Attempting to join friends world...

[mattmo]

I am brand new to this game, just on day 2 of trial. From what I have played, I enjoy it. Typically a huge WoW player (10 years now, still subcribed) and saw my friend playing this game and sparked my interest.

Anyway, I am already borderline ready to say to hell with this game due to being unable to join my friend on the world he selected. What is the expectation for new players wanting to join friends in this game... everyone start from scratch? Is there much cross-world compatibility, like there is in WoW?

Thanks for any assistance with this as it seems very anti-friend so far, but I could be missing something.

[Enkidoh]

Sadly, the servers can only have a certain amount of players logged into them at any one time - if I remember rightly during the Beta it was stated the servers can only handle around 5000 players logged in at any one time - if it exceeds this amount, that server is automatically locked temporarily so that new characters cannot be created on it or existing characters cannot transfer to it from another server until enough players log out. I'm going to hazard a guess and say the server you want to join is Balmung right? Balmung is probably the most popular server in the US server group and thus is often restricted as a result.

Having said that though, I managed to transfer my character to Balmung from Ridill with no problems so it definitely is possible to get on there. It's just a matter of the time of day you attempt to do that (trying during that server's 'quiet' time does help a lot, such as early in the morning).

[mattmo]

Thanks for the reply... I think we are just going to start new on a world.

On that note... I would like to play Conjurer and he is rolling Gladiator, however we are not sure how to start in the same location. He tried physically running to where I start but was unable to get onto the main quest there, unfortunately.

For now we are planning on doing our own thing until level 15 and hoping we can join up then and quest together. Is this possible? Do you need to play certain classes to even start together? Really confused with this at the moment.

[Enkidoh]

Unfortunately, what class you choose at character creation decides what city you start in, based on the location of that class's 'Guild'. Sadly, the Gladiator (GLA) and Conjurer (CNJ) Guilds are located in different cities (GLA starts in Ul'dah and CNJ in Gridania). However, having said that, there is nothing stopping you travelling on foot to either of them - the path is relatively straightforward to follow as long as you have a general idea of where to go (Ul'dah is south west of Gridania, so the path to get there from Gridania is New Gridania>Central Shroud>South Shroud>Eastern Thanalan>Central Thanalan>Ul'dah Steps of Nald.

Just be aware that there are some enemies that lurk nearby along the path that can 'agro' you and at the level they are (around level 30ish at the most), they could easily kill you if you're not paying attention or are quick enough to flee. But they're pretty easy to avoid as long as you don't do something really stupid.

Once you reach level 10 you also automatically unlock the ability to rent a chocobo which can also make travelling a lot easier (if you chose the 'chocoporter' version, it will take you to a destination automatically without needing to steer it, a great help if you don't know where to go!).

[Niwashi]

You can travel to where each other are and there are some sidequests you could do together, but until you reach level 15, your main storyline quests are going to be different, and all located near the city where you started. Once you've done the Gridanian Envoy quest and your friend has done The Ul'dahn Envoy quest at level 15, then you'll both get It's Probably Pirates as your next quest and from there on out the storylines are merged and you can more easily play together. Once every five levels, though, you'll want to go back to the Conjurer's Guild and your friend to the Gladiator's Guild for your class quests.


p.s. You should be able to form a party with your friend even when you're in different cities doing different content. It's not the same as really playing together, but at least you'd have party chat available. (There are occasionally brief storyline instances that are mandated as solo-only and would require you to drop out of that party temporarily when you or your friend reach them, though.) To form a party when you're not together, use Player Search to look up your friend. Right-clicking his/her listing there (or selecting it and pressing square on a PS3/PS4 controller) will give you an Invite to Party option.


Edit:
Oh, one more thing. At level 10, you'll unlock a feature called Guildhests. These are group instances, much smaller and shorter than dungeons, but designed to show players the basics of working together with a group. The game's Duty Finder feature will put together a party for you if you join solo or in a group of less than four, but if you and your friend are in a party together when you register for that Guildhest through Duty Finder, then you'll be together in the same instance. (You and your friend will both need to have done the "Simply the Hest" level 10 sidequest to unlock the Guildhest feature. It's offered in each of the starting cities.)

[mattmo]

Thank you both for all the information, that definitely clears things up. I think we are going to wait until level 15 or so then until we end up on the same main quest path.

One thing I have noticed is when I try to send a party invite to my friend, it says 'Unable to invite to party.' Would this be because we are both on trial accounts still?

Edit: Is anyone willing to explain the whole leveling other classes with the same character thing? For example, say I got to level 15 and started a new class; would I be able to continue playing with my friend or have to go to a beginning zone again, since you'd be back at level 1?

[Garlyle]

To change classes, you first need to complete your level 10 class quest for whatever class you started as - afterwards, you'll unlock the ability to change classes. You will then unlock classes by going to their respective guilds in each of the 3 major cities.

Changing classes is literally as simple as swapping weapons. Your classes all gain EXP individually, so yes - that new class would be level 1, and you'd probably have to go somewhere level appropriate (Although trust me when I say that the area you're in at level 1 is not far from the areas you're in at level 15). That said, alternate combat classes you're levelling (ie those who are lower than your highest level combat class) gain a free +50% EXP bonus, so you'll find that you can catch up very quickly. And of course, you can swap back to your previously levelled classes any time too (so long as you're not in an instance or in combat)

As for the party thing, there are other situations when you can't invite someone (for instance, if they're already in a party, or in an instance) - it might be that. But it might also be because trial accounts because honestly I don't remember what specific restrictions trial puts on you.

[mattmo]

Wow, +50% EXP bonus for classes lower than your highest, that's an awesome idea! Thank you for that explanation, Garlyle. Now level 15 and the game is starting to make a lot more sense.

Edit: Just thinking about this as I play... if I have already completed quests up to say level 15 in the Gridania area, what quests would there be to level with, aside from the Guild quests?

[Rhona]

Any side quests you didn't do, such as in the other main cities. Class quests. Fates are very good xp. Guildhests from level 10, which are a bit like tutorials in preparation for dungeons. From level 15 the first dungeon unlocks and can be repeated. Also with both guildhests and dungeon there's a daily roulette that gives extra xp (it means you get any at random from those already unlocked) can be done once daily on each. I'm sure others will be able to suggest more

EDIT: to add, if your friend and you choose a class from same area it's easy to play together. But even if your class quests are in different areas, you only get one every 5 levels and in between can run fates together in whichever area you want that is level appropriate. Just start new classes at the same time and your good

[Garlyle]

Your class quests for level 1/5 and the Hunting Log EXP bonuses will enable you to get any class up to ~10 pretty quick, especially if you jump into nearby fates while you do those - it takes maybe a couple hours. At 10+ most people will head to Western La Noscea, because that's got FATEs you can grind from 10 to 15+, which is when you'll be able to start going into dungeons for the best EXP growth. The +50% combat EXP, when combo'd with things like dungeon mob EXP, hunting log kills, and FATEs, basically makes up for the fact that it's expected you'll have exhausted your actual quests.