How many expansions will I have to buy ?

[Reynhart]

If you try to play on a system where you do not have a registered key on your account for that content/system then you can't play.

If you try to play in a new zone where you do not have a registered key... That's all we know for sure.

For once, maybe they should have taken a concept from FFXI...

[FallenArisen0990]

The new jobs supposedly don't come level 1 which I find very hard to believe but I'll believe it when I see it. I assume the confusion is that you need a level 30 to unlock them. Yes they aren't tide to a class but that doesn't mean it can't have a requirement to unlock. But that's my theory. As to lvling them? Go back to them low level dungeons or FATE it up.

[Tiggy]

If you try to play in a new zone where you do not have a registered key... That's all we know for sure.

For once, maybe they should have taken a concept from FFXI...

No. It goes further. For example. I'm on PC and goto a standard ARR zone like Gridania. I log out and try to log in on a ps4 but I am not allowed to because I don't have an active ps4 arr key.

If you do not have a key registered to your account for the area you are in AND the console you are on then you can not log in. It's not that hard. It's how it works today where you must have a key for the system you are logging in on, and judging from the dev responses it's how the expansion will work in regards to new areas.

[Reynhart]

No. It goes further. For example. I'm on PC and goto a standard ARR zone like Gridania. I log out and try to log in on a ps4 but I am not allowed to because I don't have an active ps4 arr key.

For ARR, you couldn't even create a service account if you hadn't registered a key, it's not the same. They can't block an existing account at Heavensward release.

It's how it works today where you must have a key for the system you are logging in on, and judging from the dev responses it's how the expansion will work in regards to new areas.

Yes, in regards to the new areas.

Nothing is said about new jobs (Once you unlocked them on one of your account).

[Kinseykinz]

For ARR, you couldn't even create a service account if you hadn't registered a key, it's not the same. They can't block an existing account at Heavensward release.

Yes, in regards to the new areas.

Nothing is said about new jobs (Once you unlocked them on one of your account).

You are being stubborn about this, and I'm quite frankly, not sure why.

If you want full access, across all your platforms, you HAVE to buy a copy of the expansion for each platform. End. Period.

Why, because while your account will be updated, each platform you play on also needs to be updated. Your account and your platform aren't auto-tied to each other (which is a good thing in that it allows you to play on multi-platforms).

Now, if you want the collectors Edition/Digital CE, you only need to purchase 1 of these, and then standard versions of the expansion for your remaining platforms. The CE items/codes will still apply to your entire account.

However, if you 90% of the time find yourself playing on only one platform...and 10% of the time play on a different one...then so long as you are fine with only being able to access 'ARR' areas/gameplay and content that 10% of the time, you only need to buy one Expansion for your 'main' platform.

Like in my case, I almost always play on PC...but occasionally, I'll craft/fish/gather on our PS4. I don't really need to update my PS4 right away just for basic gathering and crafting. But if I wanted to be able to walk into Heavensward areas, then I'd need to buy both versions of the game ASAP. Or even, to be honest, if I played on the PS4 more/ did actual battle content on it, I'd feel more compelled to purchase the expansion for it at launch...but knowing that I seldom use it, and never battle class on it, it's likely not needed for me at launch. But if you DO plan on questing and dungeon diving on both platforms, you will likely need both expansions...or to be selective in which content you do on which system and careful to log out in ARR zones habitually.

So really, it depends on how often you use each platform and the type of content you wish to do on each. If you plan on being able to do the New 3.0 content on all the platforms you own, then you need copies for all platforms. If you're unsure and/or if you're like me and more or less positive that you won't be doing any 3.0 stuff (at least right away) on one of your platforms, then only buy the version you need now and buy the other if/when you need it later (or when it goes on sale).

Also, there's nothing wrong in taking a 'wait and see' approach either...only buying one copy of the expansion now for your main platform...and then seeing what all you have access to on your additional platforms and deciding later. But you're worrying about this far too much.

[Reynhart]

My girlfriend will soon buy a new computer, so I'll probably only take the PC version for now.

