This game is awesome... wish I’d tried it years ago

[Dmoloth]

Welcome... it really is a gorgeous game, innit?

I was fortunate to have played FFXI since early 2004 and as such, when FFXIV game started up the beta in 2010, I immediately jumped in-- it has vastly improved with massive leaps and bounds ever since.

Happy gaming.

Other than combat (which I feels is so flashy that it becomes distracting) the visuals in this game are stunning.

[Dmoloth]

I just started too. Took me a while to get used to the combat system as I am still so used to WoW's fast combat system but other than that I am really enjoying the game too. I tried the game about a year ago but I had too many things to play at the time so I couldn't play it so I tried it again a year later and now I am addicted! It's great to have another MMO to play.

Although it’s been a while since I played it, I too am basically a WoW refugee. I left over the flight situation years ago.

[Iscah]

I made it to this point tonight. Ran the quest chain and opened up access to the alliance raid.

I doubt I will do the raid but I have access should I get the chance.

Thanks for the info!

If you're thinking "raid" means it will be difficult, it isn't.

It's essentially a 24-man dungeon, and people run it daily - just sign up, and you'll get in.

Once you've got the second raid unlocked, it'll open up a daily roulette, so queues fill easily.

[Penthea]

I made it to this point tonight. Ran the quest chain and opened up access to the alliance raid.

I doubt I will do the raid but I have access should I get the chance.

Thanks for the info!

If the idea of it being in a raid scares you, don't worry. Those raids are not difficult to do.

You get put into a group of 24 players, which are divided into three teams of 8. Usually the three teams will act independently, so it really is like those trials you have done already, but instead there's three teams of 8 instead of just one team. The main difference really is the experience of exploring an actual zone, instead of just having one boss room. If you can do trials okay, you will have no issue getting used to 24 man alliance raids.

[Frizze]

Ill echo the people saying to just try the alliance raid. The first instance(Labyrinth of the Ancients) is super easy and accessible. The instance is fairly open, so the 3 groups running around together dont feel cramped. It consists of the same type of trash fights and boss fights as youve done in regular dungeons, so the format isnt foreign. Alliance raids tend to have 4 bosses and a smattering of trash pulls, with each mini-boss dropping a chest for every group and the final boss having a bonus chest for raid-wide items. The types of mechanics you see can be anything from standard(avoid the aoe or stand on the platform type) to the bigger varieties(hide behind something or this attack will kill you or all 3 groups kill 3 adds at the same time without them touching) to the unique(purposefully go inside the monsters belly to give him a tummy ache or do math!). Most of the mechanics are easy enough to figure out without needing a guide(if all else fails, follow the other members of the group). But even the mechanics failures will typically only result in some damage and a vulnerability up stack(so punishing but survivable - just dont get too many). Sometimes failing means your death, but one person failing is never enough to wipe the raid(most fights can see half the group dead and still be winnable if the other half is good).

But the biggest reason to give LotA a try is that it isnt much more of a time commitment then any dungeon you might run. Your typical LotA run is done in 20-25 minutes. Some of the later and more involved alliance raids will last longer(the current one seems to usually take 35-45 mins, depending on a handful of factors), but the first few are easy and short enough that they fit into a dungeon timeslot.

[Jojoya]

Other than combat (which I feels is so flashy that it becomes distracting) the visuals in this game are stunning.

I do agree all the combat effects can get overwhelming.

You do have some control over them in Character Configuration (Control Settingsl - Character then scroll to the bottom). I tend to leave my own on, limited for party and off for everyone else. Play with it and find a combination of settings that works best for you.

[Packetdancer]

Ah yes, the praetorium. For more experienced players it's an opportunity to open up whichever your preferred streaming service is tab back in every 10 minutes to do the next thing.

I often view it as an opportunity to work on my improv stand-up comedy in party chat.

(Opinions on whether this is a good thing or a bad one may differ.)

I made it to this point tonight. Ran the quest chain and opened up access to the alliance raid.

I doubt I will do the raid but I have access should I get the chance.

(Bolding mine.) You really, really should do the three Crystal Tower alliance raids. They're worth it for the storyline, and the story isn't just excellent lore about Allag; there's things you learn during it which are relevant to the main story later. If the reason you wouldn't run it is that you're concerned about not getting the raid right:

1. Don't worry. 90% of the people will be massively overgeared; I don't think I've actually seen a wipe in the Crystal Tower raids in ages.
2. If you mention in chat that you're new to them, there'll usually be someone helpful willing to explain the mechanics.
3. If you're still super self-conscious about it, try to find higher-level friends or FC members who are willing to run it with you. That can be fun anyway since they can explain the mechanics that aren't going to happen because people just blow through the fights. My FC did this for me when I came back and finally moved on past ARR last year, and I've now done the same for sprouts who've joined since then.
4. If all else fails, put up a party finder mentioning you're a sprout going through them for the first time, and that you're hoping for a party who can give you guidance. You might be surprised and find folks are fairly willing to help.