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Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward |OT| Raiders of the Void Ark

Trojita

Rapid Response Threadmaker
Guide for new or returning players

For those that want to join the GAF Free Company (FFXIV's term for "Guilds) there is information further down in this OP. You must register on the Guildworks site listed below before sending in an application in-game. Not doing this will result in your application being automatically declined. Our people are everywhere on the server so you shouldn't have a problem finding at least one of us so you can send in the application. If you were dropped from the Free Company (FC) due to inactivity, just send in another application stating your GAF name, Guildworks username, and that you are a returning player. We have stopped accepting Alts to make room for the influx of players that Heavensward brought.

The majority of GAF plays on Ultros. Ultros currently has a high population and this causes a restriction on when new characters can be added to the server. Your best bet is to try and make a character somewhere between 1:00 - 5:00 AM (5:00 - 10:00 GMT).

Click the picture for the latest trailer!​


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This is what we've been waiting for people. The first expansion for FFXIV is releasing on June 23rd with early access available for those that received codes on Friday June 19th. May launch day be lag free and the servers available to play on! (lol)

The expansion will be opening up the city state of Ishgard in the north. Ishgard is a theocratic state ruled by a religious leader. They are wary of outsiders so tread carefully, lest you be branded a heretic in the eyes of the Holy See. Isghard is home to Elves, Chocobos, and Dragoons. Ishgard has been locked in a 1000 year war with sentient Dragons from neighboring Dravinia. Have fun in the bitter cold!

Coming with the expansion is three new jobs that will each start at level 30: Dark Knight (Tank), Astrologian (Healer/Yugi-oh Expert), and Machinist (DPS/Mustadio)​

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The expansion provides a new race to play as, The mysterious Au Ra.

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The curved horns and beautifully patterned scales that characterize the Au Ra oft give rise to speculation that this Hyur-like race native to the Far Eastern continent of Othard are, in fact, the progeny of dragons. This, however, has long been disputed, with scholars citing several distinct differences in the two races as evidence of decidedly dissimilar roots -- the first and foremost being the enhanced hearing and spatial recognition granted by an Au Ra's cranial projections (traits not attributed to draconian horns), and the second being the gross disproportion of body mass between Auri males and females (again, a trait widely unseen in dragons).

Raen:
Auri creation myth tells of a Dawn Father and a Dusk Mother from whom all Au Ra are descended. The Raen believe their veins to run thick with the blood of the former--their brilliant white scales and iron wills serving as proof of this divine lineage.

Unlike their sister clan, the Xaela, who bloody the land with their endless tribal conflict, the Raen have embraced a life of tranquility and solitude, long abandoning the nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors to settle the deep valleys of Othard's mountainous eastern reaches. Only on rare occasions will one emerge from the valley mists to seek adventure in realms afar.

Xaela:
Auri creation myth tells of a Dawn Father and a Dusk Mother from whom all Au Ra are descended. The Xaela believe their veins to run thick with the blood of the latter--their lustrous black scales and fiery wills serving as proof of this divine lineage.

Unlike their sister clan, the Raen, who lead solitary lives hidden behind the savage peaks of Othard's eastern reaches, the Xaela are free spirits who roam the vast western steppe in close-knit tribes hunting, gathering, and warring as their ancestors have for countless generations.

If that's not enough....

Level cap raised to 60! Get leveling!
New Gear
New Crafts
New Dungeons
New Raids
Flying Mounts!
Fat Chocobo is flying!
Dead Dragoons!
New Minions!
Dragons!

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→ Official site for Heavensward.

→→ Early Access Details & How to Redeem Heavensward Pre-Order Codes on Mog Station.

Videos:
• Heavensward Launch Trailer.
• Heavensward Opening Cinematic. Note: There are major spoilers from patch 2.5's story.
• Benchmark trailer || Benchmark download. Note: It also includes a character creation tool. Appearance data can be saved for use creating characters in the retail version.
• Main Theme of Heavensward "Dragonsong" by Nobuo Uematsu (Note: Spoilers) || New Job Actions || New Dungeons
• Letter from the Producer LIVE: Part XX Q&A Summary (4/23) || Part XXI Digest (06/15/2015)[/INDENT]

♦ Do I need to complete anything in-game to gain access to Ishgard and other Heavensward content?
Yes.

