Guide - Chocobo Races!Follow

Introduction

I ummed and arred about where to put this guide. Because I wanted a lot of input from anyone who has done these little weekly quests, I decided to opt for the main forum.

Ever since I discovered these races, I have been astonished by the number of players who have known nothing about them. I've lost count of the number of time I've told people about the easy nature of completing these within the time limits, but mostly, they've either;

1 - Never heard of the quest.
2 - Just use it as a free Chocobo ride to where they are going
3 - Have tried before, but got one of those stinky Tele Glyphs or some Gyshal Greens.

In examining those points, I decided that firstly, everyone should know about these quests. They really are so easy to complete. Secondly, you can only attempt A course ONCE PER WEEK. So using it as a free Chocobo seems a bit pointless to me - if you're going to get a free Chocobo, why not get free EXP along with it? Lastly, a bit of planning will ensure you get the reward you want.

So, without further ado, here is my guide to all things feathery in FFXI. It's my first guide on this game, so any constructive feedback is appreciated.

Part One - Preperation

Knowing your route is critical. I cannot stress this enough. Unless you are a seasoned Chocobo rider, I don't advise stopping to check your maps. Like other quests which give EXP Scroll rewards (Escort, Eco-Warrior), you can only attempt ONE quest per REAL LIFE WEEK. Therefore, I recommend starting on a route which you have some familiarity with. The Bastok Mines > Southern San d'Oria route (and similarly, Southern San d'Oria > Bastok Mines). The time limit on this route is 20 minutes, which leaves a generous margin for error.

Any idiot will be able to tell you the order of the zones (and just to prove that, it is: West Ronfaure, La Theine Plateau, Valkurm Dunes, Konschtat Highlands, North Gustaberg, South Gustaberg, or the other way around if you choose the other route).

But the game doesn't tell me which routes are available on a particular game day! Fear not, for there is a handy plugin for Firefox which not only is almost the most comprehensive Vana'diel clock ever, it also lists the current day's courses, and the next day's courses. You can find this clock here.

So, now you know when each course is offered. How man courses are there? Well, there are three main courses of interest, both of which are mirrored.

1. Southern San d'Oria > Bastok Mines (as described above) - Allotted Time: 20 minutes, 0 seconds.
2. Southern San d'Oria > Windurst Woods (and visa versa) - Allotted Time: 28 minutes, 29 seconds.
3. Basok Mines > Windurst Woods (and visa versa) - Allotted Time: 32 minutes, 29 seconds.

Route one and it's mirror are the easy route. The second route is medium difficulty, but there is a nasty middle section which requires you to zone from Batallia Downs > Rolanberry Fields > Sauromugue Champaign in quick sucession. If your computer is slow at zoning, you may have difficulty with this route. The third route is much more demanding, requiring ou to travel a much greater distance. I recommend starting out on Route One, since it is harder to get lost and/or stuck against bits of scenery. Tahrongi Canyon and Meriphatuad Mountains can be quite unforgiving if you're not entirely sure of the route. Further more, the time limit allowed for Bastok Mines > Windurst Woods is 32:29 - a full 2 minutes and 29 seconds greater than the normal Chocobo Riding time of 30:00. You're going to have find some cash for one of the Chocobo Equipment pieces. The Gloves and Boots both offer +3 minutes, so either of those is sufficient.

[/lg]Route One (Normal) - Southern San d'Oria > Bastok Mines[/lg]

Okay, this route is virtually indenticle when done from Bastok Mines > Southern San d'Oria. It's easy, and if you avoid obsticles, you should reach Bastok Mines with at least 20 seconds to spare. Probably much more so if your computer zones quickly (mine does not >.<). But I'm not here to tell you the fastest route. I'm just giving you a description and maps to follow to make sure you get that free EXP every time.

Route One - Stage One - West Ronfaure
Map
This is a mad dash to the South-West. Once you reach the outpost, head roughly South until you hit the zone line, which is just past a Banner Guard.

