Something I would genuinely LOVE is if I could "combine" characters...

So, I'm going to be honest for a second:

I actually don't think FFXIV is very enjoyable if you have multiple characters.

The reason is simply that because so much of the game requires you to run around "unlocking" content, and even basic game features, it can be sort of a drag.

I made the mistake of starting a new character when Heavensward came out. See, initially I race-changed my Miqo'te into an Au Ra, but I wound up kind of missing my old Miqo'te that I'd done so many adventures with. So I used another fantasia to go back to his original appearance, and committed to parking the character at lvl 50 and then leveling a NEW character for the Au Ra.

It's a decision I've regretted ever since.

It's honestly a bummer, having completed all this different content between multiple characters. And also, I've completely certain special-events on some characters, but not others. Certain characters have certain content already unlocked, and then others, I have to spend sometimes HOURS googling various requirements and figuring out "where I left off" on certain quests.

If there is one thing that would make me happy with FFXIV, honestly?

It would be being able to "combine" these characters -- whatever quests any of them have completed, ideally whatever their highest level Job was -- into a single character.

I've definitely decided to start playing a single "main character" now, but it's still kind of a bummer knowing there are certain cool items that are locked to my ORIGINAL main. And like I said, just the general confusion of "wait, I KNOW I've already unlocked this thing before... but... which character was it...?"

Anyways, I don't know if that's helpful feedback for the Devs, or if something like that is even POSSIBLE, let alone FEASIBLE. But that's honestly kind of where I'm at. Especially now as I'm eyeballing whether or not I might want to play a Hrothgar, I'm kind of left wondering "well do I get a fantasia, or should I just start from scratch again at this point because EVERYTHING is kind of a mess already".

This is a big ask. Bad, unexpected, unpredictable things can happen when you start messing with state flags in the ways they would need to be messed with to combine two characters' quest journals into one, and it would require lots of testing. It took them at least two years of work to give us a New Game+ system that didn't involve just resetting every quest flag and making you start fresh.

I don't think they're ever going to allow that. But if they did, I'd take up the offer, even if I had to pay for it.

I abandoned my 1.0 character when ARR came out because I wanted a fresh start with the game and I had admittedly got level 50 on most of my classes through stronghold powerleveling. Though my ARR character has the legacy chocobo, she doesn't have the tattoo, or legacy titles, or the special goobbue, or the piles of dated gear that can be worn on any class. I have no desire to start the game all over on my 1.0 character either, since my new main has holiday items going back to the beginning and I've spent more than I want to know on fantasia and mogstation items.

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Originally Posted by MikkoAkure

I don't think they're ever going to allow that. But if they did, I'd take up the offer, even if I had to pay for it.

I abandoned my 1.0 character when ARR came out because I wanted a fresh start with the game and I had admittedly got level 50 on most of my classes through stronghold powerleveling. Though my ARR character has the legacy chocobo, she doesn't have the tattoo, or legacy titles, or the special goobbue, or the piles of dated gear that can be worn on any class. I have no desire to start the game all over on my 1.0 character either, since my new main has holiday items going back to the beginning and I've spent more than I want to know on fantasia and mogstation items.

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Oh man, I couldn't imagine that! I was honestly bummed I couldn't qualify for the Legacy items in time myself, but yeah, those are legitimately super cool perks to not have access to (I also wasn't aware of any special gear; even more of a bummer!).

As said, it's maybe too big of an ask. Or maybe there's another solution to this stuff I'm just not seeing, like making content-unlocks and cosmetics account-wide?

I understand where the desire is coming from, but SE would lose out on a huge amount of profit if they implemented a change like this. Think of all the fantasia sales they'd be losing, and then all the people buying outfits or mounts on several characters, job boosts/story boosts on those alts, etc. Then the time spent in-game would decrease dramatically for those who have alts (no longer need to work through all those expansions, or levels, etc). Less time needed in-game, less time needing to stay subbed, etc.

XIV as it is lets you do everything on one character, and I love that about the game. I wish more games did this, honestly. But I feel like if you create an alt, you should already know what to expect with the road that lies ahead of you, and expecting progress and everything else to be shared is pushing it a bit. :X

I personally could never make an alt as it's just too much work for my liking. I don't enjoy that type of thing, and it doesn't sound like you do too much either. Perhaps it's time to put one of them to rest and just use the one to continue playing on?

