Grand Company Ranks

Anyone seen any information on when the next ranks will be available?

No idea, though I wouldn't mind seeing 2 or 3 added in this expansion. Even one would be nice, honestly, just so we can get some nicer pieces of gear. They could even give us a more interesting quest that gives lore on the Grand Companies and their interior workings while we're at it.

But yeah, at the moment, no word.

I'm hoping Heavensward will open up new ranks. But I'm not sure if I've read anything on it yet.

Last I read was a post from a long time ago stating that new ranks would be added whenever an expansion came out and the level cap raised. Though we haven't seen anything official since said expansion has been announced, I wouldn't be surprised if they were added, but just not talked about. They've kept a lot more under wraps than they've told us, and since this is ultimately something minor compared to what they've announced, I wouldn't be surprised if they just considered it too small to be worth mentioning.....

Well, story wise at the end of 2.55 it would be a bit hard for us to get any kind of promotion in a GC (especially in Ul'dah), until that whole... unpleasantness.... is sorted out.

So I don't expect the available GC ranks to be raised any time soon (and hence, when SE does eventually increase the ranks, it will almost definitely require Heavensward and expansion story progress to gain such promotions, for the lore reasons I mentioned).

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Well, story wise at the end of 2.55 it would be a bit hard for us to get any kind of promotion in a GC (especially in Ul'dah), until that whole... unpleasantness.... is sorted out.

So I don't expect the available GC ranks to be raised any time soon (and hence, when SE does eventually increase the ranks, it will almost definitely require Heavensward and expansion story progress to gain such promotions, for the lore reasons I mentioned).

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That whole thing in the way of us progressing in our GC may be cleared up in the story, and maybe quickly (who knows). We'll clear up the whole thing sooner or later, so probably by the end of the 3.0 50 hour storyline, we'll be back in the good graces of the city-states, and maybe we'll clean house in the Crystal Braves while we're at it.

It was stated waaaay long ago(like... 2.1 or 2.2 times) that the GC Ranks would expand during the expansions. Here's hoping they don't wait til 3.3 though...

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Well, story wise at the end of 2.55 it would be a bit hard for us to get any kind of promotion in a GC (especially in Ul'dah), until that whole... unpleasantness.... is sorted out.

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I imagine sorting out that whole affair would be good grounds for a promotion though, considering the damage it has done to the Eorzean Alliance. I also imagine our actions in Heavensward will be bringing Ishgard back into the Alliance, which again would be very good grounds for a promotion.

Still though, I'm waiting for a real purpose for Grand Companies more than anything else. Would love to see something like Conquest, or even better, Campaign. Right now it's just "Pick your Glamour!", really hope Varis showing up could lead us to something akin to Campaign...

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Well, story wise at the end of 2.55 it would be a bit hard for us to get any kind of promotion in a GC (especially in Ul'dah), until that whole... unpleasantness.... is sorted out.

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I honestly don't see this as being an issue. As is, if you go back and talk to the representative from your GC, they will react to the whole end of 2.55 story arc. I believe the version I got from the Malestrom amounted to, "Only the Higher Ups know anything about your involvement in the events, and we know none of it is true. You have our full support, and you shouldn't expect anyone to react otherwise." As I've been led to believe, the same holds true even for the Immortal Flames players, seemingly indicating that the events of 2.55 are ultimately being kept under wraps for the most part, and that within the GCs at least, the only ones in a position to know about the matter are on your side. Therefore, if this is indeed true for all three GCs, (I would appreciate players with the Flames and Adder confirming on their ends), there shouldn't be a barrier of any sort, even story wise, to allow for the increasing of GC ranks.....

There was some screenshots of 2.4 of someone with 58,000+ GC seals. When it was spotted, it was assumed that it would be coming in 2.4. Obviously it didn't, but they are working on it. I agree that they'd need to clear up the 2.55 renegade story arc in the 3.0 MS, then maybe in 3.1 we can up the GC? There has been no statement of whether or not there will be a Ishgard GC either.

They have actually specifically said that there will not be an Ishgardian GC, at least not for now. They said they may revisit the idea in a later expansion, but we won't be seeing the Ishgardian GC (or housing for that matter) in the 3.x series.

Yeah, that was made pretty clear, and besides, an Ishgardian GC wouldn't even make sense lore-wise. Despite entry into Ishgard being granted to us, we are an exception based on a set of extraordinary circumstances rather than the rule. Ishgard isn't throwing open it's borders to everyone and anyone - they're still remaining closed off to Eorzea at large (which is the whole reason we're even in Coerthas, the Monetarists and Crystal Braves would be refused entry at every turn), and have not rejoined the Alliance, meaning no Ishgardian Grand Company.

