New or Returning Players Discussion 2: SoA Homeless Veterans Edition

[Lolwutt]

it does

proof: main char mostly 80/80, ~15 slips mostly full, 27s zone load time. mule char, same storages mostly 80/80, 0 slips, 17s zone load time.

'mostly 80/80' isn't remotely scientific. The delay loading is due to the max size of each udp packet the server sends you. If you have more real storages(safe, locker, etc) full, you'll need more item update packets to finish loading, and it will take longer in direct proportion. A mule with few enough items to fit in one udp packet will not see the item loading icon at all if zoning into an empty zone(more player updates/mob updates can fill the packet and spread it into 2 if the zone is busy). Note also that in your 'test', the faster load time entered the mog house(the smallest load of any zone!) and one character's hp bar is loaded while the other isn't.

Storage slips' data is all inside the slips item entry, stored as bitflags in the 28 extra bytes at the end of the item. Whether they're empty or full, you receive the same 28 bytes for the item regardless. Storage slips absolutely DO NOT effect your load time in any way.

[Byrthnoth]

What he said, Slips don't affect your load time any more than replacing it with an Echo Drop would.

[Mojo]

Alrighty, thanks for the clarification. As a side note, the more I learn about the implementation of FFXI, the more I feel like it's unmaintainable nightmare. It's like every new feature gets haphazardly bolted onto the side of it. I wonder if the servers in their current states could even tolerate 2004 era subscription numbers.

[Delirium]

So I recently got back into playing after many years away. Last stuff I did was abyssea and voidwatch. I feel like I kind of hit a wall in terms of getting gear. For SMN, would I be best soloing capacity points before attempting things solo?
Just an idea of what I've done so far: finished WoTG, working on SoA(on the 3-6-3 fight right now), up to 3-1-4 in RoV, upgraded my most of my AF2 to glyphic, gotten some merits and capacity points, gotten the JSE cape
That sounds like so much less than it felt lol.

So ya, any tips on how I should progress?

Also, anyone with an active casual-friendly LS on Bahamut?

[Not Kuno]

So I recently got back into playing after many years away. Last stuff I did was abyssea and voidwatch. I feel like I kind of hit a wall in terms of getting gear. For SMN, would I be best soloing capacity points before attempting things solo?
Just an idea of what I've done so far: finished WoTG, working on SoA(on the 3-6-3 fight right now), up to 3-1-4 in RoV, upgraded my most of my AF2 to glyphic, gotten some merits and capacity points, gotten the JSE cape
That sounds like so much less than it felt lol.

So ya, any tips on how I should progress?

Also, anyone with an active casual-friendly LS on Bahamut?

Get Seraphicaller for SMN. Start with some Helios or if someone can let you mooch abjs, those work too.

[SephYuyX]

Best way to silt farm on BLM?

[vm0d]

Best way to silt farm on BLM?

-ga the world.

[Delirium]

Get Seraphicaller for SMN. Start with some Helios or if someone can let you mooch abjs, those work too.

I've never done the fights before. Are the very easy versions of like Ouryu2 and whatnot solo-able with trusts? Or do I need to find a group? Assuming the skirmish stuff for Helios requires a group?

[vm0d]

I've never done the fights before. Are the very easy versions of like Ouryu2 and whatnot solo-able with trusts? Or do I need to find a group? Assuming the skirmish stuff for Helios requires a group?

should be able to clear all VE bcnm with ilvl115+ trusts, as long as dmg is being dealt and no one is dying.
some will be tricky, though. particularly ones with pets, like ouryu, and ones where you have to switch targets, like gessho.

alluvion skirmish is 3 people to be safe: 1 person book and 2 ppl to each run opposite directions from start.

[NotGreyheim]

Not a question or anything. Just finished up the last of the RoV missions, and it was just so perfect. I was completely speechless throughout the credits. I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING. SHUT UP.

[avelle]

So I recently came back and thought gearing up would be really daunting. I had old abyssea gear and not even +2 of that stuff when I quit. I get my trusts and then set off to discover the Eminence stuff and I thought farming sparks would be some big chore. Nope! Apparently I can get back credit for all the shit I've done in the game and easily have enough sparks and then some to buy all the 117 stuff I need. Obviously this isn't the best in the game but it is a huge step up from the "junk" I was wearing! Suddenly gearing up doesn't seem so daunting anymore.

[Anoat]

Indeed. Just checking off the RoE for completed missions and jobs leveled and artifact quests will get you a substantial amount to at least get a couple 117 sets. From there you should be able to start upgrading AF/relic/empyrean and get skirmish gear. Welcome back.

[Not Kuno]

I've never done the fights before. Are the very easy versions of like Ouryu2 and whatnot solo-able with trusts? Or do I need to find a group? Assuming the skirmish stuff for Helios requires a group?

The drop rate isnt so great, but higher chance at harder levels. I'd see if anyone can help you do a few harder ones. Seraphicaller is going to be extremely helpful and almost never comes off (except for precast stuff, etc).

[Ramzii]

So I recently came back and thought gearing up would be really daunting. I had old abyssea gear and not even +2 of that stuff when I quit. I get my trusts and then set off to discover the Eminence stuff and I thought farming sparks would be some big chore. Nope! Apparently I can get back credit for all the shit I've done in the game and easily have enough sparks and then some to buy all the 117 stuff I need. Obviously this isn't the best in the game but it is a huge step up from the "junk" I was wearing! Suddenly gearing up doesn't seem so daunting anymore.

