WHM, RDM or BRD hmmm,

[Sespira]

Hello, I am returning to FFXI after playing WOW for a few years and god how i have missed this game. Sorry just had to say that, anyway onto my question.

I have been lurking here and in the Allakhazam forums for about a week trying to decide what job to level upon my return my first idea was WHM as I like healing. So, I did some forum reading and there are a lot of threads saying that in FFXI currently RDM is more desirable than WHM and that BRD is more desirable than both.

My question is this if I want to be the best all around healer/support what do you on this forum find to be the right choice to level?

[Jeryhn]

I'd say RDM is a nice good job to start with, seeing how you won't need to unlock it.

[Sonomaa]

you cant level any of those jobs without at least one sub, WHM. Thus here is a decent fast track setup to leveling any of those.

Make sure WHM is at least 10, this should be done solo
Level BLM to 20, this completes your WHM to 37 and gets you out of the dunes
Finish WHM to 37, this completes your primary sub for RDM and BRD
Finish BLM to 37, this completes your other primary sub for WHM and RDM, and shares gear easily with WHM
Level RDM to 37, at this point you have completed all mage subs, all three use similar gear aside from Seers which is WHM and BLM only
If you choose to level BRD, you will need to level NIN to 37 to make merit partys happy and save your sanity on pulling. (this is optional but it seems to help). That track is MNK to 10, WAR to 20 (out of dunes again), NIN to 37.

I know the halfsubs and quartersubs are 18 and 9 respectively, but it makes more sense to stop at 10 and 20 to get you into the dunes and out of the dunes at least. You can technically stop at 18 or 9, but it makes sense to save yourself the hassle.

Now you have your subs finished and can pick to continue RDM to fast track to 75, very easy since RDM is a very wanted job. Or if RDM doesnt appeal and you want pure curing you can WHM to 75 which isnt as fast as RDM but is quite easy. Or the torture of leveling BRD to 25 where people start to notice you because of a little thing called mages ballad.

If you decide to stick with RDM you will eventually need to farm so get out your gear and start leveling THF to 37, an exceptionally painful but needed sub especially if you plan to level a melee that requires it. RDM can farm pretty easily and THF will help the drops, you can technically skip it though.

[Sespira]

Thank you both for your fast and informative reply. I forgot to mention however I have WHM at 18 RDM at 32 and BRD at 34 so sorry. This is all just FYI.


P.S. Yet again TY for the leveling track


Edit: Also my War is 38, NIN is 44, and MNK is 26, Oh and BLM is like 19/20 sorry been awhile since i played that.

[Obev]

The best all-round healer/support is Red Mage.
The best healer is White Mage.
The best support is Bard.

I'd level Red Mage simply because it gives you more options on one job. Refresh-bitch, healer, enfeebler, Phalanx II-bitch and lolnukes. I just leveled all 3 because I'm masochistic enough to main-heal my way to 75 twice. Oh yeah, and you can solo stuff, which is always fun. Well, it's more fun on Red than it is on White...

[Leeto]

I went whm -> rdm -> brd -> blm to 75. I did whm a whole lot more than any of the other jobs (leveled it in 04 and had nothing else except a 70 RDM by the end of 06, when I first quit). I think I probably like RDM the most for reasons stated above-can really do anything well. BRD's alright, don't really like the fact that i'm not really self-sufficient though. WHM I don't play much out of dynamis so I really dislike it, BLM I don't take to linkshell stuff much (pet job)

[Isiolia]

It'd depend more on your personal preferences and goals...but, that being said, RDM make a great first job to 75. The main downside is that it can be a very demanding party position to play, especially nowdays when you're not too likely to have much backup in the support/healing department. But you'd have a job that can solo most things that can be soloed, which is handy when getting AF or whatnot for other jobs.

[Alibeemac]

I have WHM RDM and BRD all at 75. Did WHM first and no matter how much I try, I can't seem to get it retired so have decided to keep it around and gear it properly. It is very needed at end game. RDM is definately my favourite job as an all rounder. I also love my BRD. I merit mostly on it as it is the job that keeps me from falling asleep in exp. If you have a BRD at 75, chances are you will be on it the majority of the time whether it is end game or merits or w/e since BRD is something everyone wants and loves.

