 to play with a few friends in Failures shell on Phoenix. I still talk to a few people from the game, on facebook and such. I arrived late to the game, but as sad as it sounds I miss almost everyone in the game...except that STD infested cunt Sinnamin. Oh lawd Quetz/Absolution was awesome, as was my time in Vicious on Lakshmi.

[Robertfb]

While I've only been with FFXI since 2009, I've had some pretty memorable moments learning this game since it was my first MMORPG.

I remember starting out as war cause I based this job system with FF1 (lol), then switching to rdm cause I could survive better solo; Getting my first party invites and not even knowing what the "dunes" was; Not having cure II on 25 rdm cause there were never any on ah, which still makes me laugh today; spending a whole week sitting outside bastok embassy in port windy LFP for rank mission 2-3; almost quitting rdm cause I learned it required being a back healer and needing to level /whm; my first colibri party and mainhealing with gimp gear and sword cause I didn't know about the elemental staves (we of course wiped lol); trying to solo rdm af sword NM as 47 rdm and getting help from a good friend to this day with it; most epic moment ever was when I finally beat rdm maat 1/5 after getting my ass handed to me and freaking out to my friend "I WON! I WON! OMG I WON!" XD; going to my first EG event (Dynamis-Bastok) as 69 rdm and thinking getting a relic was so rare and meant you should level that job to honor it (hi to you level 8 cor) and stunned and honored at getting cor relic boots lol; and my most epic moment that still makes me laugh as hell: Finally Finally hitting 75 rdm around March 26, 2010, and finding out a few days later: "We're going to 99!" and going "Noooooo!"

[Moridam]

I remember Hidden Power on Asura.

Hah, I definitely remember being in awe seeing all the HP people hanging around Jeuno on Remora... just having 75 jobs, nevermind all the sky/kings gear, was enough to impress me back in those times. I guess that was probably what, late '04 thru '05 or so?

[dannyl]

8 years huh? I was probably 21 at the time unlike all you 13 yr old kiddies. Bored in college, I came to FFXI after Dark Age of Camelot mmo. Was an eye opener on how challenging the game was to me. Started off as WHM too and was difficult to solo anything.

What I remember the most, has to be Twinkling Treant in 2003

[Draylo]

You guys with your reminiscing from 4-5 years ago.

How about when no one else had Kazham keys and the areas where they dropped were packed beyond belief? Or the first time your LS took down Kirin (that was a big deal for us on Fairy) or another big NM like that?

Or, even better - the first time you actually downed a big-time HNM. For us it was Behemoth. We were camping Alkyoneus when someone noted they had the ToD. So we went out there, claimed it and killed it. Ryko had just previously told the entire LS (ThoseGuys on Fairy) that there was no chance we'd ever be capable of taking the HNMs from the JP linkshells that were monopolizing them (FairyNetwork for Behemoth and BloodFavor for Fafnir). I was planning to level SAM or DRK, and he suggested I play SAM because "getting E.Body is impossible."

My favorite memory was when we first ganked Fafnir from BF. BF had such a monopoly on Fafnir/Nidhogg they didn't bother to stay in the pit. Instead, they had a scout at the ledge and the rest of the linkshell stayed in Boyahda skilling up or whatever. Our plan was a "sneak attack." We got the ToD because one of our members (Emblim) offered to buy an Aegishjalmr from them. I logged out a level 5 WAR mule in the pit and logged in once every 5-10 minutes to check to see if Fafnir was up. The rest of the linkshell had logged out on the ledge and was sitting on Ventrilo.

The ToD started at about 3:00 AM. We were all hanging out on Vent until finally, about halfway through the window, I logged in and my mule was dead. I immediately began shouting on Vent for everyone to log on. We gathered, built the alliance, and claimed it before BF could arrive in the zone.

