Check these things, more or less in order or importance, to see if your party is going to do good. If it doesn't meet these standards, you're probably screwed.
~This is for Leveling purposes only, not partying for Quests or EF Missions or others that require an Alliance to beat~
~Traits marked with a "***" are signs that the party will be lacking in other areas~

------Last Updated: 4/22, 4:09 pm PST
~*~*~*~*~*~

PLANNING:
-Are you all within 2 or 3 levels of each other?(3 is pushing it) EXP drops for the lower level people, and the higher level people get annoyed at the lower level people's lack of ability to keep up... that is, if you don't meet this standard

-Is the majority of the party over level 10? Unless you're a WHM or an Extreme Challenge (ie Taru leveling WAR as sub for PLD), soloing to level 10 is more effective then partying up to there.

-Are you in a suitable place for your level? Chances are, if everything is IT, then its probably not the best place. ie Don't be partying in Battalia Downs at level 13

-Do you have a renkei set up? Renkei make battle easier. Learn to love them.

-***Do you have a camp?*** You cannot effectively party without a camp, unless you're leveling against Worm-type mobs that cannot be pulled. This is one of the most important things to meet... chances are parties that don't have a camp are missing many of the other key ingredients.

-Is your party well balanced? While an all Galka party might be cool looking, you'll have crappy healers. Make sure you have somebody covering every role. A good set up would be to have a Tank (like PLD or WAR), Healer (WHM; RDM at later levels), Support (BRD, RDM, BLM/WHM, etc.), Damage (THF after lvl 15, BLM, DRG, DRK, RNG, etc.), Backup Tank (WAR, PLD), and Damge 2 (see above).

-***Are you an Alliance*** Just no. They suck up EXP like a sucking machine.


-Check Everyone's Equipment Especially tanks for DEF, and BLMs for INT. If they're gimping themselves, they're gimping the team, eh. (Submitted by Typo)

-Who ish Tanking in the First Place? Because DRGs, DRKs, THFs and SAMs who think they can tank make Typo, as well as any other WHM very, very grumpy. (shcokingly submitted by Typo :P)

-Is your party of at least average intelligence? If they're being asses to you, letting you die, fighting while you're in Weak state from raise, someone else is pulling when you are, etc., its a bad party. (Inspired by LonewolfSquall)


~*~*~*~*~*~

PRE-BATTLE

-Is everyone in their proper place? Mages in back, melees in the front, BRDs in the middle, puller ready to go.

-***Does everyone have AND USE macroes?*** Another important one. Macroes let everyone know what you're doing in battle.

-Do you have a combat plan? Everyone knows if a renkei is coming up; enfeebling spells are assigned to people, places are assigned (ie THF gets the monsters back to themself, except for a Trick Attack partner)

-Is everyone ready before the puller comes back? They can go out right as the battle ends, for all I care. Just make sure everyone is ready before they bring back a gift.


~*~*~*~*~*~

COMBAT

-Is everyone following the plan? Unless special emergencies arise (like the main tank and backup tank dieing due to bad luck and/or chewing off more than you can swallow), everyone should be doing exactly what their job combination is expected to do. WHMs heal, THFs hurt, but neither should be tanking.

-Does everyone stay in their "area?" ie: No mages running up to the frontline, unless casting an AoE defense spell (Protectra, Barpoisonra, etc.); BRDs are of course expected to be moving back and forth to keep different songs on those who need it.

-Is everyone playing the game well? This ties in with following the plan... this involves everyone using their marcroes, working together, etc. etc.

~*~*~*~*~*~
AFTER PARTY ANALYSIS

-When the party split up, did those who have maps escort those who don't out of the area? I know it sounds stupid, but if the party is kind enough to do this then it was most likely a good one.

-Did you make any new friends? Obviously you can have many good parties without making new friends, but you know you're in a good one if you want to party with that person again and they want to party with you ^^



If you can think of anymore, PM me (don't clutter the below with suggestions, only praises and criticisms!)

Originally posted by PlasmaTorture
-***Are you an Alliance*** Just no. They suck up EXP like a sucking machine.

