Downloading the Game

[Economizer]

Is the client I'm downloading right now not going to work with my old account? Is it going to evaporate after 14 days? Whats the issue here?

Quite the pain really, but the free trial download is just the game, but without any of the expansions, as far as I know.

For downloading everything, your only options are to buy the game and all the expansions (which is worth it, because it is cheaper to buy a new copy, apply it to an old account, then to buy expansions separately) from a place that offers digital download, like SE's website, or Steam. It's that or borrow a disk from a friend, or break some of SE's rules (I'm not sure if it is the EULA or the ToS here) and get it from some website's download of the game and hope there is no malware hidden in the download.

Honestly, if you're missing Abyssea ($30 for all three parts) or just want the cool hat they hand out with the game these days, buy it for $20 and be able to download it. If not, the trial should get you partway there.

[Sines]

Really? I do not get that. What is Squares angle here? FFXI is a product that requires a monthly subscription to enjoy. That subscription fee completely prevents you from pirating the game. There's a reason I don't have to buy a new graphics card when I lose the driver disk.

*sigh*

Still, I do not have Abyssea, so I wouldn't be paying for something I already have, but it's still the principle of the thing, y'know? It's a lot like FFXI itself. Never provide assistance to the player, or anything that would make his life easier. Still, this is pretty bad marketing, especially since I had to look for an hour before I found the free trial even exists. If this were any other game, I'd have long since given up.

For reference, is it possible to buy a physical copy and attach it to Steam or Squenix, so I can have a physical disc (my apartment is not a great place to download large files), and then be able to download it online at a later date, should I misplace the CD? I don't think any new expansions will be coming out (correct me if I'm wrong) and if I lose a disc with Abyssea on it, I really would have to buy a game I already own.

Also, what does Abyssea actually bring to the game? I think I stopped playing around the time it started coming out, and I think it was all post 75 material. Which is further on in the game than I would probably have ever gotten to. Aht Urgan and Wings of the Goddess both brought in new classes (including my much beloved PUP and SCH), so even though I didn't make much use of their content, I still enjoyed them. I didn't get the idea that that was the case for Abyssea, that there was anything to enjoy before level 70. But again, that was a long time ago for me and it wasn't even actually out then, so I could be wrong.

[Economizer]

Also, what does Abyssea actually bring to the game? I think I stopped playing around the time it started coming out, and I think it was all post 75 material.

Abyssea has a separate but small storyline. As others mentioned, it has a ton of armor, and grants you access to getting the Empyrean weapons. But you should get it now if you plan on playing because entry is restricted based on time, which you can build up from the second you are a level 30 by doing the prerequisite quest, even if you never go there again until you are a level 70.

You didn't, I said it would be cheaper and that you would need them anyway.

I know that what SE is doing isn't the best way to get people new to come to the game, especially when it comes to just allowing players to download the thing (like by providing an official torrent like any other company interested in not paying for bandwidth). But it seems every time I try to explain expansion acquisition to new/returning players on the forums it just doesn't connect, even when most of the time the game is on sale for $10~15 instead of the retail price of $20 for multiple expansions that would cost $10 a piece individually (as far as I know, it is still possible, for those that want to throw away their money).