Newbie LF info on FF14 PvP

So... here are a few questions!
What's PvP like in Final Fantasy XIV ?
How hard is it to be competitive ?
How balanced is the game ?

Your answer will likely help me make a final decision on whether or not I'll buy the game once my 14days trial is over.
Thank you very much!

I can't go into much detail as I haven't done more than try it out a couple times, but if it's the main feature determining if you'd want to buy the game or not, I'm guessing probably not. It's a sideline, minor feature of the game that most players don't use (at least not with any regularity). And that seems to be its biggest problem. There are just too few people taking part, so actually getting a full group (both for your own side and your opponents') takes too long.

There's Wolves Den, a 4 on 4 fight for level 30, 40, or 50, and Frontline, a larger PvP battle with three teams of up to 24 players each, for players level 50 or 60. There are wikis with basic info on how it's structured, but I can't tell you things like how hard it is to be competitive as I'm not competitive myself.
http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Ca..._Versus_Player
http://www.ffxivinfo.com/content/pvp.php

If your decision is based on PvP, I would tell you to not buy this game even if I don't like losing potential player.

I have played about 400 games of frontlines (mass pvp, kinda) and I love it.
Frontlines are at these moment 3 maps, which are 24v24v24 or 8v8v8, one is about defending and capturing outpost, one is about deathmatch and one is about capturing and defending randomly spawing points (and there is a lot of group pvp).
It is fun when you go in as a full party, which is possible on bigger servers because they have PvP linkshells, but it is also a lot of fun if you go in solo.

Wolves Den isn't actually worth doing as no one does it, but they are planing to rewamp it soon.

Problem with PvP here is, that it is only an addition to PvE game, that's what FFXIV is. You have 50 ranks, you have beautiful PvP gear that is unfortunately usable only for glamours and you have a few skills that are kinda useful in PvP and that's it. Except a few achievements with 2 mounts there is no reason to spend a lot of time in PvP except entertainment. There is no real progression. There is some kind of ranking on lodestone but it is not really impressive.

I have been PvP oriented player for years, spent lots of time in GW1 and GW2 but I have found my challenge here in PvE content as raids and PvP serves only as a fun when I am bored.
So if you are looking for a game with viable PvP, I am afraid that this isn't it.

EDIT: Not competitive, not balanced.

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Originally Posted by NinjaScroll

So... here are a few questions!
What's PvP like in Final Fantasy XIV ?
How hard is it to be competitive ?
How balanced is the game ?

Your answer will likely help me make a final decision on whether or not I'll buy the game once my 14days trial is over.
Thank you very much!

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All active pvp uses equalized gears, or more accurately, very low ilvl caps. Theres no gear carrying, if that is what you are looking for/not looking for.

Pretty much what Strejda said. I also did play around 600 pvp matches so far. Frontlines can be funny at some times, but overall pvp isnt good in FF14. Its unbalanced as hell, some game modes just feel like the devs did develop them in one day, overall pvp gear doesnt make sense and pve gear is often best in slot for pvp. Nobody wants it, but square still splits the player base in 3 factions. Lucky when your grand company dominates your data centre so you can win whole day long, but if your unlucky and you start the game on a weaker grand company, then your doomed with looses the whole day. People telling square thats shit but they dont listen. People telling square other things that could be done to pvp in order to make it WAY better but they dont listen.

Even if i dont like to scare you away, but better dont buy it when you want to play pvp.