Verified answer

Elvaans have the highest strength and excel in melee damage dealing classes. Warriors are all about doing damage, although sometimes tank (keep the monster focused on them instead of letting them beat up other players) early game.

However, they do have low accuracy. You'll be looking for alot of gear with +dex and +acc on it as an elvaan.

Warriors best weapon is a great axe, second best is a one handed axe; you'll start with a sword, but should grab a great axe as soon as you can (and a one handed axe if you want; war/nins can and often will dual wield single handed axes).

It's been a while since I played, but if the basics are still true then here goes...

First, it's always best to play what appeals to you.

The reality is that people online will be annoying if you don't tweak your race/job combination for maximum benefit. If that doesn't bother you, go for it. You can train in whatever job you want.

Unlike other RPGs you are not locked into a certain class. In FFXI you can switch jobs at any time to a standard job, or an advanced job that you unlock with a quest. Each job you switch to has independent experience levels though. If you decide at level 17 you hate one class, you can switch to another, and start out at level 1. You don't lose the levels of your old class, and you can switch back in your Mog house at any time.

In fact some people switch to low level jobs just for farming crystals in certain areas since the drop rate decreases when you are high level.

Elvaan can play any job, but there may be another race that can play it with less hassle like Hume or Galka. Perhaps not too noticeable in the lowest levels, but may be more of a disadvantage as you advance towards the end game.

PS: They may have made more race/job balancing adjustments since I last played.