Why not an alt instead of moving jobs?

Title says it all, but really I don’t understand why not make an alt? Leveling a new job seems tedious at best (given no MSQ) so what is the real benefit of having multiple classes on one character instead of alts, and being convenient isn’t really an answer to me because logging in and out isn’t that hard. I have to be missing something I’m sure.

It is far easier to just switch jobs on the fly on a single character, multiple jobs use the same gear so you don't have to farm the same stuff three times over, and you don't have to complete content multiple times. The MSQ alone is incredibly long. There's also an exp bonus to your other jobs if you have one job at max level.

There are reasons to want an alt rather than a second job, such as role playing or wanting to play through the msq or even extra storage space, but none of them are related to being easier to level a job. It is far more efficient to level all your jobs on a single character.

Base subscription only allows 2 characters btw

Combat classes and jobs that are not your highest level get a +100% exp boost until Lv60. Then they get a +50% boost until 70.

It not that hard to get exp on an alt job. There is a lot of exp bonuses that stack: the armory bonus, FC or Scroll bonus, food bonus etc. I've leveled both alt jobs and an alt character and leveling an alt job on a character that already has completed the MSQ/unlocks etc is far faster in my experience than leveling a alt character. Just make sure that you are taking advantage of all the different ways to boost your exp.

Other then if you use the same gear for a different job (which I’d rarely do, if I want a different job I want it DIFFERENT) and the msq being lengthy (but still the best non Duty exp it seems) no one has really said why alts aren’t better. One person said two character limit so there is that, although I thought I had eight spots available

I’ve just seem multiple posts asking how to get exp after the msq is over without doing duties and to think of doing an alt job off only hunts, fates and duty pugs I’d probably just quit. I think I’m just old school and the game is more new

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Originally Posted by Stoutale

Being convenient isn’t really an answer to me because logging in and out isn’t that hard. I have to be missing something I’m sure.

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You can't just take away the answer just because you don't like it.

Being convenient IS the answer (and it's not just about logging in and out)

1 - Not having to do the MSQ
It takes like 40 hours - actual play hours, not including life hours (you know, sleep, work, school, and enjoying other forms of entertainment)
And that's just for ARR part 1 + part 2. I don't know how much it is for the full thing, but probably about 60 game hours.
Whereas a person who really wants to can level a side job 1-60 about 13 game hours.

2 - Not having to redo UI layout and hotbars

3 - Not having to convert macros to shared macros because they were done as personal macros
What, not everyone thought in advance that they'd have to

4 - Not having to lose out on your friends list, LS , etc..

5 - Not having to log in and out
Sure it's not that hard right now during offtimes.
But when a new patch is released, logging in and out = having to wait in a log in queue.

It's also nice when you're chatting with a curious new person to be able to show them things from a variety of jobs without having to make them wait for log in/out all the time.

6 - Reuse gear and use existing gil/tomes farmed on higher level to buy gear for non-reusable gear

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Originally Posted by Stoutale

Other then if you use the same gear for a different job (which I’d rarely do, if I want a different job I want it DIFFERENT)

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*OP asks why other people do something
*OP negates answer given because s/he wouldn't personally do that

Plus on a main it's a lot easier to buy gear, including non tradable gear like tomestone gear, for an alt

7 - Trading between alt sucks
If a person wanted to use their main to help their alt, they have to either:
* log in, put in FC chest, log out. (what if someone takes their stuff because they took too long? What if there's no room in the FC chest and they're not supposed to take stuff out?)
* Use an in-between person to trade

8 - And most importantly, it's faster
There is the armory bonus to level faster. There are other options than just "hunts, fates and duty pugs". Combined with #6 and a chocobo who's already leveled and actually using in some of the leveling methods, it's just faster even if using the slower leveling methods like fates and leves.

POTD is the #1 way to level 1-60, but there are a multitude of leveling options:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...31#post4650931


9 - Entry sub (for those who use it) is ONE (not 2) character per server (with a max of 8 characters total across all servers).
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/product/
Scroll down to Service Fees

10 - For people who use cash shop and they want to be able to use the items they bought, some items have to be bought PER CHARACTER instead of account-wide.