What followed was an epic fight that got most of us killed, multiple times. We managed to kill it, but probably went through two or three hours (this was before rage) and fifteen tanks (I don't think we even knew to stand on the legs, back then). I don't remember the drops, but I doubt it was anything worthwhile. The important thing though was that it was what got ThoseGuys into the HNM scene, and after that fight we actually started claiming. There were some pretty epic fights after that too.. like the Nidhogg we downed in something like 23 minutes, right before server maintenance (the loot barely had time to get out of the pool before the servers went down).

Ah... FFXI of yore, how I miss thee.

There is still fun to be had! Get back !

[Divinius]

Bored in college, I came to FFXI after Dark Age of Camelot mmo. Was an eye opener on how challenging the game was to me.

A fellow DAoC player... Cool. I also switched from Dark Age to FFXI when it was released. My friends and I were FF series fans, so we decided to try it out based on title alone. Having come from DAoC, the first thing I realized after creating my character in FFXI was that I had no clue how to walk around. I remember exactly where I was standing (in Port Sandy by the Airship Docks, facing the two fishing brothers there), and yelling down the hall to my friend, "So how the fuck do I move my character?"

[Not Kuno]

A fellow DAoC player... Cool. I also switched from Dark Age to FFXI when it was released. My friends and I were FF series fans, so we decided to try it out based on title alone. Having come from DAoC, the first thing I realized after creating my character in FFXI was that I had no clue how to walk around. I remember exactly where I was standing (in Port Sandy by the Airship Docks, facing the two fishing brothers there), and yelling down the hall to my friend, "So how the fuck do I move my character?"

I started playing on a laptop and had no idea how to move at first either. Fucking numlock crap.

[Forte]

I remember being a scrub in Windurst, and getting a party invite for the canyon. I remember being scared like nothing else of getting close to the Crag, because I thought that's where the big strong things were. I also remember my first boat ride and being in awe of actually being on a boat in real time in a video game. But I'd say my favorite memory was running to Jeuno through Jugner and thinking it was a horrifyingly creepy forest, all the while pissing myself that something was going to snatch me.

You know, the game got a lot smaller once I got my Chocobo License, Airship Pass, and the ability to tele myself...

[Ghostsix.Midgard]

NewCompany LS on Midgard.. When you saw those Hot Pink Linkpearls gathering, you knew they were about to fuck something up.
Also PhoenixDown LS in Beta, so Pro..
KoolAid LS, etc
And Stephen, the first NA BST to 75, took only what, a week?

[Savanah]

Geez, FFXI memories. I have so many, even though I don't play anymore... let's see...

-First installing POL. Yeah, good ol shitty POL. Thought the music was the pimpest thing ever, and spent alot more time than I should have tweaking POL's music settings the first time I installed it.
-Brady Guide 1.0 and its ever so crappy recommendations. Played a mithra THF because I wanted to make money and mithras were the best THF race ever created (according to brady). Discovered quickly how horrible THF with no sub was, and didn't touch it again for ages.
-Windurst and Saruta for the first time. Listening to the Windurst and Saruta music still brings back very fuzzy memories to this day.
-Finding my first Japanese friend ingame, Monchich of Carbuncle, a then-level-capped 70 Taru WHM, who helped me get to Jeuno for the first time once I ditched THF and switched to RDM. Still have him on my F-list to this day even though I have switched servers years ago, and he still plays now to this day, even though I doubt he remembers me anymore.
-Soloing in Valkurm dunes for my EXP with a horribly gimp subjob. Sword and shield at Lv17~20, and feeling incredibly proud when I managed to solo a 200xp T/VT goblin.
-Wasting time after the fact coming back to Valkurm and helping the newbies with Selbina gob trains, and still occasionally getting my face beat in by bogys. Also, getting Raise for the first time and feeling like the pimpest thing since sliced bread, and shouting in Valk offering Raises for tips. Actually made a modest amount of gil raising people who died in parties.
-Labyrinth of Onzozo Coeurl parties teaching me the importance of paralyna and silena for the first time.
-CN Processionaires camps @ lake and tunnel, the competition was fierce as hell.
-Having a NQ staff made you awesome. Having a HQ staff made you the second coming of Christ. A light staff WHM was revered as God. Dark staves were for the wealthy JPs onry.
-Den of Rancor lizzy parties.
-Moongate. Dear god, that place still haunts me to this day. The horrible, horrible things that those damned weapons would do... and don't get me started on casting aggro and huddling in the corner of one of those cermet cubbyholes praying your Cure spell won't aggro a half dozen more of the cursed things..
-On that note, a paladin in Adaman gear was considered godly. Koenig Shield was icing on the cake. Save The Queen was considered a legitimate option, and people would pay silly amounts for it.
-Unnerfed RDM Maat. Blizzard 3. Enough said.
-Oh yes, my first ever boat ride from Bubu to Valkurm. Being told by my friend that he heard scary things spawned above so we huddled below in the hold while the dozen or so JPs on the ride mass-casted sneak and fished or something.

