Identification

[Mysterysword]

I'm wondering how ID works in Eorzea. We travel and teleport all over various borders in-game without so much as a guard asking us for our papers. I know it's for the sake of basic convenience in-game, but in-story, what forms of ID do we have?

[YianKutku]

Off the top of my head, letters of introduction were usually the means by which people in medieval times identified themselves. Similarly, there may be people who can vouch for you whom the authorities trusted in turn; we see something like this in the Limsa Lominsa starter quest, where Baderon bluffs the Yellowjackets.

Obviously this is rife for abuse, especially if nefarious types have the skill to counterfeit these letters, or if they are sufficiently convincing. Lots of historical examples of people claiming to be someone in authority, and getting away with it for extended periods of time (including signing official documents and passing laws).

In-game, we do have the convenience of long-range near-instant communications via linkpearls, which would help with record-keeping and identification. Still, we do see many cases of people not recognizing us as the Warrior of Light until they make a connection in their heads. We do get identified as "adventurer" based on our appearance, whether our clothing or our bearing.

[Enkidoh]

Presumably when we first sign up at the Adventurer's Guild at the start of the game we're given some kind of registration papers identifying us as an 'official' adventurer of that guild, given that adventurers are often entrusted with important military and political tasks. This would probably extend to when we enlist in a Grand Company we're also given identification for that as well. But it's never actually shown on screen so is more just something that is assumed to happen in the background that game just passes over for simplicity's sake.

There is one point in the story though where we are clearly shown being given identity papers that prove our association with a certain group - upon being granted asylum in Ishgard early in the Heavensward story, the player's character along with Tataru and Alphinaud are handed identity papers with the House Fortemps crest on it by Count Edmont's steward, and Edmont specifically says that they identify them as a ward of House Fortemps. This item never shows up again though (nor does it even appear in the Key Items list), but would again be presumed to be what the player shows to the gate guard outside the Gates of Judgement when entering the city after this point.

[Mysterysword]

There is one point in the story though where we are clearly shown being given identity papers that prove our association with a certain group - upon being granted asylum in Ishgard early in the Heavensward story, the player's character along with Tataru and Alphinaud are handed identity papers with the House Fortemps crest on it by Count Edmont's steward, and Edmont specifically says that they identify them as a ward of House Fortemps.

Yeah, this was the only instance I could recall off the top of my head in which identification papers were even mentioned. It made me curious as to how ID works. Do the various citizens of the world have papers stating which country they belong to? How do the nations take census, how do they collect taxes, etc?

Although, I do get the feeling that things like property or income aren't taxed, just business transactions and imports/exports. Overall, identity security in Eorzea just seems remarkably lax, compared to modern-day standards. It's a bit of a wonder that worse things haven't happened yet with someone impersonating a VIP or something.

[Keever]

Players who purchased the Collector's Edition pack for FFXIV 1.0 received a certificate like this (images taken from a quick image search, spoiler tagged due to size):

Text of interest transcribed for your convenience below:

RIGHT OF PASSAGE

Her Eminence, the Sultana, mother to the free peoples of Thanalan, descended of the sun and stars, recognizes those with the courage to claim the riches of Eorzea, and embraces those with the loyalty to bear them safely home.

Issuing Authority: The Royal Treasury

Totomani Nanamani
Vault Master

RIGHT OF PASSAGE

The Admiral hereby decrees her ports open to you who have weathered Llymlaen's caprice in the coming. May the saltwinds see your sails full and your bearings true till sea swallows all.

Issuing Authority: Mealvaan's Gate

J'arhll Asa
First Assessor

RIGHT OF PASSAGE

By the will of the Twelveswood, we Seedseers grant entry to those with truth in their hearts. Seek ye the elementals in myriad creation, for through reverence to them shall thy labours bear fruit.

Issuing Authority: Stillglade Fane

E-Sumi-Yan
Speaking Brother

[LineageRazor]

Players who purchased the Collector's Edition pack for FFXIV 1.0 received a certificate like this

Interesting! Did they get one certificate at random? Or all three? Or did they have some way to select the one they wanted?

[Theodric]

The Warrior of Light is given an airship pass early on in the MSQ's just before they are sent to visit each of the three main city states. The RDM quests also involve dealing with a vessel travelling between two ports - and despite there being cause to be suspicious of it there is mention of all the necessary documentation being in place which prevents the authorities from simply seizing it.

There's countless references to documentation in both the MSQ's and side quests. You can even get your hands on identification papers for chocobo breeding if you tackle it in The Gold Saucer.

[Enkidoh]

Interesting! Did they get one certificate at random? Or all three? Or did they have some way to select the one they wanted?

From what I understand that 'certificate' was only available to US players who purchased the collector's edition of FFXIV 1.0 (they had to fill out a form that came with the game once the player created their character and mail the form back it to SE's US office, who would then send the player the certificate personalized with their character's name typed on it).

Sadly this was not available to 1.0 players in other countries (I'm in Australia and the EU 1.0 collector's edition that Australia got did not have that offer, but then we did get extras included in our 1.0 CE that the US didn't get, like the FFXIV tumbler and Eorzea cloth map, so it evens it out. ).

Either way, which 'certificate' was sent to the player depended on what starting city the player chose upon creating their character (the certificate was only issued after you signed up for the game and created a character), so it was all in keeping with the game's lore.

[Mysterysword]

snip

Thanks, that is useful! Are they just identification papers, though? Not a passport, right?