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Originally Posted by Stoutale

I think I’m just old school and the game is more new

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Old school mmos relied on people grinding for the sake of leveling (via mob farming and dungeons), not story quests, to level.

considering you are level 44 in a single class and have yet to experience the MSQ slog to Heavensward, I say just wait and see. You won't want to repeat it either(....and I have lots of alts so I've done it both ways.)

Levelling is super easy, you don't need the MSQ to do it.
It's never been easier, in fact. Exp rains down on you.

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Originally Posted by Stoutale

Other then if you use the same gear for a different job (which I’d rarely do, if I want a different job I want it DIFFERENT) and the msq being lengthy (but still the best non Duty exp it seems) no one has really said why alts aren’t better. One person said two character limit so there is that, although I thought I had eight spots available

I’ve just seem multiple posts asking how to get exp after the msq is over without doing duties and to think of doing an alt job off only hunts, fates and duty pugs I’d probably just quit. I think I’m just old school and the game is more new

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The eight slot limit is for the full-tier account. Basic accounts have a limit of 2, iirc. It depends on how much you pay for your subscription. Legacy accounts get the perks of the full subscription with the price of the basic one, for example.

One thing you sound like you're not aware of is that there isn't multiple sets of gear to gear jobs differently with in terms of function. I.e. You will always want to choose the highest level piece of gear. Glamour exists for the reason you give, and even with glamour there are more benefits to sticking with one character rather than an alt. E.g. You only have to farm up your various glamour items once instead of for each alt you might want to use them on, mogstation glamours are mostly only for a single character so you only have to pay RL money for them once, you can't share the glamour dresser across characters, etc.

There's nothing wrong with playing an alt in this game, ot's just not going to be as effective or efficient as doing it on a single character whether you understand that or not.

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Originally Posted by Canadane

Levelling is super easy, you don't need the MSQ to do it.
It's never been easier, in fact. Exp rains down on you.

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I went from 30 DRK to 50 DRK in a little over a week just doing the solosquad dungeons, for example. A single run of the highest one available to you up to level 50 will net slightly more than one full level's worth of xp. This is only something you can do on a character who has already completed a bunch of content on another job. Just one of many ways that exp is far faster with am experienced character than with an alt.

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Originally Posted by Squintina

Old school mmos relied on people grinding for the sake of leveling (via mob farming and dungeons), not story quests, to level.

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Great write up, solid information but understand everything in this game is a grind. Find this, kill that, it’s a MMO it’s what they do. Also you are full of knowledge, but you are one pompous arse! I was simply asking for more reasons because “using the same gear” simply doesn’t matter in a lot of cases. You are the type person that will gladly give very good information all the while belittling someone because of how you perceive they mean something on a forum. Your information would be just as helpful without your quips taken at people.

Someone is being a "pompous arse" and it isn't Squintina. I would suggesting reading your post with an eye to hoe you come across as doing the very thing you say they are.

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Originally Posted by Stoutale

Great write up, solid information but understand everything in this game is a grind. Find this, kill that, it’s a MMO it’s what they do. Also you are full of knowledge, but you are one pompous arse! I was simply asking for more reasons because “using the same gear” simply doesn’t matter in a lot of cases. You are the type person that will gladly give very good information all the while belittling someone because of how you perceive they mean something on a forum. Your information would be just as helpful without your quips taken at people.

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You're right, I could and should have been nicer about it.
I'm usually much nicer, maybe it's because work has been hectic this week (not that that's an excuse to take it out online).

I apologize.

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Originally Posted by Mhaeric

One thing you sound like you're not aware of is that there isn't multiple sets of gear to gear jobs differently with in terms of function. I.e. You will always want to choose the highest level piece of gear. Glamour exists for the reason you give, and even with glamour there are more benefits to sticking with one character rather than an alt. E.g. You only have to farm up your various glamour items once instead of for each alt you might want to use them on, mogstation glamours are mostly only for a single character so you only have to pay RL money for them once, you can't share the glamour dresser across characters

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Clearly I don’t/didn’t understand it that’s why I asked. That said I still don’t understand because their is different sets of gear or we mean different things. Clearly a tank isn’t tanking in healer robes, right? I don’t mean to sound bad but when you said I don’t understand there isn’t different gear sets I am more confused

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Originally Posted by Squintina

You're right, I could and should have been nicer about it.
I'm usually much nicer, maybe it's because work has been hectic this week (not that that's an excuse to take it out online).

