Gameplay at later levels, my thoughts as a noob and some noob questions

Hello all!

I have been waiting to get FFXIV for a couple of weeks and it finally arrived, I have been reading forums and such in the mean time so I think I have a handle on what's going on but if anything I say is wrong please do correct me.

So, I'll start off with my main questions then:

1) Where does everybody hang out? People used to hang out in Jeuno in FFXI then moved onto to Whitegate.

2) What sort of actual 'content' is there for groups of people (or even duo/trio)? I'm talking things for example from FFXI like Ballista at 20cap, BCNM's, Garrison, NM camping and I'm sure I'm missing other stuff out too (obv in the first year it's unlikely to have content like Salvage/KSMN/Expansions etc).

3) What is there currently to do at end game (excluding new instances coming to 1.18)?

It just seems like FFXI websites had all these sections for what you wanted to do... and FFXIV websites don't really seem to have anything. Is there really just such a lack of content?

My main surprise with the game is the amount of fundamental game mechanics that were in FFXI that are missing. I am quite surprised that a company running an MMO for what 10 years? managed to release FFXIV in the state it is.

I don't understand how they thought the game would work well without an auction house or some kind of alternative NPC-shop system in place. Right now I have started off in Gridania and it's pretty barron. So how do I get new armour (I tried the Lotus Gate place where people keep their retainers... one guy selling shoes...) I understand the concept behind the crafting system and the attempt to have the economy as social as possible - why have an AH when everyone can buy from everyone else? But I don't think it works at all.

I am quite disappointed but I will play for a few weeks, I want to be a part of FFXIV as it gets better, only time will tell if that comes soon enough.

Do you think people compare the game to FFXI too much? Or should it be fair to be compared to a pre-predecessors?

1.) Uldah.

2.) Leves (which can be easy or hard depending how many stars you set them to), Grinding (easy or hard), Side Quests (easy), R35NMs (easy or hard depending on your level), R50+NMs (easy or hard), Behest (if done at the camps where no one goes, its easy to find one to duo/trio without strangers).

3.) Help lowbies fight the R35NMs. Faction Leves. 50+ World NMs. Regular Leves (to get faction points). Zerging things like R90 goblins or, if you prefer, attempting to kill them "legit" like. Coming soon are the Dungeon Raids, encampments, companies, etc. There have been rumors of hamlet defense eventually, and large scale PvE way down the line.

Thanks for the reply, I'm glad there's some cool stuff I never heard of to look forward too =D!

I will level up a bit and try and make my way to Uldah then, think that needs some research :cool:

Yeah what he said is totally legit. You're best bet at finding people is going to be Uldah since the r20+ main storyline takes everyone to Uldah, and it converges into one storyline. So we just all ended up there. On every server lol. They said once the battle adjustments and stuff come out they will begin to work on Ishgard (xiv jeuno), so look for that down the road hopefully before large scale pve

Cool, I am slowly making my way through the storyline and stuff so I will probably just wait until the story takes me there then instead of making my way there before.

Thanks