Just an idea; "Linked" Characters

So, I've generally always played MMO's where you have loads of "alts". FFXIV is obviously unique in this way, because you can play *every* Class/Job on a single character, and in fact, I would say the game generally encourages you to just do that.

Which hey, that's awesome. Absolutely no complaints there.

But what if you were able to "Link" characters, effectively letting you treat them as "alts", while still carrying progress on a single one?

Let me explain a bit what I mean...

Throughout all of ARR, I played this character, a Miqo'te Monk. I could totally use Fantasia to change him. In fact, when Heavensward first released, I did exactly that, changing to an Au Ra. But... then I felt bad.

It wasn't that "I missed being a cat-person", but I missed my *CHARACTER*. The Devs did such an amazing job animating him and giving him life, he felt like an actual character in the story itself! So much so, that I felt bad when I essentially "erased him from existence". So I used my second Fantasia (I had two at the time), and changed him back to his old self... despite having no intention of playing him.

Instead, I thought, I'll play up a NEW character, a Xaela, who I'm sure I'll get equally attached to!

However, there are countless drawbacks to that. Obviously, I lost all of the progress I made not just on the MSQ, but also all of the side-quests. In addition, when I just recently returned to the game, only my original Miqo'te Monk was in a position to purchase a house (even after buying a boost for my Au Ra character). Since the Housing system is super wonky, that means my new Au Ra literally can't even access, let alone decorate or teleport to my new house.

But, considering the story seems to be implying some "alternate realities" stuff... I wondered...

What if you could mark characters to be "Linked", they would essentially share experience and quest progress, but you still have the benefit of having all these different appearances to choose from?

Or heck, if you could "link" Characters to specific Job stones? So maybe when I become a Dark Knight, I switch to my Xaela. Or maybe when I become a Warrior, I could become a cool new Roegadyn character I haven't even started, or maybe becoming a Bard, I could play as a female character?

Again, *THIS IS JUST AN IDEA*. And one that would need a *LOT* of fleshing-out before being even remotely feasible.

But hey, I think it would be kind of cool to be able to carry all of your progress forward, being able to play multiple "characters" without having to invest in them all separately.

Can understand the desire for this, but this is a major reason they sell jump potions through mogstation.
They're not going to give up that revenue stream.
Unfortunately, if you want to start a new alt with the story/job progress of your main, you'll have to pay for it, or grind.

Syncing progress between characters would be useful for maintaining a character on each data center. If you logged into one it could sync achievements and quest progression from the character it's linked to.

It would go some way to addressing the damage done by splitting people up. I doubt they would actually do it, but then I doubted they would do world visit and they did.

I don't mind leveling my alts (there's already an alternative to boost if I ever decide I do) but I'd love it if they added something that made doing reputations faster for alts.

I'm about to finish Ixal again on an alt tonight but I'm not looking forward to the rest or doing it on my other alt.

I don't think it needs to be shared or automatic but just a buff to help speed it up would be fantastic. Some account-bound boon my main could somehow get to my alts would be perfect... though its hard when I can't even send them mail.

i'd like to link seasonal or special events to the account, so when i make a new alt any rewards i got for things that don't exist anymore would just move over. Like the current FFXV car or outfit. Or link all your characters on one server so they can share one slot in a guild if desired. I don't mind levelling for the other stuff.

Just an achievement synch would be good enough for me. Making combined progress on things like S-rank kills and achievement FATEs would be nice, as would bring able to reclaim past event gear from the Calamity Salvager for any future characters.

Though perhaps it would also mess with the ability to replay those events in the first place? And an optional synch would be getting complicated.


Also I can definitely relate to the issue of not wanting to delete a character even if you don't play them. I have an abandoned Lv10 character that was my first entry into the game, before I decided I wanted a different character design. I never play as her, and it's a server that would be a good choice for starting a new alt on... but I can't bring myself to delete her.

What want them to do is link all your alts on same account to your private housing. Its dumb they don't all share the same housing.

I would just like all hairstyles and emotes unlocked on one character to be unlocked on another character. Can't have any of the seasonal event stuff I've unlocked on my main character on my alt.

I guess yeah, even just unlocking "features" and emotes/cosmetics would be pretty great.

