This game is a personal must-have.
Final Fantasy XI is a MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), Square-Enix's first. The game consists of six beginning jobs: Warrior (WAR), Monk (MNK), White Mage (WHM), Black Mage (BLM), Red Mage (RDM), and Thief (THF). These are the jobs you can choose at the beginning of the game, change between at first until level 30, where you can do quests to obtain the advanced job options of: Summoner (SMN), Dark Knight (DRK), Paladin (PLD), Ranger (RNG), Ninja (NIN), Samurai (SAM), Beastmaster (BST), and Dragoon (DRG). Coming soon in the Treasures of Aht Something-or-other, Blue Mage (???).
In each of the parenthesis are the brief names of each job (except for Blue Mage, which is still undetermined). These are used for quick-chat (not a feature, just means a fast message for when you're busy and don't have time to type out long posts), and in the equipment discription windows.
A feature of this game is the Support Job system, which gives you the option of using a second job to obtain more abilities or spells. For example: putting WHM as a support job for BLM gives you the ability of using WHM spells up to the WHM level as a support job. As a support job, WHM is half the level of BLM example: BLM lv 22 would have support job of WHM lv 11.
There are certain jobs you want to put as the support for certain main jobs. These are:
WAR: Unless in solo-play, do not put a mage or or the Ranger job. DRG, PLD, DRK, and BST are for you and your party to debate.
MNK: Use THF, WAR, or WHM mainly.
WHM: BLM, SMN, RDM (Sometimes), MNK (Rarely), do not put any melee other than MNK or RDM as your support.
BLM: Pretty much the same as WHM, but no MNK, and WHM instead of BLM.
RDM: WAR, THF, MNK, NIN, WHM, BLM. I think SMN might be an option, but it is not something I would personally reccomend.
THF: NIN, RNG, WAR, MNK, and on rare occaisons: BST.
PLD: WHM, MNK, THF, or WAR only
DRK: BLM, THF, WAR, and for solo-play: WHM.
RNG: THF or NIN is most common.
NIN: WAR, THF, MNK, or SAM are most prefered. You can also use WHM for solo-play.
SMN: Any of the mages.
DRG: WAR, THF, MNK, SAM. After 25, you want WHM mainly for one of its skills. (I'm not going to be a spoiler. =) )
SAM: WAR, NIN, THF, MNK.
BST: NIN, THF, RNG, MNK, WAR, WHM.
Blue Mage: No info, yet.
Now, these are just the support jobs that people prefer for you when you are in a party.
Each job has its own special ability that can only be used once every two hours. (This is my last bit of info/spoiling, and I'm done with this Review.)
WAR: Mighty Strikes: Makes every attack a critical hit.
MNK: Hundred Fists: Continuous attacks.
WHM: I can't exactly remember the name, but it heals every party-member within area of effect.
BLM: ManaFont: No MP used for spells.
RDM: Chainspell: Cast spell after spell without taking a delay.
THF: Perfect Dodge: Dodge attacks for a set amount of time.
SMN: Can't remember name, aplifies Avatar's power.
SAM: Cannot remember skill or effect.
NIN: Mijin Gakure: Sacrifice life to deal damage without losing EXP.
DRG: Call Wyvern. If you can't guess what this does....wow.
BST: Can't remember.
RNG: Can't remember.
PLD: Can't remember.
DRK: Blood Weapon: Use "Drain" w/out using MP every time your attack hits for a short amount of time.
Well I hope this review helps you decide to get this game, and helps you out with the info you need to know.