[DEV] Question about "Characters created during phase 4"

[DoctorMog]

From the beta test document:

Phase 4:
"Characters created during this phase will be carried over to the official release"

Needs some clarification, is it just the character appearance and name? Or is it also the progress you make?

There is some confusion in the wording.

It also says "Benefits such as early access may be offered between the open beta and official release."

So I am leaning towards a situation where only character appearance is saved, otherwise a benefit like early access would serve no purpose? Since phase 4 would be considered "early access" if all character progress is saved.

Clarification on if our character data from phase 4 is trying to be saved, or just the appearance and name.

Thanks,

[Catapult]

I second this motion.

It is difficult to discern if the document is trying to indicate full progress saving, or something simpler such as name reservation.

[Rockababy]

From the beta test document:

Clarification on if our character data from phase 4 is trying to be saved, or just the appearance and name.

Thanks,

I believe it's going to be character data. I say so because in the beta timeline under phase 4 it says
"- Characters created during this phase will be carried over to the official release.
* Circumstance may necessitate the deletion of character data"

Another reason I draw to this conclusion is because we will be able to import our 1.0 characters however they did say that their appearance will not be able to be changed until the actual launch of the game. I cant remember where the quote for that was but I do believe it was in the latest producer letter video

I hope that kinda helps =]

[DoctorMog]

I believe it's going to be character data. I say so because in the beta timeline under phase 4 it says
"- Characters created during this phase will be carried over to the official release.
* Circumstance may necessitate the deletion of character data"

Another reason I draw to this conclusion is because we will be able to import our 1.0 characters however they did say that their appearance will not be able to be changed until the actual launch of the game. I cant remember where the quote for that was but I do believe it was in the latest producer letter video

I hope that kinda helps =]

But it says only:

"Characters created during this phase will be carried over to the official release."

Not "character data will be carried over to official release"

And by "* Circumstance may necessitate the deletion of character data""

They could just mean delete the characters themselves.

[Kinseykinz]

I believe it's going to be character data. I say so because in the beta timeline under phase 4 it says
"- Characters created during this phase will be carried over to the official release.
* Circumstance may necessitate the deletion of character data"

I've always understood it to mean that come phase 4, our progress and characters will be saved. Afterall, they won't delete a 1.0 character, so 'Circumstance may necessitate the deletion of character data' would only refer to progress in this case, not the actual character/appearence. Basically, worst case would be they have to roll-back a server if they think there was a major issue/exploit etc.

Also, according to the roadmap, for phases 1, 2, and 3 it was explicitly stated that characters would be deleted at the start of the next phase. And usually it was stated in the phase before it
IE: -"Phase 3 characters will be deleted at the start of phase 4." is listed under the Phase 3 portion of the roadmap, not phase 4. Using this logic, if they planned on not carrying over character progress, they would have added that into phase 4's roadmap.

In addition to this, the little information that has been provided by SE on ARR servers and how we get on them also implies, that our characters might be 'locked' to Phase 4 servers. It's vague, but considering they are planning on letting anyone with an Account have Beta 3 access so we can communicate with eachother, it is plausible that they plan on having us select our servers pre release. (Especially since anyone with a character created pre ARR release, will not be able to roll that character on a New Character server. Basically, this would force anyone who got 'early access' via Phase 4 to keep their 'early' progress on an established server. Only new characters,could start on a new server at official release.)

Current Plans for World Transfers

We wanted to briefly discuss the current plans for selecting new worlds and world transfers for A Realm Reborn. Once the global data centers are set up for A Realm Reborn, we are planning the following for world transfers.

In the event that you don't complete the transfer procedure, you will be transferred to a pre-determined world.
In the event you complete the transfer procedure, you can select from a list of worlds you can move to and will be transferred to the world of your choice.


In order to eliminate any concerns about being transferred to a world you didn’t want to move to or being separated from your friends, we will be keeping the transfer procedure open for a long period of time as well as making various announcements to ensure that everyone is aware and can go where they like.

For Beta Test phase 3, fundamentally we are planning to allow anyone who possesses a Square Enix FINAL FANTASY XIV service account to participate in testing, so it will be possible to make contact with your friends from within the game.

We will be preparing thorough details regarding this whole process so that there is no confusion, and will be announcing them at a later date.

Yes, I know this too is very vague and will need a lot of clarification, but I take all this information to mean come phase 4, character progress is saved in part, because we're on the servers we'll be on at release to save it.


Basically, for now, I'd plan on having data saved, and playing as such...but not getting my panties in a bind if they had to reroll my character for any reason. Most important to me is to 1. Get on a server with my friends. 2. Help my hubby and friends who are new to the game, get started.

[Pwnagraphic]

I believe it's going to be character data. I say so because in the beta timeline under phase 4 it says
"- Characters created during this phase will be carried over to the official release.
* Circumstance may necessitate the deletion of character data"

Another reason I draw to this conclusion is because we will be able to import our 1.0 characters however they did say that their appearance will not be able to be changed until the actual launch of the game. I cant remember where the quote for that was but I do believe it was in the latest producer letter video

I hope that kinda helps =]

I know for a fact they're going to delete any PvP points earned during phase 4 so I think most data depending on what it is will get carried over. Most of anything someone can gain over another person is lvling a class like crafting or something.

[Mjollnir]

I got from the roadmap that it was just character design/name being retained, not progress. Now you've got me wondering if we'll all get a few weeks' early access...

[NarikoStar]

Based off the 'wording' and how 1.0 beta worked, I'm leaning more towards just character appearance data informational saved.

In 1.0's Beta It was simply the character appearance data that players had the choice to save to your service account so that upon release they could choose quickly their exact character look- not actually character progress data rolled over (from beta to release). Then, those who had bought the collectors edition had a weekish of 'early access' (September 22nd) where character data progress was saved; whereas the actual release date was advertised and listed when the standard edition of the game released (September 30th).



Because of this I'm leaning to just character appearance saved to our service accounts like they have done in the past.

But again, lets wait and see from a dev ;3!

[Alhanelem]

Phase 4:
"Characters created during this phase will be carried over to the official release"

Needs some clarification, is it just the character appearance and name? Or is it also the progress you make?

There is some confusion in the wording.

What's confusing about this? If it was just your name/apperance, it would specifically say that. Of course your progress will be part of what's carried over.

So I am leaning towards a situation where only character appearance is saved, otherwise a benefit like early access would serve no purpose? Since phase 4 would be considered "early access" if all character progress is saved.

you're leaning incorrectly, and i'm not sure what you're basing it on. "early access" means "Play the launch version of the game a little before everyone else." That's all it means, it doesn't mean anything more or less.

There's nothing ambiguous about the statements.

[Yrusama]

It also says "Benefits such as early access may be offered between the open beta and official release."

So I am leaning towards a situation where only character appearance is saved, otherwise a benefit like early access would serve no purpose? Since phase 4 would be considered "early access" if all character progress is saved.

False. Early access would be very meaningful even to players in Phase 4.

Phase 4 character data is not guaranteed to be saved depending on any significant discrepancies between the Phase 4 and Launch versions. Therefore, Phase 4 is not, for all intents and purposes, early access, as players should be conscious that any progress they make could be deleted. Even if it is not deleted, having early access would still benefit anyone with a collector's edition, being given a week or so for a head start over players without it.

In short:
Early Access = head start
Phase 4 = maybe head start
Early Access + Phase 4 = maybe super head start