LINKS
Here are quite a few websites that I personally find useful along with descriptions of why I use them.
I hope you find these links as helpful as I do! -Gomek
General
History of Vana'diel - I read up to the return of the Shadow Lord, and it's helped me understand things in missions and quests. It really makes the storyline more enjoyable! You probably shouldn't read too far, though, because there are spoilers!
Vana'diel Tribune - This usually has some good info in it. It's definitely worth reading whenever a new issue is released.
PlayOnline - POL main site. Contains update info, maintenance times, etc.
Allakhazam - The forums here are full of good pointers. Also has good guides for missions, quests, etc.
FFXI Somepage - From what I can tell, this site is the quickest to update its huge database of weapons, quests, and items.
FFXI MysteryTour - Database of just about everything FFXI.
FFXI GameFAQs - Some of the guides might be out of date, but there is still some good information in a few of these.
Vana'diel Timer - Quite handy.
Killing Ifrit - Yet another database of FFXI info; similar to Allakhazam.
Vana'diel Atlas - All the maps of Vana'diel including some NM spawns and such.
Crafting-Related
FFXI Somepage Food List - Most up-to-date and complete list of food effects. I use this site to look up the effects of a certain food when I need to.
FirebirdJim's Food List - Created right after the Dec. 8th patch that reformed foods, but I love the way that it's organized. The foods are organized into good categories, and the meat dishes are sorted by their cap. I use this one to determine what meat is appropriate for my level, usually. I use this one to determine what food I want to use more often than I use list #1.
Crafting Timer - This webpage was created to help determine your chances at a skillup. Keep in mind that the formula behind this calculator is based completely off of speculation. There isn't any proof behind its validity at all, but it's still very nice to have something to point you in the right direction. I really am not even sure whether or not there is any truth behind directional synthing or not, but I follow it anyway because it doesn't take very long to turn my character in a certain direction (better safe than sorry).
Guid Point Items - Lists the possible items that will be required to turn in for Guild Points.
Effect of Day on Synths - Like the Crafting Timer link, this one is based off of pure speculation. This link sort of contradicts the popular "Lighsday for success, Darksday for HQ/skillup" theory, but there isn't any proof behind either theory, and I really don't see a significant increase in HQ on Darksday anyway. I personally find this post to be pretty accurate.
HELM Points - Useful maps for those of you that Harvest, Excavate, Log, or Mine.
Fishing Database - The best fishing database out there. Unfortunately it hasn't been updated in ages Take the fish prices and the rod strengths with a grain of salt!
Fishing Forum - A very nice fishing forum.
Pikko's Pots - A nice site about gardening.
Battle-Related
Campsites - Great reference for finding a camp to hunt monsters.
BST Campsites - Leveling areas for those of us who are Beastmasters.
Monsters - It's in Japanese, but with a little bit of effort you can find any information about any monster you want.
FFXI Skill Capture - Tables of what jobs are good with what weapons.
Weapon Skills - Table containing information on all of the weapon skills.
Experience Rules - Rules concerning the experience gained by parties.
Farming Guide - Oh, no! A guide to secret farming areas!
Renkei Chart - Aden's printable renkei (skillchain) chart.
Programs
Windower - Well, I've been using this one since version 2.1. All it did back then was put FFXI in a Window. Since then, plugins have been added. Despite these plugins, this program is my favorite utility out there. For those of you that question the "morality" of the windower (is like using a bot?), it doesn't give the user any advantage that a second computer or laptop wouldn't give unless you use the plugins. If you disagree with the plugins, just disable them.
Log Parser - Doesn't break the ToS in any way. This looks at the temporary log files stored on your hard drive and tells you how much damage each person does. Keep in mind that numbers aren't always spot-on, though. Debuffs such as Frost that are cast by a Black Mage, for example, are not taken into account, but they allow much more damage to be done!
Vana'diel Clock Extension - If you use Firefox, this is quite a nifty little tool. I usually have Firefox running behind FFXI, and this thing gives me a clock in the corner. It gives you Ballista times, Airship times, the current moon phase and day, etc. Firefox rules, too, by the way.
POL Utils - Eh, I just got this thing for the macro editor. I made a macro that had a musical eighth note in it. Some of you might find it more useful than I did, though.
Videos