Alts. How many do you have and what do you do with them?

[Omedon]

Until very recently, I thought alts were just an essentially insane and intentionally discouraged concept in FFXIV. Why would I try to crawl over the finish line of the sometimes frustrating steps of the MSQ multiple times, and not even have the ability to directly exchange items or gil? Coming from WoW, FFXIV's iteration of "you can make another character" seemed just unnecessary, and kind of crazy. I had 30+ alts in WoW, and yet I couldn't justify making a second character in a game where a) the right character concept can easily fit every job in this game where one character can do it all and b) the segregation of alts wasn't worth running the MSQ again.

Then duty support changed everything. I now have 7 multi-job characters. 6 of them are currently parked at in the early 50's waiting for duty support to advance.

I was converted to FFXIV by the very concept of the trust system. I have always loved dungeons, but my time in MMOs is almost parallel with my time having a job with a fluid, almost unpredictable schedule. I started in EverQuest, where simple inclusion in a dungeon group was a high honor, an honor I didn't get much... so now with trusts, the ability to run dungeons on my own time with some beloved NPCs is bliss!

My main is also necessarily restricted to a single job-agnostic glam, and so all the artifact sets and almost all the non-weapon fashion in the game goes to waste on him... so I needed alts to wear and enjoy those job fantasies and hot looks! Duty support literally gives me a leveling path that belongs to me, and job quests give me high fashion! My alts level via duty support/trust, wear sexy artifact gear that all you veterans take for granted, and have character concepts that bind the jobs each alt plays!

Alts are very doable in FFXIV if you know their ceiling and specialize them on reaching attainable goals and fun! FFXIV is still terribly alt-unfriendly, but the experience for each alt is so wonderful with duty support, that I tolerate it many times over!

[Knot_D]

For FC shells of course, and also for RP

[TizaneNZ]

I have a few alts - like to start in the different cities to see different quests etc. Also changing races etc. And sometimes I just can't be bothered working on my main, and just want to do something at low level....

The Duty Support system is great, as it means that I can 'practice' new classes that I may not be very confident on.

[TheMightyMollusk]

Aside from my main, I have four alts of at least level 80 on one job, and another in progress. And a couple at various other levels. I like replaying the story more than just rerunning things at max level.

[Jeeqbit]

I have a lot of alts, but I only get 2 to max level. They are to do raids on other data centers, or just to play on other data centers.

[ronibosch]

I just noticed that if our characters kissed...I would have two pointy horns aimed perfectly at my jugulars.

That's awesome. I like the danger.

Curious Gorge, I know that's you! You still have Dorgono, remember?

[Renalt]

Curious Gorge, I know that's you! You still have Dorgono, remember?

People have called me that name so much you'd think I should make a character based off his model.

[Packetdancer]

My minimum-height miqo'te alt -- who somehow perpetually looks like she wants to shank someone, possibly you, thus is affectionately known as "smol murdercat" -- exists solely as to be able to step in and sub if a friend's static is short some week, when doing so on my main would screw up chests (either for them, or for my actual static).

It is kind of a hassle to keep a second alt at least vaguely geared, but it is what it is; I recognize how badly cheesed gear drops would be if they didn't have lockout mechanics. (I wish they'd only ding the group a chest if you had two or more people who'd cleared that week, though; it would make finding a sub on raid night -- or being a sub on raid night -- a lot less of a headache.)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[NonobiNobi]

I only have two alts, a Heavensward NPC and the other is a female Elezen oc that I really wanted to create in game. The NPC alt is mainly around for the giggles and cause I love this particular dumpster fire of a character. My femElezen is for the times where I want a break from the other two and so I can maybe flesh her out as a character a little more.

[kevin_satron]

1. visit my friend's EB (wedding)
2. visit balmung, quicksand
3. playing around with my friend
4. free 15 days game time when they add new server