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Most efficient ways to level?Follow

#1 Sep 10 2013 at 6:21 AM Rating: Decent
I read in a few places that the best/most efficient way to level is to NOT do the side quests in an area (perhaps outside of the few initial "Get to know the game" quests when you first arrive in your location) but to level via focusing on your Main Story quests, FATEs and the Hunting Log. Is this right? Coming from other MMOs I'm not used to the concept of actively skipping quests; instinctively I see a quest icon and must rush over there to get and complete it, but it seems this is inefficient because of how quests work with other jobs, so if I wanted to go say Pugilist I wouldn't have any quests to do if I did them all as a Gladiator.

I've also read that it's not worth bothering with picking up a second class until you reach 30 in your primary class, again with I'm assuming just following the main story, doing the occasional side quests or FATEs or just monster grinding, probably with dungeons at that point as well.

Is this correct? If so is there a general rule for knowing what type of quest should be skipped and what should be done for the side quests?
#2 Sep 10 2013 at 6:25 AM Rating: Excellent
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1,208 posts
The true answer is whatever makes you the happiest. Honestly, it's your game, have fun!

They made multiple paths to 50 just for this reason... I personally can't stand quests... but my fiance loves them. I love dungeons but she is not the biggest fan... we both are frustrated with doing FATE's on a PS3 but we do them anyways...

At the end of the day we advance each time we play... so it all works out.
#3 Sep 10 2013 at 6:54 AM Rating: Excellent
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362 posts
I found the best path is to 'take what's available' and 'what I feel like doing'. So, in general I'll queue for a dungeon, look for FATEs, and if the queue hasn't popped, and there isn't a close FATE, I'll do the quests in the area that is appropriate level. Do Hunting log targets as they come up and stay current with it, they're also a good judge about areas you should go to for your level.

But yea, if you really do or don't like something in the game feel free to do or skip it. The only quests you really should make sure you keep current on is the main story, it will bring you into level appropriate areas, and you're going to need to do it for unlocking dungeons as you go. But if you maybe want to just hunt FATEs one day, go for it! Just run dungeons? Do it! As long as you're not just out there slaughtering 10,000 squirrels for mob xp they're all pretty effective.
#4 Sep 10 2013 at 6:59 AM Rating: Excellent
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336 posts
I would skip a quest if you've out leveled it and save it for another class. 500 xp reward at level 30 doesn't mean too much.
#5 Sep 10 2013 at 7:02 AM Rating: Good
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425 posts
You generally save the side quests for alt/sub classes. I've gotten 20 entirely off of the main scenario with a few soloing and FATEs in between.
#6 Sep 10 2013 at 7:27 AM Rating: Good
Same, I got one character to 21 simply by following the hunting log, doing the main story quest, and grabbing a FATE every time I saw one.

Remember also you get a rested exp bonus that builds up while you're logged out in a sanctuary. That exp bonus gives you a very large boost from trash mobs. I usually end up leveling at least once in any given dungeon.
#7 Sep 10 2013 at 7:48 AM Rating: Excellent
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2,550 posts
My experiences are:

Story Quests:
Pros: Great exp / items / money
Cons: One shot (not repeatable)

FATEs:
Pros: Good repeatable experience at higher levels (when people reliably party up)
Cons: Riding out to every location, sometimes not getting a hit in due to zerg or lag

Leves:
Pros: The best experience you will get for crafting (especially the "turn in 3 items x 3" versions). The random blue chests in the battle leves are nice and you can find dungeon drops.
Cons: Some of the worst experience you will get for battle classes, battle leves are sometimes affected by lag (in Coerthas and Mor Dhona especially). Also leve allowances require you to use them wisely.

Side Quests:
Pros: Great exp / items / money on par with story quests
Cons: One shot (not repeatable)

Dungeons:
Pros: Great experience at lower levels, good rewards
Con: The wait is sometimes long for DD, and unless you have a party that you formed or were invited to, random duty finder parties are hit and miss.

Solo chaining even Match or better:
Pros: Works at a decent pace for lvl 15 and below, on DD classes
Cons: Limited to certain classes ability to deal damage / heal effectively, for higher levels there are better options.