Tips: Avoid Trees. They are your ptimary obsticle. Getting snared up on them can really slow you down, so avoid them. Watch out for the raised section around the base of the hill at G-8 and G-9. Holding the tightest line around the hill means going onto this raised section, so make sure you don't get caught on the any of the collision detection. There is a tree which has fallen and blocked the path at G-10, so stay to the side of the main path. The last obsticle is the crumbling wall at F-11.

A good time in this zone is anything under 2 minutes 45 seconds.

Route One - Stage Two - La Theine Plateau
Map
La Theine is fairly straight forward. There really is only one way to go, and that is South-East until I-10, and then it's straight South to the zone line. The only problem you have is that this zone is big.

Tips: Avoid fences. Where ever your route goes near the main path, you are likely to come acorss wire fences stretched between wooden fence posts. These can be tricky to spot sometimes, and some posts don't have fences at all. So the best bet is to avoid all fence posts alltogether. At F-7, I recommend veering away from the path and heading along the ridgeline, keeping in a South-Easterly direction, until you rejoin the path at F-8. This cuts out some annoying trees and walls. Just make sure not to fall down into the valley on your left (on your right if you're travelling from Bastok), otherwise it's likely you've messed up the whole route. At H-9, you will come across some broken walls, a few Orcs, maybe a Battering Ram, and a very large drop down into another valley. Drop down, and keep heading South-East, taking the route around the Northern edge of the gorge at H-10. Once through this gap, there are a few trees to avoid, but very little else.

If you can be approaching the zone line to the Valkurm Dunes as the Chocobo Music is fading away, you are in very good shape. This should be at about 6 minutes 30 seconds. Anything up to 7 minutes is acceptable though.

Route One - Stage Three - Valkurm Dunes
Map
Ahh, the dreaded dunes. Fear not though, for our visit here is brief. Follow the path south, then travel South-West, keeping close to the eastern wall, until you reach J-8. There are some annoying obsticles in the dunes though, particularly the large clump of trees at J-8. You can afford the time to take a wider approach angle for this bit. Getting through here can be very trying, espeically as it can be very thick with crabs, bats, and goblins. Oh, and pullers trying to get said crabs, bats, and goblins, for a fight. Cutting the corners past large mounds of rock an be tight if you aren't watching the route carefully. Don't want to get caught on anything now, not after all tnat good work, do you? The tunnel at K-9 can be nasty. Blind turns, hard to make out rocks in the road, other Chocobo riders, bats, lizards, you name it. Mercifully, this is a short section. Watch out for the large rocks in the path about half way through. One in the open air again, turn South-East, avoiding trees, lizards, goblins, and parties. The zone line is just past the Banner Guard.

Tips: The Dunes can be very crowded. Do your best to avoid any mobile object.

If you zone into Konschtat Highlands and took less than or just over 10 minutes, well done. You're well on course. Anything under 10 minutes, 20 seconds, and you're okay. Over that, and you might have to start putting your foot down.

Route One - Stage Four - Konschtat Highlands
Map
It can all come undone here. There are so many steep inclines and rocks in your way, that you really need to pay attention to the terrain ahead of you. You may have to veer off the course quite a bit to get up some sections (if you are coming from Bastok, don't ignore this information, as some of the terrain around the main path can also snare you up, so be alert for anything). The route is very direct. Head south to F-11. From here, you enter the Aulgung Pass, and you can take either route through it, though I think the souther pass is slightly quicker. If you need to make up some time, definately take the southern pass. The zone line is at I-11.

Tips: Judge the terrain ahead of you. If it helps, get a Teleport-Dem and rent a Chocobo to test out this section of the course. It really is the hardest bit. Also, keep close to the corners in the Aulgung Pass area, but don't get caught up on them if you can help it.

If you're doing well, your clock should read 13 Minutes, 30 seconds.

