GameplayNot much to change here except music and effects volume for when we get a Ventrilo server up and running! For Inventory Sort, set it to Auto or you'll be in/out of your Inv a lot sorting it manually so you don't lose or miss out on drops!
Chat FiltersThese are only a suggestion, but to help with reducing your chat log being spammed with unnecessary lines turn the marked ones "ON". In another menu we'll be setting all combat Damage and Healing to display as #'s over characters/monsters on-screen instead of in the chat log! If we/you ever get into battle with multiple parties around, you'll want to turn the Special Actions by Others/Allies/NPCs to "ON" or you'll be spammed with tons of data! Two new options from the Nov '09 Update have been added to the bottom to not allow /tells or /Shouts to appear if they are judged to contain certain words that are spam. Sweet!
Font Colors: ChatThese are my recommended colors! Up too if you wish to use these or choose your own...
Font Colors: Self & OthersYou can set these the same as they will be the colors for the #'s popping up on screen! Don't need to set resist or evade since we have those turned off in filters...you won't see them!
Font Colors: SystemSince I set NPC chat to yellow, I added some red to spells to make it stand out when talking to NPCs and casting spells...etc Also made the player craft skill a slightly brighter color...this is the color you'll see pop up in chat whenever you gain a lvl, earn a 0.1-0.5 skill point, craft an item, see another player craft an item...etc!
Window SettingsSet these to whatever you like, but keep Reactive "ON", Max Lines is how many lines tall your chat box will be while playing, Min is how many are displayed while everything is idle ~ 0 means no chat box will be shown while chat is idle in the vicinity,
{clear each line by pressing ESC.} Window background #4 is the dark one you see I'm using...I find that one the best to use with the font colors I posted ^above^.
MiscLike I mentioned above, set your battle display to "Screen" This way all damage dealt & received as well as all beneficial effects like healing and buffs will appear on-screen above your character or the monster instead of the chat box. I highly advise you do this or your chat box will flood with info during fights and it'll fly by so fast in a party you won't be able to read it!
Choosing to show your character info is at your discretion and is like typing /anon, other players can still check your gear, but it won't say what job and lvl you are, and this also hides your info when doing searches on players....I'd advise you keep this as "Show" for now especially if you want to be found when seeking for a party!
Shadows, Weather Effects and Character Models will be based on how well your PC can run FFXI! Set them as you like...
Misc. 2Similar to Misc, set these as they see fit to your PC's specifications. Compact Keyboard will change controls to a WASD style
{good for laptop users} instead of the standard numpad & arrow keys control.
{which I prefer...}EffectsUnless you have a really old PC, then leave all of these as is in the "OFF" setting. They are the graphical effects and animations for spells, weapon skills, job abilities...etc! You'll want to see these, as later on you'll start see some really impressive ones and its really neat seeing everything going off during intense battles!
Mouse/CameraSet these per your own preferences, but if you are a Numpad & Arrow Keys user I'd advise you turn Screen-Edge Panning to "OFF" We'll all end up grabbing the mouse from time to time when we go to tab out and check things online or accidentally bumping it, and if ya do with this on, when the arrow hits the edges of the screen it'll start panning or spinning the camera violently sometimes...not a good thing to have happen when in an intense fight!!
GlobalLanguage Filter I prefer off, cause when and if a curse word happens, I'd rather see it than a bunch of **** for its full effect...hehe I'd turn Auto-Disconnect to "OFF" cause if you ever plan to open a Bazaar you can leave the game running overnight or if you go AFK for an extended period without fear of being kicked off, unless your ISP decided to be a jerk that night and kick you off...hehe