It's really been sort of deflating that, even after boosting my new character, it feels like he's *so* far behind my original character (which is funny, because he's actually 10 levels higher). He just feels super bare-bones. Being able to have them "linked" in some capacity would be great, almost like your characters are sort of a classic "party" of their own. Or like I said, kind of like "multiverse" versions of each other, connected as crystal-bearers, that sort of thing?

My main RDM is on the Aether DC. I have one alt on Primal & on Crystal. Just leveled my alt RDM on Crystal to 70. I wish I could link them together for the purpose of sending them gear that my main RDM isnt using or emotes & mounts that my main has but the alts do not.

I definitely relate to what you're talking about. Even when I have used a fantasia on my retainers, I don't use the same name and their previous employment to me effectively ended at that point. With that in mind, using a fantasia on my own character is absolutely unthinkable as I feel like I would essentially be killing off my character.

I'm starting up a Viera alt come ShB. I was going to start her up early and start getting access to stuff and then just use a fantasia, but clearly I have a thing with getting attached to the characters I create, so I chose to wait. While the features you are suggesting would be nice, I am actually looking forward to going through the MSQ again as not all of it registered and was committed to long term memory.

The 'linking' between the two characters is going to happen through their lore. My Viera isn't going to be a WoL like my main, but will possess the Echo. Most of what she experiences via the MSQ isn't going to be what she personally does, but rather projections of the past made possible through the Echo. She doesn't understand why she's getting these projections, and just knows that she must pursue and seek out the WoL.

Even though I have to grind through the levels and the content again, what is going to help with that and making her own path is taking on new jobs and acquiring different soulstones I currently don't have with my main character. I'm a healer main now and focus on SCH and WHM, with DRK as my tank; my Viera will be ranged DPS with focus on DNC and BRD and will likely have WAR as her tank. I am very much looking forward to writing up the lore for the link between the two!

It's basically what fantasias are for if you want to be a different looking character.

They honestly need to just make glamour, emotes and minions bind on account. It would give a lot more incentive to level at characters on other servers to play with friends.

I just want to link my achievements, calamity salvager, mounts, minions, and any other event glamour items to be linked between alts, because some of us have a hard time getting a chance to create an alt on our main server so we don't have the luxury of getting all the characters we want through the content we want before the devs remove it from the game. :T

Well that, and having EVERY SINGLE mog station purchase be account-wide (and have that be retroactive). Because, c'mon SE... 7 dollars for an emote most F2P games include for free??

Honestly, the more I play FFXIV, the more I feel like a feature like this would honestly be *SOOOO* great. For example, I'm really looking forward to the Hrothgar, but... do I want to change my Au Ra, who I am only JUST beginning to get to a point I'm happy with him? And you know, I've also always *kind of* thought about starting a female character, but I couldn't imagine trying to split my time with yet ANOTHER character...

Being able to sort of have "multiple characters-in-one" would honestly be amazing. Like, being able to have a Lalafel Black Mage (for some reason, I've always wanted one), maybe a female Miqo'te (or Viera) Bard, continue enjoying my old male Miqo'te Monk, while also rocking my Au Ra Dark Knight, and eventually probably a Hrothgar Dragoon... Honestly, that would *MAKE* the game, for me!!! Especially, not having to worry about "splitting progress", or having to "re-unlock features" and re-do the exact same content over and over again.

Heck, I'd even be fine if their actual *MSQ* progress was reset, so long as you still had access to the different features and progress was saved.

Like I said, I know there would be a lot of logistic to figure out. Maybe it becomes as simple as tying a "character" to each "Job Crystal". Not sure what that would mean for individual character-names (maybe NPC's would prefer to the CHARACTER name, whereas the rest of the game and other players would still treat you by your "main-character's name"?).

I dunno. I just feel like, if they could implement something *LIKE* this, I could see myself enjoying the game even more. Being able to enjoy the game and story from multiple characters (again, maybe the story just treats the Warriors of Light as a sort of "multiverse" thing), having all that visual variety, I think would be super, super cool

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Originally Posted by Terin

So, I've generally always played MMO's where you have loads of "alts". FFXIV is obviously unique in this way, because you can play *every* Class/Job on a single character, and in fact, I would say the game generally encourages you to just do that.