Route One - Stage Five - North Gustaber
Map
North Gustaverg is very easy. Take a direct South-Easterly course to the bridge over Zeikt Creek, which can be found at F-8. Watch the terrain on the other side, and don't hit the big rock. Take a direct south to pass the eastern edge of the group of mountains in F-8, and then turn South-West to E-10. From here, head directly South. Once in the narrow pass, watch out for the piles of rocks which will prevent you from taking the tightest line round the corners.

Tips: At E-11, just before the twisty passage to the zoneline, there is a piece of terrain just to the west of the main path (as you look forward, it is to the right of the main path). You can take the Chocobo over this terrain with ease, and I suggest you do so, since it prepares you for two similar ramps in South Gustaberg.

Your timer should by this point indicate about 17 minutes 20 seconds. Anything more than that, and it's going to be a close call at the finish.

Route One - Stage Six - South Gustaberg
Map
This is it. The last mad dash to the finish line. You should have enough time to make it comfortably. Take a Southerly direction until the area opens up, at which point you should hug the northerly wall through E-7 and F-8. There are two ramps here which can be scaled easily by Chocobo, bu the third cannot, so veer back onto the main path at this point. From here, it is a failry direct easterly route to the entrance to Bastok Mines. There are numerous enemies in the H-7 area, so watch out for them. Also, you may prefer to get up towards the main path at this point. It's unlikely to cost you too dear, and you might feel more comfortable about the terrain on that level, since the majority of H-7 square is in a small valley. The K-8 area is your last point, where you turn North-East to the zone line. There is a pile of rocks at this corner, but it is possible to cut between the mountain and the rocks, so make use of this little short cut.

Tips: Watch out for people levelling. I usually see people thwacking Quadav at H-7, so it might be an idea to veer up to the path and avoid them alltogether. Make sure you don't take the first entrance into Bastok. It will cost you in seconds, so just make sure you know that you're heading for the furthest entrance at L-8.

Congratulations! You don't have to get off your Chocobo, just head straight for the zone line and you'll automatically dismount and be taken into a small cutscene. You will be told your final time, and if you managed it under 20 minutes, you'll be rewarded with a page from the Dragon Chronicles, which when used, will grant between 500 and 1000 experience points for your main job. Certainly easier than Eco-Warrior wasn't it?

Notes on Mirror of Route One
Almost exactly the same, just in reverse. You will have a slightly easier time of things in the Konschtat Highlands, but one word of caution, you will have to climb the hill at H-10 and H-9 in La Theine Plateau.

Notes on times. A good time on the Southern San d'Oria > Bastok Mines route is 19 minutes 45 seconds. Because of the easier time of things you will have across Konschtat Highlands on the Bastok Mines > Southern San d'Oria route, you are probably looking at a 19 minutes 30 seconds or less on that route.

General Tips
1. Automove. It's really up to you if you use this or not. There is no change in speed using it versus just holding the direction stick/button. Definately disengage auto run around corners. I play with a PS2 pad linked to my PC, so I have tested both methods. At the speeds a Chocobo can run, it's best to have absolute control over some sections, like the tunnel in Valkrum Dunes, or the zig-zag hill path in La Theine Plateau.

2. The Chocobo Music. Every offbeat in the tune (that's every second and fourth beat to a bar) is about 1 second. It helps you keep a perspective on the time you are taking, at least until it runs out. If you want to practice. Try getting completely through West Ronfaure and La Theine Plateau before the music runs out. If you can manage this, you are in very good shape.

3. Lag Spikes. Not sure if this is the technicaly name for them, but it's what I call them. It's when the game grinds down to two or three frames per seconds and generally irks the player. Don't worry if they happen at the most in-opportune time. If you've been following the guide, you'll not have to worry about loosing too many seconds. On my last run, I had a lag spike right in the middle of the big clump of trees at J-8 in the Valkurm Dunes. Yes, it's annoying. Yes, I swore at my PC. No, it did not cost me the race.