If you've got any friends/gil left over from before you quit, you could probably learn how to operate the book in Yorcia Alluvion Skirmish and go straight into that gear (even the base stats completely dunk sparks shit) to hold you over until you get into more endgamey stuff

[Kaputnik]

Another one thinking of making a slight return here while I wait for XIV 3.2. Last quit just after SoA launched.
Possibly just wrapping up WotG and the new missions, possibly SoA too if it can be done low man or solo?
I'm looking for a comfy way to stroll through story and new content rather than an actual challenge at this point.

Not planning on going hardcore or even joining a big LS but I have a few friends in-game and in a similar situation.
I've been reading through this thread for clues, but it's a lot of stuff to take in so I might have missed some obvious stuff.

Got BST, WHM, BLM, RDM, SAM at 99. DRK and WAR > 75. Most have emp armor pieces in some state, but no REM.
Also got myself decked out in fugly spark gear mixed and matched with old stuff (need to setup gearswaps again, yay).

Starting to think that focusing on BST might be a good option, but I have a few questions (ofc):

What's the goto pet(s) for solo/low-man?
I preferred LL back then, at least when TH wasnt needed.
Are jug pets even a thing anymore?
Is normal fighting at 99 even a thing anymore?

Is BST a stupid idea? I really don't have any preferences, I'm here for the game more than the gameplay.

Any starter ilvl WS gear I could aim for without going too deep in the new stuff?
Or should I pretty much fulltime sparks for now (it's way better than my old WS gear)?

Any "catchup" method or grind nerfs to the old REMs?
...or do I have to go through the whole grind if I want one now?

Are there any upgrade plans for trial weapons? I got the TP bonus GKT but I guess that was a dead end?

Any use for old currency like bay-whatever, cruor, etc?

[avelle]

If you've got any friends/gil left over from before you quit, you could probably learn how to operate the book in Yorcia Alluvion Skirmish and go straight into that gear (even the base stats completely dunk sparks shit) to hold you over until you get into more endgamey stuff

Hmm, I will check it out. Thanks!

[Isiolia]

Any "catchup" method or grind nerfs to the old REMs?
...or do I have to go through the whole grind if I want one now?

Are there any upgrade plans for trial weapons? I got the TP bonus GKT but I guess that was a dead end?

Any use for old currency like bay-whatever, cruor, etc?

The only shortcuts they put in for that stuff are the -1 WoE weapons - you need either the 90 Empyrean or 99 WoE weapon to unlock the Empyrean WS (also need to be up to/past the Jeuno Voidwatch path). You can grab -1 weapons from the crate that only need coins/dice/residue, no NM camping. If you have the old ones, they take less of those materials. Still only get the 99, which has no use other than learning the WS.


As an alternative/expansion of Yorcia Alluvion Skirmish for gearing up, Escha Zi'Tah T1s are generally not very difficult, and have a guaranteed drop slot (you can wind up with no drop, but only really if it was gonna be the accessory and everyone already has it). Skirmish is still easier by far, but is completely random, both in drops and augments. While I wouldn't suggest Escha NMs in Sparks gear, if you have a fairly decently geared friend or two, they can probably tackle some of those T1s (and possibly some Ru'Aun ones as well) with trusts.

[avelle]

The only shortcuts they put in for that stuff are the -1 WoE weapons - you need either the 90 Empyrean or 99 WoE weapon to unlock the Empyrean WS (also need to be up to/past the Jeuno Voidwatch path). You can grab -1 weapons from the crate that only need coins/dice/residue, no NM camping. If you have the old ones, they take less of those materials. Still only get the 99, which has no use other than learning the WS.


As an alternative/expansion of Yorcia Alluvion Skirmish for gearing up, Escha Zi'Tah T1s are generally not very difficult, and have a guaranteed drop slot (you can wind up with no drop, but only really if it was gonna be the accessory and everyone already has it). Skirmish is still easier by far, but is completely random, both in drops and augments. While I wouldn't suggest Escha NMs in Sparks gear, if you have a fairly decently geared friend or two, they can probably tackle some of those T1s (and possibly some Ru'Aun ones as well) with trusts.

If you had a few friends with sparks gear do you think the Escha T1s are doable? Or would you still suggest maybe the path of getting skirmish gear then attempting Escha stuff? Myself and another friend has recently returned (trying to talk another 1 or 2 people into coming back and hanging out) and trying to get an idea of what we can accomplish.

Also, is there a fairly easy offhand to get for a Thief? I got the sparks gear + eminent dagger, but using kind of a crummy offhand right now until I can find something better.

[Byrthnoth]

You can jump from sparks to Escha ZiTah, but probably not Reisenjima unless everyone else in your group is geared.

[avelle]

I've noticed a number of ui changes since coming back to the game. One of the things I haven't been able to figure out yet is the down arrow on augmented items. I assume that is like a scrolling option for more stats or something? For instance I have my old Moogle legs but I can't see the augments on them, what do I need to do to see them? Or does the down arrow mean something else entirely?