Please allow us to join all three companies

[Aeyis]

Being able to get items specifically designed for your class regardless of what company you join? Never mind if the city in question isnt related to your class at all?

Gear, gear, gear.
Is that all you guys think about when you want to join a grand company, for the rewards you can wear and show off?

Sounds just a tad bit spoiled to me, wanting to have it all.
Never mind that you join one of those grand companies for the feelings of nationality, belonging, adventure and having fun.

To the OP specifically:
Why would you have to join any of the grand companies?

I'm currently deciding whether to join the Maelstrom and the Immortal Flames, and im actually put off by the fact that the Maelstrom has equipment for lancer (which is my main combat class)..

Being unable to use the equipment pieces available via the grand companies isnt such a big deal you know.

If you truly only care about gears, just join the grand company that supplies your main class. Noones forcing you but yourself.

[Shikaree]

You can join all 3 as a recruit.

But no, I say stick with one. FFXI sure as hell didn't allow you to be a part of more than 1 at the same time and I believe in nation pride.

If anything I'll be fine with future nation representations being separate, comparing Ishgard to Aht Urhgan or your present day nation to your past nation affiliation when using FFXI examples.

If you mean being open to joining others after picking one, then that's okay too as long as the game finds a fitting punishing for jumping.

[Nuru]

Being able to get items specifically designed for your class regardless of what company you join? Never mind if the city in question isnt related to your class at all?

Gear, gear, gear.
Is that all you guys think about when you want to join a grand company, for the rewards you can wear and show off?

Sounds just a tad bit spoiled to me, wanting to have it all.
Never mind that you join one of those grand companies for the feelings of nationality, belonging, adventure and having fun.

To the OP specifically:
Why would you have to join any of the grand companies?

I'm currently deciding whether to join the Maelstrom and the Immortal Flames, and im actually put off by the fact that the Maelstrom has equipment for lancer (which is my main combat class)..

Being unable to use the equipment pieces available via the grand companies isnt such a big deal you know.

If you truly only care about gears, just join the grand company that supplies your main class. Noones forcing you but yourself.

Going off of what you are saying, you'd have to make more characters to experience all of the Company back-stories. Its not just about gear, its about the big picture of being locked down to one company without any options at all to be able to switch, regardless if you have covered all of the content for that company or not.

If its one thing i can quote from YoshiP, is that he feels we should be able to play the game how we like. Being tied down to one nation is only a restriction, it doesn't really promote anything at all. Sticking with one nation with the option to move over will promote freedom but will have consequences. Its really up to the player.

[Abriael]

FFXI played out alright on the 3 country main scenario's I don't see why not for FFXIV

There is already different main scenarios' for the three countries in FFXIV.

Grand companies are mercenary companies, and they are an entirely different pair of sleeves.

[Estellios]

I personally don't mind only joining one as long as we can help friends in other companies with their quests/etc. There's a decent spread of armor among all 3 for DoW/DoM/DoH/DoL and the only really restrictive stuff is the weapons. If we have to pick the same company in order to help each other it would only make the problem worse.

[Trocien]

Sorry Abigail, but your idea builds upon what makes FFXIV a bad game. You and Cairdais ought to go cry on each other's shoulders.

[Nuru]

There is already different main scenarios' for the three countries in FFXIV.

Grand companies are mercenary companies, and they are an entirely different pair of sleeves.

To be fair, we cant really change our nation state in FFXIV, at least allow for the option to change Companies, but not be in all companies at once.

Mercenary companies shouldn't be considered as the tie-down to any nation state. As I recall, i am alleged to Ul'dah, but I am looking towards joining Limsa's Navy. If i dont like the Navy, i will resign and join another company.

Companies =/= states

[AquaRyu]

Yes please

[Reinheart]

There is already different main scenarios' for the three countries in FFXIV.

Grand companies are mercenary companies, and they are an entirely different pair of sleeves.

That's only up to R30 (not sure which Rank) but after that all 3 becomes same storyline from what I read.
And reason why in the latest Japanese game magazine they explained that they want players to think of grand company as a new starting point and deciding which country to start and stick to.

[Kaizlu]

Do we have to change everything the dev team makes?

I say no. While I understand the "value" of being able to enlist in all of the Grand Companies, I have no problems with making a decision and only being able to choose one. Also, since 1.18 I've seen more people in Gridania and Limsa, and I'm pretty sure that with Chocobos and Airships we'll see more people out of Ul'dah.