I have no doubt as Heavensward's story progresses we will eventually return to Ul'dah and restore our reputation, but for now, we're basically turning our backs on the Alliance (or rather Ul'dah). Meaning no GC rank promotions, because we're effectively 'off the combat register' with them.

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Yeah, that was made pretty clear, and besides, an Ishgardian GC wouldn't even make sense lore-wise. Despite entry into Ishgard being granted to us, we are an exception based on a set of extraordinary circumstances rather than the rule. Ishgard isn't throwing open it's borders to everyone and anyone - they're still remaining closed off to Eorzea at large (which is the whole reason we're even in Coerthas, the Monetarists and Crystal Braves would be refused entry at every turn), and have not rejoined the Alliance, meaning no Ishgardian Grand Company.

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Well, not entirely accurate. Ishgard does have the Foreign Levy, that it could make a Grand Company. Where the story at now, though, adventurers as a whole have yet to prove themselves of use to the Holy See, so until Ishgard formally joins the Alliance, and they decide to make a company to defend against Garlemald, we won't see a GC.

Raubahn's son assumes control of the Flamers while he's rotting away. He made sure the Flamers know you're innocent. Swift said basically: "Raubahn's son told us what happened and that you had no part of it. You have friends here <rank>"

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Originally Posted by Gamer3427

(I would appreciate players with the Flames and Adder confirming on their ends)

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A simmiler piece of dialog is in Adder HQ as with the Malstrom. Basically the Adders know about the accusation, and along with the Seeress, call BS on the whole thing. Also the conjerors are consulting with the elementals to find the missing scions.

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Yeah, that was made pretty clear, and besides, an Ishgardian GC wouldn't even make sense lore-wise.

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They don't even need a Grand Company, do they?

Grand Companies were founded to consolidate a cities economic and martial power under one banner in times of need. Ishgard already does this, everything Ishgard is already consolidated beneath the banner of the Holy See, the four houses already work in unison against the Dravanian threat. If they don't already had a Grand Company, they never will. I think the culture of Ishgard (and Ala Mhigo, Sharlayan as well, but for different reasons) is such that they have no real need for a Grand Company, Ishgard was a very martial nation from the start. Gridania, Ul'dah and Limsa on the other hand, had no real structured military and needed to organize one, hence the three Grand Companies.

The only change I would expect is them needing a group to organize negotiations with the Eorzea Alliance if (when) they join it. I imagine House of Fortemps is more than up to that job though. I don't think they need a Grand Company in order to join, throughout the main scenario we've been calling for them to rejoin the Alliance, not for them to reform their Grand Company. There has been zero mention of a Ishgardian Grand Company, fairly certain they just have their four houses instead, they basically do the same job as a Grand Company. Between the four houses and temple knights, Ishgards current military structure is no different than any of the Grand Companies.

If they formed a Grand Company, I think it would be a fairly meaningless act and I certainly don't think we'd get to be actual members. It wouldn't be like joining the Twin Adders, if anything if would be like Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan where we join Salaheem's Sentinels. We'd still be tied to our current Grand Company, they're not going to add a proper fourth Grand Company because that would mess with Frontlines.

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Originally Posted by Enkidoh

Well, story wise at the end of 2.55 it would be a bit hard for us to get any kind of promotion in a GC (especially in Ul'dah), until that whole... unpleasantness.... is sorted out.

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Actully if you talk to the NPCs in each of the command centers, they state the higher ups in all of them don't believe a word of what officially went down. There's also the fact that guy in charge of the flames at the moment helped in your escape. And remember the grand company leaders were all right there when it all went down. (In the japanse version it's made clear the Admiral wanted to just shoot the villains right there but was talked out of it due to wanting to avoid an international incident). They all still trust you and wouldn't think twice about promoting you again.

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Originally Posted by Gamer3427

(I would appreciate players with the Flames and Adder confirming on their ends), there shouldn't be a barrier of any sort, even story wise, to allow for the increasing of GC ranks.....

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flames GC member here. Luckily Pipin Tarupin is the Vice head of the Flames. So we're pretty good on us not being denied promotion, I remember the GC rep stating he's standing up for us (as he fully knows what happens, helping us escape and all) and is working on finding out what happened to Raubahn.