Question regarding Free Company membership

[Klefth]

They could just add the same guild features to linkshells and not have to create a new name for it.

But then people would complain for going from having multiple linkshells to being restricted to just one.

[Alhanelem]

But then people would complain for going from having multiple linkshells to being restricted to just one.

Yes. It's better that these are kept as seperate systems- Keeping them independent is advantageous- you can use a linkshelll to communicate easily between a network of friends who don't all belong to the same guild instead of having to use tells. linkshells will still be ideal for that and for looking for group amongst past contacts, while you use your guild for regular events/raids/PvP/whatever.

[Seirra_Lanzce]

You need 4 people to start one (*and those 4 people have to be from the same Grand Company because the FC is formed at their GC desk?)

No you do not need to have all 4 starter ppl to have same GC, any random GC pledger can form a FC as long they is 4 and pledge to one of the GC.

[Altena]

No you do not need to have all 4 starter ppl to have same GC, any random GC pledger can form a FC as long they is 4 and pledge to one of the GC.

This.

So an Ul'dahnian, Gridanian and 2 La Noscans walk into a bar. The bartender says "is this some kind of joke?"
Ok not quite, but the 4 of you don't need to be from the same GC, or city, or any affiliation.

[Exn]

No you do not need to have all 4 starter ppl to have same GC, any random GC pledger can form a FC as long they is 4 and pledge to one of the GC.

Yeah but I wonder how that will work down the line.. Like if your FC is registered to Twin Adder, but you're in the Maelstrom. If they end up doing a ranking system (sorta like how XI ranked each nation every week), you'll be effectively working for an opposing (I know.. not really 'opposing', just different) 'faction'. I'd imagine since they are tying the FC's to the GC's that theres going to be some sorta of ranking system going on?

[JillyBean]

No you do not need to have all 4 starter ppl to have same GC, any random GC pledger can form a FC as long they is 4 and pledge to one of the GC.

It does seem that would be overly restrictive, but it's how I interpreted the first paragraph of the following official translation post of the 3rd Live Letter in September, 2012:

We're proud to announce that the "Letter from the Producer LIVE Part III" video has been released! ....

"Can you tell us a little about Free Companies...." (near the bottom of this very long post)

A: First, you'll need a group of four people. Then, you'll all need to join a Grand Company, whichever you prefer. Afterwards, you can form a Free Company under that Grand Company by visiting the Grand Company desk.

Free Companies each have a shared box for storing items and transferring them between members. However, imagine I’m the free company leader. If I want, I can configure it so that only I have the authority to remove items, and that the other three members can only deposit items.

We’ve created a very detailed system of permissions. Free companies will also have a point system that is similar to exp, which will allow Free Companies to grow. By completing quests, defeating monsters, and conquering dungeons together, the company can grow to level two and so forth.

Leveling allows for greater customization of your Free Company. Players will have more options when designing their company crests and decorating company headquarters, and they can even increase the size of their building. There are also special Free Company achievements. Unlike linkshells, which are more relaxed, Free Companies are more like organizations with shared goals.

Also, if you have a solid group of 8 people and there’s another Free Company you’re friends with, since it’d be difficult to merge Free Companies, we’ve designed an alliance system that allows Free Companies to work together. You’ll be able to utilize a shared discussion area on the Lodestone, and company leaders can control who has permission to post. It’s quite a complex system.

If you’re the type of player that doesn’t want to interact with people on a daily basis, but you have some interest in joining, you can join as a guest. Also, by inviting new people and helping them out, you will be rewarded with items that will help your free company grow more easily. We’re still considering how to implement this. We don’t want to make things too strict, but we don’t want to allow unrestricted access—especially since there is item sharing.

I really look forward to hearing more official details and clarifications regarding the formation and restrictions of Free Companies. Even if we can create our free company under any GC, we will become tied in some way to that GC (while still a member/officer of the GC we originally joined and got our first choco with, etc.) I just wanna know how all this is gunna work, and how easily we can change FC if that's something we decide to do.

[TrystWildkey]

Here's an odd question that hopefully the devs can/will answer:

Do the 4 people needed to form a Free Company need to come from 4 separate Square-Enix accounts?

I ask, because, as anti-social as it sounds, my husband and I would like to use our main characters, and one alt each to create a free company. We've always wished we could trade rare/ex items between the two of us, and have many of the features that the Free Companies will have, just because we're married. He's more of a battle class player, and I am mainly interested in crafting, with maybe one or two battle classes available. The ability to have shared storage space, and gear we can trade back and forth is extremely appealing. He can dump all the drops he gets from battle into the FC storage, and I can go pick it up later to make him pretty things

The ability to alliance with another Free Company makes this a little less anti-social than it seems

[Zenaku]

Here's an odd question that hopefully the devs can/will answer:

Do the 4 people needed to form a Free Company need to come from 4 separate Square-Enix accounts?

I ask, because, as anti-social as it sounds, my husband and I would like to use our main characters, and one alt each to create a free company. We've always wished we could trade rare/ex items between the two of us, and have many of the features that the Free Companies will have, just because we're married. He's more of a battle class player, and I am mainly interested in crafting, with maybe one or two battle classes available. The ability to have shared storage space, and gear we can trade back and forth is extremely appealing. He can dump all the drops he gets from battle into the FC storage, and I can go pick it up later to make him pretty things

The ability to alliance with another Free Company makes this a little less anti-social than it seems

If not you could always get 2 other people to sign up then you can kick them it done a lot in wow also people pay 100gold for that so i don't see a issue with that.

[JillyBean]

... my husband and I would like to use our main characters, and one alt each to create a free company.

If you mean a "mule" character each, I don't see how it would be possible. I think the four people have to be in a party and present themselves to the GC counter as a group. At least that's how I read it. If you can't all be logged in at the same time, I assume you couldn't do that. I could be wrong tho!


Edit: If not, Zenaku seems to have a good idea ^^

[Zenaku]

If you mean a "mule" character each, I don't see how it would be possible. I think the four people have to be in a party and present themselves to the GC counter as a group. At least that's how I read it. If you can't all be logged in at the same time, I assume you couldn't do that. I could be wrong tho!


Edit: If not, Zenaku seems to have a good idea ^^

ya just get some random people who don't have a FC and ask them to sign up pay them a small amount of gil for helping they may not even take the money lol.