Earlier than you’ll be able to start your journey in Ultimate Fantasy XIV, you’ll have to create your individual participant character (which is enjoyable) and resolve which server you’re going to play on (which is much less enjoyable). For these completely new to MMORPGs, your server (also referred to as a “world”) dictates who you’ll work together with if you play the sport. Two buddies enjoying the sport on the identical server can run into one another on the overworld, whereas gamers on separate servers will run into one another much less regularly. Easy sufficient, proper?
Effectively, Ultimate Fantasy XIV throws a number of wrenches into the combination that may make choosing a server really feel overwhelming. So earlier than we talk about how you can go to different servers, the variations between congested and most popular worlds, and new participant bonuses, know that above every little thing else, you must decide the server or information heart your pals play on. In the meantime, if you happen to’re a solo participant, no server selection is totally irredeemable so long as your information heart matches your area (which the sport ought to default to). For MMORPG newbies that simply wish to play the sport, that’s all it’s good to know.
For the remainder of you, let’s get into the nitty gritty of choosing a server.
What’s a knowledge heart in Ultimate Fantasy XIV?
Earlier than we dig deeper on this subject, you must know that your selection of knowledge heart will impression your expertise in Ultimate Fantasy XIV as a lot as your particular server will. To elucidate what information facilities are…properly, if every server is a planet, then the info heart is a galaxy. Sure multiplayer options in Ultimate Fantasy XIV are information center-wide and never server-wide, such because the Responsibility Finder (a significant a part of the sport) and Social gathering Finder. Additionally, as alluded to above, information facilities that match your area ought to decrease latency as you play.
Find out how to decide a server in Ultimate Fantasy XIV based mostly on its standing
In case you’re decided to handpick a world that’s best for you, you’ll want to take a look at the standing of every server. By clicking this hyperlink to the official Ultimate Fantasy XIV web site, you’ll discover that every server has one in all 4 distinctive classifications. Right here’s what these imply:
Normal servers are precisely what they sound like. These worlds are decently populated, and you may create new characters on them with none trouble. They’re as vanilla as vanilla ice cream, which is sweet, as a result of vanilla is scrumptious.
Conversely, Congested servers are too populated for their very own good. Whereas these worlds might have bustling participant communities, you can’t create a personality on these worlds till extra space is made on them. If you wish to have adventures on these servers, your finest wager is to select one other server inside the similar information heart and use the server journey function (extra on this later).
New and Most well-liked worlds are the place issues get fascinating. These are servers that Sq. Enix actually must populate, so characters right here will obtain some cool perks. These embrace a double EXP bonus and objects you’ll be able to trade without spending a dime gear. Additionally, present gamers can completely switch to those worlds without spending a dime (as an alternative of paying an $18 price) and obtain their very own bonuses. There are some drawbacks to those worlds, however we’ll get to that later.
Find out how to server journey and information heart journey in Ultimate Fantasy XIV
Happily, Ultimate Fantasy XIV has a nifty function that allows you to journey to completely different servers inside your area. In different phrases, if you happen to begin the sport on the Adamantoise server and also you meet somebody who performs on the Gilgamesh server, you’ll be able to nonetheless group up. Let’s break this function down.
To journey between servers inside your information heart, you’ll wish to go to both New Gridania, the Limsa Lominsa Decrease Decks, or Ul’dah – Steps of Nald. Look at the primary Aetheryte (ie the enormous crystal) and choose “Go to One other World Server.” Select the world you wish to go to, and also you’ll warp there after a (often) brief queue time. It’s that straightforward!
If you wish to go to one other information heart, you’ll must log off and return to the primary menu. Choose the “START” choice to open the character choose menu, spotlight your character, and both Proper Click on or press the Sq./X button. From the menu that pops up, choose “Go to One other Knowledge Middle,” after which choose the place you wish to go.
Take into account that you don’t have complete server journey freedom right here. Knowledge heart journey is restricted to your area (apart from Oceania servers, since all gamers can journey there). This implies gamers in North America, Europe, and Japan can’t play collectively until they create model new characters on these respective information facilities. If you wish to play with mates from all over the world, keep in mind that enjoying on a overseas information heart might lead to extra noticeable community lag.
In case you can journey to nearly any server, is there any motive to select a house server to start with?
Sure, in actual fact. Whilst you can hang around for days at a time on non-home servers, a handful of options will turn out to be unavailable to you till you come. These principally have an effect on subscribed and endgame gamers, so these having fun with the critically acclaimed free trial don’t have to fret an excessive amount of about this. Right here’s what you’ll miss away from your private home server:
– You may’t work together with any Free Corporations (ie guilds)
– Your retainers shall be locked
– You may’t buy participant housing
– Scores from Deep Dungeons gained’t save to the leaderboards
– Sure gathering nodes is not going to spawn for Miners and Botanists
Additionally, these EXP bonuses you get from new and most popular worlds will solely apply if you happen to decide these servers as your private home world. Nonetheless, if a type of worlds is your private home server, you’ll nonetheless get these bonuses when visiting different servers.
Are there variations between servers in Ultimate Fantasy XIV (except for standing)?
Not like some MMORPGs that provide completely different rulesets on every server, worlds in Ultimate Fantasy XIV are functionally similar. Nonetheless, because the recreation has been lively for over a decade(!), many servers and information facilities have fostered sure communities that may impression the place you wish to spend most of your time.
For North American gamers, servers on the Aether information heart have a tendency to deal with essentially the most hardcore gamers and usually function essentially the most sturdy raiding scene. In the meantime, servers on the Crystal information heart veer extra informal; the Balmung server is especially generally known as a hotbed for role-players. For these searching for a center floor, servers on the Primal information heart supply a much less congested various to Aether.
Dynamis is the most recent information heart in North America, which brings notable professionals and cons. Because it’s newer, you’ll have the most effective probability of scoring your individual housing since there are few gamers competing for the restricted residences accessible. Nonetheless, you’ll wrestle far more to seek out different gamers to run dungeons and raids with by way of the responsibility finder, as many gamers use the info heart switch function to run content material on Aether or Primal. As a silver lining, it’s possible you’ll discover a decrease inhabitants server advantageous throughout particularly busy instances within the recreation, reminiscent of initially of a brand new growth.
Once more, the above observations aren’t built-in options of every information heart. Communities and participant habits can change, particularly as the sport continues to develop its roster of servers. When you’ve got particular communities you want to be part of, otherwise you wish to be taught extra about areas except for North America, I recommend performing some analysis earlier than you make a dedication. However like I stated on the high, Ultimate Fantasy XIV will play just about the identical method no matter the place you select to start out. Take the above tricks to coronary heart, make the selection that feels best for you, and luxuriate in your journey in Eorzea!