• You must have a Lv50 character with a minimum item level of 90 (which is required to complete patch 2.55).
• You must have completed all the main scenario quests for A Realm Reborn. The final quest is "Before the Dawn" (from patch 2.55).
• You do not have to clear the raid dungeon The Binding Coil of Bahamut.
• I'm Level 50, what should I do before Heavensward?

♦ I've installed Heavensward and completed all the main quests for A Realm Reborn; where to next?


♦ Other relevant information?
• You will need the base game FFXIV: A Realm Reborn to be able to play Heavensward.
• The expansion does not come with the base game unless you buy the bundle.
• You do not get 30 days free with the expansion.
• The expansion is not shared across all platforms. You must purchase the specific version to play on the specified platform.
• If you created your FFXIV account with a Steam registration key, then you will need to purchase Heavensward on Steam. Non-Steam codes will not work on your FFXIV account.
• Mac OS version will be released the same day as the Heavensward launch.

Required Hard Drive Space (minimum): PS3 - 20GB || PS4 - 50GB || PC - 30GB

Please refer to the official expansion site for more info on pricing, pre-order bonuses, collector's bonuses, and system requirements.​


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►► NeoGAF Free Company:

World: Ultros (NA/EU data center - Primal)
Free Company: Gather Against Fate «GAF»
Officers: Maple Cookie, Strawberry Shortcake, Safflower Amariyo, Baramoht Klynhollsyn, Drama Zeni, Elliott Kirkland, Mira Mora, Odoru Suika, Scything Moon
Guild Website: http://neogaf.guildwork.com/

► Other Free Companies and/or Linkshells (by World):

World: Durandal (JP data center - Gaia)
Linkshell: Nocturne
Officers: Aki Rouscelia
Guild Website:: http://nocturne.guildwork.com/

World: Ragnarok (NA/EU data center - Chaos)
Linkshell: Warriors of Chaos
Officers: Khrno Abaddon, Ebil Elebil

World: Sargatanas (NA/EU data center - Aether)
Free Company: Red Dot «DOT»
Officers: Eithne Rain
Guild Website: http://reddot.guildwork.com/

World: Gilgamesh (NA/EU data center - Aether)
Free Company: Vector Industries «VI»
Officers: Maiden Astraea, Miharu Volsung, Daryl Sharp
Guild Website: http://vector.guildwork.com/

*PM or post in the thread if you want your FC or LS to be added to the list or need to update any info.

♦ FFXIV-GAF Steam Group: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/ffxiv-gaf/

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►► HOW TO JOIN GAF FC ON ULTROS:

♦ Regarding Character Creation Restrictions: check here for when servers are available. Ultros is more likely to be open around late night/early morning.

⇒ STEP #1: Guildwork Application
Sign up and submit the 'Recruitment' form at http://neogaf.guildwork.com
*Make sure to also setup your character's full name on the Guildwork's Display Name field (under Settings).​

♦ Note: If you're a returning player that left/got kicked to make room, skip this step above.

⇒ STEP #2: Submitting a Free Company Application

1. Target any member of «GAF» in-game, then select View Company Profile from the subcommand menu.
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♦ Note: You may find GAF members around the capital cities, the Gold Saucer, or GAF's house in Limsa Lominsa's housing area (Mist - Ward 1, Plot 15).

2. Select Submit Application at the bottom of the Company Profile window.
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3. Enter a message to be sent with your application, then press Confirm to submit.
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♦ Note: If you're a returning player with a Guildwork account or changed your character's name, please mention it in the message.

4. An officer will review your application when available, and if your application has been accepted, you will be added to the free company automatically.

♦ Note: You do not need to be online to get accepted.