Which hey, that's awesome. Absolutely no complaints there.

But what if you were able to "Link" characters, effectively letting you treat them as "alts", while still carrying progress on a single one?

Let me explain a bit what I mean...

Throughout all of ARR, I played this character, a Miqo'te Monk. I could totally use Fantasia to change him. In fact, when Heavensward first released, I did exactly that, changing to an Au Ra. But... then I felt bad.

It wasn't that "I missed being a cat-person", but I missed my *CHARACTER*. The Devs did such an amazing job animating him and giving him life, he felt like an actual character in the story itself! So much so, that I felt bad when I essentially "erased him from existence". So I used my second Fantasia (I had two at the time), and changed him back to his old self... despite having no intention of playing him.

Instead, I thought, I'll play up a NEW character, a Xaela, who I'm sure I'll get equally attached to!

However, there are countless drawbacks to that. Obviously, I lost all of the progress I made not just on the MSQ, but also all of the side-quests. In addition, when I just recently returned to the game, only my original Miqo'te Monk was in a position to purchase a house (even after buying a boost for my Au Ra character). Since the Housing system is super wonky, that means my new Au Ra literally can't even access, let alone decorate or teleport to my new house.

But, considering the story seems to be implying some "alternate realities" stuff... I wondered...

What if you could mark characters to be "Linked", they would essentially share experience and quest progress, but you still have the benefit of having all these different appearances to choose from?

Or heck, if you could "link" Characters to specific Job stones? So maybe when I become a Dark Knight, I switch to my Xaela. Or maybe when I become a Warrior, I could become a cool new Roegadyn character I haven't even started, or maybe becoming a Bard, I could play as a female character?

Again, *THIS IS JUST AN IDEA*. And one that would need a *LOT* of fleshing-out before being even remotely feasible.

But hey, I think it would be kind of cool to be able to carry all of your progress forward, being able to play multiple "characters" without having to invest in them all separately.

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Maybe they could do so that once the alt is at max lvl u can link it with your main character

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Originally Posted by zeylos

Maybe they could do so that once the alt is at max lvl u can link it with your main character

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I think that's actually a great happy-medium!

Even if they have to be on the same Data Center or even World, I would just *LOVE* something like this.

I really, REALLY hope they'll consider this.

Not only would I be WAY more inclined to spend time playing multiple characters, but also, it would just be nice to not have to worry about "Well I started the game playing Character#1, I've already started playing Character#2, but now I have to juggle which character has done which things, which items they attained that other cannot, etc".

It would be such a godsend to be able to enjoy the game on multiple characters. Even if they have to be max-level, as another player suggested, before they can become "linked". It's obviously been YEARS since ARR was in session, but I did quite a lot with this character. I have begun playing a new Au Ra character, and it's been a CONSTANT series of bummers to have to juggle "what stuff have I done on which character, and is it worth bothering trying to complete the same content multiple times?". And you know, I really want to try a Hrothgar when they come out, but is it just going to be the same problem? I'm already really liking my Au Ra, and I don't want to "lose" him just because I want to play as the Hrothgar when they release.

I had a thought, I have an Au Ra but the issue is the game is such a slog unless/even if you buy a story skip AND a boost.

So I thought, maybe... the exp bonuses you get for maxing jobs on the main, could apply to the alt as well. However, it only applies once, so lets say if you max gladiator on the main, if you max it again on the alt, you don't get the bonus again.

As well as linking all mounts, hairs, minions, etc.

I'd rather have mount/pet/title/achievement/hairstyle and emote shared between characters.

Honestly, I really hope they might consider something like this. I really kind of dig the Hrothgar (even though I *REALLY* wish they had a canine face option, and longer beards), but there's just no way I would ever play one with the current system. However, if I knew that all of my Achievements, Mounts, content unlocks -- all that stuff were shared? I'd absolutely have a Hrothgar!

Like I said, the specifics would be really hard to iron-out, I can totally see where it might be super difficult. In hindsight, I really wish I had just only played one, single character. But if they were able to "link" or "combine" them somehow, I would be absolutely ecstatic.

devil's advocate time. this just sounds like a lot of wanting something for nothing to me. in a game where you can do everything on one character, you technically never need an alt. that's on you. the technical limitations on char vs account wide items is very real.

