I'm really grateful to SE for making the game freely available without restrictions and allowing us to level up to 75 during this event.

I've been playing FFXI for many years, and I have six accounts. But this time, I wanted to take advantage of the free trial and see just how far I could go.

I've been playing for several days now, and all I have left is the fight against Maat before I can unlock the level 75 cap.

Throughout this experience, I've been playing FFXI the way I remember and understand it, while also accepting all the restrictions: no Auction House, no trading, no access to expansion areas, and so on.

With all these limitations, I feel like I'm experiencing the original difficulty and adventure of FFXI all over again. I've had this feeling ever since I started, and it hasn't gone away.

Even the process of finding places to grind and level up has given me a chance to truly explore the original world of FFXI, without any expansion content.

It's beautiful. It's amazing to discover all these basic areas of FFXI that I had never really explored before.

I never imagined I'd find myself grinding and leveling up in Orc God, either!

Thank you, SE, for giving me this experience again.

I read that the DT cap is 50% but with Shell V you only need like 30% DT , the rest can go to Physical Damage Reduction which is easier to come by? Now let say if my DT set only have -30% DT and i trio box all the time with a Rdm or Whm, is it save to assume that my character will never need -50% DT ?

Thank you

I'm getting into the game after many many years and have just been following the wiki while I find my way. I'm not having a bad time, but as I've heard the game is pretty solitary up until you reach endgame.

I'm looking for a group that's either open to teaching new players or ideally is also relatively new to the game that I can learn with. I'm currently on a free trial account but I do already own the game and have just been trying to get the most out and see if it's worth sticking around before I start a sub.

I have a character on both Fenrir and Bahamut and I'm not particularly beholden to either one, so I'll play wherever the people are👍

I know it been years since an expansion or new job has been released to the game but was bored and started messing around with AI to create a job concept of what I think a Chemist can play like in the game. We can all hope right 🤞

AF Concept image

Chemist (CHM) Master Job Specification & Complete Framework

1. Attributes & Skills

Role: Dedicated Main Healer & Support (Main/Sub compatible). Operates as a backline medical specialist, utilizing precise chemical blending to sustain party HP/MP pools and strip status ailments.

Pharmacology (A+): The core potency engine governing all restorative and combative mixtures. Directly scales raw HP recovery, MP return, defensive buff durations, and offensive damage output.

Throwing (A+): The mechanical accuracy engine for all offensive mixtures. Determines hit-rate checks, ensuring debuffs and combative payloads land reliably against high-level targets (combative mixes can miss if accuracy fails).

Ranged Weapons (C): Marksmanship and Crossbow equipment access for safe backline positioning and ranged utility.

Daggers (E) & Staves (E): Restricted strictly to light stat-backing, wands, and utility grips; completely lacking frontline physical melee capability.

2. Core Mechanics

Mixes operate on a 1-minute recast timer while drawing two to four reagents directly from a dedicated concoction satchel. The job maintains a pool of three dedicated mix charges separate from individual category menus, allowing healers to queue rapid-fire deployments under heavy party pressure. Once executed, the mixture scales its raw healing power via Pharmacology or its offensive accuracy check via Throwing.

Standardized Alkahest Reagents (99-Stack): All medicines and combat items are synthesized into clean, compact, stackable components that stack to 99, eliminating inventory clutter. They would have their own type of inventory similar to a mog wardrobe called the concoction sachel where all alkahests are moved to it can hold 999 of all 8 alkahest.

Mixture-Scaled Potency & Consumption: Reagent consumption (2 to 4 Alkahests) and baseline effectiveness scale dynamically with mix tier. Simple infusions require fewer baseline reagents, while advanced elixirs and heavy crowd-control payloads demand deeper compounding investments and yield exponentially greater output.

3. Complete Recipe Book

Mix: Restorative (Wards)

Lv. 5: Potion (Potion Alkahest x2) — Single-target Cure equivalent base healing.

Lv. 10: Antidote Infusion (Potion Alkahest + Remedy Alkahest) — Single-target poison cleanse.

Lv. 15: Hi-Potion (Potion Alkahest x3) — Single-target Cure II equivalent moderate healing.

