Hello! I'm in love! But a few Questions...

[jujuawake]

Just wanted to say howdy! I am in love with this game! This isn't just a game, it's a WORLD. The only thing that bugs me is that it's not an open world, and that I can't climb or jump off of many places. But despite this fact, I never feel like I am pushed through zone paths. It still feels like a huge open world, which is great, until I try to climb or jump (or look down to the Aetheryte Plaza in Limsa Lominsa but it's not bustling with activity because I'm in the upper decks).

I have a few questions, if I may:

- Anyone know if I can play with my PS4 controller but also use a keyboard? Not sure I would like mouse and keyboard gaming because the controller is great, but a social hindrance for me has been communication. My PlayStation app where I can input text disconnects whenever my phone sleeps, and it's time consuming and frustrating trying to type. So my online interactions have been limited.

- Are all classes viable for soloing in later levels? I am currently level 15.

[jujuawake]

- Am I able to "reduce my level" and go explore areas I have outleveled?

- Where can I purchase a mount? And for that matter, how much gil is considered an average amount? At level 15 I have about 5,000 gil.

- Any lingo or abbreviations or whatnot that are common in FFXIV I may need to know?

Thanks for any help!

[Enkidoh]

Welcome to Eorzea!

Now for your questions... (answers coming)

- Anyone know if I can play with my PS4 controller but also use a keyboard? Not sure I would like mouse and keyboard gaming because the controller is great, but a social hindrance for me has been communication. My PlayStation app where I can input text disconnects whenever my phone sleeps, and it's time consuming and frustrating trying to type. So my online interactions have been limited.

Although I play on the PS version and don't own a PS4 (I own a PS3 however), I do know for the PS3 version you're able to use a USB keyboard with the controller, so I don't think the PS4 version would be any different. The worst you can do is plug a keyboard into your PS4 and try it.

- Are all classes viable for soloing in later levels? I am currently level 15.

The way the game is designed, all classes and Jobs can definitely solo all the way to 50 - it's how I mostly levelled with occasional dungeons for variety. Even classes and Jobs like CNJ and SCH have their own abilities that they can rely on to defend themselves when soloing. Plus later in the game once you join a Grand Company as part of the story and gain your chocobo, you'll be able to summon it as a companion in battle which will help a lot when soloing as well (my chocobo Cobo has saved my furry butt on more than one occasion with his healing spells). But yes, all classes can definitely be soloed, as you can gain exp through ways other than fighting too (such as quests).

- Am I able to "reduce my level" and go explore areas I have outleveled?

At the moment, the only way you can 'reduce' your level is through an automatic function of the game called 'level sync' which only occurs during instanced battles/dungeons and FATEs if you're too high level for that duty. Unfortunately at this time level sync cannot be utilized to fight random enemies which are far lower level than you - of course it's possible SE may implement this later on (like they did in FFXI), but at the moment, level sync is only for FATEs, dungeons and solo instance fights.

- Where can I purchase a mount? And for that matter, how much gil is considered an average amount? At level 15 I have about 5,000 gil.

Don't worry, you'll be able to unlock mounts soon enough, as it's part of the main storyline that occurs (around level 20). As part of the storyline you'll eventually be required to join one of the three 'Grand Companies', and after you enlist, you'll be able to start earning a special currency called 'Company Seals' by doing things like FATEs. Once you've gained 2000 seals, you can then redeem them at the Grand Company Quartermaster for a special item called a 'chocobo issuance'. This item is necessary for a quest that unlocks mounts, a quest which is given by that Company Commander (who is usually standing nearby). Once you've traded the issuance to him you'll be told to speak to the chocobo handler in that area who will then give you your own chocobo which you can name.

This also unlocks all other mounts you may have already gained as well, like the special ones included with the Collector's Edition (coruel and fat chocobo). Once the quest is completed, you'll be given a chocobo whistle, which is a once-only item that you have to use like a potion. It will disappear as if it's been lost, but don't worry. It's added itself into your Abilities menu so open it up and click 'Mounts', and 'Company Chocobo' should be listed there, which you then can simply drag into your hotbar to call whenever you wish.

Hopefully this hasn't been too confusing for you.

- Any lingo or abbreviations or whatnot that are common in FFXIV I may need to know?

Being a MMO, there is a lot of jargon and netspeak that can be confusing to someone who has never played MMORPGs before, but a good resource for the most common terms, abbreviations and jargon used in the game and by players can be found here: http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Di...%20and%20Slang

Anyway, welcome once again - I'm glad you're having so much fun! If you need any further help, don't hesitate to ask!

[Valmar]

if you account for all the Gil on the entire server the average player has about 2million Gil.

[Anova]

- Am I able to "reduce my level" and go explore areas I have outleveled?

There will be level syncs available for any instanced content and the real-time events called FATEs. Otherwise, you will be able to visit most places on the map at any time.

- Where can I purchase a mount? And for that matter, how much gil is considered an average amount? At level 15 I have about 5,000 gil.

The chocobo mount becomes available after a Lv.20 story quest, My Little Chocobo. This quest becomes available after you join one of 3 grand companies. These grand companies are akin to player factions and are used to delineate sides in the upcoming Frontlines battleground patch, Defenders of Eorzea. There is no big difference between them and you are able to change your grand company, although it will require some work to do so.

To buy your chocobo, it will cost you 2000 company seals (token currency earned by doing FATEs, grand company hunting logs, and grand company leves). In general, you will be able to earn enough (or close to) by unlocking and completing the Lv.20 dungeon, Hatalati. It will fulfill a number of hunting log entries and the dungeon itself gives seals.

- Any lingo or abbreviations or whatnot that are common in FFXIV I may need to know?

This is a fairly comprehensive lexicon for your reference.

[Anova]

It depends on the server. Balmung is a legacy server, so there have been players on it since 2009. The player wealth will unfortunately reflect that time spent.

According to Yoshi-P, average gil for players across all servers is just under 300k. The individual rooms and housing are based on this estimate (so players will have to spend a little time before they can afford a room); although the price will fluctuate between servers to adjust for each individual server's averages.