Why you should join a Free Company (From My Personal Experience)

If you are new, a bit shy, or just haven't found the right Free Company that you feel like you belong with... read my experience and let me share with you my story.

The FFXIV experience is fun to play and there's a lot to explore in the world, not to mention completing the storyline. But here's something I learned as I played the game and want to share with you.

I started playing the game by myself. A friend encouraged me to play FFXIV and I've always been a fan for the Final Fantasy series, but my friend wasn't online every time I was.

So I found myself playing the storyline and randomly exploring the world. I'm not very shy, but at the same time, I'm not a person that likes to bother someone else. I didn't ask for help or looked for others playing the game to join a party. No one talked to me, unless it was in a dungeon and I was saying the usual "hello :)" to the party.

It might be obvious to some, but since this is my first real MMO, I learned that I was happiest when I was playing with my friend and talking to him. Curiously enough, the best part of the game was not the storyline and quests (although they're really fun), it was sharing the exciting news that I just leveled, or that I just achieved the ability to create a Job from combining 2 classes, or better yet, when I changed the gear of my character and showed it to my friend. Even though some of these things might sound a bit trivial, I found myself really happy and excited to share, especially with someone that cared and wanted to share too.

I realized that the best part of this game is about sharing the experience. Some might say it's all about the end game <.<, but I believe the journey is more important than the destination... and experiencing that journey with people that are happy and excited to share it with you.

Here's the most interesting part after I learned this...

After a while of playing FFXIV, I started to seek out a Free Company to join. Some were EXTREMELY hardcore, and they didn't care about you, just your stats, while others were really-really casual and didn't have any goals for their FC as a whole. I even saw some that were just dead, no activity, no interactions at all. I was even part of one where the guy that formed the FC just stole all the money and left!! O.O

From all of this I noticed that there were many different types of FCs, but I felt that they didn't share, or perhaps, didn't understand, what I and many others needed from their FC.

Now... I might not have found the right one, because I know that there MUST be some FC leaders out there that will agree with me. But regardless, I decided to better understand every player's aspect of the game. I pushed to level a DPS to 50 first, then a Tank to 50, and finally a Healer to 50.

After leveling all 3 main aspects of the game a player would choose to be, I gained a profound respect, admiration, and new insight on how important each and every player ultimately contributes to each other, as they play together in-game.

You might call me a bit OCD, but I felt like I needed to understand these 3 main aspects of the game for what I was about to do. But before I tell you, I must say that I'm put off by Tanks that don't respect or demand too much from their DPS and Healers. Giving them orders without even knowing their roles. This goes for DPSs that talk nasty to Tanks and Healers too. As well as Healers that put all the fault on the Tanks or the DPS when they fail.

Everyone, without a doubt, can not survive without the rest. Tanks need Healers to keep them alive, and DPS to take down the boss. Healers need Tanks to keep them alive by holding and taking away aggro and DPS to step in and take them down too. And DPS need Tanks to take all the damage dealt, while Healers provide them with health and protection, so they can focus on burning those bosses and adds.

No role is more important than another. Every role has their own unique responsibilities (and strengths and weaknesses), and must look out and support one another whenever possible throughout the journey. Not to mention, we ALL started at level 1... everyone. No one miraculously jumped to level 50 when they logged in. So all players should respect each other, regardless of their level or role.

This same concept should be applied to an FC. So I created the Aetherial Guardians FC on Famfrit with the ideals and principles to help one another, to share in each others journey, to laugh and smile, and to respect one another for what they bring to the table. An FC is not one guy or girl and their members. Everyone that belongs to the FC is the FC itself, not just a member, not just another face in the crowd.

I felt many times like just leaving and not playing the game anymore, but once I formed the Aetherial Guardians, I made amazing friends that share in my journey, as I do in theirs.

The game has taken on a different meaning altogether and it's not the same as before, it's better. I appreciate all the friends I've made and all the ones I will soon make, and welcome them.