Old Fashioned Party Chains on <Incredibly Tough> monsters:
Pros and Cons: No one has tried it yet.
#8 Sep 10 2013 at 8:15 AM Rating: Good
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1,208 posts
Valkayree wrote:
Old Fashioned Party Chains on <Incredibly Tough> monsters:
Pros and Cons: No one has tried it yet.


I don't know why this struck me as funny... I have not even thought to try this... I'll run FATE's as much as the lag sucks any day before doing this.... I don't really miss the 1-75 exp party grind from FFXI at all.
#9 Sep 10 2013 at 8:21 AM Rating: Good
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491 posts
Like many others have mentioned here, it boils down to doing what you like doing. Myself? Many will tell you to skip side quests and save them for other classes. I will not be one of those, as after doing a lot of them, noticing how most tie into your current story quest and add flavor to it. This is the reason why they won't just appear in an area, even if you meet the level requirement. You must first get to the point in the main story that those quests tie into, or they would make little sense on their own.

Regardless, though. There is no right or wrong way to play a game. The quickest path to sucking the enjoyment from one is trying to follow a predetermined path dictated by someone else for 'efficiency'.

Edited, Sep 10th 2013 10:21am by DragonBourne
#10 Sep 10 2013 at 8:24 AM Rating: Excellent
Fate parties are the fastest way to level.

But, do what you find to be most fun, as many others have said. Leveling in this game is somewhat fast, no matter what you do.

Edited, Sep 10th 2013 7:24am by Thayos
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Thayos Redblade
Jormungandr
Hyperion
#11 Sep 10 2013 at 8:41 AM Rating: Good
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239 posts
When on my WAR I get instant ques to the dungeons so I tend to do that a lot, get a few levels then knock out some story line quest. I hate questing with a passion so I don't do any of the side quests unless I have to. I break up that with some FATE grind groups just to hang out and chill for a bit while chatting on Mumble.

When on my Brd it takes a while longer for dungeon ques so I will just go to the FATE grinding zones and run with the main groups while still in duty finder to grab some extra XP there.

I think I am going to start to level a crafting class pretty soon so I will also be doing that while in duty finder as well.

Might not be the fastest but I am enjoying the leveling which is a ton better than Xi when I used to fall asleep from the hours and hours of chain pulling to level.
#12 Sep 10 2013 at 9:22 AM Rating: Good
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5,745 posts
Hairspray wrote:
Valkayree wrote:
Old Fashioned Party Chains on <Incredibly Tough> monsters:
Pros and Cons: No one has tried it yet.

I don't know why this struck me as funny... I have not even thought to try this... I'll run FATE's as much as the lag sucks any day before doing this.... I don't really miss the 1-75 exp party grind from FFXI at all.

I don't miss it either. We occasionally see a post here from someone saying that they miss that from FFXI. Apparently, they're in the minority. Otherwise, you would think that they would be able to easily find other people who feel the same way and we would see and read more about Light Parties just grinding out mob exp in FFXIV.
#13 Sep 10 2013 at 9:31 AM Rating: Decent
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66 posts
Personally, I find doing the quests on my first 1 or 2 characters to be the most beneficial. I am currently working on my WAR and a few other classes here and there for cross-class skills. Later on, when I decided to level up other characters I will have my big bonus for level difference, rested XP, and other boosts. That is when I will do FATE grinding and Hunting Logs, because by then I won't care about the story anymore and will simply want the fastest route to my goal as possible. So my suggestion is to do your questing (within reason - don't turn in a level 5 quest on a level 30) on your primary 2 classes and leave the grinding for the classes you could care less about. On these classes, I won't be trying to savor the flavor...I will be "FATE group gogogogogo!"

I am not a big fan of the quests but I do as many as I can because they give great gear and unlock tons of things you should have by default. (Dye, I am looking at you!)
#14 Sep 10 2013 at 9:49 AM Rating: Good
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150 posts
Most efficient way to level isn't always the most entertaining and satisfying way to play the game. Bear that in mind.

