Question for the Devs, please; what City or Class makes the most sense for the Xaela?

So, I've posted here in the past, and I'm sure some of you probably remember. Long-story short; I have OCD (actually diagnosed), and as much as I *LOVE* FFXIV, I've had a hard time really committing to the game since Heavensward came out, because I'm trying to decide which Class and/or City "fits" best for my Xaela to start out as.

I realize that Xaela were always kind of intended to become Dark Knights, but that still leaves the hiccup of determining where to start. With most Races and Clans, you can see their cultures kind of gravitate towards certain classes or cities, or at least general regions. The Xaela, on the other hand, are still largely kind of a mystery, as are the Raen for that matter.

What is the Xaela culture like? Would they gravitate more toward Ul'dah, as Gladiators and Paladins? Or more towards Limsa Lominsa, as Marauders and Warriors?

Obviously, the creative role-player can come up with a reason to make anything work. I also realize that none of these options will ever fit *PERFECTLY* for the Xaela, as they don't technically exist on Eorzea until much later in the game's story. Again, though, I'm just looking for what fits *BEST*, and thus far, I've been unable to reach any sort of conclusion.

I'm not asking for some officiall, definitive "Well, all Xaela would naturally start here", so much as as a vote of support like "We think this city or class probably resonates the most with the Xaela culture". As simple as it may sound, that alone would completely settle my mind, and let me finally get on with actually playing my character and enjoying the full scope of the game!

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Originally Posted by Terin

What is the Xaela culture like? Would they gravitate more toward Ul'dah, as Gladiators and Paladins? Or more towards Limsa Lominsa, as Marauders and Warriors?

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http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post3039574

Read about their tribes. They're all over the place.

True, but it's still sort of the same deal; there's nothing really indicative of which Class or City they might favor. There's one Tribe that references Ishgard, but since we can't start there, it doesn't much help with the initial decision.

Probably, Doma. The Au Ra comes from out of Eorzea, form the Othar continent. Doma is a city state in this continent. Au Ra are based on Asian culture (japanese and mongolian). Cities from Eorzea are not their homeland. So, probably, this means the Samurai class or ninja, since they come from than land (Yugiri (Raen) is a ninja, so, maybe Xaela are Samurais). The Dark Knigh in fact suits them, but I don't remember now the origin of the Dark Knight (maybe it is ishgard).

But, Doma is no in the game yet (maybe in the future) and you can choose only between the first three cities as your city state.

Maybe you choice could be ninja and Limsa Lomisa. As Yugiri and their ninjas stablisehd his first guild here (no samurai yet, but maybe in the future...).

The Au Ra in the little ladies day event was from a merchant family that came to Ul'dah so that might be a good place to start?

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Originally Posted by ChandraNoctis

The Au Ra in the little ladies day event was from a merchant family that came to Ul'dah so that might be a good place to start?

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Indeed. "What is the reason for your character coming to the city?" I think is the most important factor in determining which city to pick. I picked Ul'dah for the reason of trade. Of course, the other cities could work just as well for that. But Ul'dah seemed like the place to go if I wanted to make it big.

I'd say limsa.

You're character had some sort of a massive fight with the rest of their family, got sick and tired of all the crap they put ypu through, and hopped on the next boat out of the country and added up in a port city across the ocean. Now you're free to follow the path you wanted to instead of what your family wanted you to do.

With a back story like that, it opens you up to play whatever role you want.