Building an FC together, while sharing and exploring the journey across the Realm is what makes the game great for me.

This is why YOU should find and join a Free Company.

There is one out there that's right for you. It could be with the one I created, or perhaps another. But I encourage you to talk, apply, and join an FC. No matter if you're new, shy, or just haven't found one yet. Once you find that FC... I'm sure you'll know how I feel.

Thanks for reading, have fun with the game and I'll see you around. Oh, and say hello if you'd like, or friend me (Avalon Red) on Famfrit. :)

I only really joined them based on the food/stat bonuses from joining. Otherwise, LSes can do anything a FC can besides housing.

Noahlimits, I agree that LS would be sufficient in communicating with other players. But FCs build something together, not just run dungeons to level themselves, but to work at achieving more. Also, I don't think that joining an FC just out of interest of their available FC Actions is right. You should join an FC because of the people that make up the FC, and because you enjoy their company. FC Actions are just a bonus, such as housing and access to the Company Chest. IMO ;)

I agree FC only good for buffs. i don't see any point in it anymore:confused:

Joining my FC was the best thing I did concerning this game aside from buying it. I am grateful for the friends I made there.

I might... if one day, I find one, I don't consider to have a gods-awful name and tag :)

I've joined and left a number of Free Companies because, when I look at a Free Company, I try to get a sense of community and purpose out of it. Many FCs have, in the past, whether they realize it or not, made me feel like an outsider who has to work hard to fit in, and that's not what a Free Company should be all about. It should be about universal camaraderie and friendship, acknowledging every player as being just as important as the leader themselves. Thankfully, I honestly think I've found that community now, even if they don't do a lot of the endgame stuff. Their focus is Roleplaying, and I have been made clear that, whenever there is an RP scenario, I can always join in whenever I want. That makes me feel incredibly welcome and like I'm a part of something.

I guess that's why I prefer RP communities over other types. No matter what, I always feel like I have some sort of a place in things.

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Originally Posted by Dawning-Blue

I agree FC only good for buffs. i don't see any point in it anymore:confused:

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Dawning-Blue, I can agree with you to a certain extent. But perhaps... you haven't found the 'right' FC, so you default on the thinking that they are only good for buffs. Regardless we all have our own opinions and way of thinking. We have the right to change our minds, the right to decide, and essential voice our beliefs. So I respect your view. ;)

HakuroDK, Yup, it's fun when your with friends that actually acknowledge you and welcome you as not just another member, but as the FC itself. And I agree that leaders are not to be see as better or above the rest.

Can you make the text a little bigger OP? It's kind of hard to read.

Coming from WoW I thought I had to be in a FC to run the Raids/old raids because I was unsure if they had a "Raid Finder" so I found one and joined it ASAP only to learn I did not. I am a loner really, I dont mix well with people sometimes but I have not quit this one because of bonuses, and why not? Though I doubt if I had known I did not need a FC for anything besides the bonuses I would of probably never joined one.

First MMO here and I'm a leader of a decent sized FC based on comraderie and having full time jobs and families. When you don't have much time due to these things you tend to want a stres free game environment.


Needless to say, I've made tons of friends and shared a ton of good memories. It's all on how you choose to play and who you meet. I love The Working Class and all it's members because we are all part of a whole. It's like family without all the crazy step family. Everything I've leaned I've learned doing it with friends.

Experience is what you make it.

Thanks for sharing your story. I felt left out of my old FC. I was one of the first to level 50 but I didn't have the MMO experience that some of the other members did. I had played FFXI for almost 3 years but the experience was really nothing similar to FFXIV in terms of gameplay and what was expected of me in fights. I think I really sucked but I also don't think my old FC gave me a fair chance.

People with fixed mindsets act as though skill is something you either have or don't but this isn't really true. I've learned that what you might not have in natural talent, you can make up with practice. I didn't start out good but I'm proud to say that I'm good now. Not that my old FC will ever realize that thanks to leaving me out of every static ever.

