There seems to be a general lack of information on these boards about skill up parties, I know when I was first approaching the levels where I could get my AF armour and subsequently needing coffer keys that some information like this would have come in very handy. This guide is intended for newer players, if you’re a veteran there’s probably not much in here for you, but I would appreciate some feedback. =)
Firstly, skill up parties really can be great fun, you can experiment with all sorts of different things, and there’s a lot less pressure than your normal EXP party. You’ll find skill ups can be a welcome break for the grind of EXP’ing. Now, onto the meat of the matter.
Why form or join a skill up party?
1. Chest and Coffer Key drops: Skill up parties are a great way to get coffer key drops without having to cry out for help. All too often I see people shouting for help or offering rewards for coffer keys in Jeuno, it’s simply not necessary.
2. Skilling up your weapons: There will come a point in time during the game when you realise one of the weapons that you’d like to use is drastically under levelled, or you want a weapon skill that is slightly out of reach. Skill up parties are one of the prime ways to get your weapon skills up to scratch.
3. Skilling up your Magic: In the same way that your weapons may become under levelled magic also can. I’ll state examples of enfeebling magic for BLM and healing magic for WHM as some of the common skill up targets.
4. Item drops: There are certain spells in the game that are very expensive for what they are (Ancient Magic for BLM for example) but will drop in certain areas from monsters, skill up parties are a very good means of getting some of these drops.
5. Weaponskill Quests Etc.: There is one other reason to form skill up parties. The level 71+ quested weapon skills, and the latent effect rare/ex weapons from KS99 battles, each require a certain number of weapon skills to be performed.
Assembling a party
Right so this sounds like the sort of thing for you? How do you go about putting a skill up party together?
-The first thing to do is shout in Jeuno, the generic message should be something like this;
{Skill} {up} / {key} {Party} {Do you need it?} <insert location here> @ <insert number of members here>
-Be sure to use the Auto-translator when you shout these messages as there is a demand from both JP and English players for skill ups. You can also shout once on each level of Jeuno for more coverage, this is particularly effective if there’s more than one person so you can stay in those zones and wait for responses rather than miss out on a tell while you are zoning.
-Do not SPAM your shouts; no-one will join you if you are flooding their text windows with junk.
-One thing that you can include in this message is the range of skill ups that can be expected at the location, in general for a coffer key hunt it’s not really that necessary. Skill ups in these areas tend to lie in the 150-200 skill range and most people know this.
-If you’re not forming a coffer party it’s a good idea to include the skill up range in your shout. I've linked to 2 charts that are very handy for picking enemies according to skill levels.
http://www.bretto.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/skillup1.gif
http://www.bretto.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/skillup2.gif
-Here is another page that will let you determine what skill your weapon will cap at based on your jobs rating for that weapon and at what levels you will gain Weapons Skills.
http://www.all-final.com/ff11/skill_chart.htm
-Your members for a coffer key party should be at the minimum lvl 50+ and a tank of level 60 or higher is generally very desirable. If people approach you below lvl 50 politely turn them away and recommend they come back in their 50's.
What’s the battle plan?
Ok, so now you’ve got your party formed and you’re ready to go, what happens next?
-Subbing white mage is a very good idea for skill up parties, you’ll be able to remove your own status effects, use blink and stoneskin (from lvl 56), and Curaga your party. There isn’t necessarily going to be a "main" healer in these parties so you do have to fend for yourself a bit. Don't expect the same courtesies you get in an EXP party, such as haste and refresh, mages need skill ups too.
-Food that enhances accuracy is very useful if you are focusing on levelling your weapon skill. An obvious example is sushi if you can fit it into your budget. Being mostly a mage I don’t have too much experience with foods that will help your hit rate, if anyone has any recommendations for food apart from sushi I’d be very happy to hear them.
-Pick a safe place to camp where mobs will not pop right on top of you, these will not be at familiar campsites. Sometimes it is best to ask an experienced member of the party where they think the best camp might be.
-Try not to camp on top of other parties which might be in the area, occasionally skill up and EXP areas can overlap, use your best judgement when others are present.
-Look up the mobs you will be fighting, there’s a great database on this site and many others. Know your enemy before you fight.
-Do try and setup skillchains with your party members if the situation warrants it, nothing beats a fusion skillchain on skeletons for example.
-Always take some means of getting home with you, there’s not always going to be a WHM or BLM in a skill up party who can ferry you back.
Loot and Etiquette
The time will come in your party when and item drops that one, or many of you will want. Here are some pointers to make distribution a conflict free process.
-The golden rule: Never, ever lot unless the party leader has specified it’s OK to do so. If you are leading the party be very clear with your instructions on when to lot and who can lot on items that drop.
-If you are the leader it is up to you how you want to run the lotting system in the party. Generally I allow free lots on keys that drop, but I wouldn’t be too upset if the person who has gone to the effort of putting together the party wanted the right to obtain the first coffer key if more than one is desired.
-If you are after an item and joining a party, let the party leader know what you want when you first join up, this way it can be established early who is after what.
-It is generally accepted that if anyone is after an item besides a coffer key and is going to actively make use of the item, not just sell it, then they should be allowed to obtain it. Good examples of these are Ancient Magic and high level scrolls/songs for BLM, WHM and BRD.
-If you have obtained an item or coffer key in the party then courtesy dictates that you withhold from lotting on other items after you have acquired it.
-Party members are not obliged to help you find a coffer if you get the coffer key drop. Do not insist that people help you find coffer spawn points. If you know that a coffer is nearby then by all means feel free to run off and get it, but it is very bad form to leave your skill up party for a coffer hunt elsewhere right after you have your key drop.
-Final Fantasy Altas has very good maps with overlays of coffer spawn points, all but a couple of the coffers can be found by exploring with stealth on your own. Garliage Citadel, Eldieme Necropolis and Davoi are the only zones that spring to mind where you'll need help to get to the spawn points. LS folk are generally open to helping with these tasks.
Let's go home guys
Well, I think that about wraps it up, if anyone has any information and feedback to add please feel free to post.
In the meantime, happy skill ups and good luck with getting those drops!
-Blowfin
Alexander Server
BLM66/WHM33
Added note suggested by HumeSam
Added notes suggested by Lylia
Added notes suggest by Nibini
Fixed typos and misc.
Added map information
Added links to skillup charts
Added another skill chart
Edited, Fri Feb 10 00:55:24 2006 by blowfin