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▼ Basic Game Utility / News
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/ - The Lodestone. Official site for news and more.
sqex.to/Msp - The Mog Station. Used for all FFXIV account management.
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/forum.php - Official forums. (Note the "Dev Tracker" feed.)
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/pr/blog/ - Developers' blog.
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/help/option_service/ - Optional services (vanity items, world transfer, etc).
https://twitter.com/FF_XIV_EN - Official Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/user/FINALFANTASYXIV - Official Youtube channel
http://www.twitch.tv/finalfantasyxiv - Official Twitch channel
http://arrstatus.com - Server/World status site.
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/special/fankit - Wallpapers and such.​

▼ Resources / Wikis / Guides
http://xivdb.com - A data-minded database.
http://www.garlandtools.org/db/ - A database with tools.
http://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Main_Page - Successor to FFXIclopedia.
http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/FF14_Wiki - Another wiki for ARR.
http://www.ffxivinfo.com - Database, with guides.
http://www.ffxivguild.com/ - A general guides site.
http://i.imgur.com/smNx1ZX.jpg and http://i.imgur.com/PEnLMF9.jpg - A visual guide to tanking.
http://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/2th3u3/so_you_want_to_be_a_master_crafter_or_gatherer/ - Crafting and gathering guide.
http://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/327g64/so_you_want_to_be_a_master_crafter_macro_rotation/ - Crafting macro/rotation guide.
https://www.youtube.com/user/MTQcapture - Video guides for high level dungeons, raids, primals.​

▼ Useful Pages
http://ffxiv.ariyala.com/ - Gear calculator.
http://ffxivcrafting.com/ - Crafting resources.
http://ffxivclock.com/ - Gathering timers.
http://ffxivfisher.appspot.com/ - Fishing.
http://www.garlandtools.org/db/#skywatcher/all - Weather forecast.
http://vistas.explorexiv.com/ - Sightseeing log.
http://dimensionaldeath.com/?page=huntinglogs - Hunting log.
http://www.xiv-minions.com/ - Minions and mounts.
http://ffxivchocobo.com/ - Chocobo color calculator.
http://www.ffxivgardening.com/ - Gardening.
http://ffxivtriad.com/ - Triple Triad database.
http://ntg55.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-29.html - Screenshots of housing furnishings.
http://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/278dx2/accuracy_cap_for_everything_coil_19 - Accuracy cap for everything.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...Lk7OCd6VWTcU/htmlview?sle=true#gid=1617225659 - Endgame loot list.​

▼ Other Communities
http://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv - FFXIV subreddit since 1.x.
http://www.bluegartr.com/index.php - An endgame-centric forum originally known for its FFXI community.
http://ffxiv.zam.com/ - Long established MMO site with large forum community.​

▼ Misc
http://gamerescape.com/tag/the-lore-train/ - Lore, lore, and lore.
http://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/31oq1t/how_to_completely_block_rmt_without_se_having_to/ - Blocking RMT messages on PC with the Guildwork client.
http://betterds3.ciebiera.net - Enables use of a PS3 controller on PC.
http://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-XInput-Wrapper-for-DS3-and-Play-com-USB-Dual-DS2-Controller - PC Dualshock 3 support, no motioninjoy required.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=66551296&postcount=7248 - Graphics modding.
http://xivmodels.com - Model viewer (Spoilers).​

▼ Videos
https://youtu.be/1xOOFCltZuc - Extended version of FFXIV: A Realm Reborn (2.0) opening, that includes "Flames of Truth" a cinematic that is unlocked in The Final Coil of Bahamut raid.
https://youtu.be/TXc0loyuq9I - Narrated video of "The Waning of the Sixth Sun" (1.0 storyline) from FFXIV: A Realm Reborn bonus disc.
https://youtu.be/ag2cRTU-Og8 - FFXIV 1.0 opening cinematic.
https://youtu.be/uDg44MVJLrw - 16-bit Super Titan Extreme Battle.
https://youtu.be/cuELXU0OEs4 - Ultimate Fight Final Fantasy XIV.​

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The images and icons are from the official FFXIV site. I shamelessly reused a lot of info from Suzu's thread who used some info from Shamdeo's Gold Saucer thread.
 

KTO

Member
The dream of having the buy option disappear from the home menu on PS4 when I heavenswarded is dead.
 