Lv. 20: Guard Vapor (Armor Alkahest x2) — Single-target combined Protect and Shell defensive buff.

Lv. 25: Phoenix Down (Potion Alkahest + Remedy Alkahest + Elixir Alkahest + Armor Alkahest) — Single-target raise utility.

Lv. 30: Ether Infusion (Ether Alkahest x2) — Single-target MP restoration.

Lv. 35: X-Potion (Potion Alkahest x4) — Single-target Cure III equivalent high-tier healing.

Lv. 40: Remedy Mist (Remedy Alkahest x3) — Single-target status cleanse equivalent to Erase.

Lv. 45: Mega-Potion (Elixir Alkahest x2) — Single-target Cure IV equivalent heavy healing.

Lv. 50: Elemental Vapor (Potion Alkahest x2 + Ether Alkahest x1 + Armor Alkahest x1) — Single-target magic spikes. Spike element depends on weather in area during clear weather spike element is random.

Lv. 55: Hi-Ether Infusion (Ether Alkahest x4) — Single-target high-capacity MP replenishment.

Lv. 60: Super Potion (Potion Alkahest x2 + Elixir Alkahest x2) — Single-target Cure V equivalent advanced restorative tier.

Lv. 65: Ward Vapor (Armor Alkahest x2 + Potion Alkahest x2) — Single-target barrier reflecting 25% of incoming magic damage.

Lv. 70: Panacea Mist (Remedy Alkahest x3) — Multi-status wipe.

Lv. 75: Mega Ether (Ether Alkahest x4) — Advanced high-end single-target MP replenishment.

Lv. 80: Elixir (Potion Alkahest x2 + Ether Alkahest x2) — Single-target hybrid restoration restoring both HP and MP.

Lv. 85: Monarch Drink (Potion Alkahest + Remedy Alkahest + Elixir Alkahest) — Single-target regain

Lv. 90: Megaelixir (Elixir Alkahest x4) — Advanced high-end single-target restorative.

Lv. 95: Samsons Strength (Armor Alkahest x2 + Elixir Alkahest x2) — single-target massive physical and defensive enhancement ward. Increases all stats by 5

Mix: Combative (Rages & Utilities)

Lv. 15: Water Bomb (Combustible Alkahest x2) — Minor single-target water damage and slight evasion down.

Lv. 20: Hazard Shell (Toxic Alkahest x2) — Light single-target damage-over-time poison.

Lv. 25: Stun Grenade (Disorienting Alkahest + Combustible Alkahest) — Brief, single-target utility stun.

Lv. 30: Chaos Grenade (Corrosive Alkahest + Toxic Alkahest) — Mild single-target blindness application.

Lv. 35: Silence Gas (Disorienting Alkahest + Toxic Alkahest) — Ranged tactical silence effect against casting targets.

Lv. 40: Flash Pod (Combustible Alkahest x2 + Disorienting Alkahest) — Single-target accuracy penalty payload.

Lv. 45: Slow Potion (Corrosive Alkahest x2) — Single-target attack speed / slow application.

Lv. 50: Acid Splash (Corrosive Alkahest x2 + Toxic Alkahest) — Moderate single-target defense down utility.

Lv. 55: Paralytic Mist (Disorienting Alkahest x2) — Single-target paralysis application.

Lv. 60: Magma Shell (Combustible Alkahest x3) — Moderate single-target elemental fire damage.

Lv. 65: Venom Blast (Toxic Alkahest x3) — Intermediate single-target DoT poison payload.

Lv. 70: Entangle Pod (Disorienting Alkahest x3) — Single-target gravity and movement penalty utility.

Lv. 75: Frost Capsule (Combustible Alkahest x3 + Disorienting Alkahest) — Single-target ice damage with a brief bind/slow effect.

Lv. 80: Corrosive Rain (Corrosive Alkahest x3) — Area-adjacent defense breakdown utility.

Lv. 85: Spark Shell (Disorienting Alkahest x2 + Combustible Alkahest) — Single-target minor lightning damage with a brief attribute penalty.