Instead, I branched out on my own and formed an FC called "No One Left Behind." I know the name's not great but I wanted something that would immediately convey what it is we're all about. We've had some members who didn't get it. They joined to get help with a fight but never wanted to help others or they thought we should kick inactive players or sell Titan runs.

About this last, I have been asked to join Titan EX merc groups and I've discreetly given my share of the gil back to the buyer - it's not just the players in our FC that we look after. I've kicked members for bashing gay people or women and I've kicked members for being jerks in PUG groups. We try to do our part in the game community; admittedly we don't all have limitless patience. I have politely bowed out of groups that were going nowhere, for example, but raging at other players for wipes is not the answer.

Our FC doesn't do the whole static thing. Yes, we sacrifice some progression for the sake of inclusion, but I think that sacrifice is worth it. Instead of insular groups of players running a single piece of content, we have events almost every night that the entire FC can participate in. Sometimes, it's extreme primals or first Coil. Other times, someone might need help with Sastasha or we're just breaking off into groups for Brayflox HM speed runs.

I'm very proud of our FC. We've come a long way and wound up with a really great group of people. If you want a good reason to join an FC, the right FC can make the game experience so much more enjoyable.

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Originally Posted by Purrfectstorm

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If this is true, I think what you and your members/friends are doing is a great thing. Instead of the quote in quote 8 man statics groups just hanging out in a shared chat channel, your FC makes people feel like they are part of it then as a outsider, or as a member of their 8. But you also continue this mindset outside of the FC to try, and create a better community not just in your FC, but as a whole in the server, and also to others you might interact with in game. I know this is far from easy to do, but gratz and keep it up! ^~^/

Note I agree with the OP, It's 4am and I didn't reread my post, I really need to stop posting at 4 AM. So if things don't make sense that's why!

I'm part of a FC, My hubby and I helped them test stuff in beta, when all the character data got wiped.

Then when the game went live we join a FC that our friend from FFXI had joined. But it really wasn't the right fit for us, so after about 2 months we said sorry to our FFXI friend we need to leave this FC we where not the only ones shortly there after the leader switched server and most member had all but left.

Our FFXI friend went FC less for about 6 weeks. He new where we were and could have asked at anytime for a FC connection but didn't. We did a few dungeons together. When the most recent Hard mode came out he asked if we had done them yet. And I personally don't like doing things I haven't done before with people I don't know. So we did the 3 newest HM. But the 4th was the leader of his new FC/LS and tossed us a LS event after the 1st HM.

Now I like my FC we do weekly treasure hunts, The Safe is full of crafting items for challenge log, if you are willing to make your own items. And most of the time there is someone there willing to help / need help when we offer.
But I talk about 80% in this new LS over my FC.

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Originally Posted by Purrfectstorm

Our FC doesn't do the whole static thing. Yes, we sacrifice some progression for the sake of inclusion, but I think that sacrifice is worth it.

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Yeah it is worth it but it's always been a problem area in my FC. Someone joins, friends everyone, is a great player, but we lose them because they want to keep moving forward. I always gotta remind myself that it's a game and some people play to win.

I'm very happy to see that everyone is voicing themselves on this thread and appreciate everyone's point of view. I also welcome anyone else that wants to share what's on their mind about FCs, to do so on here. ;)

For those that don't really see a point in joining an FC, keep looking. You will find many that will not be right for you (trust me, I've been there), but perhaps, just perhaps, you'll find one that you will have much more fun with when playing the game. It's kind of like going out, it's always better when you're with the right group of friends and sharing the experience together. It's the quality of friends you surround yourself with and how they compliment your personality. Do they care that you're there? Do they want you there? That's why I acknowledge everyone, and everyone acknowledges each other in our FC. I'll run low-level dungeons, high-level ones, and even help and support those in need during quests. Not because I have to, but because I want to.

For those that agree you should find, join, or have created one that is right for you... I encourage your efforts and wish you the very best in making long-lasting friends on FFXIV.