time for mahjong

Okay, so I finally did it! After a bit of gentle persuasion (or, let's be honest, forcing them a little), I got my Free Company buddies to sit down and try Doman Mahjong in FFXIV. And guess what? They loved it! If you've been wanting to introduce your friends to play mahjong within Eorzea, but weren't sure where to start, you're in the right place. First things first, how do you even get a game going? You'll want to head to the Gold Saucer. If you've unlocked Doman Mahjong (by completing the 'Mahjong, My Love' quest in the Gold Saucer), you can access the Mahjong tables. To play with specific *friends*, you'll need to create a custom match. Just select 'Custom Match' from the Mahjong menu, set up a room, and invite your pals. Make sure you decide on the ruleset beforehand – whether you want red fives, specific dora settings, etc. It's a fantastic way to hang out and try something different from raiding or duty queues. For those who are completely new, Doman Mahjong is essentially Riichi Mahjong. Your goal is to form four sets (melds) and one pair using your 14 tiles. Sets can be three identical tiles (pon) or three consecutive tiles of the same suit (chi). The game involves drawing and discarding tiles, calling 'Riichi' when you're one tile away from winning, and trying to 'Tsumo' (self-draw a winning tile) or 'Ron' (win off an opponent's discard). Don't be intimidated; there are in-game tutorials, and plenty of online resources to help you learn the ropes. The key is just to jump in and start *playing mahjong*! A good tip for new players is to focus on simple hands first, like All Simples (Tanyao) or Pinfu, before trying to chase the big, rare hands. Now, let's talk about the big one: the 13 Orphans, or Kokushi Musou! This is one of the rarest and most coveted Yaku (winning hands) in Riichi Mahjong, and certainly in Doman Mahjong. To achieve it, you need to collect one of each of the 13 unique 'terminal' and 'honor' tiles (the 1s and 9s of Bamboo, Characters, and Dots suits, AND all seven wind and dragon tiles). On top of those 13 unique tiles, you need a duplicate of any one of them to complete your pair and win. It's an incredibly difficult hand to get, often requiring you to hold onto these specific tiles from the very beginning of the game, even if it means discarding what might otherwise be good merges. While you can't actively force the tiles to come your way, recognizing the early signs of a potential 13 Orphans hand means you might want to pivot your strategy. It’s a huge thrill when you see it taking shape! I've only gotten it a couple of times, but the feeling is incredible. It’s a true 'all or nothing' hand, as it doesn't score any points unless it's completed, but when it does, it's a massive win! The in-game Mahjong log can also be really helpful for reviewing your games and learning from your mistakes. So next time you're looking for something fun to do in FFXIV, why not gather your *friends to play mahjong*? It's a fantastic way to engage with the game's social side, challenge your mind, and maybe, just maybe, you'll be the one to declare 13 Orphans!