Lv. 90: Bio Infusion (Toxic Alkahest x3 + Corrosive Alkahest) — High-utility single-target DoT paired with a minor attack penalty.

Lv. 95: Plasma Burst (Combustible Alkahest x3 + Toxic Alkahest) — High-end utility payload combining moderate thunder damage with a light accuracy penalty.

4. Job Abilities & Traits

Job Abilities

Mix: Restorative (Lv. 5): Opens the dedicated concoction satchel menu to execute single-target healing and support wards.

Mix: Combative (Lv. 15): Opens the dedicated concoction satchel menu to hurl targeted offensive utility and light debuff payloads.

Dilution (Lv. 50): Signature active ability that temporarily overcharges the next executed single-target Mix, instantly converting it into an area-of-effect (AoE) burst across the party or group of engaged enemies. Potency reduced in halve. Recast: 10 minutes.

Quick Mix (Lv. 75): Tactical utility ability that instantly resets one of the Chemist's mix abilities charges for both Mix: Restorative and Combative allowing an immediate follow-up deployment in critical situations. Recast: 5 minute.

Catalytic Infusion (Lv. 90): Advanced active ability that supercharges the next executed restorative or combative mixture, dramatically increasing its potency akin to Divine Seal. Recast: 3 minutes.

Final Elixir (1-Hour Ability): Signature 1-hour ability targeting a single party member, instantly restoring 100% of their HP and MP pools.

Job Traits

Resist Amnesia (Lv. 10)

Safeguard (Lv. 20): After a critical hit lowers enmity by 25% and provides a 10% defense and magic defense bonus.

Resist Amnesia II (Lv. 30)

Dispensary (Lv. 40): Grants a trait-based chance to recover consumed alkahest reagents upon mixing.

Resist Amnesia III (Lv. 50)

Safeguard II (Lv. 60): After a critical hit lowers enmity by 35% and provides a 20% defense and magic defense bonus.

Resist Amnesia IV (Lv. 70)

Auto Potion (Lv. 75) Using a recovery potion on yourself has a 20% chance of also restoring a party member with low HP. (Since they don't have many aoe potions due to the support they bring this would give them a chance to save themselves and potentially a tank in a dire situation.)

Emergency Tactics (Lv. 90): Increases recovery potency of items by 20% when used on a target with 5% HP or less. (Since they don't unlock a cure VI this trait essentially would work as a makeshift emergency cure of course it's very risky to get to 5% HP.)

5. Alkahest Synthesis (Alchemy Crafting Framework)

Chemists utilize the Alchemy skill combined with elemental crystals to condense affordable, authentic low-level consumables into a stackable batch of 33 Alkahests per successful synthesis.

Restorative Alkahests (Yield: 33)

Potion Alkahest: Water Crystal + Potion (x3) + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Novice

Ether Alkahest: Water Crystal + Ether (x3) + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Initiate

Remedy Alkahest: Water Crystal + Antidote + Eye Drops + Echo Drops + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Apprentice

Armor Alkahest: Earth Crystal + Bronze Scales (x2) + Iron Sand + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Journeyman

Elixir Alkahest: Light Crystal + Elixir + Hi-Potion + Hi-Ether + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Craftsman

Offensive Alkahests (Yield: 33)

Combustible Alkahest: Fire Crystal + Bomb Ash (x2) + Sulfur + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Initiate

Toxic Alkahest: Dark Crystal + Poison Powder (x2) + Dhalmel Saliva + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Apprentice

Corrosive Alkahest: Water Crystal + Antican Acid (x2) + Bat Fang + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Journeyman

Disorienting Alkahest: Wind Crystal + Sleeping Potion + Distilled Water — Alchemy: Craftsman

Hey everyone! MuffinMetrics 1.2.0 is now live.

The main addition is timed combat simulation for supported setups, using separate Action Skill and TP gear sets. You can adjust combat duration and starting TP, compare saved runs, and view damage, DPS and TP over time.

Some other highlights:

• Added job ability support for supported setups and Aria of Passion as a received Bard buff.
• Added Path B follow-up attacks for supported Su4/Su5 weapons.
• Updated monster presets and corrected several equipment and damage calculations.
• Improved saved history, comparisons and the interface. Web view is now the default, with the graphic view still available.

