To Start Playing or Keep Waiting?

[DeadlySwordz]

Hello everyone. I just need some opinions and some questions answered. Firstly, i was in the beta since the first alpha went live and all the way through open beta. Didn't like some of the things during the betas, as well as player feedback wasn't really even taken into account which made me cancel my CE 1 week before early access went live. Once the game finally went live, the same exact thing being brought up in beta were being brought up again and then that's when they decided to start fixing things. What was the point for us testers then? I have no idea, lol

Anyway, the game has been out for about 8 months now and i saw a deal on collectors edition i couldn't pass up. My local gamestop had it for $25 and i bought the last copy a few days ago, which i didn't even open yet. It is sitting next to me, still sealed in it's plastic wrap lol..

So i wanted to ask you guys a few questions :
1. is it worth for me to open it and start playing, or should i keep waiting for a while longer?

2. What is the most populated server at the moment and what guild/linkshell is aiming towards doing some endgame content in the future etc etc (if released already).

3. I remember in beta that your characters gear needed some repairs but the npc's only repaired it to like 50%. Is this still the case? or do they repair to 100%? Or you had to repair them yourself which took a bit of time for me to get the items.

4. I am assuming the surplus system is still around. So to make your character a lot better, you would still have to lvl a subjob like in FFXI? (I am thinking of making a tank Gladiator, what would be the best subjob?)

5. Any other means of travel other than the anima stuff? Airships, chocobos?

6. Is crafting better now? In beta it felt like crafting was a bit of a minigame within FFXIV, due to the i think 3-4 options you had to choose from. The process to make 1 item took forever.

7. What's the best/populated starter city? In beta i didn't really like Limsa Lominsa.

I apologize if these questions were asked already but i couldn't find them. Thanks in advance!

[Black_Rose]

it's there, so might aswell take a look yourself.
it's still free, so you won't lose the deal XD

[TonyMontana]

Very little of what you didnt like has been fixed.

[Arcell]

1. is it worth for me to open it and start playing, or should i keep waiting for a while longer?

Well if you want to get started on ranking now is the time to start. Battle content changes are coming though so it wouldn't be a bad idea to wait for that if you don't care about getting started on ranking.

2. What is the most populated server at the moment and what guild/linkshell is aiming towards doing some endgame content in the future etc etc (if released already).

Besaid, Lindblum and Mysidia I think are the more populated servers. Might be wrong though.

3. I remember in beta that your characters gear needed some repairs but the npc's only repaired it to like 50%. Is this still the case? or do they repair to 100%? Or you had to repair them yourself which took a bit of time for me to get the items.

NPCs repair to 75% I believe, though it's not hard to get a person to repair your gear to 100%.

4. I am assuming the surplus system is still around. So to make your character a lot better, you would still have to lvl a subjob like in FFXI? (I am thinking of making a tank Gladiator, what would be the best subjob?)

Surplus is still around but they've talked about removing it.

5. Any other means of travel other than the anima stuff? Airships, chocobos?

Anima's still about it, no date on chocobos or airships.

6. Is crafting better now? In beta it felt like crafting was a bit of a minigame within FFXIV, due to the i think 3-4 options you had to choose from. The process to make 1 item took forever.

Well the actual crafting mechanic is the same but it's been streamlined. Doing leves is quicker as you have a repeat option. Adding items to the synthesis is faster and there's a recipe menu you can choose recent crafts from.

7. What's the best/populated starter city? In beta i didn't really like Limsa Lominsa.

Ul'dah is the most populated.

[Griss]

the subjective and server population questions fall outside of the purview of my knowledge. I solve practical problems!


3. I remember in beta that your characters gear needed some repairs but the npc's only repaired it to like 50%. Is this still the case? or do they repair to 100%? Or you had to repair them yourself which took a bit of time for me to get the items.

the amount of repair from a npc was raise to 80% i think (its been a while since i had to use a npc). The durability lost from use has been significantly lowered if you are not using the gear while under is "Optimal" rank. they have also added a rather handy icon displaying that you are seeking a repair in your bazaar. its not that much of an issue these days.

