Questions re: Heavensward preorder for new players

[Velisra]

My daughter and I have just started playing FFXIV and have both purchased the main game. We'll want to purchase Heavensward, but we know that we won't get to level 50 and get all the story content up to 2.55 done by the release date.

Here's the questions:

If we preorder Heavensward so that we get the special preorder items, is the xpac automatically applied to our accounts or is it not applied until we put in a code somewhere?

Will we be getting xp for the level 50 story content that we have to do before we can proceed in the new content?

Ideally, we'd like to get the bonus preorder items, but NOT get xp at level 50 while we finish the story quests. How do we do this?

Thanks!

[Terrini]

Well I know you receive the codes but I was pretty sure that was for registering your account for receiving the pre-order items... As I have pre-ordered, and input my code it acknowledges that I will be getting the pre-order items.

However you should not need to worry about loading Heavensward before you can access the story content because... well, it's IS gated behind story content. And I heard that even if you do NOT get Heavensward, you will still get experience above 50 and can level to 60. But the leveling from 50-60 will take as long as leveling 1-50! So you shouldn't have to worry about getting experience, in fact you'd be ahead of everyone that did all those quests without a hope at experience!

We however will not know for sure until it's here.

[Risvertasashi]

My daughter and I have just started playing FFXIV and have both purchased the main game. We'll want to purchase Heavensward, but we know that we won't get to level 50 and get all the story content up to 2.55 done by the release date.

Here's the questions:

If we preorder Heavensward so that we get the special preorder items, is the xpac automatically applied to our accounts or is it not applied until we put in a code somewhere?

Will we be getting xp for the level 50 story content that we have to do before we can proceed in the new content?

Ideally, we'd like to get the bonus preorder items, but NOT get xp at level 50 while we finish the story quests. How do we do this?

Thanks!

Welcome to XIV.

You will get the bonus items but you do need to register a code. Terrini's screenshot shows what it should look like when you're done. Exactly how to get a code depends on the region you're in, but your preorder should come with instructions. Note that you will need to register a second code once you receive the actual expansion.

You will get experience for the level 50 quests. AFAIK there is no way to avoid this. However, the exp required after level 50 to level up is huge, so I think it will not impact you going into heavensward too much. But even if you do level up a lot, there is a level sync feature so you will be able to experience the pre-60 Heavensward content without being too overpowered.

Good luck!

[Velisra]

Hmmm...

Interesting that you will get xp even if you don't buy the xpac. I do worry that if that's the case, you might even get enough xp at 50 to get to level 51 before you even got to the new content, and then it would seem too easy!

So when you preorder, there are actually two codes? One for the bonus preorder items and one for the actual xpac?

Thanks for the help Terrini and Risvertasashi!

[Risvertasashi]

Interesting that you will get xp even if you don't buy the xpac. I do worry that if that's the case, you might even get enough xp at 50 to get to level 51 before you even got to the new content, and then it would seem too easy!

Your info on the left side says you're level 16... If this is up to date (it's often behind, I know), then you won't have experienced level sync yet. Basically, for example if you revisit Sastasha at level 50, you'll be synced down to... level 17 or 18? Of course, it will still be a bit easier than the minimum level, but the discrepancy is not too huge.

There will be options to bypass the sync in Heavensward, however, I can't imagine that sync'd won't be the default.

So when you preorder, there are actually two codes? One for the bonus preorder items and one for the actual xpac?

Yes.

For example, I ordered a physical copy of Heavensward. Immediately I got and redeemed my preorder code. This means that I can 1. participate in the early access and 2. get the bonus items. However, when the box ships, inside will be a registration code. This actually applies Heavensward to my account. I will get a grace period with the early access code but, if I don't enter the registration code within a certain time, I will lose access to the expansion (until I enter it).

If someone didn't participate in the early access and preorder bonus, they merely would not have access to the xpac. Then when they enter the registration code, they gain access.

In short, the preorder code is like a temporary pass with a few bonus items. The registration code is your lifetime membership.

Preorder codes are a bit easier to cheese (for example, preorder from amazon and then cancel), which is why I think they do it this way.

