Obligatory "How's Lakshmi?" threadFollow

I'm a returning returning player (played at PS2 launch, quit after two years, returned for a while last year and now coming back again!) and although I don't recall ever making a character on this server my character from last year is here. I thought I was on Garuda... was there a merge?

I'm bringing a friend in with me, and I'm looking for a server which will let us level up in a half-casual, half-hardcore manner. We're both full-time college students so it's hard to get a definite schedule but we also know our business when it comes to games.

Is Lakshmi holding strong population-wise? I'm predicting we'll have to duo a lot and we're prepared for it, but is there any warning we should have before we dive into this adventure?

Thanks a ton, and I'm looking forward to seeing you in game!

Welcome back to FFXI, and welcome to Lakshmi. I am your friendly neighborhood cookie monster. Not only do I serve cookies, I eat them as well!

 
     Here, have a cookie!  
     It's delicious! 
     / 
(>'.')>o