What's your Grand Company and why you choose it?

I choose Immortal Flames.

I love desertic environments, so Ul'dah was my first choice.
When I listened to all the speeches, the Admiral nearly won me over, I really liked her speech, and her character too is cool. But Ul'dah the gem of the desert is in my heart, also I like Raubahn way of thinking.

Also I am not very fond of nautical settings, Limsa is surely beautiful and the admiral is someone I would respect , but for me Ul'dah is the best of the three city states, and the Sultana really do care for her people and obviously Raubahn is dedicated, so By Fire Reborn.

Maelstrom:

My character's story, Kar'ti Elmnyra, begins in Ul'dah. It isn't until the slaying of the mighty Ifrit (I really wish it actually was a 1v1 like the story says) that she was the new top choice for recruiters. After taking heavy consideration in which nations needed the most aid, the choice was Limsa Lominsa. In Thanalan, Ifrit has been slain. While there are still Amal'jaa and crimes a plenty, one serious threat has been extinguished for the time being. In the Black Shroud, the Ixil are an issue. And while they must face the potential uprising of Ramuh as well, Gridania has at least a small allegiance with the Sylphs. But in La Noscea, there are not only the threats of pirates, but also the Sahagins (who are moving uncomfortably close to Lominsa's borders), the Kobolds, and the Garlean base set up just north of Wineport.

While it was clear that every nation had pressing issue, Limsa Lominsa seemed to likely be the first to cave, should it not receive more aid. I will likely transfer GC's later though, as more of the story unravels.

Maelstorm

Merlwyb

Enough said. Lol seriously though, I joined the grand company because of her alone. And I like having my character wear red and black stuff.

I went with Twin Adders. My reason being I like the Seedseer the best of the 3 cities leaders and I really hate Ul'dah as a zone (desert zones make me zzzzzzzzz). Maelstrom has a really cool name but I don't like the leader.

This is how i chose my grand company.

Twin Adders : I don't like the name. I like the background and it fits my character pretty well. I think Gridania looks ridiculous as a city.
Immortal Flames : The name is ok. The background is fine, but in contradiction with my character's nature since he's not much of a fight-lover. Ul'dah looks cool.
Maelstrom : Best name out there. Boring background story in my opinion (plus i really don't see my character as some kind of pirate). Limsa is definitely the coolest city ever.

In the end i chose Immortal Flames. The city and the name are good, and since the background story doesn't really fit my character, i though it would actually create a better, more complex roleplay. For example if i chose the Twin Adders, i would have fallen into this whole "nature loving mage" cliché and it wouldn't be as interesting.

The Maelstrom because to me it captures the essence of what I love about being an adventurer - freedom.

The Twin Adders/Gridania is too focused on a set school of thought resulting in a myriad set of rules and regulations while Ul'dah and the Immortal Flames are too focused on making money and acquiring material objects. Limsa Lominsa and the Maelstrom is about doing what you want, how you want and going where you want, all embodied by the freedom of the open seas. For me in-game, it equates to traveling anywhere helping everyone as I see fit. I don't need to ask the elementals for approval before doing anything, and I don't help people for the money. Now sure, this freedom often results in awesome law-breaking punk pirates, but the Maelstrom rules the unruly through the badassery of Merlwyb.

Also, besides Limsa being my home, Merlwyb/pirates with boobs, and the imo the best colors (black/red), we've also got Y'shtola, my favorite Archon!

Immortal flames.

I don't like Gird and I don't like Merlwyb. Also flame gear suits me.

Mael
strom

I hate the Grand Companies.

You have Merlwyb, who can't even control all her troops. Absolutely no brains. ALWAYS RUNS AWAY (1.0 and first to issue the retreat in 2.0 flash back)

You have Raubant, who also can't control his people, and has no real power along with the Sultana.

And Kan-a-senna, persuades people to do things with cheap talk and crappt magic fireworks.

All three of them had terrible inspiring speeches. None of them fight and what little fighting they do is so pointless and against traitors. I had to pick a company cause the game made me.

What I expect from a leader:
All I can offer is this guy right here: Valaineral R Davilles
A San'dorian Campaign general.

This guy takes on whole troops of enemies plus their leaders. He's in the battlefield with his men, not sitting on a cliff doing nothing, and watches a shadowy figure going "duh" like these 3 losers company leaders.

Reasons Why I Joined Maelstrom:

1. The Uniforms look amazing. People are worried about stats but honestly, there's better gears out there and you get them almost immediately. Plus Vanity Slots will come out and you can wear your Uniform without messing up your stats.
2. The Maelstrom's speech was the best one. Ul'dah was just plain annoying and Twin Adder kept talking about the past and felt weak. (The old speech, someone threw an axe at her and she threw it back.)
3. The commander has big boobies and is a woman.
4. Limsa Lominsa is free and open world ish. Gridania seems small and squished. Ul'dah doesn't seem as appealing.
5. I'm in a guild called Fairy Tail and Limsa Lominsa seems to fit it perfectly.
6. It has both Armorer and Blacksmith in Limsa Lominsa, great place if you're a tank like I am.
7. I love Pirates! Haha being called a Pirate is awesome, especially if you're a fan of FFXII.