Hello everyone!
I'm curious as to where people stand on alt characters since all the recent updates and patches have landed. I used to be firmly against alts due to the investment of time required, but seeing the direction the game is starting to take, I'm beginning to come round to the idea, to the extent I made and started lvling an alt this weekend.
As a player, I prefer some light RP when making characters, so my main is a tank, and I don't have plans to seriously level a dps for it. However, I also want a high level, well geared dps class, so that's my 1st reason for deciding on an alt.
Secondly, the loot cycle seems to be currency hard capped, relatively time consuming to cap > cap increased, work to attain currency decreased > cap removed, new currency inplemented. If this cycle continues for the foreseeable future, and based on my gaming choices of light RP with characters, leveling and gearing 2 characters in tandem seems like a legitimate option. I know all jobs on a character will eventually plateau the same, that isn't in question, but in real time I could have a dps and tank geared sooner if I did it in tandem rather than in succession.
I'm hoping for some feedback from both sides of the fence here, want to be able to make an informed decision before carrying on leveling my alt.
Thanks in advance ^^
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Advice regarding alt charactersFollow
It really depends on how much time you want to devote to the game, and what your goals are in the game.
If you can play for many hours each day and on weekends, and you are more concerned with battle classes than you are with the other aspects of the game, then leveling an alt is a perfectly viable route to take. You get more game time, more dungeon time, and you get to experience battles from multiple different perspectives.
If you are time limited, however, then leveling a second character could send you into a loop of frustration because there isn't enough time to devote to both of them.
In my case, I decided to limit my battle classes strictly to DoM and focus instead on leveling all the DoL and DoH classes in order to make money. What time I don't spend in dungeons is spent trying to make as much cash as I can. I could not do that if I was trying to level another character up at the same time.
If you can play for many hours each day and on weekends, and you are more concerned with battle classes than you are with the other aspects of the game, then leveling an alt is a perfectly viable route to take. You get more game time, more dungeon time, and you get to experience battles from multiple different perspectives.
If you are time limited, however, then leveling a second character could send you into a loop of frustration because there isn't enough time to devote to both of them.
In my case, I decided to limit my battle classes strictly to DoM and focus instead on leveling all the DoL and DoH classes in order to make money. What time I don't spend in dungeons is spent trying to make as much cash as I can. I could not do that if I was trying to level another character up at the same time.
Velerophon wrote:
I'm hoping for some feedback from both sides of the fence here, want to be able to make an informed decision before carrying on leveling my alt.
I have an alternate character that I rolled to play with a friend who didn't want to play on a legacy server I was on(I started before she did), but outside of things like that I don't see a need for alts. It kinda defeats the purpose of being able to play as any class or profession on one character. Then again, there's only enough leveling content to keep it fresh if you focus one class or job and pick up all the cross-class abilities.
Are you reluctant to level the job or class on your main because of RP? I guess I'm having trouble figuring out the motivation for leveling another character.
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cocodojo wrote:
Its personal preference and all, but yes we need to educate WoW players that this is OUR game, these are Characters and not Toons. Time to beat that into them one at a time.
I've played alot of games where you can only have one class on one person. I don't like it so my POV might be marred. I also have all classes (DoH/DoL/DoM/DoW) at 50. My first main SCH is geared and by default so is my WHM. My next is SMN and by default so is my BLM. I didn't think I would like DRG but I do now. When I dinged 50 on it I had three pieces of allagan and the rest full DL. All my classes have DL or better. I have accessories that can be used cross class from coil/myth/primals. With statics, its not so bad to gear up other jobs and with all the greed parties it gets even easier with pugs. Each has the relic weapon, and now there are primal weapons to boot to get. So from my POV I can't agree that I can gear up a secondary class faster if I do it on an alt since I'm doing the very same thing NOW. Even with the myth caps, /shrug. I'll spend myth on what I don't get out a Coil/CT run for the week. An alt means I need to repeat leveling up classes again for cross class skills. Unlocking battles again. And if something drops no one needs on one ALT I can't have someone hold it for my while I go log into the correct alt (like in Aion)
Edited, Feb 25th 2014 1:53pm by nonameoflevi
Edited, Feb 25th 2014 1:53pm by nonameoflevi
I'm a bit of an alt-aholic myself, but I've also done the one character has everything approach in FFXI, so I have an appreciation for both styles.
Whatever you choose, there are pitfalls and benefits to both, but so far, I prefer using multiple characters in FFXIV.
Probably the biggest pitfall of multiple alts is that you do have to cover the same ground when leveling your character (especially when you consider cross-class abilities). But it can also be beneficial since the storyline quests offer good rewards and bonus xp, and you only get them once per character. It really depends how you feel about questing and whether the thought of repeating the same ones a few times would bother you. On the other hand, there's only enough one-time quests to level 2 or 3 classes with, so you'll be quest-free if you want to level everything on one character.
But one of benefits of multiple characters is you can keep working on capped rewards once you've hit them on one character. All you have to do is switch to your alt and keep going. If you're playing casually, this might not be a concern, but if you ever have one giant play session, you'll appreciate being able to get a little more done with the time you have. If all your endgame classes are on one character, it will take quite a bit of time to complete all the armor sets you'll want to collect.
Whatever you choose, there are pitfalls and benefits to both, but so far, I prefer using multiple characters in FFXIV.
Probably the biggest pitfall of multiple alts is that you do have to cover the same ground when leveling your character (especially when you consider cross-class abilities). But it can also be beneficial since the storyline quests offer good rewards and bonus xp, and you only get them once per character. It really depends how you feel about questing and whether the thought of repeating the same ones a few times would bother you. On the other hand, there's only enough one-time quests to level 2 or 3 classes with, so you'll be quest-free if you want to level everything on one character.