That's all 2003, by the way... ugh, I feel old now...

[Jakson]

What really kills me is when I remember back when I'd heard XI was gonna be an MMO and requiring the hard drive and being like fuck that shit, broadband connection are you kidding me? and then, in late 05/early 06 (idr) starting to play and going on to play until Sept. of 2010.

[Auspice]

8 years huh? I was probably 21 at the time unlike all you 13 yr old kiddies. Bored in college, I came to FFXI after Dark Age of Camelot mmo. Was an eye opener on how challenging the game was to me. Started off as WHM too and was difficult to solo anything.

What I remember the most, has to be Twinkling Treant in 2003

I was afraid to join in on those fights back in the day! Didn't SE say it was their system test for beseiged/campaign to see if the servers could handle many PCs attacking a mob?

A fellow DAoC player... Cool. I also switched from Dark Age to FFXI when it was released. My friends and I were FF series fans, so we decided to try it out based on title alone. Having come from DAoC, the first thing I realized after creating my character in FFXI was that I had no clue how to walk around. I remember exactly where I was standing (in Port Sandy by the Airship Docks, facing the two fishing brothers there), and yelling down the hall to my friend, "So how the fuck do I move my character?"

DAoC? I never played it but my very first LS in the game was a bunch of DAoC players, they were called The Order of the Rose Croix. I'm sure it's a longshot but did either of you guys know who they were? heh

[Siatdiat]

NewCompany LS on Midgard.. When you saw those Hot Pink Linkpearls gathering, you knew they were about to fuck something up.
Also PhoenixDown LS in Beta, so Pro..
KoolAid LS, etc
And Stephen, the first NA BST to 75, took only what, a week?

Some comments:

Camping KA against NewCompany, knight crabs pop and they all pull out KC and go to town.
Mickens screenshotted comment about hoping more planes crash into more buildings.
I hope you are joking about Phoenixdown.
Stephen was also the first 75 PUP on midgard!

[Anoat]

I remember when some JP made a FFXI trailer based on 300 and thinking it was the coolest shit ever.

[Iku]

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...erket_Ring.png

Remember this? It is worth a fortune back in the day. It was my first group MM too. So i was like leveling down in the Citadel and suddenly appearing among the ghosts, there is a giant scorpion walking around like a boss. My party was not sure what to do. After like 2 hours, there were some 60s show up and fought Serket. They invited me to party cuz i was WHM at that time. Man, I felt like a boss. Serket dropped Serket Ring, drama happened because people wanted to sell it while the leader wanted to keep it for herself.

I remembered people actually leveled in Maze of Shakhrami beside Valkyrum Dunes.

1. Unlock the subjobs.

2. Exploring the 3 beastman dungeons, Castle Oztroja, Beadeaux, and Davoi.

3. Spending the whole Saturday and goes through all the Rise of Zilfart mission for Sky access.

4. Remembered this bugger?

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...x-Hakutaku.jpg

It took a whole day to farm Optical Hat for every melee in your LS.