4. I am assuming the surplus system is still around. So to make your character a lot better, you would still have to lvl a subjob like in FFXI? (I am thinking of making a tank Gladiator, what would be the best subjob?)

Yes surplus is still around. How ever they seem to have removed the final stage where you do not gain any sp. The entire system it self is being phased out as well.

5. Any other means of travel other than the anima stuff? Airships, chocobos?

no. How ever things have been changed a bit to ease the use of anima. anima regens slighly faster then it use to. porting to citys had there cost cut in half. your also able to "favorite" three camps so you can teleport to them for a reduced cost as well

6. Is crafting better now? In beta it felt like crafting was a bit of a minigame within FFXIV, due to the i think 3-4 options you had to choose from. The process to make 1 item took forever.

While the ui slowness has been removed and they have added multiple ways speed up the imput of materials and make local leves less frustrating, and a lot of the under the hood mechanics of crafting have been altered or improved since testing started. the actual act of crafting its self has remained unchanged, it was always a minigame.

7. What's the best/populated starter city? In beta i didn't really like Limsa Lominsa.

By most accounts no mater what server your on Uldah is the city with the most hustle and bustle. Theres a saying in my shell. If you cant find it in uldah, you ain't finding it.

and before you ask. Stability issues aside the market wards have come a long way. the market wide search function has made finding what ever your after a snap and you can see exactly how much things are being sold for so do not fear getting ripped off.

[Nipa]

Play it for like a week, you'll probably see everything worth of seeing. Then come back in 6 months.

[Chrees]

Arcell is pretty much spot-on with all of your points. Of course, I'd recommend you come play on Lindblum, as we are fairly populated (not as much as Mysidia, Cornelia and possibly Besaid, but pretty far up there) and have an active community, but I'm biased, haha. As was also mentioned, Ul'dah is the most populated, but you shouldn't let that influence your starting nation. A walk to Ul'dah from Limsa Lominsa and Gridania is only like 30 mins. and it's a mostly safe path.

If you are going to wait, I wouldn't wait for long with Patch 1.18 coming out mid-June. In my opinion, you might as well start now and get a hang of the game so you can be prepared for the dungeon that will be released as part of the patch. While there hasn't been anything substantial added content-wise, the game does have a much better feel to it since release.

As Black_Rose mentioned, the game is still free-to-play, so since you already bought the game, you don't really have anything to lose.

[Gracious]

If you didn't like it before you probably will not like it now. You should wait until you think it's up to par with what you expect so you are not disappointed again.

[Dargoth_Draconia]

Come play on Wutai and join Diplomats. Things are being changed at a steady pace and the game is getting its first big content patch of sorts in Mid June, and some battle mechanic changes are happening as well. They haven't said what exactly but they said the first of many will be coming with that patch. Arcell answered your questions well.

My game name is the same as on here, here is our linkshell website, http://dip-set.enjin.com/
Wutai is just as populated as Mysidia that much I am certain of, there are many good linkshells to join including ours. We are always looking for new blood. Better to start playing now so when the R30 dungeon comes out in about a month you can start doing that content. I will personally help you out if you message me.

[ObeiKinstar]

I been playing since closed beta, and I can say while they have fixed a lot of things, theres still much to be desired. The only reason to start the game now is if you want to get a head start on your ranking up. Otherwise I would wait at least until mid june when patch 1.18 is supposed to be implemented with a bunch of battle system changes.

They are introducing a story that ties in with the lore about the beginning of the 7th umbral era, along with a some quests. If that kind of thing interests you, it is kinda neat to see the world take shape as they are improving/fixing things and have lore to go with it. But its still very limited.

So, if you like story/ want to see the world take shape/ want to advance ahead of others start now.

If not, then wait till 1.18 gets implemented and see what ppl have to say about the game mid-june.

Good luck!