Dawn plays like retail Final Fantasy XI with the ceiling raised. If you have played FFXI before, everything you know still applies. This page covers what is different.
The level cap is 150
Not 75, not 99. Jobs go to 150, and the experience curve past 99 is tuned so that getting there is a matter of weeks rather than months.
Once a job reaches the cap, Master Levels open up. Master levels are earned with Exemplar Points and apply to that job specifically.
Trusts are available immediately
You do not need to grind reputation to unlock the trust system. Call your alliance and go.
Job Points and Merits are raised
- Job Points cap at 2,100 held, rather than the retail 500.
- Merit points cap at 200.
That means far more room to finish a job's gift tiers without hitting an arbitrary wall part-way through.
Where to spend your first evening
- Pick a job and get it moving. Experience rates are generous below 99.
- Talk to the Chronicler — the questline is the intended on-ramp to Dawn's custom content and hands out useful gear along the way.
- Take a look at the Daily Hunt. It gives you a target, a reason to travel, and points that accumulate toward rewards.
- If it is the weekend, see below.
The weekend campaign
From Friday 19:00 to Monday 19:00, Dawn runs an experience campaign with double Exemplar Points alongside it. If your play time is limited, this is when to spend it.
Getting help
Nobody expects you to know where anything is. Ask — the population is small enough that questions get answered.