4. Screenshots. Like lag spikes, at least on my PC, they can cause the game to judder to a brief halt. I don't think screenshots on the move will cost you many seconds. Just dont' pose for pictures with your friends.

5. Know Your Route Inside And Out. No, seriously. If you know exactly which turns to take, where to keep going straight, when to keep to the path, and when to avoid it, you'll feel much better about the race.

Conclusion
So, there you have it. That should be enough to get those of you who have done nothing about this easy easy quest going for now. I need to confirm my path on the other two courses before I post them, so I will add those when I have completed them to my satisfaction.

There are other routes; I am aware of the route from Kazham > Norg (and visa versa), and there are routes from all three starting cities to their respective Jeuno branch (Southern San d'Oria > Upper Jeuno, Bastok Mines > Lower Jeuno, and Windurst Woods > Port Jeuno), but they only give out the Gate Glyph of their respective city. Gate Glyphs are, as I understand them, one time use Warp-scrolls to a particular zone. They are given as reward to Expeditionary Forces quests, but I don't know anyone who's ever done one of those quests, so I guess Square wanted another quest to give them.

The other main routes (Southern San d'Oria <-> Windurst Woods, and Bastok Mines <-> Windurst Woods), both reward a good time with a page from Miratete's Memoirs, which grants between 1000 and 2000 experience points. So there. Go the extra miles, and Square have the rewards for you. Once I've got a sound strategy nailed down for both of those routes, I'll update this thread. And I'll also keep this in my Journal (I mean, it's just sitting there - I may as well use it for something!).

Good luck, and Happy Chocoboing!

Edited, Fri Feb 3 18:58:13 2006 by Mieck

Edited, Wed Feb 22 13:47:24 2006 by Mieck

Nice guide. Posting so I can find this in my posts later. >.>

Awesome work, I was in fact waiting for someone to make some Maps for optimal routes ^^

I am a bit discouraged since my zone times suuuuck, but Ill try again with those routes ^_^d

3. Basok Mines > Windurst Woods (and visa versa) - Allotted Time: 32 minutes, 29 seconds.



Sounds like you NEED to have Choco Gear?

Isn't the alloted time 30 min without any gear?

awesome guide^^

tyvm

have you done the one in kazham too? i keep getting asked to do it when i'm at a certain level range there (normally about 24 or so). It asks me to take it to norg, but chocos can only go so far. do you have any ideas about that one?

As someone stated above there are also Khazam > norg.

Also there are any combination of the 3 starting cities to each other as well as any starting city to jueno (i don't think there are any from jueno to any of the starting citeies though).

Good start.

For those of us dumb-dumbs who've never heard of this though, you might want to say how it is we're supposed to get this quest. Is there a specific NPC in the choco are we are supposed to talk to, or will any one give the quest if the day is right?

Also, not everyone has Firefox, so if there is some sort of pattern for which days give which routes, adding that might be good.

The MithraPride LS runs a good web site for information.

Click here for the schedule for Choco Racing

Thanks for the tip about the MithranPride link. I'll update within the next few days. I'm saving my next attempt to occur just prior to conquest tally, so I can race again immidately incase it all goes wrong.

Din't think about the NPCs you need to talk to, so I'll include those in the update.

Can some one give me some advice for the race from khazam to norg. I can only hit 3min 31s and get 2 chocobu ticket. i see some one beat it with 3min 2s.

Great post - I've always wondered about those quest, but never tried them before now. :)

So I decided to try the sandy to windy one, and didn't realize just how close the time they allot is to how long it'll take. It took me.... drumroll... 28 minutes 29 seconds.

Which is the exact amount of time allowed, yet I only got 2 chocobo tickets. Which makes me think that you might have to come in UNDER that time, although this being my first go at it, I don't know that for sure. Anyone have any insight on this?

VERY nice guide, convinced me to go do chocobo races right now.

One question though.

Can you race only once nomatter with city once per week (Conquest update)?