Choosing my first grand company

So I just hit level 20 for the first time, and I'm about to pick my first grand company.
Currently a Gladiator, going to go Paladin, and I'm wondering which grand company is best suited for glad/paladin. I've tried googling but again keep finding mixed answers. Few posts saying some one gc is better for one class then another, and other posts and links saying it makes no difference

http://www.ign.com/faqs/2013/final-f...-chocobo-guide
Says the Limsa Lominsa one is best for gladiators but I think it may be a typo (whoever wrote it seems to of mixed up marauder and gladiator because it says the grand companies are best suited for the classes that start in their zones)

And everything else that I've read says there's really not much difference so I don't know what to think

So, what should I do? I do like Ul'dah and the zones around it,but no idea if their gc is well suited for Gladiator/Paladin

The company you pick doesn't matter. The only levels where there is any major difference in available gear is at level 50 where there are numerous and much better options for gear.

Location doesn't matter either. You have airships and teleports available and you can set your home point anywhere if needed.

That guide is only concerned with quest rewards which shouldn't be too big of a deal. They also got the classes wrong, anyway. The rewards are divided by what city the class is from so Gladiator stuff will come from Ul'dah quests.

there isn't much of a difference, the only things that change between GC's is their design choices (how stuff looks) and each GC has a Unique pot that is different from the others (long cooldown and can only have 1 at a time so not worth anything lol)

So I was right in assuming that link mixed up gladiator/marauder.
I guess with all that said, I guess I'll go with the one from Ul'dah. Love the city and the zones, and I'm a gladiator so the quest rewards will suit me best there. Thanks guys
Oh quick question, I assume it doesn't matter that I started off originally as a Marauder from Limsa Lominsa?

Not at all. In fact, all 3 of the Grand Companies are nearly identical, and you can switch between them eventually if you'd like.

Like others have said, the Grand Companies are in essence identical.

But since you are playing a GLD>PLD, and the Waking Sands is in Thanalan, do yourself a favour and save on time or money and go with the Flames. This way the bulk of your core quests are going to be in roughly the same area going from 20 - 35.

That is actually outdated information - the main storyline will be taking you everywhere besides the city of your Grand Company so choosing it based on proximity to Vesper Bay is not as wise as it appears to be. Besides the first quest for your Grand Company as part of the main scenario, there are no more quests given to the player by them other than two quests necessary for promotion at higher ranks, which all three Companies share (and both involve completing optional dungeons in Coerthas, the Dazmael Darkhold and the Aurum Vale respectively), and the quest to unlock the Wolves' Den PvP arena, which is near Limsa Lominsa.

Really, there is absolutely no benefit for choosing one Grand Company over the other - SE actually did this deliberately as in 1.0 most players went with the Immortal Flames for the reason Asvaldr mentioned, and hence SE wanted to avoid this Company imbalance.

I chose immortal flames because:
1) it's right beside the main aeytheryte
2) i like the flame salute emote
3) i also liked the whole "immortal" part of the name lol :p
The only reason why i would consider changing to maelstrom is the fact that their boots look good and the whole set ( red looks pretty sharp with black ) :3

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

That is actually outdated information - the main storyline will be taking you everywhere besides the city of your Grand Company so choosing it based on proximity to Vesper Bay is not as wise as it appears to be. Besides the first quest for your Grand Company as part of the main scenario, there are no more quests given to the player by them other than two quests necessary for promotion at higher ranks, which all three Companies share (and both involve completing optional dungeons in Coerthas, the Dazmael Darkhold and the Aurum Vale respectively), and the quest to unlock the Wolves' Den PvP arena, which is near Limsa Lominsa.

Really, there is absolutely no benefit for choosing one Grand Company over the other - SE actually did this deliberately as in 1.0 most players went with the Immortal Flames for the reason Asvaldr mentioned, and hence SE wanted to avoid this Company imbalance.

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How is it outdated when you have to return to Vesper Bay periodically between 20 and 35, and also have to return to Ul'Duh every five levels for the GLD and PLD quests, which are almost all in Thanalan? I mean, if you've got the impetus to go to Vesper Bay, and you have other quests you can do in roughly the same area, why not do them at those intervals?

Vesper bay is actually easier to get to from Limsa.

Port to Limsa > Aethernet to Arcanist Guild > take the ferry

It's a moot point anyway. Set homepoint wherever your quests are. Make the town where your GC is have the free teleports from the security token. You ARE using a security token right?

All three are virtualy the same but some of their gear is better suited for certain classes(usually those that are native to that city).

Could also set Horizon as your Homepoint, and use Return to save on travel time.
I use Vesper bay to go to La Noscea, cause its cheaper than the Airship, but only 40gil cheaper. Horizon is close to both Vesper Bay and Ul'Dah.
And if you have a Chocobo, it wont take long to travel to either from there.