New player questions/concerns

Hello!

I just started playing FF14 and I'm enjoying it so far. My primary interest is enjoying the trip throughout the content, and roleplay along the way. I'm looking for a really active server with some fun people. Unfortunately I haven't really been able to meet anyone due to the communication restrictions placed on a trial account. Right now I'm on Gilgamesh, hopefully it's a good realm for what I have in mind?

The communication restrictions also make playing the game difficult too, because I can't ask for help in-game, so I just logged off and decided to post this! I had a more eloquent paragraph, but the character limit is very restrictive.

So I want to just buy the game instead of doing the trial because interacting with other players is a sizable chunk of the game, but I'm hesitant about committing before meeting anyone on Gilgamesh. Would Square Enix be willing to give me a refund if I buy the game and don't like it? Any ideas?

Hey!

So Gilgamesh is indeed one of the higher population servers, though from what I've heard Balmung is sort of our "unofficial RP server" so you might consider trying to get a character on there if you're into RP'ing. If you decide to do so, you might not be able to get a character onto there unless it's like right after a maintenance ends due to the world being full most of the time.

You can get around the 1000 character limit on posts by posting the not 1000 character message and then editing it.

You can't get a refund on it once you register the game to your account as far as I know, but I've never really looked into it. Oh and if you were wondering about the reason for the communication restrictions on Trial accounts, it's to mitigate RMT chat spammers and the like.

Thanks for your reply! I totally understand the restrictions, they're just hard to deal with, hehe. I had been trying to get onto Balmung for a few nights, but I'm unsure how to figure out when maintenance will be. Maybe I'll try at like 6-7am EST! That's an awesome tip for dealing with the forums limit too, thanks for that.

I do have another question that I didn't have space for above; how easy is it to change class if I decide I want to play a healer? Do I just have to start from scratch at level 1 in that class but without the awesome story stuff?

If I do a server transfer, can I transfer all characters from one server onto Balmung? So if I make a pugilist and a conjurer on Gilgamesh, can I bring both to Balmung if I can't find anyone on Gilgamesh to play with?

You can actually have all classes/jobs on one character. You unlock the ability to level other classes upon reaching level 10 and doing your level 10 class quest. Know that when you start leveling a new class it will be level 1, but your other classes levels will stay the same. It's basically like having multiple characters in one. For example, I have all the classes on my character (Ehrzeth Lahr) at at least 50 (except for Machinist which is at 31) with some of them at 60.This eliminates the need to create multiple characters and hop between them when you wanna play a different class. When you transfer a character it is that single character, you have to pay a fee for each individual character you transfer.

Gilgamesh is considered the secondary RP hud, though its community is more tightly wound and balanced between gameplay progression and RP, whereas Balmung favors the latter notably. Unfortunately, it is next to impossible to create a character in. So you would have to pay for a transfer should you ever wish to switch servers (Definitely worthwhile if you’re into heavy RP). That said, Gilgamesh is a good server to get your feet wet if you don’t want to pay quite yet.

I would stick with the free trial a while longer if you’re still hesitant about the game. Personally, it grew on me quickly. But since there’s no refund, it’s a good idea to keep with it just to get your feet wet. If you do opt to pay the game, it comes with the first month paid. Unlike the trial version, this is the whole game. I also suggest posting in the recruit-a-friend thread (or I can just toss you a code here), if you do buy the game. It gives you a bonus item that makes early leveling a breeze. ^^

Since the character limit blocked me, new post time! Hydaelyn Roleplayers is a great little site for the roleplay side of things. While it does focus on Balmung, there's quite a few Gilgamesh RPers there as well.

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Originally Posted by Ehr

When you transfer a character it is that single character, you have to pay a fee for each individual character you transfer.

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Actually, you can transfer multiple characters at once. They just need to have existed for a flat real world 72 hours on an actual account. (i.e., You have to have bought the game first.)

Oh, hmm. If I get a code from Balmung, would it let me go to that server or does it not work like that?

I can keep playing the trial version, I just hit a wall with the main story and got a little annoyed since I couldn't ask for help hehe. I just did Step Nine, and I couldn't find the next main quest. The wiki said it was in Central Shroud, but the map wasn't particularly helpful in getting me there. I wasn't doing very many side quests because one of the new player FAQs recommended saving them for leveling other classes.

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Originally Posted by mercurial

Oh, hmm. If I get a code from Balmung, would it let me go to that server or does it not work like that?

I can keep playing the trial version, I just hit a wall with the main story and got a little annoyed since I couldn't ask for help hehe. I just did Step Nine, and I couldn't find the next main quest. The wiki said it was in Central Shroud, but the map wasn't particularly helpful in getting me there. I wasn't doing very many side quests because one of the new player FAQs recommended saving them for leveling other classes.