I apologize.

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I expected flames, this was cool and thank you. Again your knowledge is clearly there and I learned a lot of why people do what they do because of it. Thank you.

High level gear usually falls into 7 sets(casting, healing, fending, aiming, scouting, striking, maiming) that the 15 classes are split up into. But just because 2+ classes share a set doesnt mean that they arent different. Black mage and red mage are both magic dps classes. They can share most(~95%) equipment. They dont play alike. Black mage is built around getting into the offensive stance and pushing out as much damage as possible as fast as possible, then switching to a regen stance to build your strength back up. They have several "long" cast spells that they use via hard-cast regularly, and usually have to stand still to get a spell off. They have no unique party utility spells. Their most important stat is speed(faster casts means more damage and more chances to move without interruption, they already have very hard hitting spells so crit/direct is a secondary concern). Red mage is built around balancing two mana pools, balancing melee combos versus big spells, balancing quick spells with long spells via class skills, and balancing damage and utility abilities. They want to use a quick spell to trigger an instant cast for a longer harder hitting spell to follow, and since every other spell should be instant they have a lot of chances to move and still finish a cast. At high levels they can heal, res, and buff comrades giving them many utility spells(instant resing with the only limit being their mana pool is very handy when trying new content). Their least important stat is speed(instant doesnt get faster via a speed boost, and their spells are a little weaker so they want the direct/crit boost much more).

Hopefully this makes more sense.

Personally for me there are so many things to collect glamour, mounts, minions, cards and music scrolls it's much easier to have more if your only collecting for one character.

There are definitely more than 2 chars allowed with the basic sub. I have 4 right now and am allowed up to 8. You can just not have more than one on a single world.

Anyway, it’s definitly faster to level an alt job on a single character hands down no contest. Going through the msq multiple times is quite slow. For me, just continuing to do the highest level dungeon I can get into on a job seems pretty quick. Plus it’s just way more convenient not to have to do other things multiple times, like leveling beast tribes or leveling crafter gatherer classes if your into that.

Like I said, I have multiple chars, but it’s cerainly not for comvienence. It’s just because I want to be able to play as more than once race/look without going broke buying tons of fantasta every few days. If my character look was less important to me I’d sure save a ton of time.

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Originally Posted by Tempest222

There are definitely more than 2 chars allowed with the basic sub. I have 4 right now and am allowed up to 8. You can just not have more than one on a single world.

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This. Even on the free trial you're allowed to create those eight characters.



On the main discussion, it's overall more effective to keep everything on one character (shared equipment, money, luck with item drops, long-term achievements, mentor status requiring 1000 dungeon/trial runs completed) but from a character-building perspective I don't really like that my character has had to do a lot of classes that don't really fit her personality.

I'm playing through the story a second time with an alt, and this time I'm just focusing on a couple of classes that I do think suit that character.

I also just like having multiple characters - or rather, I've invented multiple characters so I want to play as all of them. I just wish the game made it easier to link up their achievements.

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Originally Posted by Mhaeric

The eight slot limit is for the full-tier account. Basic accounts have a limit of 2, iirc.

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Entry subscription is actually 1 character per server for a maximum of 8 characters total per account.
Standard subscription is 8 characters per server for a total of 40 characters total per account.

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Originally Posted by HyoMinPark

Entry subscription is actually 1 character per server for a maximum of 8 characters total per account.
Standard subscription is 8 characters per server for a total of 40 characters total per account.

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I was looking up this info to reply. I dont like having alts(the only time ive ever used them in other games was to pretend not to be me or get around stupid restrictions), so i downgraded to the Entry subscription ages ago. I basically get the 90 day price, but im subbed month to month. The "downside" is that i cant have an alt i dont want to make. Boo. Hoo.

