Do you remember your first time playing FFXIV?

[MiNuN]

I do . I started with the collector's edition, so it was really easy to remember the whole population within Ul'Dah (but that changed when the standard edition came out, way too many people!).

Other than completing the first quest and talking to every NPC within Ul'Dah.

With my newly-found complete freedom to explore, I ran on to the road that directed me straight to Gridania. The road was packed with people running between cities.

When I just entered the Black Shroud, whenever I saw a player exiting I would stop and talk to them about where I came from and where they were heading!

When I finally reached Gridania city, in every area I visited I would shout "I am from Ul'Dah!!!"

Good times .

So, what did you do with your first time on FFXIV

The "Do you remember your first time playing FFXIV?" is officially sponsored by The Blue & Yellow Club: The Guild of Nakama [Hyperion]

[Mack]

I enjoyed it, until reality kicked in.

[AuctionGirl]

I tried to load up alpha version on my PC, and wouldn't load... was a black screen. After buying a new video card, I ran around LL aimlessly searching for an exit, and never figured out I needed to go down the stairs to exit.

[giftforce]

I didn't even grind my first crafting class until R30 because there was so much demand for items. I miss those hectic days. It was a simpler time.

Tanaka promised us so much in the first version update, so it was possible to enjoy the game in spite of glaring issues because you knew there were better things to come. I don't know that anymore.

[Dragon]

Alpha tests... beta tests... open beta tests... FFXIV Retail... yeah, I do.

[MiNuN]

I tried to load up alpha version on my PC, and wouldn't load... was a black screen. After buying a new video card, I ran around LL aimlessly searching for an exit, and never figured out I needed to go down the stairs to exit.

That sounds hilarious lol.

[Adol]

I remember it taking a month before anyone made undyed cotton cloth, meaning blacksmiths such as I back in the day were having to use primary tools at rank 20+.

Then, when people did make it, it was like 100k per.

[Joeking]

Back then and now is basically the same except I'm wearing an eggshell on my head now.

[Shikaree]

Oh yeah, I remember it pretty well. I got into the second wave of Alpha and I was pretty jittery when I got my email.

When the night came up where I could log in, it was lag, server error booting, and more lag. And very limited choices in races, I took a female wildwood elezen since I knew it would be the only time I'd play one. Pink hair and green highlights. And the creator was much different too, you only had a list and no color previews and limited selections on styles.

And to see Limsa and the island of Los Noscea, was a whole different feeling. Couldn't wait to get off of it when closed beta ended but I feel currently that it's the most appealing area out of there, Thanalan, and the Black Shroud.

Edit: I almost forgot, the stamina bar in alpha @_@

[ObeiKinstar]

OMG! Yes, it was so sweet. The world was alive with PEOPLE!!

I remember doing the same thing with traveling to the different cities. On one particular instance I had just arrived in Gridania and walked into the adventurer's guild.

It was a long way from Ul'dah to Gridania. I wasn't really sure what would await me on the path ahead. The first obstacle I faced was this giant ant. I seen him up the road, surrounded by dead bodies, so I knew I needed to be careful. I moved into some shrubs to get cover and waited for the right time. I waited and waited. He soon turned the other direction and I knew my time had come, I exited the bushes and... WHAT?! He's looking right at me ><! RUN! The chase went on for what seemed like an eternity but thankfully he got tired and gave up the chase.

I kept on the path headed northeast. Before long I had been instantly teleported into a jungle. I was quite confused at this, I wasn't sure what had happened, but it must have been due to the after effects of a great mage battle, or something... Anyways I continued my journey.

It wasn't long before I reached my second obstacle, a river. I had reached a river that ran through and washed out the path, and I couldnt figure out how to get to the other side. I walked around looking for a way across, but I couldn't see any good way. Soon I was contemplating the idea that maybe I would have to run back to ul'dah and buy a hatchet so that I could chop down a tree and make my way across. However I was already a couple days journey from Ul'dah and did not want to make the trip back. So, I sat down and thought about my predicament. It wasn't long before I had seen another adventurer on their way down the path, coming up on the river. I was certainly glad to see him for two heads can solve a problem better than one. I stood up to greet him and before I knew it he had gone down the bank and trudged through the river. I was astonished, why wasn't I able to see this path headed down to the river before? Well I quickly traveled across the river and continued my journey.

I had finally arrived. Gridania was a much more peaceful relaxed place to be compared to the hustle and bustle of city living. I located the adventurers guild and headed that way. When I arrived I was exhausted so I sat down at a table with a couple other adventurers. They must have known I wasn't from around there, I think it might of had something to do with me emptying all the sand from my boots. I explained that I was from Ul'dah and they were so exicted. They wanted to know all about my travels and where I came from and the paths I took. In fact I remember most everyone from that age being very excited and friendly.

But that was then, this is now. I blame the garleans. Ever since they started appearing more and more of the friends I had made have sailed towards new lands. And the ones who stay grow tired and irritated by the constant threat that faces our homes. The threat that there is no assurance our homes will still be around tomorrow. We could be attacked at any time, and our forces are weak, and numbers are few. In my honest opinion, I'm not sure we could survive an attack right now.