I'd just like mounts and stuff to be linked.

This idea sounds amazing, but I don't think it's likely the devs would implement something like this, unless there are many more people requesting it. I myself have have 9 alts and will be making another when ShdB drops. I have though of using a Fantasia, but I don't want to get rid of my Miqo'te who I've made a lot of progress on. Who knows, maybe Yoshida will surprise us.

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Originally Posted by DrWho2010

devil's advocate time. this just sounds like a lot of wanting something for nothing to me. in a game where you can do everything on one character, you technically never need an alt. that's on you. the technical limitations on char vs account wide items is very real.

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Honestly, it's more like... Okay, this is a highly personal issue, but hopefully paints some context.

I suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It's a legitimate, neurological disorder. There's really no "cure" or even "overcoming" it, just sort of learning to cope. Some things bother you too much, though, and there's no fixing it.

When I first started FFXIV, I tried a couple different characters, but landed on a male miqo'te; this guy! But I researched them pretty extensively, and decided "Starting in Ul'dah as a Pugilist would make the most sense for a Seeker of the Sun". Over time, I grew pretty attached to this character.

Now here's the problem. When it came to choosing my Grand Company, I literally thought "Well, Pugilists have a skill called Twin Snakes, so I guess Twin Adders makes the most sense for this character?". Pretty weak reasoning, but it's all I could come up with.

I've really never been happy with that decision, though, and ESPECIALLY not for any sort of a Dark Knight character.

So, I decided to just create a brand-new character. In fact, I actually started two; a Marauder that joined the Maelstrom, and a Gladiator that joined the Immortal Flames. Part of suffering from OCD is that it leaves you incredibly indecisive. I wound up just level-boosting the Gladiator in the Immortal Flames anyways, but... well, I'm still second-guessing if that was the "right" choice.

So anyways, now I've gotten the FFXV Regalia car on this new character, I've done a *little* content, a lot of Gold Saucer stuff... but it doesn't even scratch the surface of what all I'd done with my ORIGINAL character.

But now, it's sort of like all of my "work" and "effort" has been split between two separate characters. Which really kind of sucks, because I love my original miqo'te -- who now owns a Medium-size House -- but I also REALLY dig the way the Au Ra look. And now, I also really want to be able to try a Hrothgar, but I'm worried that I'd be unsatisfied with how they look in robes and lighter armor, so I don't think I would be content using a fantasia.

HOWEVER...

If I were able to effectively "share" my progress -- even if it were only among max-level characters -- I would be able to keep the original character I'm so attached to, while also being able to fully enjoy playing an Au Ra, and maybe even enjoy the new Hrothgar race, at least for the Jobs I feel "work" for them.

For me, it's not about "putting in less work". It's about having the freedom to play the character I truly *want* to play, and have the freedom to play something different. It's not even about saving myself the need to buy Fantasia potions. Because of my OCD, there are simply a lot of things that Fantasia doesn't let you "fix".

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Originally Posted by Jeeqbit

Syncing progress between characters would be useful for maintaining a character on each data center. If you logged into one it could sync achievements and quest progression from the character it's linked to.

It would go some way to addressing the damage done by splitting people up. I doubt they would actually do it, but then I doubted they would do world visit and they did.

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yeah this would be great for me I have friends that are now on a different data center too involved with their server and I'm too involved with my server

I simply want a shared inventory space, along with the option to use all mog station items on characters on the same account.

I'm trying to start FFXIV again, and honestly, this is still kind of an issue for me.

The trouble is, I have my "original Main" (my Miqo'te Monk, who owns a Medium-size house), and was the character I played since ARR launched through Heavensward's release, and then two "alts".

The reason is that, with my original Main, I designed him specifically to be a Miqo'te. I chose Pugilist, because I felt it was the most "fitting" choice for a male Miqo'te to be (starting in a location I thought suited him as well). I wound up joining the Twin Adders, though, and always sort of regretted it (even though you can change GC, your "Unending Journey" permanently marks which GC you joined initially).

I wound up level-boosting one of my "alts", but then ran into the problems of "Oh, I haven't done X on THIS character, that was my old one!".

Again; extremely frustrating.