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Originally Posted by Stoutale

Other then if you use the same gear for a different job (which I’d rarely do, if I want a different job I want it DIFFERENT) and the msq being lengthy (but still the best non Duty exp it seems) no one has really said why alts aren’t better. One person said two character limit so there is that, although I thought I had eight spots available

I’ve just seem multiple posts asking how to get exp after the msq is over without doing duties and to think of doing an alt job off only hunts, fates and duty pugs I’d probably just quit. I think I’m just old school and the game is more new

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It really depends on the person.
I personally like to keep it all focused on one character, rather than (as some of my friends do) split it up between alts. One has two characters they (somewhat) actively level, one for DoM(plus Ninja) and one for DoW(minus Ninja).

I can understand someone wanting to keep their characters, well, in character with whatever class they set them up as, but to me it doesn't make sense(and the leveling alt classes is super easy if you utilize all the resources at your disposal - I can get a level a day just doing roulettes and daily hunts while in the mid-high 60s).
The challenge log(Dungeon and Commendation categories), roulette bonuses, SB hunts(100k+ per monster bill), and the HW hunts(can't remember the exact EXP since I haven't done them in a few months honestly, but it does add up and is super easy EXP at the higher levels). Use all your resources(those mentioned before + food/sanctuary bonus/FC EXP bonus - or the scrolls you will get from squadrons), and you won't need to grind any particular dungeon very often.

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Originally Posted by Stoutale

Other then if you use the same gear for a different job (which I’d rarely do, if I want a different job I want it DIFFERENT)

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On this particular point, you might be confusing gear and glamour. Yes, most of us would want our different jobs to look different, but that’s about using glamours - otherwise you’d have to deliberately equip weaker gear to some classes just to make them “different”! (Which you still *might* do at max level for jobs you don’t care about so much, or two jobs at similar levels sharing gear, but generally there’d be no point to it while you’re leveling up.)

Achievements, minions, mounts, titles, glamours, some Mog Station purchases, beast tribe reputations, currencies, content progress/unlocks and loot cannot be shared between characters. If you don't want to grind any of that twice or more times then it's better to play only one character.

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Originally Posted by Stoutale

Other then if you use the same gear for a different job (which I’d rarely do, if I want a different job I want it DIFFERENT) and the msq being lengthy (but still the best non Duty exp it seems) no one has really said why alts aren’t better.

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A question in the form "why is X better?" assumes as a premise that X is indeed better, which isn't necessarily the case here. A more fitting question would have been more like "why do some people prefer X?" In that form, the fact that some answers don't apply to you doesn't negate them from being answers.

Some people like to do everything on a single character, leveling up all jobs that they're interested in on that one. Others like to have multiple characters and spread things out a bit. There is no single "right" answer that applies to everyone. There are pros and cons to each, and it's up to you to decide which is more important to you. (In fact, things like the MSQ some people place in the "pro" category while other people place the same thing in the "con" category. If you want to replay it, alt characters are the way to do so. If you don't want to have to replay it, sticking with a single character means you don't need to.)

A few of the advantages to sticking with a single character:

• Your advancement through the main scenario, your GC rank and your squadron, your chocobo's level, and so on (everything that you need to advance but is not directly about leveling a class) only needs to be done once.
• Gear can be shared between similar jobs. And for gear that doesn't suit your current job, getting it as a dungeon drop can still be useful if you're also advancing the job that it is for.
• The armoury bonus adds a lot of extra XP for leveling all but one of your combat jobs.
• If you want to craft gear but only want to advance the crafting classes once, you don't need to deal with the hassle of trying to pass items back and forth between alts (which is possible but awkward in this game).

A few of the advantages to having multiple alt characters:

• You can re-play the main scenario, getting to see it again, and keeping your leveling more story-driven. (It's not the fastest way to level additional jobs, but it's certainly a more interesting way to do so, at least for players who like the story in the first place.)
• Rewards that have daily or weekly limits can be earned separately for each character, letting you advance and gear up multiple jobs more quickly than if you have to divide a single character's allotment of rewards among multiple jobs.
• You get a chance to play with multiple races, genders, and appearances without fantasia's immersion jarring change to who your character is.

You'll have to decide for yourself which matters more to you. (And lots of people go with a hybrid answer, combining some jobs but not all of them, like one character for all the DoW jobs and another for all the DoM jobs, or some other split.)