Choosing the best party to start with in Final Fantasy 1 involves balancing fighting ability, offensive magic, and curative magic. Here are some of the most recommended party setups:

1. **Balanced Setup: Warrior / Black Mage / Thief / White Mage**
This party is extremely balanced and provides a rounded selection of weapons and armor. The White Mage helps keep them alive longer by being less targeted by enemies, which is crucial for a healer.

2. **Inexpensive Setup: Warrior / Monk / Thief / Red Mage**
This party is very cheap to deck out and can still hold its own in tricky situations. The Thief and Monk have high agility levels, boosting their damage, while the Red Mage can lean towards supportive White Magic while collecting some damaging Black Magic.

3. **Spellcasters Setup: Monk / White Mage / Red Mage / Black Mage**
This party excels at magic, with three different mages providing access to almost every spell in the game. The Monk keeps the overall cost down while being an effective physical damage dealer. However, this party can feel frail, so it’s essential to ensure the Red Mage keeps up with healing spells.

4. **Versatile Setup: Warrior / Red Mage / Red Mage / Black Mage**
This party prizes versatility over everything else and does it at a great price. It provides a tank and backup tank, two healers, and two nukers, making it prepared for any situation.

5. **Traditional Setup: Fighter / Black Belt / White Mage / Black Mage**
This setup is often recommended for its balance and effectiveness. It includes a strong fighter, a black belt for melee combat, a white mage for healing, and a black mage for magic attacks.

6. **Recommended Party for New Players: Warrior, Thief, Red Mage, White Mage**
This party is strong in both the early and late game, offering good healing and a variety of spells. It is recommended for new players due to its balance and versatility.

### Summary
– **Balanced:** Warrior / Black Mage / Thief / White Mage
– **Inexpensive:** Warrior / Monk / Thief / Red Mage
– **Spellcasters:** Monk / White Mage / Red Mage / Black Mage
– **Versatile:** Warrior / Red Mage / Red Mage / Black Mage
– **Traditional:** Fighter / Black Belt / White Mage / Black Mage
– **For New Players:** Warrior, Thief, Red Mage, White Mage

Each of these setups has its strengths and can be effective depending on your playstyle and the challenges you face in the game.