It sounds like you want your character's backstory to include your starting city as well, so... Mine may/may not be a stretch due to lore reasons (I haven't had someone proofread it yet ;; ), but here's how I fit things in:

My character's tribe was one of those that was defeated and absorbed by the Jhungid tribe. In an attempt to save their daughter from being forced into war against their rival tribe, the Kharlu, her parents entrusted her care to a small group of merchants, which was to traverse from the eastern coastlands to the colony of Sharlayan. She was only an infant at this time, unnamed and with no record of her past. When at last the merchant group arrived at their final destination, they actually ended up attempting to sell her as a servant. The buyer ended up being from a very small family of a forgotten tribe of Keepers of the Moon: and that family happened to be particularly adept in the field of Sharlayan astrology. They gave her her first name, as well as their clan name. (My character actually started as a Miqo'te and I had to think of a way to make the name still work, so... ;;;; ) They regarded her as being blessed by Nymeia for having safely made it all this way and for having fallen into their hands rather than the hands of someone who would use her as a slave. Naturally, they began to teach her Sharlayan astrology... and it became apparent that she had an incredible talent for harnessing the powers of celestial aether. As her power grew, it eventually caught the attention of the Forum, which began to show concern at the fact that such a young Astrologian could harness the power that she could. Eventually, they set out to apprehend her. Worried what might happen to her at the hands of the Forum, her family, when she was around 7 years old, made the painful decision to send her off again with a group of merchants: this time to Ishgard. This time, they sent with her a letter that she was to serve as an assistant at Ishgard's Athenaeum Astrologicum (a place with which the family had plenty of friendly and scholarly correspondences), and that, due to "safety concerns", she was to wear the masked, hooded cloaks she was sent with at all times. (A being with horns and scales in Ishgard, especially the Pillars would, after all, prove problematic.) She lived here the remainder of her childhood, until shortly after the Calamity, when increased activity from the dragons put the city on high alert. Word got out among the High Houses (which, of course, eventually reached the Heavens' Ward) that there was a "child of sin" among them, and a witch hunt began. With the aid of the only friend she was able to make throughout her stay there and yet another merchant's carriage that was arranged for her, she was forced to flee into the night, seeking refuge in Gridania. She continued to study Sharlayan astrology and practice it in secret, while aiding the Conjurer's guild and learning the arts of conjury herself.

Aaaand that's about as condensed of a version as I can get it. ;;;; It's a lot longer and more complicated than that, but that's the gist of it. To be honest, a lot of me trying to figure out her backstory was built around me trying to fit the things I had imagined for her in with what the game presented. Still a lot of tweaking to be done, but I feel like the rough outline there MIGHT be solid enough. ;;;;

So yeah. I started in Gridania as a WHM intending to main AST, and that's how I managed to (sort of) make it work. ;;;; You might actually have better luck if you request that this thread be moved to the Lore forums. Not that this was a bad place to ask this question, but you'll probably find a lot better insight there.

Which city makes the most sense entirely depends on your character itsself.
You come from outside of Eorzea, so think about how/why you came here. By ship always makes sense, just the way the Domans who are also from Othard did as well.
If you came by land instead, Gridania probably makes more sense, as it is the closest to the northeastern continent which you'd have to cross.
With airships, pretty much anything goes.
Are you a fleeing refugee with nothing left but their clothes, or someone wealthy who came to Eorzea for his trades (so maybe start in Ul'dah instead)? Although this is probably the least likely for a Xeala.
As for guilds: the same. We know there are mage Xeala, physical fighters, etc.; so anything goes. It's like asking "Which weapon is a Hyur most likely to use?"..any. Any, is the answer.

I dunno, I feel like most races, besides Hyur, generally gravitate towards certain cities. Miqo'te, for example, only have their own settlements in Thanalan, so Ul'dah makes a little more sense than the others, to me. Elezen are generally more grounded near Gridania, while Sea Wolves are definitely bound to Limsa Lominsa (Hellsguard strike me as being drawn more towards Ul'dah).

I suppose my thinking is that, Yoshi-P has said before that he thinks the Dark Knight really fits the Au Ra, so I just wonder if maybe there has been any indication that the Au Ra -- Xaela, specifically -- would be more welcome in one city than another? Or for that matter, if Xaela should start in Ul'dah, just to further drive the "event" of 2.55, which might push them further towards becoming a Dark Knight?