Splitting an alliance into 2 and fighting in the same area against multiple VTs/ITs can do the trick. Typo's first venture to Mhaura a long, long time ago taught him this. It isn't an ideal setup, and will most likely fumble at higher levels, but I was just pointing out an exception to that particular point. ;3

Oh, also, having one or two people that are even as much as 4 levels below the highest level can still work, especially if they're mages, and have less of a chance of being overwhelmed by the enemy in the front lines. Typo as a WHM hit Crawler's Nest at lv32, and joined a couple lv34-36 PTs. Typo was still useful in his abilities, didn't hold anything back, and still got good exp (around 80-100) since the battles were moving so swiftly and smoothly.

Erm, I guess I'll PM you with more to add to the list. """:3

Do you mind if i add something else?

--Hate control (the invisible aggro) --

Hate is a very complicated set up in FFXI. It might be the first MMORPG with this kind of thing but can be very easy to deal with if you and your party knows what it is and how to use it to your advantage. Hate is sort of like a hidden % given to each PT member, the member with the most hate; the monster will turn to and start attacking. It is important that mages do not get as much hate as the tankers because they are the meatshield and they will take the damage for you. A number of things can increase hate towards you:

. Melee damage
. Abilites
. Constant curing
. Constant nuking (blasting monster with black magic)
. Resting during battle or near a monster

The point is, the more damage you do to the monster the more hate a monster will have for you. Healing someone whom is doing damage will transfer that hate the monster has towards the healer. Thus, a healer who heals too much may draw agro instead.

Using the Provoke skill for a fighter adds more hate towards the fighter, drawing the monster back. The monster will attack the person with the most amount of hate on them. Magic damage will do the same.

Dragoons have a special ability, and that is to jump. Jumping negates any hate the enemy has for you, and thus the enemy will attack the next person who has the most hate. Pets, for Dragoons and Beastmasters, also draw hate. So a beastmaster can be kept relatively safe by using his beasts to attack the monster.

Hate is usually calculated by the amount of damage (or healing) you do. Though certain things and other factors affect it, like weaponskills, jobabilities, type of weapons, etc. So more damage = more hate, and more hate means more often the monster will attack you. Hence it is a good idea to let the fighers and other melee class do damage more often than a caster class.

Make sure the people you party with know what hate is and not make the monster run around causing havoc.

-- Party with people who know what their job is--

Jobs in FFXI are split into 5catergories: Tanker, Melee, Mage, Suppport, and Misc. (Beastmaster)

The name says it all, if you are a Tanker then you are expected to grab the most hate and take all the damage and not be afraid to provoke because you will die If you are Melee you are expected to participate in Renkei (skillchain) and be at the frontline at all times, use your abilites to do some serious damage because the monster won't turn to you if you have a good Tanker. Mages should have fairly up-to-date equipment (i've seen mages get away with wearing lv.12 armor that looks like lv.35 armor :nono:) and have ALL the spells up to their current level,(Erase is excusable because it is an expensive spell and not expcecting to have every white mage to have gil flowing out their pockects, same goes with black mages)they need to know when to heal (never wait until red then Cure III >.<;;) and know when to nuke (don't cast Tornado or any high level/ancient spell when you have the second highest hate) Support (bards) should have ALL their songs up to current level (no excuses) and know that Tankers and Melee need songs that boost up their skills and that Mages need songs that will regen MP and boost up their magic skills.

-- Party with people who know how to play the game --

If they don't know how to play the game properly then obviously they will turn the party to crap. If they talk in /say or /shout when they are in a party, if they are melee/tank and they don't wear the latest equipment, if they don't have manners and start flaming people or any of that manner, if they have crappy job combos (please don't invite players into your party who have a combo like WHM/WAR or DRG/BRD) if they don't keep up with rank (this one is kind of iffy because if you see a high level with rank 1 then they either changed allegience or they are a n00b) THEN THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for that addition :x... although I disagree on the rank issue (mainly to just bar myself from that category. I'm a long way off from doing the Windurst Mission I'm on, 'cause I'm leveling to be able to do it. That shouldn't mean I'm any worse of a party player =\)

~Added a few things to the original list.

-updated-

Are you getting a good stream of monsters? Basically, if you want to get anywhere, stopping every battle isn't the way to do it unless you're fighting a lot of VTs or ITs. Unless you HAVE to rest, your puller should be getting another monster. Instead of asking if you're ready, you should be ready to say stop when you need to.

