What are the actual roadblocks with alts in FFXIV?

[Iscah]

I For those deep in the alt game, well, with all due respect, you're crazy

Hey, I resemble that remark...

I think a lot of the dislike that people have for alts is that you have to go through the MSQ again – which is not an issue if you actually want to go through the MSQ again.

It can also be frustrating with RNG loot (eg. glamours from alliance raids) because your collection gets scattered across multiple characters and inevitably the piece you really want for A will finally drop when you're playing as B who would look dreadful in it. And if you buy gear from Mog Station then only one character gets it and you need to pay again if you want it for other alts.

And you can get bogged down in levelling various classes over again, but if that's what you enjoy doing anyway then it's not really a problem.

All that said, the appeal of alts is just having multiple ideas for characters and seeing them come to life in the game, and then being able to switch freely between them. I enjoy playing around with glamours and seeing how they suit different races and personalities.

Some people use Fantasias instead, of course, but I prefer keeping my characters independent of each other and with lore-accurate names. It's also better for glamour management since dresser content and plates are seperate per character, and I have those filled with very different outfit pieces.

So yeah. Alts are time-consuming and you work on them instead of spending time at endgame with your main, especially if you don't intend to spend money for skips, but from your comments it sounds like you're probably okay with that.

[Omedon]

Hey, I resemble that remark...

I think a lot of the dislike that people have for alts is that you have to go through the MSQ again – which is not an issue if you actually want to go through the MSQ again.

It can also be frustrating with RNG loot (eg. glamours from alliance raids) because your collection gets scattered across multiple characters and inevitably the piece you really want for A will finally drop when you're playing as B who would look dreadful in it. And if you buy gear from Mog Station then only one character gets it and you need to pay again if you want it for other alts.

And you can get bogged down in levelling various classes over again, but if that's what you enjoy doing anyway then it's not really a problem.

All that said, the appeal of alts is just having multiple ideas for characters and seeing them come to life in the game, and then being able to switch freely between them. I enjoy playing around with glamours and seeing how they suit different races and personalities.

Some people use Fantasias instead, of course, but I prefer keeping my characters independent of each other and with lore-accurate names. It's also better for glamour management since dresser content and plates are seperate per character, and I have those filled with very different outfit pieces.

So yeah. Alts are time-consuming and you work on them instead of spending time at endgame with your main, especially if you don't intend to spend money for skips, but from your comments it sounds like you're probably okay with that.

Yeah you pretty much nailed a lot of the pros as to why I'm contemplating an alt. I honestly am so much more knowledgeable about the game now, and between that sense of efficiency itch getting scratched and a really neat glam/concept idea I had for another multi-job character (built around the fae gown from the shop and the weapons from Dohn Mheg), AND just the idea of doing the MSQ with all trusts, a lot of the downsides kind of evaporate for me, because taking the journey again has a unique appeal not tied to any real endgame ambition. Just a fun side project to pick at here and there!