When my 2nd kid was born it forced me to take a couple months off from XI. I was too busy, sleep schedules weren't solidified, etc. I still only get to play after the kids go to bed and I gotta say, as much as I love XI and loved my time on Nasomi, by the time I could get on and was ready to play (9/9:30 server) most people were already in parties so it was slim pickings trying to start one and, worse, guild events were already at least an hour underway. I always check the forums wanting to come back but know that Ill be in the same position still. Never could find an active LS to join that started when I could be on, and I think that's the real key.

I went the BST route many suggest and while BST was my first love back in the retail day, I definitely regret not spending that time on basically any other class that people actually want for things, lol. Go the BRD route and get groups. On days where you're short on time, just go fishing/crafting/etc. Better yet, if you're able to be on at a regular time, maybe look to find some others to get a full or partial static going so that you can make the most of that hour/two.

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~~Guedj~~
WAR37 MNK10 WHM38 BLM61
RDM18 THF63 PLD15 COR24
BST75 BRD46 RNG12 SAM71
NIN37 DRG60 SMN70 BLU15
DRK0 PUP0

I'm gonna go ahead and say if you're not sure if you have enough time to play, you probably don't have enough time to play. Three to four hours every other day is fine for a while, but there'll come a point where just doing events with your LS is going to eat that up, leaving no time for farming or other things. Having only a couple of hours per day just isn't going to cut it beyond a casual experience.

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The universe is so large that, if life is not rare, a world much like Vanadiel probably exists out there somewhere.

run

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I have played 2-4 hours per week, for the past 2.5-3 years. I still have 0 jobs at 75, and guess what! I am totally fine with it! I play with RL friends on Sundays for like 2 hours at a time, maybe twice a month. My wife and I will play doing some punctual things like NM camping or farming maybe 1-2 more hours per month together. I have a 70 RNG (Done leveling because of the Nerf, no matter what the naysayers say), a 69 COR, 46 NIN, 45 WAR. I have had a good time and enjoyed the content slowly and I now have multiple crafts at 60+.

Every nerd in your life and your linkshell will tell you to get to 75 and hurry up, but they can hurry up onto a ledge and jump off. Play at your own pace, enjoy what you enjoy about the game, and for god's sake ignore the 1337ers on the server. They literally mean nothing because they are such a small population.

Have fun!