The Grand Companies Are Coming! (07/15/2011)

[Kaiyoko]

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...a7e3711d76c903
http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...e91f27769c4f63

It is our pleasure to announce that the proud banners of the Grand Companies of Eorzea will fly come patch 1.18! We would like to take this opportunity to brief adventurers ahead of time regarding the enlistment process and other pertinent particulars.
The Grand Companies of Eorzea

The Grand Companies of Eorzea are a military alliance of nations united in common cause to avert imminent catastrophe from engulfing the realm. There exist three Grand Companies: the Maelstrom, which sails out of Limsa Lominsa; the Order of the Twin Adder, which makes its nest in the Twelveswood; and the Immortal Flames, which burns in the heart of Ul'dah. Adventurers may freely choose the organization to which they would swear allegiance, regardless of nation of origin.

Company Name City-state Headquarters
The Maelstrom Limsa Lominsa Maelstrom Command
The Order of the Twin Adder Gridania Adders' Nest
The Immortal Flames Ul'dah Hall of Flames


Enlistment Process

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...a71b98fc3742c2

To enlist with a Grand Company, first make your way to its headquarters, which can be accessed from the host city-state's market wards entrance. Once inside, speak with the recruitment officer and you will be asked to undertake a mission,* the completion of which will earn you induction into the organization as a recruit.
* Available only to adventurers rank 22 or above.

As recruits are not yet bound to an organization, adventurers are encouraged to use this opportunity to discover firsthand with which company's ethos they most closely identify.


Missions and Rewards

As a recruit, you will be asked to undertake a selection of missions, the completion of which will earn you rich rewards. The nature of the reward will vary based on mission difficulty and your contribution to the organization. Prove your worth by unfailingly completing the tasks assigned, and you will climb the ranks and gain access to all the benefits associated with higher standing.

Missions for recruits will be available in patch 1.18, with those for higher ranks scheduled to be added in 1.19 and beyond.


Grand Company Seals

Completing a mission will earn you an amount in Grand Company Seals commensurate with the difficulty of your assigned task. Each organization issues its own unique type of seal (see below), which serves as a currency of sorts and can be used to redeem myriad useful items.

* The Maelstrom: Storm Seals
* The Order of the Twin Adder: Serpent Seals
* The Immortal Flames: Flame Seals

* Grand Company Seals are honored only by the organization of issuance.

Adventurers may check the amount of seals in their possession by selecting Attributes in the main menu, and then clicking the Grand Companies tab.


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[CasualPlayer]

Not what I thought companies would be at all.... its the 3 nation missions from XI all over again. I wonder if this was their original purpose or Yoshi's idea.

[miokomioko]

I am a fan of spendable credits systems.

I just wonder what kind of restrictions there will be about switching allegiance.

[Kaiyoko]

Inc puritans / official forum shut-ins screaming copying WoW Valor / Justice Point system, yet forgetting this is basically CP, ISP, or AN.

[Ropeydonkey]

Looks about right - I always expected the 'Company' system to be a follow-up to the Campaign system in XI. Currency, missions, medals and probably 'live'/'dynamic' content (e.g. Rifts/invasions/Campaign blah blah).

[Karinastar]

I'm assuming the Companies will have main missions to progress their stories that will serve to rank you up within the Company, and repeatables to grind currency. Pretty much what I expected, really. It's nothing particularly inspired, but if it's not too grindy it could be something fun, especially if the rewards are good. It's nice that they're letting you try out all three at first before having to commit as well. I agree it sounds a lot like the 3 nations from XI, but that said I did enjoy playing through the stories of them all.

[Lhyet]

If it's anything like Assault in XI, I'll be happy. More content is great.

[Shuichi]

Cool, what a nice surprise was not expecting this in 1.18. Hopefully as they begin to expand this, I would like to see solo'able and group based missions. Now to pick a nation.

/think
/twizzlers

[Lucavi]

They could honestly copy Campaign straight up and I'd be happy. I miss Campaign... Hopefully there's some good rewards sprinkled in there.

[Spider-Dan]

I'm going to make the least radical prediction in the history of this game and say that Limsa and Gridania's companies will have superior rewards to that of Ul'dah's.

Gotta start dispersing the players somehow...

[Jamison]

I'm going to make the least radical prediction in the history of this game and say that Limsa and Gridania's companies will have superior rewards to that of Ul'dah's.

Gotta start dispersing the players somehow...

I was wondering a bit about that... I started in Ul'dah and that remains the place I have the most interest in exploring the story. I'd wager there will be some incentive for the other cities, but as it doesn't seem as if switching will be possible in the near future (and who knows how easy it will ultimately be) there's got to be *some* balance between them all.

[Alkar]

Well we can experience all 3 for now so I don't think they'll have much better rewards in one city or another. Gridania is already getting an advantage with this update considering one of the new dungeons is there.

[Jamison]

You know, I'm getting mildly annoyed that you access the headquarters through the market wards entrance. I appreciate that the market wards is a good catch-all to add new things in without having to change the map, but for something this big I want there to be some special place in the city that you physically go to.

[Vuitton]

Suddenly, a second floor appears above the Adventurer's Guild in each city. Please use the staircase to access the new floor and speak to the NPC!

I am surprised they didn't just use the second market ward-esque zoneline that the cities have and is currently unused.

[Corrderio]

I really want to join LL's guild, but I'm pretty sure Grid or UD would be better for me in the long run for PGL/LNC gear.

[Nekoteko]

Doesn't Ul'Dah also currently have an inaccessible floor level? Market wards zoneline is a hateful place. *_*

[Katlan]

Sounds like they are adding good things to the game. I bet the game will really make its turn around by patch 1.20 or w/e it's supposed to be. They are definitely adding more to 1.18 then I expected

[Kaylia]

They are definitively adding things to the game, but good thing? Let's wait for the update. I mean, are Grand Companies going to be another glorified guildleves/behest with a fancy name, because we dont need more of that.

[Hyan]

I am surprised they didn't just use the second market ward-esque zoneline that the cities have and is currently unused.

Housing.

[Niiro]

Each city has multiple paths/stairs to nowhere.