Had an early flight this morning, and only ended up getting 3 hours of sleep. Now I'm so excited for EA that I don't know if I'll be able to get any rest. Cannot. Wait.
 

Baliis

Member
I really should've caught up to the current patch, but having to catch up now is making me hold off on playing at all kind of.
 

Ozigizo

Member
Is there alot to do to catch up in final patch? Thats the only content I haven't played.

You will not be able to complete your 50+ class missions without first completing the pre-heavensward story. The last patch is mostly story with one required 8-man fight. Bright side is that you will now receive Exp for doing them.
 

klee123

Member
Nice, looks like it's about to launch soon.

For me, after playing FF14 ARR from launch until March this year, I have no desire to get into it anymore, but I did have a fantastic 1 1/2 years with it.
 
• The expansion is not shared across all platforms. You must purchase the specific version to play on the specified platform.
I.. had no idea this was the case.
Oh well, good thing I just got a 980 Ti.

I don't think I'm all caught up yet, though. Last thing I remember, I had to do a new Snowcloak dungeon.. I think.
 

Hasney

Member
I slept like a baby and probably won't be logging on until Saturday, but I'm still excited. Hopefully it works OK by then.
 
Not sure whether to Fantasia to Au Ra or not. On one hand, I'm a super boring Hyur, and I made an awesome Au Ra in the benchmark... but I'm pretty attached to my current look too. It would be feel kind of weird to see a different guy in the cutscenes.
 
Best day of the week, and considering what a week it was that's saying something.

Can't wait to jump into 3.0! (dat Holy nerf tho)
 

thetrin

Hail, peons, for I have come as ambassador from the great and bountiful Blueberry Butt Explosion
Get hyped! I'm all in for early access.
 

SkyOdin

Member
I'm hyped for Heavensward, but I'm not going to be able to do Early Access, so I'll have to wait a few more days to join in the fun. But on Tuesday, it'll be time for me to start trying out the new Jobs and seeing what new twists lie in store in my Paladin class quests. I can't wait.
 

DJIzana

Member
Can't play until tomorrow night. Going to be rough.

I *just* finished installing Heavensward. I had planned to play this weekend but decided to make plans since it'll be nice out. Then... in two weeks, I'll be heading on vacation. This means I'll be far behind. Whatever though... will play when I can and still enjoy every bit of it!

Ready to get my Machinist on! Or... if I don't end up liking the Machinist or get tired of the DPS queue time, ready to go back to my Paladin! :D
 

Tomat

Wanna hear a good joke? Waste your time helping me! LOL!
SOON

Awww shit, Raen are the white scales? I thought they were the blue ones.
 

Teknoman

Member
So...will this be the new OT for continued discussion or will it be merged with the original OT once it runs its course?
 

Quote

Member
I'm pretty excited but I have to work tomorrow. I'm hoping that gives the servers a little time to settle.
 

Stiler

Member
Can someone tell me why mmo's, like this, don't follow the route of WoW an da few others that give buyers of the expansion a free boost to level 50? Just a simple level up so you can buy the expansion and experience its content without having to go through the entire base game to get there.

I'm not talking about giving them rare gear or anything super-amazing, just a basic level 50 or whatever character that they can use to play where the expansion starts at instead of having to go through the entire base game/storyline.

To me, form a business perspective, it seems like a great way to scare off potential customers an dpeople who never finished to level 50 with ARR but woul dlike to try the expansion.
 

Baliis

Member
Can someone tell me why mmo's, like this, don't follow the route of WoW an da few others that give buyers of the expansion a free boost to level 50? Just a simple level up so you can buy the expansion and experience its content without having to go through the entire base game to get there.

I'm not talking about giving them rare gear or anything super-amazing, just a basic level 50 or whatever character that they can use to play where the expansion starts at instead of having to go through the entire base game/storyline.

To me, form a business perspective, it seems like a great way to scare off potential customers an dpeople who never finished to level 50 with ARR but woul dlike to try the expansion.

Didn't WoW only do this with WoD? I know BC WotLK and Cata didn't give you free levels chars anyways
 
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