[Niwashi]

I'm in the same boat. I want to pre-order because I want the bonus items, but I don't want the new level cap unlocked yet. I'm hoping I can pre-order and buy the game but wait on registering it (even though that also means I'd have to wait before starting my Au Ra alt).

I'd heard that if you take part in early access, you need to register the expansion by the 27th, but I don't know whether that just means if you do things like change to Au Ra, become a Dark Knight, and travel to Ishgard, that past the 27th you'd need the expansion registered in order to continue from there, or whether it really means that pre-orders would become invalid if not finalized by the 27th by registering the expansion. I'm guessing it's more likely that past the 27th anyone without the expansion registered would just lose access to the main expansion content (and therefore any character in an expansion zone, job, or race), but I wish it were more clearly spelled out.

(Another glitch in the plan is that I play on PS4, and PSN has an exclusive pre-order bonus in addition to the regular ones. Pre-ordering through PSN gives a FFXIV Heavensward theme for the PS4 background. I'd really like that theme, but in the case of buying through PSN, it's registered as soon as it's ordered, so it's impossible to pre-order early then wait to register it.)

Interesting that you will get xp even if you don't buy the xpac. I do worry that if that's the case, you might even get enough xp at 50 to get to level 51 before you even got to the new content, and then it would seem too easy!

SE had said earlier that the level cap changes from 50 to 60 as soon as you register the Heavensward expansion. (That would be the final expansion code and not the pre-order code.) It's possible they've changed their minds since then, but if not, then no you wouldn't get experience during the level 50 content if the only game you've registered is the original Realm Reborn. Only those with the expansion get the level 60 level-cap.

Sites selling the expansion list "A New Level Cap (50 → 60)" as being part of the expansion, so I really don't think that's changed. We should be able to remain 50 until the expansion is registered. I'm pretty sure it's only those with the expansion registered who would be getting XP during the level 50 content.

So when you preorder, there are actually two codes? One for the bonus preorder items and one for the actual xpac?

If you order from SE or most retailers, that's how it works. When you pre-order you get a pre-order code, and then at release when you get the expansion, you get a final code. Those purchasing it after release would just get the final code alone. If you play on PS3 or PS4, you register the expansion codes through Sony's PlayStation Network, and if you play on PC you register them through SE's MogStation.

However, console players can also buy the digital console versions directly from the PlayStation Network (where their codes would otherwise be registered). In that case it's automatically registered as soon as it's purchased, without any codes involved (which is why I wouldn't be able to get the PS4 theme that's exclusive to PSN pre-orders and still be able to hold off a while on registering the game).

[Risvertasashi]

...

Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but I am near certain SE has said the level cap is rising to 60 for all players, regardless of expansion ownership (Much like has been done in FFXI).

Edit: From the all-we-know-about-Heavensward info doc

[Niwashi]

Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but I am near certain SE has said the level cap is rising to 60 for all players, regardless of expansion ownership (Much like has been done in FFXI).

As of February, they were saying it's "Once you register Heavensward":

Q: Will there be any special quests or requirements in order to level up beyond 50?

A: No, there will not. Once you register Heavensward, the level cap will be increased and you can start to earn experience points. You won't have to complete any special quests.

[Velisra]

I'd be ordering a digital CE from the SE store if that makes a difference in all of this.

I see on the document linked:

A Realm Reborn Adjustments

Aimed at making access to Heavensward content easier
Main Story Quests exp rewards “more than doubled”
Post-2.0 Main Story Quests give equipment rewards.
You will be able to go from New Player → Heavensward without having to do sidequests, gear from MSQ will be enough
Duty Finder will prioritize people running content for the first time
Level 50 A Realm Reborn era will still give 0 exp.

May be adjusted at a later date.

So is the MSQ up to 2.55 considered "A Realm Reborn era?" If so, that would seem to indicate that you wouldn't get xp for it even after the xpac releases.

[Risvertasashi]

As of February, they were saying it's "Once you register Heavensward":

Ah hah. Ok, thanks for the info.

So is the MSQ up to 2.55 considered "A Realm Reborn era?" If so, that would seem to indicate that you wouldn't get xp for it even after the xpac releases.

Hmm. Perhaps so. I might have been confused, if it's only pre-50 quests that give (increased) experience. Apologies for the mistake.