In short: Know when to stop fighting but don't stop when you don't need to.

i have one Question: can you play FFXI offline by yourself, or do you have to be online?

You have to play online. it isnt made to be played offline. that is what a mmorpg is.

I do have a comment about the "latest equipment" part :


As Warriors, why should we settle for the Bone set at level 16 when we can wait one level and get the Lizard set instead ? And if we do take the Bone set, then why should we get the Lizard when we can wait to level 21 and get the Beetle set instead ? :p Just to have, oh, say, 4 points of defense but waste over 20 000 gil at every two levels ? Yeah, right, a very good decision, cost-wise. :p

By latest equipment, I don't think you HAVE to be the equipment that's ALWAYS the closest to your current level, but of course don't make it too far either. Scale armor is acceptable at level 15, and so is Lizard leather armor until you can afford Chainmail at level 24, you do NOT have to get the Beetle set in the meantime. Of course, if you did get the Bone set at level 16 but skipped the Lizard set then I expect you to get the Beetle set at level 21, see ? Skipping one set of armor will NOT be fatal, but don't skip two. I believe it's a better choice, cost-wise, unless you're filthy stinking rich (in that case, buy everything for all I care) but that doesn't usually happen until you at least get an advanced job.

And, let's face it...IF you're an intelligent party, you try to chain Ts and only a few ITs, so having maybe 5 points less of defense really won't be fatal IF everyone does their job. You won't get killed easily unless you're going to monsters that are way too strong.


Next, a comment about the "camp" part :

PLEASE, PLEASE, make it NEAR THE ZONE if possible !!! If something goes wrong, you have to make it out as fast as possible to ensure no one dies. I do understand that it's the job of tanks to protect others but doesn't mean they should always be sacrificed for the party :p Some Thief who leaded one of my parties once told me "I don't really care if you die, it's your job to protect the Mages, if you die, it's just proves you're doing your job." Needless to say, I answered "Then go find yourself another meatshield." and I disbanded.


And, finally, about Renkais :

They're especially useful for chaining Ts or VTs, allows you to take them down faster. Although when you see that your renkai merely does 1 or 2 dmg more on an IT, I think you'd better save it for the next T or VT :p

I would add that red mages can be an exception to being in the back since with en<element> spells they can do as much damage total with melee attacks as other party members, until they get to like level 50 (at that point the sword really sucks) they're better off up front with the melee jobs while trying to support anything that could use some extra help (such as an occasional nuke to speed up the fight or cure help if the white mage is having trouble keeping up with damage) unless your party is lacking a crucial job (such as a white mage). At least that's what I've done and been told/noticed from high level players, they've also told me I play well.

Originally posted by xenoandroid
I would add that red mages can be an exception to being in the back since with en<element> spells they can do as much damage total with melee attacks as other party members, until they get to like level 50 (at that point the sword really sucks) they're better off up front with the melee jobs while trying to support anything that could use some extra help (such as an occasional nuke to speed up the fight or cure help if the white mage is having trouble keeping up with damage) unless your party is lacking a crucial job (such as a white mage). At least that's what I've done and been told/noticed from high level players, they've also told me I play well.

That may be true...

As a Taru RDM, I definitley found being in the frontlines useless :x

And after level 41, the RDM will be too busy Refreshing and stuff to bother attacking.

I wouldn't play a taru RDM then. They're meant to be able to melee aren't they?That's kinda like cutting half of the job's abilities for some mp. =(

Originally posted by Ashin
I wouldn't play a taru RDM then. They're meant to be able to melee aren't they?That's kinda like cutting half of the job's abilities for some mp. =(

Elvaan are meant to be able to cure well. I would not play an Elvaan WHM because you lose too much mp for just a bit of mnd.

Taru RDM are perfectly fine. RDM is a mage first, melee second. This is like... one of the most controversial topics in the game, but...

RDM meleeing is fine, as long as they can keep up with their actual duties (Refresh, debuffs, dispel, backup heal, MBs). If the mob has an AE attack, it is advised to not melee because:
A) the RDM's crappy damage will just make the mob gain tp faster and use his AE quicker
B) wastes the party's mp curing the RDM
C) If it's AE silence..... need I say more?

RDM is effective either way, though.