First, I've created this topic to have a really clear answer, then, I'm posting several questions to further enlight how awkward this system is. They probably implemented lots of double-check to ensure how and where you could log in/out depending on your account, as it would have been far easier (and more fair) to make the expansion account based, like every other "real-money goods".

In the lifespan of FFXIV, the initial price is really small...the backlash from it...probably won't be small.

Or at least, they should have made a discount for buying both versions at once. Like a "DVD+Blu-Ray packaging".

[Tiggy]

Nothing is said about new jobs (Once you unlocked them on one of your account).

Then you can play that class. Seriously the data for that is going to be in every single client for the new weapons, race, and jobs. How else do you think people who don't buy the expansion would see all those new characters, gear, attack effects, etc. Only areas are NOT installed in every client and those additionally require CD key access.

This isn't that difficult. Square isn't reinventing the MMO expansion wheel here.

In the lifespan of FFXIV, the initial price is really small...the backlash from it...probably won't be small.

The game already works this way today. So far no backlash. Please don't go all doom and gloom all of a sudden.

Or at least, they should have made a discount for buying both versions at once. Like a "DVD+Blu-Ray packaging".

A reasonable request imo.

[Reynhart]

The game already works this way today. So far no backlash. Please don't go all doom and gloom all of a sudden.

The thing is, the game wasn't released for each platform at the same time.

Take me, for example. I bought FFXIV v1 on PC for a ridiculously low price, played more than a year for free, and didn't have to buy ARR to play a completely revamped game. That was extremely fair from SE, so I didn't really mind paying a few bucks to also play on PS4. This is probably the same for all Legacy players.

Now, several players have a huge playtime only in ARR, and are asked to pay, in one go (Yes, techninally, you can split, but look at the rush just for preordering, people won't wait for playing on both systems :-p), several expansion disks, and aren't even sure on how they could delay one version, since they don't know for sure how they can log in/out of the game.

Now, add all the topics about the huge price for the CE, the unbalanced price between countries, the missing early access for Mac, the lockout for Steam user regarding physical CE, and so on...
The backlash is real, and, to be fair, kind of justified.

[Tiggy]

That didn't change a single thing about how they are doing it or how they've already said they will do it. Cool story I guess? Also you only need one copy to be CE. So is you're buying more than one CE EDITION for one account then you are wasting money.

Also you just described a lot of backlash for things that have nothing to do with how expansion keys work. Keys are already required per console and there is no current backlash. The expansion are exactly the same. I don't know why you think it will suddenly explode when it hasn't already. Ps3 launching at a different time than the pc didn't change anything about that.

This is a painful simple concept that has been explained in a dozen different ways. You have your answer. You aren't gaining anything by arguing with us about it.

Now, several players have a huge playtime only in ARR, and are asked to pay, in one go (Yes, techninally, you can split, but look at the rush just for preordering, people won't wait for playing on both systems :-p), several expansion disks, and aren't even sure on how they could delay one version, since they don't know for sure how they can log in/out of the game.

A) the "one go" thing is a personal problem. The following comments in the () are just your justifications, but it's still a personal problem. It's not like you're screwed if you don't get the game via preorder today. The only thing you NEED to get now is at least 1 CE edition for early access for your account OR the physical CE if you want that.

B) They were very clear one what access you had with or without access. If at this point you don't understand then it's a personal problem as well. We can only explain this so many way.

[Seig345]

The free pass for ARR for v1.0 players was warranted only once. ARR wasn't an expansion or an upgrade, it was the overhaul of a game SE openly acknowledged to be a failure and apologized for. Sony is going to want their cut for anything sold on their platforms, so we're never going to buy the PC expansion and get console access for free.

Personally, I wound up selling my PS4 to a friend, but I've been playing FFXIV with a dualshock since v1.0 (Dualshock 4 since those first came out). I can hook my PC or laptop (which handled 1.0's graphics just fine, let alone ARR) to my TV if I want, and only need the game for one platform, so it sorta feels like the best of both worlds there.

The backlash hfor some of the other stuff mentioned may be warranted, but I can only see this particular situation as coincidental icing on the backlash cake.