Why you should join a Free Company (From My Personal Experience)

[Vallug]

Coming from WoW I thought I had to be in a FC to run the Raids/old raids because I was unsure if they had a "Raid Finder" so I found one and joined it ASAP only to learn I did not. I am a loner really, I dont mix well with people sometimes but I have not quit this one because of bonuses, and why not? Though I doubt if I had known I did not need a FC for anything besides the bonuses I would of probably never joined one.

[Desidious]

First MMO here and I'm a leader of a decent sized FC based on comraderie and having full time jobs and families. When you don't have much time due to these things you tend to want a stres free game environment.


Needless to say, I've made tons of friends and shared a ton of good memories. It's all on how you choose to play and who you meet. I love The Working Class and all it's members because we are all part of a whole. It's like family without all the crazy step family. Everything I've leaned I've learned doing it with friends.

Experience is what you make it.

[Purrfectstorm]

Thanks for sharing your story. I felt left out of my old FC. I was one of the first to level 50 but I didn't have the MMO experience that some of the other members did. I had played FFXI for almost 3 years but the experience was really nothing similar to FFXIV in terms of gameplay and what was expected of me in fights. I think I really sucked but I also don't think my old FC gave me a fair chance.

People with fixed mindsets act as though skill is something you either have or don't but this isn't really true. I've learned that what you might not have in natural talent, you can make up with practice. I didn't start out good but I'm proud to say that I'm good now. Not that my old FC will ever realize that thanks to leaving me out of every static ever.

Instead, I branched out on my own and formed an FC called "No One Left Behind." I know the name's not great but I wanted something that would immediately convey what it is we're all about. We've had some members who didn't get it. They joined to get help with a fight but never wanted to help others or they thought we should kick inactive players or sell Titan runs.

About this last, I have been asked to join Titan EX merc groups and I've discreetly given my share of the gil back to the buyer - it's not just the players in our FC that we look after. I've kicked members for bashing gay people or women and I've kicked members for being jerks in PUG groups. We try to do our part in the game community; admittedly we don't all have limitless patience. I have politely bowed out of groups that were going nowhere, for example, but raging at other players for wipes is not the answer.

Our FC doesn't do the whole static thing. Yes, we sacrifice some progression for the sake of inclusion, but I think that sacrifice is worth it. Instead of insular groups of players running a single piece of content, we have events almost every night that the entire FC can participate in. Sometimes, it's extreme primals or first Coil. Other times, someone might need help with Sastasha or we're just breaking off into groups for Brayflox HM speed runs.

I'm very proud of our FC. We've come a long way and wound up with a really great group of people. If you want a good reason to join an FC, the right FC can make the game experience so much more enjoyable.

[Isius]

Snip

If this is true, I think what you and your members/friends are doing is a great thing. Instead of the quote in quote 8 man statics groups just hanging out in a shared chat channel, your FC makes people feel like they are part of it then as a outsider, or as a member of their 8. But you also continue this mindset outside of the FC to try, and create a better community not just in your FC, but as a whole in the server, and also to others you might interact with in game. I know this is far from easy to do, but gratz and keep it up! ^~^/

[Kewitt]

Note I agree with the OP, It's 4am and I didn't reread my post, I really need to stop posting at 4 AM. So if things don't make sense that's why!

I'm part of a FC, My hubby and I helped them test stuff in beta, when all the character data got wiped.

Then when the game went live we join a FC that our friend from FFXI had joined. But it really wasn't the right fit for us, so after about 2 months we said sorry to our FFXI friend we need to leave this FC we where not the only ones shortly there after the leader switched server and most member had all but left.

Our FFXI friend went FC less for about 6 weeks. He new where we were and could have asked at anytime for a FC connection but didn't. We did a few dungeons together. When the most recent Hard mode came out he asked if we had done them yet. And I personally don't like doing things I haven't done before with people I don't know. So we did the 3 newest HM. But the 4th was the leader of his new FC/LS and tossed us a LS event after the 1st HM.

Now I like my FC we do weekly treasure hunts, The Safe is full of crafting items for challenge log, if you are willing to make your own items. And most of the time there is someone there willing to help / need help when we offer.
But I talk about 80% in this new LS over my FC.

[Desidious]

Our FC doesn't do the whole static thing. Yes, we sacrifice some progression for the sake of inclusion, but I think that sacrifice is worth it.

Yeah it is worth it but it's always been a problem area in my FC. Someone joins, friends everyone, is a great player, but we lose them because they want to keep moving forward. I always gotta remind myself that it's a game and some people play to win.

[AvalonRed]

I'm very happy to see that everyone is voicing themselves on this thread and appreciate everyone's point of view. I also welcome anyone else that wants to share what's on their mind about FCs, to do so on here.

For those that don't really see a point in joining an FC, keep looking. You will find many that will not be right for you (trust me, I've been there), but perhaps, just perhaps, you'll find one that you will have much more fun with when playing the game. It's kind of like going out, it's always better when you're with the right group of friends and sharing the experience together. It's the quality of friends you surround yourself with and how they compliment your personality. Do they care that you're there? Do they want you there? That's why I acknowledge everyone, and everyone acknowledges each other in our FC. I'll run low-level dungeons, high-level ones, and even help and support those in need during quests. Not because I have to, but because I want to.

For those that agree you should find, join, or have created one that is right for you... I encourage your efforts and wish you the very best in making long-lasting friends on FFXIV.