But one of benefits of multiple characters is you can keep working on capped rewards once you've hit them on one character. All you have to do is switch to your alt and keep going. If you're playing casually, this might not be a concern, but if you ever have one giant play session, you'll appreciate being able to get a little more done with the time you have. If all your endgame classes are on one character, it will take quite a bit of time to complete all the armor sets you'll want to collect.
Thanks for the responses!
It's highlighted the pros and cons I've been discussing with my FC. On the plus side it will allow me to subvert the weekly caps on currency and gear while maintaining some character identity. On the other hand, I could end up hitting a brick wall whereby my tank gets a ton of dps drops or vice versa, so I wont really gain an awful lot anyway, and eventually all jobs on 1 character will be well geared anyway, given enough time.
As you can probably tell, I'm just going round in circles, so while I loop the loop, gona finish Bravely Default XD
It's highlighted the pros and cons I've been discussing with my FC. On the plus side it will allow me to subvert the weekly caps on currency and gear while maintaining some character identity. On the other hand, I could end up hitting a brick wall whereby my tank gets a ton of dps drops or vice versa, so I wont really gain an awful lot anyway, and eventually all jobs on 1 character will be well geared anyway, given enough time.
As you can probably tell, I'm just going round in circles, so while I loop the loop, gona finish Bravely Default XD
Just because your character -can- change to black mage for instance, doesnt mean he or she should for your RP feeling. Sure, actually having to level them on your RP character is another deal, but what's the harm?
Instead of simply changing characters to switch between RP and gaming, you could simply change jobs to switch between RP and gaming. I know feeling wise that might be a bit troublesome (heck, i absolutely refused to take up Ninja due to that on XI myself), but gear drop wise, skill wise, money wise (crafting and using items you already have for crafts) and most of all... not having to do dungeons and what not all over again, you'd be doing yourself a favor.
You cant send gear or items between characters, so if you do take up an alt, he or she is completely on her own. What would be the point?
Instead of simply changing characters to switch between RP and gaming, you could simply change jobs to switch between RP and gaming. I know feeling wise that might be a bit troublesome (heck, i absolutely refused to take up Ninja due to that on XI myself), but gear drop wise, skill wise, money wise (crafting and using items you already have for crafts) and most of all... not having to do dungeons and what not all over again, you'd be doing yourself a favor.
You cant send gear or items between characters, so if you do take up an alt, he or she is completely on her own. What would be the point?
I find it has artificially improved the life of the game, on a week to week basis, for me by a few days. I am not myth capped instantly so this takes a little work. Each character may need different gear from CT which can take from 1 run to 26 (like last week). Then, you can run coil on both characters. If your main has a static, you can probably use your alt to either join another static with friends or use PF to get at least turn 1 and 2 down for some loot.
However, a word of caution: think carefully about the method of leveling you enjoy the most. Now that dungeons seem to be the primary mode of leveling, I have not been able to get another job to 50 on my alt character simply because I don't like dungeons in this game for exp and the daily roulette would take me around ~24 days to get to level 50 assuming you do more than just the daily low level roulette.
Right now, I don't have an 'alt' job for my alt in coil so I can't pick up any extra gear as a result. No idea what I want to level next on it and no way to get that to 50 quickly without doing something I dislike.
I would say make an alt if the following conditions apply to you:
1) You log in Monday night, raid coil/cap myth/get your CT loot and then log out the rest of the week
2) You don't mind leveling through dungeons, escort leves, and the occasional FATE
3) You don't mind doing all of the story missions and quests again
4) You don't mind leveling classes for the appropriate cross-class abilities again (this is a deal-breaker for me, usually)
5) You strictly play one type of DoW/DoM job (tank/healer/DPS) and would like to experience another role you never play
I can't stand to level certain classes in this game and I know I would need to for cross-class abilities should I decide to pick another job that isn't MNK. Hence, why my alt isn't doing much besides giving me my endgame fix.
Of course, it never hurts to start an alt. You can go slow and pick up rested exp when you do not want to level your alt.
Edited, Feb 27th 2014 3:39am by HitomeOfBismarck
However, a word of caution: think carefully about the method of leveling you enjoy the most. Now that dungeons seem to be the primary mode of leveling, I have not been able to get another job to 50 on my alt character simply because I don't like dungeons in this game for exp and the daily roulette would take me around ~24 days to get to level 50 assuming you do more than just the daily low level roulette.
Right now, I don't have an 'alt' job for my alt in coil so I can't pick up any extra gear as a result. No idea what I want to level next on it and no way to get that to 50 quickly without doing something I dislike.
I would say make an alt if the following conditions apply to you:
1) You log in Monday night, raid coil/cap myth/get your CT loot and then log out the rest of the week
2) You don't mind leveling through dungeons, escort leves, and the occasional FATE
3) You don't mind doing all of the story missions and quests again
4) You don't mind leveling classes for the appropriate cross-class abilities again (this is a deal-breaker for me, usually)
5) You strictly play one type of DoW/DoM job (tank/healer/DPS) and would like to experience another role you never play
I can't stand to level certain classes in this game and I know I would need to for cross-class abilities should I decide to pick another job that isn't MNK. Hence, why my alt isn't doing much besides giving me my endgame fix.
Of course, it never hurts to start an alt. You can go slow and pick up rested exp when you do not want to level your alt.
Edited, Feb 27th 2014 3:39am by HitomeOfBismarck
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