Ul'dah or Limsa Lominsa - most dangerous city state?

[Melinia]

Plus, Lolorito is an idiot. Admitting the refugees into UD, both Ala Mhigans and the Domans, would have boosted the workforce by A LOT! That would improve the profits of the various guilds and stuff. But typical capitalism, Lolorito wants money RIGHT NAO instead of making a killing over a long term.

Not necessarily. Refugees have their own needs such as food, water, places to live, work, etc... And there will always be some who have gotten so used to living by their wits as a refugee that they decide they would prefer to keep doing just that instead of working. Due to all of the above, large groups of refugees tend to be good places to recruit people who might be interested in stirring up trouble.

Thus, yes, there is the potential for long-term benefit. But there's also a lot of potential for trouble both in the short and long-term.

[Ranek]

A city founded by pirates, still fundamentally led by pirates, whatever refugee situation is developing in Uldah doesn't compare to the simple fact that Lominsians will slit your throat if they see you as a threat

[Kletian]

A city founded by pirates..., whatever refugee situation is developing in Uldah doesn't compare to the simple fact that Lominsians will slit your throat if they see you as a threat

The pirates have the code of the Sea however. Good captains keep their crews in line while the evil captains are forced into exile and attacked by authorities. Women seem to have equal standing to men in Limsa as well being leaders and powerful warriors/mages; even their adult workers are pretty happy and get to hang around a beach paradise. Most of the people out in the fields are happy farmers now, even if the lure of the ocean calls them every so often. In Uldah, you've got tons of poor people with nothing to lose by resorting to crime, because the police are even bigger criminals. The land is desolate so people are desperate to survive. Women are mostly property and their female leader is a joke, everyone with influence in Uldah is male.

[Melinia]

doesn't compare to the simple fact that Lominsians will slit your throat if they see you as a threat

And then the crew of the person whose throat was slit will retaliate.

Yes, Limsa Lominsa is a rough place. But there's a certain level of peace there too. Limsa's advantage is that it provides a nice, stable place to do business and get some R&R. If too many fights break out, or too many people get knifed in broad daylight, then that ruins the place. No one wants to rock the boat because it'll ruin the one good place they've all got to hang out. The LL dance quest added in 2.2 touches on this. A pirate steals some alcohol... and his captain disciplines him because the guy the stuff was stolen from is one of their business contacts. And you don't burn people that you want to continue doing business with.

And if a particular crew decides to go nuts anyway? Then the entire city will come down on them like a ton of bricks.

[Kurenshi]

Ul'dah all the way.

Poor in Limsa? If you work hard you could better yourself, with the amount of Ex-pirates working in the outlying villages it beening encouraged by the state. Poor in Ul'dah? get used to it the rich won't let you climb any higher. Even if you're extremely talented in some trade, I could see you being exploited before you are recognized for it.

Rich in Limsa? you could have a very comfortable life (retiring to Costa sounds lovely). Rich in Ul'dah? You better have powerful friends and allies because there will be someone plotting to take that away from you.

Committed a crime of some sort in Limsa and got caught? You'd be punished for the crime but if you were remorseful about it, eventually I think you would get the chance to redeem yourself. Do the same in Ul'dah. You could be rotting in cell for a long time, or just executed. On the other hand if you doing said crime for the right person (rich and powerful person) you could very well be protected from punishment (until it suited them to end that arrangement then you would most likely find all blame landed at your feet).

Got a bit too drunk and bothered the wrong person in Limsa? You'll probably wake up pretty bruised and a broken nose, do the same in Ul'dah? You could have well made an enemy that would take great pleasure in destroying your life, your family, your friends, your pet Chocobo just because they can.

[blackjackets]

Yeah, I'd say Ul'dah's more dangerous, but Limsa's more...seemingly dangerous.

See, in Limsa, you mess with someone, they'll just kick the shit out of you and be on their merry way. In Ul'dah? It's a blessing if they just leave it at stabbing you in the back.

The big difference is that Limsa looks more dangerous on the surface, because it's a rowdy den of pirates, but it's actually not that bad -- Ul'dah, on the other hand, has a thin veneer of civility over everything that hides how dangerous it really is, and that's what makes it the more dangerous city.

[gornotck]

You might say that Gridania is the most dangerous city. As soon as the Elementals don't like you, or don't accept you, you can't even get aid from anyone, so you better hope your exit strategy gets you out of the woods.

[MPNZ]

Well, living in Gridania is not as nice as you would think because of the Elementals (*poofed*) and the questionable stance we have on the Moon Keeper tribes. We really should explore the not so nice aspects of the city states in general. Most of the Moon Keepers are just trying to stay alive and feed their families, and there is a lot of stubbornness and racism in Gridania. Just look at the situation with the Duskwights...

But, yes, Ul'dah is pretty place to visit, but you should never consider living there without an abundance of power, wealth, or authority. And even that might not be enough to save you. It was designed to keep people and their sights from seeing the alley ways for a reason. Ul'dah is very (extremely) wealthy, but not at all as prosperous as the other three city states in Eorzea. Limsa just has rough personalities and people who are better once you get to know them.

[Wadoka]

Gridania's way too close to a Theocracy at heart. Everything is fine... as long as you Conform, and believe in the Common Cause.

Oh, the Elder Seedseer is a good sort; she's no Head Inquisitor. But she doesn't have absolute control over her followers and what They might be doing, in her name, to "sort things out, don't bother the Seedseer, she's a busy Padjal..."

[SorriorDragneel]

The big difference is that Limsa looks more dangerous on the surface, because it's a rowdy den of pirates, but it's actually not that bad -- Ul'dah, on the other hand, has a thin veneer of civility over everything that hides how dangerous it really is, and that's what makes it the more dangerous city.

This sounds like real life these days to me LOL. We need an IRL LL.