Where to Start?

[SannaR]

Hi and welcome. I think one youtuber who is as in love with the lore as Moose is would be Ethys Asher. He doesn't post many videos these days because of Youtube's calculations but he does use twitter n twitch a lot more. He also will go back if new stuff has made past comments not 100% true any more. I'd also tell you to go and read the side stories SE puts out. They might not have a lot of lore but there's a lot of connective tissue to things that tie into the story that explain some whys to some character developments that you won't see on screen. A lot of people might give SE a lot of flack for things but one of them is so far not forgetting things they've brought up in the past. Even something that might seem small and forgetable they'll bring it up again and you'll go wow.

[Iscah]

I'd also tell you to go and read the side stories SE puts out. They might not have a lot of lore but there's a lot of connective tissue to things that tie into the story that explain some whys to some character developments that you won't see on screen.

...with the important warning to not read them until you have played the games they are related to! All kinds of spoilers in them.

The Side Stories page is here.

"Tales from the Calamity" can probably be read straight away, but is better appreciated once you've finished ARR and know that group of characters.

"Tales from the Dragonsong War" should only be read after completing Heavensward and its post-credits storyline.

And "Tales from the Storm" should be read post-Stormblood.

[SannaR]

...with the important warning to not read them until you have played the games they are related to! All kinds of spoilers in them.

The Side Stories page is here.

"Tales from the Calamity" can probably be read straight away, but is better appreciated once you've finished ARR and know that group of characters.

"Tales from the Dragonsong War" should only be read after completing Heavensward and its post-credits storyline.

And "Tales from the Storm" should be read post-Stormblood.

I have to kind of disagree to a point as you don't get much spoilers on the GC leaders in their stories. I also feel like Alisaie's HW story should be read before (spoilers) she's brought back into the MSQ as I've known some who have found her personality change odd as they either A only had seen her leave in ARR's story line and when we meet her again is their 1st time seeing her again, or B last time they saw her was the end of Coils and neither group read her side story of what she had been doing in the meantime. There's other HW side sotries that happen before HW events even happen. So read at your own risk I guess.

[Iscah]

I have to kind of disagree to a point as you don't get much spoilers on the GC leaders in their stories. I also feel like Alisaie's HW story should be read before (spoilers) she's brought back into the MSQ as I've known some who have found her personality change odd as they either A only had seen her leave in ARR's story line and when we meet her again is their 1st time seeing her again, or B last time they saw her was the end of Coils and neither group read her side story of what she had been doing in the meantime. There's other HW side sotries that happen before HW events even happen. So read at your own risk I guess.

As I said, the Calamity stories aren't really spoilers, but they also probably don't make as much sense if you don't know the characters yet.

Also some of the Heavensward side stories take place before the main plot, but you still don't want to go reading through the side stories page until you're clear of all spoilers, because they're all mixed in together.