Final Fantasy XI 
Getting Started
Your Character
The first task and most important; character creation. You must choose wisely when creating your character because once you create it, you cannot modify it again. This means you cannot change your appearance, race or your name once you have created your character. Any race can play any job and you can change jobs at any time however some races are more suited to some jobs over others. Below is a brief overview of the races and which job they are best suited for out of the six starting jobs.
- Humes - Have no strengths and no weaknesses; they can do all jobs equally well. (any starting job)
- Galka - Have high vitality and hit points (Warrior & Monk)
- Mithra - Have high dexterity and agility (Thief)
- Elvaan - Have highest strength (Warrior and Monk)
- Tarutaru - Have high intelligence, mind and magic points (White and Black Mage)
Keep in mind these are only for the starting jobs there are many 'advanced' jobs you can unlock in the game. Remember you can change your job at any time, however your level is job specific. If you level your warrior to 10 and then decide to change to thief, you will be level 1 thief. If you decide to change back to warrior you will become level 10 again.
Your Nation
After creating your character you must then pick which nation you choose to have allegiance with. This is not permanent and you can change nations during the game. Each nation has it's own story missions that will give you a different view of the game so it is ideal that you do switch nations at some point during the game. Each nation has a special non-tradable/non-sellable ring that you will recieve if your character is of the race that populates that nation. It is advised that you take advantage of this free ring as there is nothing freely available at level 1 that can match the statistics offered by these rings.
The Republic of Bastok
In the southern reaches of Quon lies the Republic of Bastok, a nation founded by the technologically gifted Humes. The president, elected from among the Hume population every few years, takes an active role in leading the government.
Bastok was originally built on the wealth gained from the mining of mythril, a precious metal. But with recent developments in metal refining and processing techniques, Bastok has become famous as a craftsman's town. The southern area of the city is home to many Galka, a race of hulking humanoids. They have made valuable contributions to the expansion of the mines, but despite this, there is a deep-seated tension between the Galka and the Humes.
Surrounding the city of Bastok is the inhospitable Gustaberg region, an unforgiving land of sparse vegetation.
Hume's and Galka's who choose allegiance with this country start with the Bastokan ring (HP+3, DEX+1, VIT+1)
The Kingdom of San d'Oria
This kingdom of proud Elvaan warriors is situated to the north of the Quon continent and was built on the ashes of a brutal civil war. It has been ruled by a succession of kings from the d'Oraguille royal family for a span of more than five hundred years.
The kingdom's capital of San d'Oria is a walled city defended by two orders of knights: the Royal Knights, who patrol the country's borders and seek to expand its territories, and the Temple Knights, responsible for protecting the city itself and maintaining domestic tranquility.
Elvaan who choose allegiance with this country start with the San d'Orian ring (STR+1, MND +1, Defence +2)
The Federation of Windurst
Tribes of Tarutaru from the sweeping grasslands and neighboring islands of southern Mindartia united to form this league of states. It is governed by a council of representatives from the five ministries of magic, legacies of the five founding tribes. Their decisions are based on the prophecies of the mystic Star Sybil who resides in the fabled Heavens Tower. In one section of the city live the Mithra, a race of natural hunters whose skills have brought a new source of wealth to Windurst. The capital, Windurst City, was razed in the war twenty years ago, but this prominent center of learning has since been restored to its former glory.
Windurst is surrounded by the vast fields of Sarutabaruta, a wild grassland home to many unique species of plants.
Tarutaru's and Mithra who choose allegiance with this country start with the San d'Orian ring (MP +3, AGL +1, INT +1)
Mog House
Every player has a mog house that can be accessed from every major city as well as by talking to certain mobile moogles called nomad moogles. In your mog house you can:
- Store Items
- Change your job
- Recieve items from your delivery box
- Rearrange your furniture
- Garden
Auction House
You need to become accustomed to the Auction House as soon as possible. This is the life of Final Fantasy XI; it's were players from across the server come to sell their items. The creators of this game have no dictation over the prices of items on the auction house at all, they are all determined by the players. In your early leveling experiences you will come across many items that are dropped off enemies you defeat. While a NPC may offer very little for the item, another player may offer a considerable amount for the item.
Recommended Sites
Below is a list of quality FFXI websites that feature various information on NPC's, enemies, quests, missions and locations throughout Vana'Diel.