Something that I don't think has been mentioned yet is that if you take RDM to 75, you will need DRK levelled to 37 for Stun if you want to do end game with your RDM.

[Saraphym]

took me awhile to decide between rdm and brd, in the end i chose rdm because of the solo'ing benefits which are indispensable. go RDM :rocl:

[Hoshiku]

I think it ultimately depends on your personality as to which job is best. I have whm and rdm at 75 and I'm planning to take brd from 37 to 75 after I get my final 30k on BLM ._. I prefer WHM to RDM because of the limitless ways I can heal on WHM. I like the rhythm of regen and haste cycles better than the rhythm of refresh haste phalanx cycles. I'm also more likely to catch debuffs on players and less likely to notice in the chatlog when enfeebles wear (which is probably mostly the way I have my chat filters set up, I see all dmg taken). Keep in mind that if you level the job to 75 it's fair game to your LS (unless you level it anon), which can be a curse: on days that I *really* don't want to play RDM I still have to go that job if it's what is needed.

[BRP]

You are best off deciding after you hit 30. A lot of people pick their main job so early without trying a lot of things first. It's really like picking your profession at age 5. Like suggested though, WHM to 30+ first would a good idea if you plan on leveling any of the mage jobs.

[Aerides]

I did WHM and RDM pretty much together. One other thing to consider, and yymv, but I found the LB5 fight is cake on WHM compared with RDM.

[Seditedi]

If I had only one job in FFXI it'd have been RDM.
I leveled BLM first then RDM and finally WHM, but my favorite job of all would have definitely been RDM.
It really is the most powerful job in the game in my opinion, you can do so much with it due to convert/refresh/regen. It's an excellent support job, solo job, and even tank job if you gear it properly.
Overall I'd say its the most versatile job in the game and you would probably enjoy it most if you like jobs that are more than a one-trick pony.
Like Sonomaa said you will need WHM sub for it. Depending on how quickly you want to level your job up, if you went RDM I'd just start off leveling BLM to 18 and get your SJ quest finished, then level WHM up to 37, then level RDM up. 100% of the time in exp on RDM I subbed WHM so thats all you really need to exp the job. After you get 75 you can work on your BLM DRK and NIN sub jobs for it. BLM is the least useful sub for the job and I almost never used it except occasionally for Sleepga when it was needed.
Anyways gl on choosing a job and I assure you that you wouldn't be disappointed in RDM.
BRD and WHM can get very boring because they are ridiculously repetitive jobs to level.
People like to say lolRDM nukes, but tbh once you get level 51 and elemental staves RDM nukes can be pretty effective (if you've got the extra MP to spare ofc).

[Apelila]

Sonoma gave the leveling tracks which was right on.

All 3 WHM, RDM, BRD = almost instant invites assuming your needed. No one leveling = no need for you. WHM being the over looked vs RDM & BRD depending on if the party has refresh. All use similar (not congruent) gear, and you generally don't see any play differences until post 50 anyway.

Having said that, I'd get your mage subs to 40 (for level capped bullshit) and then grind WHM up.

It will give you a feel for end game situations without putting you in some of the crazy situations BRD and RDM can wind up in (Meripo, Maat fight respectively). It also allows you to telefarm, and is the 'cheaper' of the 3 because honestly all you need is a light & dark staff and a brain. WHM has a more 'reactive' play style than the other 2, so it would give you the chance to watch how other jobs play so when you go back to level them you've got a source of income and experience.

[Chidorii]

IMO, I think rdm is a lot more fun than playing brd. Lots of different gear to use for enfeeble, nuke, converting, curing, etc... You can have lots of fun trying to keep 3 people in your party hasted and 3 people refreshed, dia the mob, slow, paralyze, etc etc... and if links happen, sleep, gravity, bind, etc. All the while keeping an eye on your convert timer so you can maybe nuke here and there too.
RDMs are a lot more robust too. I always feel safer if i am running around with another rdm vs another brd unless i'm in KRT or something. Also duo'ing NMs or limbus is done better with a rdm.