If characters cannot be "linked" in some way, it would at least be nice if they could be "merged" or "combined" into a single character. One who has all of the things I've earned, including many limited-time things.

Because at it stands, it's just a major bummer to feel like you "wasted" a bunch of time on different characters.

again. that's on you. you made a choice to do it. just because you have a bunch of alts with various progress not making you happy... you should just abandon them and do everything on one.

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Originally Posted by DrWho2010

again. that's on you. you made a choice to do it. just because you have a bunch of alts with various progress not making you happy... you should just abandon them and do everything on one.

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True. Consider this, though;

The Hrothgar are pretty cool, right? But they're obviously not going to look good in EVERY type of armor. And since they're unable to wear all helmets, that leaves them missing out on a lot of "looks" that other Races get to experience.

Or Lalafel characters, I wouldn't necessarily play one as a "main", because they just aren't going to rock those heavy armor sets the same way.

But now, imagine if you could, let's say, assign "characters" to your different Job Crystals? So when I'm a Monk, I'm my good ol' Miqo'te that I love. But when I'm a Black Mage, I can be a cool little Lalafel. Or maybe when I'm a Paladin, I'm a big, leonine Hrothgar. Or a Dark Knight, a brooding Xaela edgelord.

Even though I despise WoW, one of the few things I enjoy is that every character can offer a sort of "experience" all their own. FFXIV technically offers every bit as much variety (and looks a whole lot better doing it), but the game is really built around playing a single character.

I just like the idea of expanding that somehow. I don't know what the best solution would be. All I'm saying is that it would be cool to bounce around different "characters", without completely resetting your progress.

I don't have alts, and I don't use fantasia because I would hate to lose my Au Ra, the bard I started with. But if I had the option to choose a different race\gender for each of my other jobs, once I reached level 80 with them, I would be delighted. I could keep my bard as Au Ra and try all the other options for my other 5 level 80. Definitely I would experiment a lot and buy a lot more fantasias compared to now, when I have no reason to buy any. It would be wonderful for me.

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Originally Posted by Oichi

I don't have alts, and I don't use fantasia because I would hate to lose my Au Ra, the bard I started with. But if I had the option to choose a different race\gender for each of my other jobs, once I reached level 80 with them, I would be delighted. I could keep my bard as Au Ra and try all the other options for my other 5 level 80. Definitely I would experiment a lot and buy a lot more fantasias compared to now, when I have no reason to buy any. It would be wonderful for me.

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Sorry, I disagree. You are playing 1 character, not a party of characters. Your character shouldn't change race and gender based on their job.

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

Sorry, I disagree. You are playing 1 character, not a party of characters. Your character shouldn't change race and gender based on their job.

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I understand your point, but I would love to be manifold, I can't help it :)

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Originally Posted by Terin

True. Consider this, though;

The Hrothgar are pretty cool, right? But they're obviously not going to look good in EVERY type of armor. And since they're unable to wear all helmets, that leaves them missing out on a lot of "looks" that other Races get to experience.

Or Lalafel characters, I wouldn't necessarily play one as a "main", because they just aren't going to rock those heavy armor sets the same way.

But now, imagine if you could, let's say, assign "characters" to your different Job Crystals? So when I'm a Monk, I'm my good ol' Miqo'te that I love. But when I'm a Black Mage, I can be a cool little Lalafel. Or maybe when I'm a Paladin, I'm a big, leonine Hrothgar. Or a Dark Knight, a brooding Xaela edgelord.

Even though I despise WoW, one of the few things I enjoy is that every character can offer a sort of "experience" all their own. FFXIV technically offers every bit as much variety (and looks a whole lot better doing it), but the game is really built around playing a single character.

I just like the idea of expanding that somehow. I don't know what the best solution would be. All I'm saying is that it would be cool to bounce around different "characters", without completely resetting your progress.

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can i introduce you to the unlimited fantasia for life plan? it will only cost all the money you have. mwa h aha hah a! you can add Oichi there to your plan too. lolol

I Support this but sadly I Think that Aint gonna Happen cuz indecisive ppl like me Who want to Play multiple races w/o having to Level alts just spend money on fantasia. Implementing something like your op would cost them money/Manpower while losing a lot of fantasia sales, Id think