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Originally Posted by Theodric

The game would definitely benefit from some sort of account bound system, so if you unlock a mount or a minion on one character then it should be available on every character. Not that I need such a system myself as I only use one character but it's a system that other MMO's make use of already.

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GW2 has spoiled me with this big-time. Mounts, glams, costumes, mastery-skills, bank storage, and probably other things I'm missing are all shared, and it's great. But then, that is a game where you can only do one job per character, so in my mind it makes more sense that they are far more generous when it comes to what items are shared.

Also, I don't want anyone to think I'm simply SUPER PRO-SE and that I will accept anything they deign to give us. That's definitely not the case, I feel that they do the players wrong in many other ways, but on this particular request I'm just not seeing the need so much. Would I take advantage of it? TOTALLY! I'd save so much on fantasias. @.@; But from SE's end of it, I don't really see where it would benefit them at all.

I'm hoping for new game+ for aar you could change you city state, but I don't think the dev even consider it ffxi had embassies here to hope!

The game would definitely benefit from some sort of account bound system, so if you unlock a mount or a minion on one character then it should be available on every character. Not that I need such a system myself as I only use one character but it's a system that other MMO's make use of already.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

The game would definitely benefit from some sort of account bound system, so if you unlock a mount or a minion on one character then it should be available on every character. Not that I need such a system myself as I only use one character but it's a system that other MMO's make use of already.

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I think many other MMOs that use such a system also restrict each character in terms of class or some other ways that would encourage creating multiple characters.

The problem I have with account-wide system is that I'm afraid that it would encourage developers to make items even harder to obtain such that you would have to make alts to increase the chances of you obtaining such item, since you only need to obtain it once to get it on all your characters.

Also, on an even more personal issue, I sometimes happen not to like how my characters have developed. Without an account-wide system, it's easier to start over by just deleting my character. With such a system, especially in the case like WoW where achievements are account wide and it tells you on which character you earned it, it's harder to start over as there can be reminders. Of course, WoW compounds the issue by preventing permanent character deletion past a certain level. To start over, I have to delete my WoW account and create a new one.

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Originally Posted by linayar

Of course, WoW compounds the issue by preventing permanent character deletion past a certain level. To start over, I have to delete my WoW account and create a new one.

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I've never understood that.
WHY do they do that?

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Originally Posted by ItMe

I've never understood that.
WHY do they do that?

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I think it's to create a sense of attachment. If you can't permanently delete a character, you're more likely to restore it and play with it again in the future. And considering you can't change your character's class, it's not out of the ordinary to put aside a character and then return to it in the future

In some ways, it's good for people who make rush decisions and then regret them, but it's just an annoyance for me who has an OCD about having a character I no longer want still be there.

The game already allows you to be any job on one character.
I know people want access to everything at a fingertip but something as critical as your main character, in my opinion, should not be something you can just change out for an alt.

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Originally Posted by Terin

So, I'm going to be honest for a second:

I actually don't think FFXIV is very enjoyable if you have multiple characters.

The reason is simply that because so much of the game requires you to run around "unlocking" content, and even basic game features, it can be sort of a drag.

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I'm the opposite. I still think it's enjoyable with multiple characters. I love re-experiencing the story, including the growth of my characters from the fresh off the boat/chocobo cart (sometimes)innocent adventurer to experienced warrior. Some of my alts I've later deleted, others I've kept because some quality about them appealed to me.

There's really no need to be combining anything when one character can do it all. It's not like you can play multiple characters simultaneously short of having multiple service accounts. The players just needs to decide what should be on their main and focus on getting that first before playing through the same content to get it on their alts.

I love how FF14 lets you play all jobs and roles on a single character, but I would definitely enjoy if Alts were a little more encouraged regardless. It would be great if characters were at least a little less locked off from each other.

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Originally Posted by Jojoya

I'm the opposite. I still think it's enjoyable with multiple characters. I love re-experiencing the story, including the growth of my characters from the fresh off the boat/chocobo cart (sometimes)innocent adventurer to experienced warrior. Some of my alts I've later deleted, others I've kept because some quality about them appealed to me.

