[dev1034] What ARE companies, though?

After reading the post on the lodestone today, almost everyone on a popular MMO discussion website, including myself, are more confused now than ever. Is this a rep grind? Will players not be able to create anything, as once promised before?

I hope we get more info as to what this is because with it sitting like it is now, it is doing more harm than good. I would have preferred if no information was released over the teaser that was released today, as once again, it feels kind of underwhelming (at least with what we are given so far).

Does anyone have any idea?

The lack of information is def a WTF moment.

From what I remember of the original post about 'Public Companies' was that they were supposed to be player run 'Guilds' which, once established could inherit their own head-quarters and airships... That is what I recall.

I also don't recall SE releaseing any more information about it other than changing the name to "Grand Companies of Eorzea". It's mostly players post, if I'm correct, where people are getting the idea that you're joining one of the 3 NPC's Companies. This would be rumor and speculation IMO from those who didn't pay attention to the original topic from SE.

It'd be my guess that those three NPC's would be where one would start a company. Right?

The lack of information from SE other than a picture of the 3 NPC's surely does leave us saying: "Wtf is going on?"

Did the idea of companies change from Player run Guilds, to 3 different Factions? I'm more confused than ever... :'-(

Oh... and on lodestone it says: "Check out the details to better prepare for company content included in patch 1.17.....

Where are the npc's? Been lookin all over limsa... have checked the side quests for a hint... nothing...

If I find something out I'll edit, but gl :\


*EDIT*

So I keep hearing that there are Side-Quests which are related to the 'Grand Companies'... and after talking witha few LS m8's... we think we've found a couple:

Grid - NPC is Kinnison, and its in the middle area on the stretch to CON Guild.
Quest is Called Seeing the Seers. It refers to finding information about the Seedseers.. on the lodestone post about Kan-E-Senna, it mentions that she is a seedseer? Maybe?

When you arrive at the first NPC - Sybell - : **SPOILER**

Sybell: Legends tell of a great Seedseer from that time who formed what came to be called the Grand Companies. Rallied souls from all across the realm, they did, and dragged Eorzea back from the brink. Huh, I bet it'd do the Seers good to see us all banding together like that again...

**END OF SPOILER**

So they really did add some related side quests... I'm reminded of figuring out a puzzle from a console rpg/strategy game to advance to the next level... except - the clues are outside of the game? o.O


Limsa - The NPC is located in the Musketeers Guild... Ill edit with more info once i visit it, LS m8 is a bit focused atm :P

here's my take on it, cause this whole company thing has been bugging me for a while. if you read all the interviews and notes about companies very carefully, you can pick up on some things. First, in an interview, it seemed like there will be 2 different kinds of companies; player run, and public (grand companies). Yoshida-san, i believe, said that private would be held off until there was more content, because having a large group of people to do nothing would be pointless. Grand companies seem to be a faction type system for each nation. Although SE seems to refuse to give ANY real info about this all, which has lead most of the players to believe that this is a guild system, but reading all the very small bits on info made since Yoshida-san came in, it doesn't sound anything like that... but if it is a faction type thing, what will it let us do? i hate that ANY info about that is being withheld. People have drawn a picture of what this should be because of the lack of info, and many may be very angry when it turns into something completely different.

Also the letter from yesterday, if you look closely, does NOT say companies would be released today, it says quests related to companies will be released. Which they have been, they seem to be leading into it... but still giving no real info besides the story and background.

So to SE, please give us something here. Companies have turned into one of the biggest mysteries and points of interest in this game, and have been mentioned since alpha, but in a year's time their release, nor the slightest bit of real info has been given. We are told over and over that they are coming soon, and they will be discussed soon... and it feels like they may actually be released soon but... this month? 6 months? :/ please give us something, its become more irritating than intriguing.

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Originally Posted by Nyaku

here's my take on it, cause this whole company thing has been bugging me for a while. if you read all the interviews and notes about companies very carefully, you can pick up on some things. First, in an interview, it seemed like there will be 2 different kinds of companies; player run, and public (grand companies). Yoshida-san, i believe, said that private would be held off until there was more content, because having a large group of people to do nothing would be pointless. Grand companies seem to be a faction type system for each nation. Although SE seems to refuse to give ANY real info about this all, which has lead most of the players to believe that this is a guild system, but reading all the very small bits on info made since Yoshida-san came in, it doesn't sound anything like that... but if it is a faction type thing, what will it let us do? i hate that ANY info about that is being withheld. People have drawn a picture of what this should be because of the lack of info, and many may be very angry when it turns into something completely different.

Also the letter from yesterday, if you look closely, does NOT say companies would be released today, it says quests related to companies will be released. Which they have been, they seem to be leading into it... but still giving no real info besides the story and background.

So to SE, please give us something here. Companies have turned into one of the biggest mysteries and points of interest in this game, and have been mentioned since alpha, but in a year's time their release, nor the slightest bit of real info has been given. We are told over and over that they are coming soon, and they will be discussed soon... and it feels like they may actually be released soon but... this month? 6 months? :/ please give us something, its become more irritating than intriguing.

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I 100% agree, it seems many of us are on the same page. The "secretive" mindset that once dominated FFXI was OK at the time, but please do not do that this time around, people love to feel in the loop, and a part of what is happening to their current MMO. Hell, I hate to bring this game up... but take a look at WoW. They come up with an idea that they aren't 100% sure about, release the information to the public, and after judging the responses, decide if it needs to be withdrawn or not.

Keep us in the loop!

We don't have the genre of content that companies will be, but we know they look to play big parts in response to the garlean threat. They're hyping companies pretty hard, and this patch introduced their beginnings. It's a lot of text but it's pretty epic beginnings.

Maybe the companies will be all kinds of content, so there's no real description. They just...kindof start them like they just did. Or you just did if you did the quests.

FFXI conquest = companies .

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Originally Posted by Zkieve

FFXI conquest = companies .

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Lol...how should Conquest relate to Companies in any way? Conquest was just a way of "getting Signet at Outposts and Outpost Warps..."

Companies already seem like they are story involved and are a way of joining an "alliance" against the Garlean Empire...to think they are merely a way of conquest as in XI is just ignorant.

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Originally Posted by TirionCrey

Lol...how should Conquest relate to Companies in any way? Conquest was just a way of "getting Signet at Outposts and Outpost Warps..."

Companies already seem like they are story involved and are a way of joining an "alliance" against the Garlean Empire...to think they are merely a way of conquest as in XI is just ignorant.

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rain in your parade much ?
is a joke lol.But really dont expect much.

Do some of the new mini/side quests and it does give a bit of indulgent information about Grand Companies..

It seems that now that Garlemald is starting to make it's move on Eorzea and launch it's conquest campaign, that the Grand Companies are inter-twined between each nation, they are adventurer's and members of guilds alike that arise to quell said invasion!

But really.. What are they exactly?