So it begins...

For starters, let me tell you a little about myself. Like so many, I started playing FFXI during the initial US PC launch. Several old friends from a previous game (Phantasy Star Online) had joined the Bismarck server. I played on and off until around April of the next year and left around the time our old linkshell fell apart. At around that time, I became so disenchanted and irritated with the game that I just gave up. I got to about level 32 on monk and never got past the jungles. I would start playing again on another server in March of 2006, but I would stop again after being invited into the Japanese closed beta of Phantasy Star Universe.

In October of 2007, I would find myself back on Vana'diel, this time as a mithra red mage. I even wanted it as my first 75, but after reading about how it worked at 75 and the journey up there, I decided against it. After getting RDM to 30, I then proceeded to open up blue mage after getting the six sub job items to get into Aht Urhgan. After a few levels of BLU, I was hooked. I then began working on subjobs such as ninja, warrior etc. However, it wasn't my first job to 75.

My first 75 turned out to be paladin. I actually unlocked said job out of total boredom one morning in January, and just started riding that momentum. At about level 67, I started to have static exp sessions with my friend Snk's RNG and a BRD in our linkshell. However, these sessions were few and far between. In between exp sessions on PLD, I started pushing my BLU up the levels and also finishing my THF sub. At about 72, invites started falling by the wayside, and I found myself campaigning and leveling BLU more. I'd finally ding 75 on PLD in late July.

The road to 75 BLU was a much more turbulent one. This was due in no small part to the long hard road to sea. Some time ago, I promised myself I would not level past 72 on BLU without sea access and the spell Disseverment. I finally got past Promyvion Vahzl in late September after being like 0/6 on the boss at the end, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. The next nightmare came with getting past the dreaded three paths (mission 5-3). I spent practically the entire month of October trying to finish this, and get past Ultima and Omega. I was ready to quit the game altogether if I didn't have sea by month's end. After being roughly 0/16 on that fight, I managed to get past it with the aid of Burnout, Blackout and Gippal, as well as two others from my dynamis shell that needed said fight. A couple of days later, I FINALLY GOT SEA!!! After getting some of the spells from there, including Disseverment, I resumed leveling BLU in earnest and dinged 75 a couple of weeks ago.

So where do I stand now? Currently I'm working on finishing my blue magic skill merits by soloing imps (since no one ever wants us in those manic 20k/hr bird killer parties). Recently I've started doing limbus with the people from my dynamis shell, and I'll say it's a lot more fun than dynamis. I'll have my homamz soon enough.... I hope.