There's really no need to be combining anything when one character can do it all. It's not like you can play multiple characters simultaneously short of having multiple service accounts. The players just needs to decide what should be on their main and focus on getting that first before playing through the same content to get it on their alts.

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There is, unfortunately, one flaw with that logic;

NEW characters can't do EVERYTHING in the game, because FFXIV has a lot of limited-time events and rewards.

That's not necessarily a bad thing -- in fact, one of the reasons I LOVE FFXIV so much is because it has so many events! The problem is, often times those rewards might be one-time only, and so new characters miss out on things you've already earned.

And just look at the earlier poster, who has those cool "Legacy"/1.0 Player rewards, but are ultimately confined to older characters? It's not as though *those* items are ever going to come back.

I definitely see the appeal of a "clean-slate, fresh start". But while I'm clearly very biased about this, I would argue that a lot more players would be happier having those rewards available on other characters.

Like I said, though, I don't necessarily know the "best" way to handle it. Maybe when you reach the Crystarium, the Exarch (or someone) offers to "link" you with your "reflections" (other characters), or something like that? That way, it's A) optional, and B) only accessible once you've invested some real time into your other characters? Heck, you could even argue the Devs might be more likely to consider it, as it might sell additional Job/Story boosts!

As a rampant Alt-o-holic I would love some more QoL for those of us that like to play multiple characters.

I don't want to combine characters, but access to some of the things that I've unlocked, like emotes, mounts, and SEASONAL ITEMS would be really nice.

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Originally Posted by Anarnee

As a rampant Alt-o-holic I would love some more QoL for those of us that like to play multiple characters.

I don't want to combine characters, but access to some of the things that I've unlocked, like emotes, mounts, and SEASONAL ITEMS would be really nice.

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That would honestly be a fine compromise. Like I said, maybe even tie it to reaching the Crystarium, which might make Story/Job boost sales go up to compensate?

I know that at least for myself, I could absolutely see myself playing multiple characters if those limited-time rewards weren't locked. The Hrothgar, for example, I think look really cool as melee characters, but because I think they look goofy wearing robes, I don't see myself ever using a Fantasia to play as one. But I'd be a lot more open to having one as an "alt". Currently, FFXIV just isn't very alt-friendly.

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Originally Posted by Rongway

This is a big ask. Bad, unexpected, unpredictable things can happen when you start messing with state flags in the ways they would need to be messed with to combine two characters' quest journals into one, and it would require lots of testing. It took them at least two years of work to give us a New Game+ system that didn't involve just resetting every quest flag and making you start fresh.

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Yeah, the sheer number of possible errors would keep this from happening. I assume this also means permanently deleting a character in the process. No matter how clear the instructions and number of notifications people manage to make mistakes on such things.

Account wide things would be nice, but that could eat up cash shop profits unless those items were excluded.

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Originally Posted by MsQi

Yeah, the sheer number of possible errors would keep this from happening. I assume this also means permanently deleting a character a process. No matter how clear the instructions and number of notifications people manage to make mistakes on such things.

Account wide things would be nice, but that could eat up cash shop profits unless those items were excluded.

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I mean, coding is coding. Any sort of new feature is as likely to introduce bugs as anything else is.

As far as deleting characters, I can't imagine that being the route they go, although it's certainly an option. If so, it would need to be an out-of-game option, something with several prompts stressing as much. But really, I think going "Account-wide" with stuff just makes a lot more sense, all things considered. But I'm certainly not glued to the idea, though!

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Originally Posted by Terin

I mean, coding is coding. Any sort of new feature is as likely to introduce bugs as anything else is.

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But we're talking about state flags. Even in a much smaller game I would advise against messing with flags if it can be avoided. And XIV hasn't been immune to unexpected flag side-effects. A year or two ago one of the patches had an unintended interaction with a state flag that caused people to see a dragon from an old cutscene in an unrelated new cutscene (or something like that--I'd need to check the patch notes for the details).

All coding can introduce bugs, but not all coding involves 2^n test cases that potentially need to be checked.