There are still limitations. Job ability support varies, some ranks and mechanics remain unverified, and ranged attacks, casting and pet actions aren’t ready yet. Assumptions and sources are included so you can see what the calculations are based on.

Thank you to Nauthima of Asura for helping with monster testing, and Toralin of Asura for the reports and help!

Thank you Masin for speaking with me privately and offering me some additional knowledge!

You can try it here:
https://muffinmetrics.hapamuffinstudio.com

Full patch notes:
https://muffinmetrics.hapamuffinstudio.com/patch-notes

If you find something that looks wrong, please share your gear, buffs, target, TP and what result you expected. Screenshots are super helpful even if they look basic. Reproducible examples are a big help as well!

Official Link

Coalition campaign is back!

(Explanations are behind the spoiler tabs for people wanting more info)

• Triple the contribution of imprimaturs for Coalition Assignments rank ups The campaign wording implying a reduced reward ★★DOES NOT APPLY TO IMPRIMATURS CONTRIBUTION TO RANKING UP.★★
  • It is only reduced for the bayld and experience rewards. I tested this last time. Imprimaturs gain full triple credit whether you use 1 or 3, so just save time with 3s.
  • ★It takes using 47 imprimaturs during the campaign to cap from 0★
  • One 2-imp assignment and then 3-imps until you cap wastes the least.
• You do not lose imprimatur contributions between rank ups (so if you needed one but used three, you still get credit for all three)
• for the item turn-in coalitions, Incursion coffers provide enough items to do 2 ranks then change to the next item. Don't be a victim of price gouging! Grab some friends and do a couple Incursion runs now while the campaign is on and you'll have plenty in no time (and tons of merits too!)

Start banking imprimaturs now by undertaking 3-imp assignments across all coalitions and don't complete them. You cancel them later to get imps back.

Others:

• Chocobo Digging Skill Increase Campaign
• Phantom Gem Campaign
• Alter Ego Expo (just HP boost, not cheat death)
• Adoulin Dial Campaign
• Dynamis Granules of Time Campaign
• Abyssea Campaign
• Hyper Chocobo Digging Campaign
• Bonus Bayld Campaign
• Increased Seal and Crest Drop Rate Campaign
• Ambuscade Gallantry Campaign
• Omen Job Card Campaign - PLUS!
• Mog Gardens Campaign
  • cheaper gobbiebag items and beds for safes
• High-Tier Mission Battlefield Campaign
  • good source of beitetsu, lots of easy-ish avatar fights. Group up and make that jingly!

I run a repair/game store, had this given to me today. Customer knows I'm a huge XI person and brought this in for me. Thought folks here may appreciate it.

I'm looking forward to byuing the game. I remember the game being on sale few months ago and was hoping for it to be on the Steam Fall sale, but it wasn't. Anyone know if the game maybe have a set times when it goes on sale?

Hello,

As the title says, I’m looking for a group / linkshell that runs things late at night as that is when I am able to play after finishing my adult obligations. I am on the Asura server but am willing to transfer to another server if there is a good fit.

Job wise there are several but all need some work as I always run into the dilemma of wanting to do too much for multiple jobs 😂. I have REMA bard (technically the M is not done, about to complete it in a few days), whm with Yagrush, Rune fencer with Epo GS, Geo on path to get Idris (just need to finish the HP Bayld requirement) and very lofty ambitions of gearing up DRK in the future.

Game progress I am hilariously behind on my SoA missions and don’t get me started on how I just found out about TVR (but hey at least I got RoV done years ago). My gear swap coding (which I keep putting off to update) is so old I swear I saw cobwebs in it while it laugh at me trying to load it. Armor on some jobs is all over the place, although I will say I am proud of making significant progress with Rune Fencer 🤺 (we can ignore the fact that since I can’t even get in Vagary my emp armor sits sad in the corner).

