Should I be Leveling Just my Main?

I've been playing FFXIV only two weeks. I've tried hard to read up on the game, but this is one of those franchises where there's too much information!

I started with an Arcanist, now a level-32 Summoner. I stopped leveling it to focus on crafting/gathering. I've got eight crafters to 30, Botanist is 20. Running eight crafters and a gatherer is a full-time job, what with updating their gear and doing daily GC supply levequests. My retainers are always maxed with items on the Marketplace. Except for grinding mats on my Summoner I'm not playing her at all, which is okay, but ...

I know there are things I'm missing by not leveling my Summoner.

I'm loving this game and could be content with doing only the crafting-related component, but am I screwing up? Can anyone offer insight about time management or how I might take a more balanced approach?

There is no "wrong" way to play the game...as long as you are having fun it is all good. I personally level everything eventually...just me.

You could just go ahead with the story to level the SMN up. Otherwise, if you're interested in gathering and crafting then just go ahead and do that.

You're not missing anything if you don't have a capped job. The game doesn't take away things, they just put in more and more of stuff and they're all staying. So you can take your time to do what you want and when you want to do something else, there's always something else to do.

While there will always be benefits to having a battle class at 50/50+

It comes down to personal enjoyment. If you want to focus solely on crafting and gathering, then go for it!
There is no time frame in which you HAVE to have classes at a certain level. Play YOUR way

Like others said above, there is no wrong to play a game as long as you enjoy it. That being said, you will have to level a Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic to 60 and get through the main scenario to actually get to Heavensward zones and therefore, the npc's to do any of the high tier crafting. Though from what I've heard, most of the materials you can get from these npcs can be put up on the mb, so again whatever you wanna do. I could name a few people that I know of who simply got through the main scenario and pretty much constantly focus on crafting and gathering. Silly SE just decided to even gate the endgame crafting and gathering behind main scenario >.< it's silly, very silly. (I realize that I assumed you have Heavensward before writing this post)

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Originally Posted by Mallea

I'm loving this game

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Looks like the most important thing is already there for you. If you are having fun, nothing else matters. Conversely it's possible to grind everything fast and not have fun.

Many things are unlocked through main scenario progression, including new areas to gather, so it will help greatly to get your Summoner to the level cap, but it's your choice how you prioritise things.

^^^ pretty much what they all said. Do what makes you happy. I think it depends on what you really want to get out of this game. If you want to raid and do a lot of end game content a well geared level 60 battle class is going to be in your favor to have. If you like crafting and gathering start that up. If you like it all, like I do, pace yourself. Just try to keep up with the msq because as time goes on you'll only get farther and farther behind, same goes with farming the most current gear post 60.

As you may have noticed already Levequests in new areas need to 1st be unlocked so you'll need your battle class to be at that level to unlock.
Once you reach battle level 40/41 you can unlock the Ixal beast tribe which helps immensely with leveling up crafters.

Main reason to focus on a main first is there are many daily/weekly events to earn endgame gear. They'll time-gate things, so it's preferable to unlock them ASAP so you can get your daily/weekly items, then work on other things.

For the most part, the order in which you do things is up to personal preference. The things your Summoner can do for your crafting classes, though, include unlocking levequest hubs, gathering mob-dropped materials, and unlocking access to the Ixali beast tribe.

The first two of those generally mean your battle class should stay around the level of your crafting classes, but the Ixali beast tribe is unlocked when you get to level 41 in the main scenario (after the "In Pursuit of the Past" quest) and is useful for crafting classes of any level.

(After that, the next big thing your battle class will unlock is access to the Heavensward regions, provided you have the expansion, but that won't be relevant until your crafting/gathering classes get through the first 50 levels, so it's back to keeping a battle job on par with your DoH/DoL.)

It's good you're having fun, but I truthfully think everyone's first priority should be completing the MSQ. The reason is for ease of movement. By completing the MSQ, you'll get airships, mounts, flying mounts, and you'll be attuned to various areas around the world. All of that makes gathering and crafting a lot more enjoyable. You'll also unlock the roulettes which are a good source of company seals for the manuals and supplies. Choosing the arcanist was a great decision, since you can level both a damage class and a healing class at once.

Crafting in this game is a lot deeper than other games, so the easier you can make it, the better.

Thank you so much for the kind responses!

Okay, new plan: when my crafters/gatherers catch up with my SMN I'll level her up until she outruns her gear, then back to the crafters/gatherers to catch them up. So, everything will be done incrementally.

I'm not much into raids, I mostly enjoy doing my own thing, taking tasks at my own pace and enjoying the world, which with the lovely scenery and changing climate is absolutely splendid. And I do have Heavensward.

Again, thank you!

Good luck, You will be rich in no time :)