Why are most jobs related to Ul'dah?

[Succor]

I can see that most of the newer jobs start or unfold in Ul'dah. Even BLU, which starts in LL takes you to Ul'dah right away. In comparison, LL gets a couple of jobs, and Gridania gets only one. Is there a lore reason why Ul'dah is so important or is it mere practicality (e.g. most players choosing Ul'dah as home city)? This really makes Ul'dah feel like the "canon" starting city from a lore-perspective.

[MikkoAkure]

While lancer moves to Ishgard for its job stuff, Gridania still keeps bard and white mage and even gains summoner.


As for why Ul'dah is the center of all things Eorzean, it's most likely the most successful and populated city-state in the region. It's a mercantile city flush with gil and other than the outskirts, has only ever been successfully invaded and occupied by its current inhabitants (Ul'dah today sits on top of the ruins of Sil'dih and the old location of Ul'dah seems to be glossed over). As a wealthy, cosmopolitan trade hub, it's more likely to grab the attention of outsiders (where all the new jobs came from).

Limsa Lominsa has its own share of foreign travelers, being a sea power, but the population is mostly crammed on small islands in a bay and other than Thancred's mention of growing up in the "alleys" and the artwork showing more of the city than we can see, it seems mostly like a place for ships to stop, resupply, and trade, than a place to set down roots. That, and it used to be full of pirates, thieves, and thugs.

Gridania is an exclusive city hidden in the forest with elemental bouncers preventing many people from entering and up until 5 years ago it had an actual magic barrier called the Hedge that prevented entry or at least would douse intruders with "woodsin" that would attract the denizens of the forest to attack them. It's not a welcoming place and they're not fond of outsiders, let alone the other clans of their own people living in the forest, so it makes perfect sense for them to not have new jobs start there and for foreign NPCs to stay away.


From a meta perspective, in 1.0 all storylines of the game converged onto Ul'dah and the same happens to a lesser extent in ARR with Vesper Bay. The old home of the Path of Twelve led by Minfilia was in the city itself and during 1.0 it was where most people congregated, not Lower Limsa as it is today. Ul'dah also had a much more conveniently located aetheryte since it was right next to the market wards, which used to be about where the GC area is today, while Limsa's original aetheryte was in a now non-existent island roughly where Maelstrom Command is now. Since the story ended up in Ul'dah and it was a more convenient location for people to be to organize and sell things and just hang out, it's basically been the center of all things FFXIV in Eorzea since then.

[Succor]

Makes sense, thanks for explaining!

Yeah I found it a little weird that Summoner ends up in Gridania, but they probably wanted a change of pace for arcanists, since ACN and SCH jobs are in LL...

[Vyrerus]

Limsa has Marauder, Arcanist, Rogue, Scholar, Ninja, Warrior, Blue Mage, Sage, and Dancer all associated/starting in it.

Ul'dah has Pugilist, Thaumathurge, Gladiator, SAM, PLD, BLM, Reaper, and RDM.

Gridania has Conjurer, WHM, SMN, Lancer, Archer, Gunbreaker and Bard.

Ishgard has DRG, DRK, MCH, and AST.

The first three cities get used a lot for job starting locations, even though at least half the jobs have most of their story take place somewhere else. They get chosen because they are expansion neutral starting locations, and it's usually Ul'dah or Limsa because both of those cities are more accepting of foreigners/outsiders than Gridania. It mostly makes sense.

[Iscah]

I This really makes Ul'dah feel like the "canon" starting city from a lore-perspective.

Ul'dah feels like the canon starting city regardless of the expansion jobs, and is the one I recommend to new players.

It introduces some key characters earlier – Thancred, Raubahn, Nanamo and to a lesser extent Papashan (who is just vaguely around if not properly introduced in the early Ul'dah arc) – and also highlights that many of the Brass Blades are corrupt and in it for the coin.

[Alleluia]

Ul'dah feels like the canon starting city regardless of the expansion jobs, and is the one I recommend to new players.

It introduces some key characters earlier – Thancred, Raubahn, Nanamo and to a lesser extent Papashan (who is just vaguely around if not properly introduced in the early Ul'dah arc) – and also highlights that many of the Brass Blades are corrupt and in it for the coin.

Yeah, but Limsa has poster girl Y'shtola and the kidnappings of people for tempering to primals in its starter storyline. It leads most directly to Sastasha once all the storylines converge. Also Limsa has WAR's base class starting in it, which is derplander's ARR job.

(And I think the original 1.0 cinematic was supposed to be set in LL's Adventurer's Guild before they redesigned things a lot, but don't quote me on that? It might have been Ishgard.)

And Papashan is not particularly important in the grand scheme of things, no offense meant to him, so I don't entirely see how that has anything to do with determining which city is most relevant to canon events?

Not that I'm knocking Ul'dah, mind. Just saying Limsa seems more "canon starter" to me, if I absolutely had to pick. But I did start there, so I'm sure I'm biased.

[Iscah]

And Papashan is not particularly important in the grand scheme of things, no offense meant to him, so I don't entirely see how that has anything to do with determining which city is most relevant to canon events?

He's not especially important on his own, but because he often accompanies Nanamo some of the time we do just see him "around" and I think it's nice to have had the proper introduction to him. Maybe not enough to be remarkable on its own, but enough to mention alongside the bigger ones.

Also, I'm not sure whether Y'shtola was being treated as a mascot at that point, but Thancred is the more important one in the plot of ARR since he gets possessed by Lahabrea, so it makes sense to have more spotlight on him earlier.

[Alleluia]

Also, I'm not sure whether Y'shtola was being treated as a mascot at that point, but Thancred is the more important one in the plot of ARR since he gets possessed by Lahabrea, so it makes sense to have more spotlight on him earlier.

A fair point. Ul'dah does give you more Thancred and lets you care about him a wee bit more before things get going. I started in Limsa, so my first one on one time with Thancred was the Ifrit stuff. I felt like I knew him and was plenty attached after that mission, but I (like most of us on this forum, probably) am also the type of player that clicks characters btwn quest markers to see what they say. I can see how players who don't soak up dialogue like that could use the extra time with him.

On the flip side, though, the Limsa story does introduce you to the game's primary conflict of primals earlier than the other cities and makes it front and center. It gives you exposure to the Serpent Reavers and when you enter Sastasha it feels like its just a continuation of that story beat. The transition from the city state arc to the Scions arc flows better, imo.

[RyuDragnier]

To give credit to Ul'dah, by making it the canon starting point, ARR has Bookends. It starts with you entering Ul'dah, meeting Raubahn, Nanamo, and Thancred, and then the end of ARR you are FLEEING from Ul'dah with their fates up in the air.

[Iscah]

Another point in favour of Ul'dah is that they like using the town music as filler during live letters and such.