Also there are content barriers in the storyline, miss the story and you wont get mounts, a grand company, or even access to some dungeons I believe.
#15 Sep 10 2013 at 12:10 PM Rating: Decent
Full party mob grinding next to a area with occasional fate pops (ones in lower population areas) are so legit. Its tough to find people game for it though. If you have one or two people pulling mobs into the zone and the rest blasting away you can easily match experience from fate parties.
#16 Sep 10 2013 at 12:18 PM Rating: Good
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425 posts
svlyons wrote:
Hairspray wrote:
Valkayree wrote:
Old Fashioned Party Chains on <Incredibly Tough> monsters:
Pros and Cons: No one has tried it yet.

I don't know why this struck me as funny... I have not even thought to try this... I'll run FATE's as much as the lag sucks any day before doing this.... I don't really miss the 1-75 exp party grind from FFXI at all.

I don't miss it either. We occasionally see a post here from someone saying that they miss that from FFXI. Apparently, they're in the minority. Otherwise, you would think that they would be able to easily find other people who feel the same way and we would see and read more about Light Parties just grinding out mob exp in FFXIV.


I miss mostly LoO as WHM.

#17 Sep 10 2013 at 4:25 PM Rating: Excellent
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131 posts
Hairspray wrote:
Valkayree wrote:
Old Fashioned Party Chains on <Incredibly Tough> monsters:
Pros and Cons: No one has tried it yet.


I don't know why this struck me as funny... I have not even thought to try this... I'll run FATE's as much as the lag sucks any day before doing this.... I don't really miss the 1-75 exp party grind from FFXI at all.


This may sound weird but... I kind of do.
#18 Sep 10 2013 at 7:31 PM Rating: Excellent
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334 posts
DuskCactuar wrote:
Hairspray wrote:
Valkayree wrote:
Old Fashioned Party Chains on <Incredibly Tough> monsters:
Pros and Cons: No one has tried it yet.


I don't know why this struck me as funny... I have not even thought to try this... I'll run FATE's as much as the lag sucks any day before doing this.... I don't really miss the 1-75 exp party grind from FFXI at all.


This may sound weird but... I kind of do.


I do too. If you had a good group, it really didn't seem as grindy and I made a lot of friends bullsh*tting during the course of leveling. I also liked the fact that you hopped zones every few levels. I think the best thing Vanadiel had going for it was the vast world full of every type of dungeon and ecosystem. This was the true gem of leveling - the far out awesome camp that no one knew about. Good times.

On a side note. The only thing that I don't like about this game but it really is a negative for me: every dungeon is instanced. No more tooling around in the depths with a pickaxe, going to the bottom of some godforsaken place to see if a gnarly bad guy is up. I will miss that. I understand the utility of an instanced dungeon, but I wish they had included some regular dungeons for exploring. Because an instance just doesn't have the same feel. Just my two cents.


Edited, Sep 10th 2013 9:32pm by ChaChaJaJa
#19 Sep 10 2013 at 8:27 PM Rating: Excellent
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131 posts
ChaChaJaJa wrote:
I do too. If you had a good group, it really didn't seem as grindy and I made a lot of friends bullsh*tting during the course of leveling. I also liked the fact that you hopped zones every few levels. I think the best thing Vanadiel had going for it was the vast world full of every type of dungeon and ecosystem. This was the true gem of leveling - the far out awesome camp that no one knew about. Good times.

On a side note. The only thing that I don't like about this game but it really is a negative for me: every dungeon is instanced. No more tooling around in the depths with a pickaxe, going to the bottom of some godforsaken place to see if a gnarly bad guy is up. I will miss that. I understand the utility of an instanced dungeon, but I wish they had included some regular dungeons for exploring. Because an instance just doesn't have the same feel. Just my two cents.


Edited, Sep 10th 2013 9:32pm by ChaChaJaJa


Yeah, the instance thing is fine I guess imho, but the whole DF pulling people from multiple servers is downright odd to me. I'd rather play with folks on my server so as to develop a community and get to know people who I can then go on to do other stuff together with. It's like another post I made the other day commenting on how some of these aspects of the game put a damper on the social community's development compared to XI.
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