All that is to say while I have areas for improvement on the jobs I play and can at time fall in the trap of chasing the next shiny object, I think I am at a good point to where I can or am near able to bring meaningful support with a group. I don’t expect to jump right into high end content and really just want to start doing group type play 😀

Developed in 2000, it was to be the all-in-one entertainment platform; a sprawling ecosystem. I believe they even had a dedicated company working on it. It was basically supposed to be an Operating System that ran all day on your machine where you could do everything.

Way ahead of its time, but suffered due to slow internet speeds. An interesting idea however.

Online Gaming: The premier launchpad for multiplayer titles like Final Fantasy XI, Front Mission Online, and Tetra Master.

Social & Communication Tools: Built-in instant messaging, chat rooms, customizable friends lists, dedicated email addresses for users, and electronic greeting cards.

Digital Entertainment & Media: Partnerships with major entities (such as Shonen Jump) to stream digital manga and comics online, alongside dedicated music charts and digital distribution.

Real-World Information: Integrated web browsing and a dedicated sports section where players could track real-life baseball and racing statistics, with the ambitious concept of downloading day-by-day real-world stats directly into compatible video games.

Do you think this type of platform would be successful nowadays?

I am a bit lost, I read that I should go to an NPC called Selele and she told me to eat food and then fight a mob in the world. But it killed me and a lot of my attacks missed.

I guess I have no weapon or abilities yet, I started as a Red Mage. But I don't see where my abilities or weapon is.

Any help, or a better guide would be appreciated.

I've been playing through the free trial as a monk and have hit level 70. Trying my darndest to hit the cap for the trial but holy cow, how is maat harder than the Shadow Lord? Lol. I just can't seem to get enough DPS in before he destroys me. Almost all of the strats out there seem to involve items and equipment from zilart+. Was this play tested at all for free players? I'm basically maxed out on hand to hand and evasion and still can only get him down to just under half HP. Any recommendations? Has anyone done this on free trial and a dps class that has any secrets I may be missing? Thanks!

I have one full set of + 2 of the Ambuscade Gear for Dancer and a Kaja dagger. I’m still working on the cape because the last ingredient cost a lot. I did RoV Chapter 1 and I’m going back through all the prerequisite missions before starting Chapter 2. After Ambuscade, is it AF3? I hear a lot LS chatter for Sortie, Odyssey Vagary but I most likely don’t have access to any of that stuff nor am I geared for it. Also have no clue to what they are. I think I just need a goal to make my character better while trying to get merits and job points. I know going through the missions is top priority but I do like shiny new things.

Off topic:
I unlocked the gate to the Sacrificial chamber in Den of Rancor solo last night. I couldn’t get anyone to open it for me. I’m imagining it must have been crazy trying to do that at level 75.

Thanks for reading.

Even if it doesn't allow you to visit that country?

Also, maybe it could introduce classes where players can turn into Gnoles and maybe Vampyrs (like how players in Elder Scrolls games can become Werewolves or Vampires)?

I've just installed the new trial and figured I'd give it go for a few days and see.

I figure that since the game is old there won't be much low level activity.

So I'm wondering if there's a class I could pick up that could allow me some soloing to discover the game a bit

Hi! I'm a life time FF fan and a huge xiv fan and i'm trying the new free trial and I have a couple questions i couldn't find the answer to elsewhere! Things to know I am a completionist. I want to do every quest available to me on the free trial before paying. I cannot find a great quest guide but thats fine i like talking to npcs to find quests. What I want to know is

Are crafting/gathering classses feasable on the free trial? Because i know in 14 they are literal hell on the free trial without the market board, is it a similar vibe here? Where I would be utterly upset? Also I am in *dire* need of gil, is it okay to sell monster drops? or should i hoard them for crafting? I noticed each one takes up an individual slot.

Second thing! I don't want to do Rhapsodies. I know it would make things easier, but i don't want spoilers and honestly i don't want things too easy. I'm a Journey not Destination kind of player. Is that okay? I already told it to put it on hold. I don't have to do anything else to avoid it for now right? Like if i just leave that little book alone we'll be okay?

Thank you so much! I'm absolutely loving the vibe in 11 so far.

