Worth coming back?

[Allumis]

I've not played since the original launch of the game way back when, unfortunately for me it didn't hit the mark. The controls felt sluggish and combat didn't feel engaging, that coupled with all questing being done from lodestones it almost made the world feel disconnected.

However I can see that they have made massive improvements to the game as of late totally revamping it from what it seems so I was considering giving it a second try but had a few questions first.

1) I would mainly like to play on an EU English server so that I'm online at the same time as my peers and so that we mostly speak the same language. Which server would best for this?

[Allumis]

2) I originally rolled a lancer, I mean who wouldn't want to play with a huge spikey stick? How has the class matured over the past few years? Is it a worthwhile investment and from a group perspective does it fill one of the desired "trinity"?
In addition to this does it matter what race, star sign I pick etc? Or are the stats given from these not worth worrying about?

3) Assuming I do go forward and play a lancer what advice would you give to a newbie starting this class?

4) I'm interested in crafting, however coming to the table so late I realise that anything I can offer in terms of a financial gain to myself is going to be limited. Is crafting worth looking at and investing some time in? If so what professions would most likely give a worth while return?

[Allumis]

5) On original release I played using a PC 360 controller, would it be worth digging it out again (can't for the life of me think where I've put it) and playing that way rather than the traditional mouse and board?

6) Why are the forums limited to 1000 characters per post? Is everyone suppose to type in abbreviations?

I probably have a few more questions but thats all that springs to mind right now! Thanks for everyones time.

[Freyar]

1) I would mainly like to play on an EU English server so that I'm online at the same time as my peers and so that we mostly speak the same language. Which server would best for this?
I really can't suggest a server since I've been rolled in from Legacy.

2) I originally rolled a lancer, I mean who wouldn't want to play with a huge spikey stick? How has the class matured over the past few years? Is it a worthwhile investment and from a group perspective does it fill one of the desired "trinity"?
In addition to this does it matter what race, star sign I pick etc? Or are the stats given from these not worth worrying about?
The class is still considered XIV's Huntard, but in the end it shouldn't matter at all. Play what you want, even then you can change on the fly if you want to. Lancer (Dragoon) fills the role of Damage Dealer which is one of the three roles.

Race, Starsign are insignificant to all outside of aesthetic choice or extreme (and I mean EXTREME) min-maxers.

3) Assuming I do go forward and play a lancer what advice would you give to a newbie starting this class?
I really can't say since I haven't spent a lot of time on it. Like most classes it starts out really slow though.

4) I'm interested in crafting, however coming to the table so late I realise that anything I can offer in terms of a financial gain to myself is going to be limited. Is crafting worth looking at and investing some time in? If so what professions would most likely give a worth while return?
I noticed a trend that anything HQ will sell for the most part. I'm leveling all the classes at the same time (to save gil on gear and a management headache), but I do tend to make a profit when I throw HQ results on the market.

5) On original release I played using a PC 360 controller, would it be worth digging it out again (can't for the life of me think where I've put it) and playing that way rather than the traditional mouse and board?
I play with both. Since I'm primarily a PC player, I use a keyboard and mouse when I'm doing serious progression content. FATE grinds, crafting, low-level dungeons are not too big of a deal. It is possible to play the game fully with a controller.

6) Why are the forums limited to 1000 characters per post? Is everyone suppose to type in abbreviations?
Supposed to prevent spam, but it doesn't really work. You can edit your original post and put more characters in after though, so that's a workaround.

[Allumis]

Thanks for the reply, I think its going to be a case of just jump in and see how I get on.

With job roles I assume that we can learn all job roles akin to the system used in FF Tactics then?


Also I've managed to get in touch with some friends who I use to play with back on release and they say they are playing Odin shard (I assume this is mainly English speaking?) however I keep trying to make a character for this shard and it wont let me, it keeps forcing me to pick an alternative, any reasons why?

[Freyar]

*snip*

As far as jobs and classes go, you can change them once you've reached level 10 in what you've chosen and beaten the class quest. After that you can join other guilds without issue and changing after that is as simple as equipping the right weapon.

As far as Odin not letting you make a character, some servers are very busy. Balmung and sadly Odin are among them. They lock down new character creation when capacity becomes an issue. While the status of each server on the launcher is updated every four hours, it is possible to find a small period of time where it is open for character creation regardless so keep trying!

[Sakuraluna]

If it's a heavily populated server then you will get locked out during peak hours. Just try again at a different time of day.

[Allumis]

Been trying for a while now but no luck never lights up like the other shards.


I guess now is a good time to have a search about for my gamepad to give it a go with that.

Thanks for all of the replies



EDIT:

Been on over three hours, refreshing every three minutes and still can't create a character. Do they ever allow creation on this server?

EDIT 2:

Is their any way for a friend already on the server to "invite" me to play so that I'm able to create a character?

[Freyar]

We're talking over the course of hours. You need to find a time where user population is low so you can get in. (Refreshing every three minutes is a bit often and means you're not doing anything else really.) I know Balmung tends to open up for character creation for about fifteen minutes or so during the quietest nights.

[Allumis]

We're talking over the course of hours. You need to find a time where user population is low so you can get in. (Refreshing every three minutes is a bit often and means you're not doing anything else really.) I know Balmung tends to open up for character creation for about fifteen minutes or so during the quietest nights.

I don't know if I could sit around waiting for a 15 minute window to be able to create a character comes around.

So theirs no other conceivable way to get into the server other than just keep trying? seems a bit short sighted for new players wishing to join up with other people they know who already play.