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The code just lets you can perks. You can read up on those here. You'd still have to pay for a transfer though.

As for your next quest. It's Central Thanalan, and should be at the Coffer and Coffin. http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Disorderly_Conduct

There's a decent RP community on Brynhildr, as well, though not as large as the other two servers mentioned. On the other hand, it's also easier to get a character on Brynhildr.

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Originally Posted by Bourne_Endeavor

Actually, you can transfer multiple characters at once. They just need to have existed for a flat real world 72 hours on an actual account. (i.e., You have to have bought the game first.)

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I did not know that ^_^

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Originally Posted by Ehr

I did not know that ^_^

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Yeah. They don't make it obvious. I only found out after I did the transfer :(

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Originally Posted by mercurial

Oh, hmm. If I get a code from Balmung, would it let me go to that server or does it not work like that?

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Codes aren't associated with particular servers. They're for your account as a whole, and just give you some bonus items. If you decide to make multiple characters, each of them will get a copy of all the reward/bonus items. (That goes for various items gotten from outside the game itself: Recruit a Friend rewards, Veterans Rewards, Collector's Edition or Pre-order bonuses... They're account wide and given to all your characters.)

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Originally Posted by mercurial

I just did Step Nine, and I couldn't find the next main quest. The wiki said it was in Central Shroud, but the map wasn't particularly helpful in getting me there.

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For the first 15 levels, there are three different main scenarios, and you only get one of them on any given character. Having started as Pugilist means you began the game in Ul'dah and will be following the Ul'dahn main scenario up through level 15. (That Central Shroud quest is for players who began in Gridania.)

At level 15 you'll reach a quest that sends you as an emissary from Ul'dah to the other city-states and that quest unlocks airship and ferry travel so you can get around easier from then on. That's also the end of the section that's specific to where you started. From there on, all three main scenarios merge into one and you'll be following the same main scenario as everyone else.

I'm not sure which wiki you looked at. Some make that distinction and some just give lists of all main scenario quests as though you'll be doing all of them (which is true after level 15, but not before). Gamerescape's wiki lists them in separate tabs. Try their MSQ 1-15 page and click the "Ul'dah" tab at the top of the list.

Thank you! I should be on track now, I think I forgot a main quest and then went to go do my class quest, but forgot where the main quest is. I will keep that link in mind.

I was looking at the pricing of the bundle vs just buying the base game, then buying the expansion later. It seems the base game is $20, and the expansion is $40, and the bundle is $60. Is there any reason I would want to buy the bundle over buying them separately, like an extra free month or something?

Also, is it too late to use a recruitment code? Do you need my account information or anything, or would we just be helping each other out?

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Originally Posted by mercurial

It seems the base game is $20, and the expansion is $40, and the bundle is $60. Is there any reason I would want to buy the bundle over buying them separately, like an extra free month or something?

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No, there's no real benefit to getting them together unless you want both now anyway. Since nearly all the expansion content is locked until you finish all of A Realm Reborn anyway, about the only reason for getting the expansion immediately is if you want to play as an Au Ra character. The extra race is the only expansion feature available to new players. If you don't plan to change to an Au Ra, then just get the base game for now and then you can buy the expansion later when you reach that part. (And who knows, maybe it will go on sale by then.)

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Originally Posted by mercurial

Also, is it too late to use a recruitment code? Do you need my account information or anything, or would we just be helping each other out?

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It's not too late. You can enter a recruitment code at the MogStation after buying/registering the game, but it has to be before adding additional subscription time (which typically comes 30 days later since purchase entitles you to the first 30 days of game time). You can uses mine if you want, it's M343G2BJ, or you can get one off the Official Recruit a Friend Code Thread. I believe in order to actually receive most of the bonus items, you have to not only use the Friend code, but then go on to purchase subscription time as well.

Actually, getting the bundle through Steam should come out a little cheaper. At least it does in Canada.

Oh, it's the same price for me, but thank you for the idea!

I keep trying to use a recruitment code but every single time I try, it says it's down for maintenance... do I have to put the recruitment code in before I buy the game, or can I use it after I buy it but before I subscribe?

edit: It turns out I'm a dork and only clicked the abbreviated links, and didn't realize it sent me to an incomplete website. Oops!

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Originally Posted by mercurial

Oh, it's the same price for me, but thank you for the idea!

I keep trying to use a recruitment code but every single time I try, it says it's down for maintenance... do I have to put the recruitment code in before I buy the game, or can I use it after I buy it but before I subscribe?

edit: It turns out I'm a dork and only clicked the abbreviated links, and didn't realize it sent me to an incomplete website. Oops!

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It can only be used after you buy the game and it has to be used BEFORE you pay a subscription fee.