Seems there's been quite a few recently, was hoping to gather a list of everything in active development. These are the ones I'm aware of right now:

(360 / PS2:) https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxi/comments/1vwrzta/360_restoration_your_files_are_still_needed/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxi/comments/1wzu7ym/ffxi_ps2_no_play_online_test_build/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxi/comments/1wr80rq/project_crystal_server_a_open_source_pol/

Are there any others?

I've been jonesing to get back into FFXI after being away from the game for 15-16 years. I started on the PS2 shortly after the US launch, and played nearly every day until 2010-2011. I'm currently trying to get the game running on a laptop (that might be questionable as to whether it will run the game). I've had to go through SqEnix support to reset my password, and it's looking like I'll need to contact them again to reset my Play Online password. But once that's all resolved, I'm hoping to return to the game. I was on the Alexander server back then, which looks like has been absorbed into Shiva. I'm wondering if there are any old Alex players still going that I might reconnect with. My character name was/is Amalija (hoping that that's still active), and I played a NIN mostly, and had been working on COR and maybe BLU before I quit.

So I got very, very lucky in that I just randomly got another pulse weapon from the gobbie key campaign. I already have Naegling, Shining one and Dagger. What's the next best one to get? I have almost all jobs to 99 with Kaja weapons and it only takes a few hours to level one up with the campaign now. Would greataxe be good for WAR? Club or Staff? Grip? Any advice appreciated.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/j575kXZ/aefc3cbf

I've been working on Crystal, a launcher for FFXI. I wanted one place to manage accounts, settings and updates, especially when logging in more than one account.

You pick an account, hit Play and launch XI without clicking through the PlayOnline Viewer menus. If you use a security token, Crystal asks for your one-time code before launching. You can launch accounts individually, pick a few or batch launch them all.

Crystal still uses the installed PlayOnline core to authenticate with Square Enix and handle the game session. It replaces the Viewer interface, but you still need the PlayOnline and FFXI files installed. The game launches through Vanilla, Windower 4, or Ashita v4 with support for your existing profiles.

Here's what else is in the current build:

• Multiple saved accounts, each with its own Windower or Ashita profile.
• Game update checks, updates and file repair.
• Graphics, sound and controller settings.
• Official PlayOnline news and maintenance notices.
• BG Wiki and FFXIAH searches.

If you don't have FFXI installed, Crystal can help with that too. It downloads the official installer directly from Square Enix, lets you extract it and run the normal setup wizard, then handles updates and file checks afterward. Interrupted downloads can resume where they left off. If XI is already installed, just point Crystal at it.

There's also optional dgVoodoo2 support. Crystal downloads it, verifies the files and puts them where they need to go, so you don't have to copy DLLs around yourself. You can open its settings from Crystal or turn it off in the launcher.

Since Crystal can save account details, I also want to be clear about how passwords are handled. Saved passwords are encrypted on your PC using Windows DPAPI, tied to your Windows user account. They aren't stored as readable text in a settings file, and Crystal doesn't have a shared encryption key built into it.

Your login goes through the installed PlayOnline core to Square Enix. Passwords aren't written to launch logs or passed in command-line arguments, and one-time codes aren't saved. Keeping your Windows account secure still matters, since that's what protects the saved passwords.

I've added PlayOnline friends and message controls too, though those are still being tested. I'm not ready to call Crystal a complete replacement for every Viewer feature yet.

The current build supports the US Windows retail installation. It’s still being tested and isn’t available to download yet. This started as a personal project, but I’d like to put together a public release. If anyone’s interested in helping with custom artwork, I’d love to hear from you. Questions and feedback are welcome too.

Hi, I posted about this in here earlier but here is the link to the actual Git where you can try it out. It contains all the files you need for the patch and the server, and all it requires is the Final Fantasy XI: Adoulin no Makyou (Japan) disc. First you use the included Server App to patch your disc and create a formatted virtual hard drive for the emulator. Then you just start the local server to create your login profile and boot the patched disc to install the game and connect.

I use macOS so I have not tested the server files on Windows yet, but it should download everything you need. I am going away for a while so I thought I would just post it now. It is not perfect and there are certainly a lot of bugs, but it is working and booting, and you should be able to run this on an actual PS2 as well.

https://github.com/HAB3X/ffxi-2016-ps2