On the flip side, BRDs are a lot more rare compared to RDM when exp'ing and is probably the most coveted job next to COR between lvl 48 and 74, again IMHO. The only super important pieces of gear you need are like light and earth staves preferably HQ for brd. So if you are just starting out again and short on gil this isnt a bad option. I was so bored of exp'ing brd, i 2 boxed my buddy's SMN with my brd all the way to 75 It just kind of sucks when they ask you to be main puller though while hiding the fact you are 2boxing smn.
Finally, end game EXP for brd is actually a lot of fun/tiring but it's a long and different story.

As for WHM, they can be lots of fun too and are "sort of" similar to rdm minus refresh in an exp pt.

[Skeetaru]

What do you want more out of this game? If it is to get to endgame, brd. If its more of a well rounded experience, rdm.

[Sirenia]

I was a WHM main before I quit a year and a half ago and I just came back and decided I want to do RDM. I might have to take some advice here and level BLM to 18 first. @_@

[Sylphet]

I've had all three of those jobs at 75 for a long time now and enjoy them.

The leveling guide that Sonomaa posted is quite good and I'd recommend following that as best you can.

You shouldn't have a hard time finding XP parties on any of those jobs really, BRD and RDM have a slight advantage over WHM but not all that much.

End game use of the three jobs will depend greatly on the linkshell you're in and their goals/play style. Some linkshells only use WHMs as out party cure bombs, or RDMs as Refresh/Sleep whores.

To add my personal spin to what has been said about the three jobs at 75:

BRD: Always the easiest job to get xp and merits on. It can be a lot of fun if you enjoy pulling. HNM BRD however I find can be boring as you just keep the appropriate songs on party and attempt to land elegy and threnody on the mob.

RDM: Very easy to get xp/merits on, and can be a challenge. Requires more micromanagement of a party than BRD to do well. End game useage of RDM is HIGHLY variable. It can be repetitive and boring (Refreshing a 5 BLM party) or you can end up tanking a HNM or soloing/duoing most things in this game.

WHM: Easy to level to 75. Not so easy to get merits on once you reach 75 because most parties will grab a RDM preferentially. However a good WHM is a wonderful asset to any party. Endgame use of WHM is more variable than BRD but less variable than RDM. It can be a great challenge to manage healing for a tank party on HNMs or to deal with keeping an entire melee party running for dynamis.

All of these jobs are more skill dependent than gear dependent while in the process of leveling to 75 - this changes once you reach end game. Importantly, this means they can all be leveled to 75 with a reasonable amount of gil (no cheaping out and not getting staves, but you don't need crazy expensive things to be good at them).

The bottom line for almost any job in FF is that it is as interesting as you want to make it. If you only do the bare minimum for a melee job it becomes reduced to TP gain followed by a weapon skill. For a mage job, it becomes cure/nuke until you're out of MP then /heal it back. You will be able to level BRD to 75 easily with just minuets and ballads but that's insanely boring to me. This applies to all jobs. You'll get out of a job what you put into it, so I suggest that most importantly, you choose the one you enjoy the most.

Also, I would recommend that you take RDM to 41 before you decide which job you would like to take to 75. RDM is rather frustrating before that since you are either a gimped WHM or a very gimped BLM prior to Refresh. The same can be said for WHM with level 40 and obtaining Haste.

GL with whichever you decide! :D

[Eldelphia]

Levelled WHM as my first job and it's still the job I love the most. Can't recommend it enough to anyone who enjoys healing. I have BRD at 75 too and it's a hell of a lot of fun, busy (like WHM) but fun. RDM I simply find - dull so far, mine is only 43. Having levelled WHM, SMN, BRD and BLM I'd have to say RDM is kinda boring up until this point but I have a long way to go.

I've never - ever had a problem getting xp/merit parties on WHM. On BRD it's harder not to get them... The other thing to note is whilst RDM is a useful and versatile job, a lot of peeps level RDM because it's fast to level and then get sick of it. We have something like 16 peeps with RDM in my shell and aside from 3-4 most of them hate it now. Also a lot of RDMs hate main healing.

At the end of the day, BRD, WHM and RDM are all popular, if you're good at your job you'll be fine at any.

(Go WHM, still the most interesting and challenging job I've played to date)

/grin

[Metah]

If anything, level WHM to 37 (or 42 if you want all teleports like I did).

WHM (along with WAR and NIN) are pretty universal subs and can be used in many, many situations and jobs.