I have no game experience, just what I've read. But I've read alot, because I want to play Hume RDM/BLM (pimp hat!). As far as I can tell, most of the best RDMs melee when they get a chance, high level or not.

Taru is just wasted potential as a RDM as far as I can tell.

I'm playing as a BLM/RDM right now. When I was a RDM, it really ended up feeling more open than BLM was. While I wouldn't melee at all (I'm not the one to be meleeing first off), I did quite a lot of damage and was able to help a bit more.

However, at the early stages, BLM/WHM seems to fit more than anything with a RDM... then when you learn Refresh.....

Originally posted by Ashin
I have no game experience, just what I've read. But I've read alot, because I want to play Hume RDM/BLM (pimp hat!). As far as I can tell, most of the best RDMs melee when they get a chance, high level or not.

Taru is just wasted potential as a RDM as far as I can tell.

I think this is where your lack of experience in the game comes in.

Swinging your sword (any race of RDM) for an extra 10-15+ damage to the mob = WORTHLESS. You'll do.. maybe.... 150 at most to the mob? That's a swing and a half from a DRK. And your hits are pretty much enough to set off the mobs TP attack, which is something you don't want.

The RDM damage in that example might be off, as I am not level 50+. The DRK damage is correct, though, as I know several 50+ DRK.

Calling Taru "wasted potential" in RDM is like calling... Elvaan wasted potential in any melee job because they have crappy ACC. Or calling a PLD who doesn't use 2-handed swords as main tank "wasted potential" for DMG. Or saying a DRK that doesn't use +INT items "wasted potential" for their magic skills. Or saying a WAR who's using offensive gear, a two handed axe, and berserk, "wasted potential" to be a tank using Defender.

Not all people have to play the game a certain way. RDM who melee aren't "the best;" I assume you read the "RDM 101" guide at allakhazam and thought that airspirit is some 1337 RDM who pwnz0rz all or something. Frankly, the best RDM is the one who keeps everyone Refreshed, and all his debuffs on, and does whatever backup mage duties needed. It does not make you a better RDM for hitting up the mob for some shitty damage... if that were the case, you'd start seeing BLM and SMN meleeing too, because their even worse damage makes them better?

I think I'm just rambling at this point...

So here's my summary:

SAM have more VIT than BLM. That does not make SAM good tanks.
RNG have more DEX than WHM. That does not make RNG good melee fighters.
RDM has more STR than SMN. That does not make RDM a good melee fighter.

Originally posted by PlasmaTorture


I think this is where your lack of experience in the game comes in.

Swinging your sword (any race of RDM) for an extra 10-15+ damage to the mob = WORTHLESS. You'll do.. maybe.... 150 at most to the mob? That's a swing and a half from a DRK. And your hits are pretty much enough to set off the mobs TP attack, which is something you don't want.

The RDM damage in that example might be off, as I am not level 50+. The DRK damage is correct, though, as I know several 50+ DRK.

Calling Taru "wasted potential" in RDM is like calling... Elvaan wasted potential in any melee job because they have crappy ACC. Or calling a PLD who doesn't use 2-handed swords as main tank "wasted potential" for DMG. Or saying a DRK that doesn't use +INT items "wasted potential" for their magic skills. Or saying a WAR who's using offensive gear, a two handed axe, and berserk, "wasted potential" to be a tank using Defender.

Not all people have to play the game a certain way. RDM who melee aren't "the best;" I assume you read the "RDM 101" guide at allakhazam and thought that airspirit is some 1337 RDM who pwnz0rz all or something. Frankly, the best RDM is the one who keeps everyone Refreshed, and all his debuffs on, and does whatever backup mage duties needed. It does not make you a better RDM for hitting up the mob for some shitty damage... if that were the case, you'd start seeing BLM and SMN meleeing too, because their even worse damage makes them better?

I think I'm just rambling at this point...

So here's my summary:

SAM have more VIT than BLM. That does not make SAM good tanks.
RNG have more DEX than WHM. That does not make RNG good melee fighters.
RDM has more STR than SMN. That does not make RDM a good melee fighter.
Before you continue, have you seen a RDM that melees that actually keeps their weapon skills up? Before you say "neither have you", I'm just making sure, before I take your opinion seriously.

With an RDM, there's nothing wrong with meleeing as long as his defense is up there. However, because of what he would have to deal with which would be 3 times worse (He's providing the most hate assuming he's nuking, meleeing, healing at the same time, he's weak in defense, and he must be close if he were to melee), rather run the risk of not trying to get yourself killed... See, once someone dies in FFXI in a party, the party will most likely disband and you'll be out of luck.

If you want to melee and be able to heal, just wait until you get Paladin. Until then, avoid meleeing with a RDM. There might be situations where you are able to melee without much of a lost, that's for those situations and they don't come up too often. As a Taru RDM, of course I'm not going to be doing much attacking directly, my role as a RDM is to make sure the monster is debuffed to hell, finally just start nuking it with some healing left and right. The last thing I want to do is to resort to my sword (which I don't bring along actually) and end up as the Monster's dinner... and lets not forget breaking the party up. :(

Originally posted by Ashin

Before you continue, have you seen a RDM that melees that actually keeps their weapon skills up? Before you say "neither have you", I'm just making sure, before I take your opinion seriously.

No, no I haven't.

95% of the RDMs I've read arguing the same debate that are level 60+ don't keep weapon skills up either.

I assume you mean Weapon Skills by weapon skills, as in the stuff that contributes to skillchains.

If you mean combat skills then yes, many RDM do, but I've read several times ~67 is when it gets really hard to melee... Not sure why though.

Edit:

Wait, yes I have. It was a n00b Elvaan RDM/WAR in Valkurm. He cast maybe Slow on the mobs, and that was it. If I was leader, I would've booted him.

Smartass edit wasn't needed. I meant high leveled people.

While on today, I asked Gogetto (56 Mithra RDM) and Seulia (68 Hume RDM) if they meleed in a party. Neither of them do.

Originally posted by PlasmaTorture
While on today, I asked Gogetto (56 Mithra RDM) and Seulia (68 Hume RDM) if they meleed in a party. Neither of them do. Just because two people don't do it doesn't mean that it's not something you can do and be effective.

Originally posted by Ashin
Just because two people don't do it doesn't mean that it's not something you can do and be effective.

But that doesn't mean not doing it makes you ineffective.

We could be arguing this until the cows come home, though. This is one of the big "controversial issues," like RNG vs BLM for damage, etc.

You'll find out that at higher levels RDM melees less and less to a point (40+) where they are known as offical class and less of 'a bit of everything'. With spells like Refresh and Dispel, you don't want a RDM meleeing and getting their spells interrupted, also, you would want the RDM near the mages to keep up their MP. With spells like Cure IV that use 100mp (which i get as a PLD at 55, my poor mana pool ;_;), you'll want your MP topped up at all times.

Originally posted by PlasmaTorture


But that doesn't mean not doing it makes you ineffective.
I never said it did.

After reading responses, all I have to say is that if the RDM is getting too much MP wasted on them being cured then they are 1) Overdoing their job (this is why I always say a RDM should only do 2 of their job's potential in a battle for the main thing and use the 3rd ability sparingly [such as a high level cure when the whm is having difficulty keeping people's HP up]). Also the tanks are either doing a shitty job or you don't have enough of them. As a rdm, whenever I'm in a good party I find I rarely get hit, also if I'm drawing too much hate I tone down what I'm doing a little (as should any mage).

Now there's also the argument about summoners not being able to use their job as SE intended if you're unlucky enough to be caught in certain parties.

Yes just by chance I happened to choose two of the most argued jobs in the game for the ones I play.

Originally posted by xenoandroid
As a rdm, whenever I'm in a good party I find I rarely get hit, also if I'm drawing too much hate I tone down what I'm doing a little (as should any mage).

What level?


Originally posted by Ashin
I never said it did.


Orignially posted by Ashin
Taru is just wasted potential as a RDM as far as I can tell.

Maybe I misunderstood, but sounds to me like you did.

Lv 31 RDM, Lv 23 SMN, Lv 15 BLM, Lv 4 WHM, Lv 5 THF, Everything else either Lv 1 or not even unlocked (I don't plan on unlocking any of the advanced jobs I plan on leveling).

Yes by that list you can tell my SMN sub is not the standard WHM, Subbing my RDM saved my arse many times in different ways, both in and out of parties. I may or may not change that depending on how stuff goes at higher levels.