Comments from the Devs

[Churchill]

Ah, how far BG has fallen.

[Lucavi]

You see the flaw in that logic don't you?

People don't come to post on public forums about how chill everything is with them.

I dunno, people post on forums to hang out and because of a sense of community. They post for information and just about anything else. There's a billion reasons to post on a public forum; complaining or drama isn't the only reason. I really don't see the flaw there.

[Reve]

I was on Ragnarok (arround 2005-2009) and I feel like it's the best community i ever played with during almost 10 years of mmorpgs. Sure we had more than our fair share of drama, but I made great friends during that time. I wonder how other "oldschool" Ragnarok players feel about that. Perhaps some servers had slightly better community than others..

I loved my time on Ragnarok (circa 2004-2010). Like you said there was drama, but I loved my linkshell. There were some really awesome people. If my shell didn't break up, I'd probably still be playing just for the people.

[Sephiroth]

For those wanting to change character name/appearance there's a dev post on the OFs.

I know confirmation has been a long time coming on this one, and we're glad to finally detail how this will work! When you log into A Realm Reborn for the first time with your old character (specifically after phase 4), you will have the ability to redo any aspect of your character -- one time only. This includes the ability to change your name.

Everyone's getting a second chance at a first impression!

[Lucavi]

Guess I'm using my original character, then!

[Waraji]

More news & details we already knew about?

[Kurokikaze]

I know confirmation has been a long time coming on this one, and we're glad to finally detail how this will work! When you log into A Realm Reborn for the first time with your old character (specifically after phase 4), you will have the ability to redo any aspect of your character -- one time only. This includes the ability to change your name.

Everyone's getting a second chance at a first impression!

Bold is important since it implies that Phase 4 data won't carry over into retail.

[Waraji]

Don't start with that shit... That only means you won't be able to change your characters cosmetics/name until retail. They already said that about character import. Couple weeks ago even.

[Cutriss]

Yes, they said in the past that you wouldn't be able to do this *during* beta (specifically the character recreation).

[Evane]

I know confirmation has been a long time coming on this one, and we're glad to finally detail how this will work! When you log into A Realm Reborn for the first time with your old character (specifically after phase 4), you will have the ability to redo any aspect of your character -- one time only. This includes the ability to change your name.

Everyone's getting a second chance at a first impression!

Bold is important since it implies that it would be an ability and thus you'll be able to set it on the cross bar. Rumors of the return of Namingway are spreading like wildfire.

[miokomioko]

I'm definitely going to put name/appearance-change in my scam macro.

[Niiro]

I dunno, people post on forums to hang out and because of a sense of community. They post for information and just about anything else. There's a billion reasons to post on a public forum; complaining or drama isn't the only reason. I really don't see the flaw there.

It's not the only reason, no, but people are much more likely to be vocal about negative things than positive things (this has nothing to do with MMOs or games, it's true for pretty much everything). Compare the number of Gimp/Fail threads that have been filled up to the number of favorite screenshot/post your damage threads.

Someone starts a drama thread when shit goes down, but they don't start a happy time thread when their LS and another LS work out an amicable dynamis rotation. There's no reverse-drama thread where something great happens and a a cascade of 50 pages of positivity rolls in after a few hours.

People just like to bitch and gossip and make drama and other people like to fling their crap express their own opinions whether or not the issue even involves them.

[Elona]

Bold is important since it implies that Phase 4 data won't carry over into retail.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...l=1#post990820

Hello everyone,

Sorry it took so long for a response on this, we've all been terribly busy--but enough with the excuses, onto the meat:
Characters created during Beta Phase 4 are planned to be transferred, as they are, including their progression, into launch. However, because this is still a testing phase, there is always the possibility we will not be able to carry out this plan.

Seems like plan is to carry over progression also, atleast for freshly made characters.

[Horus]

Drama Drama. What you know about that LMXVII Drama on Ifrit. All servers had issues. FFXI made most people into dickheads but I made a lot of friends. Even purchased someone a headset for vent because he couldnt get one. Where is my boy Drewseph!!!!!

[Karinastar]

I know confirmation has been a long time coming on this one, and we're glad to finally detail how this will work! When you log into A Realm Reborn for the first time with your old character (specifically after phase 4), you will have the ability to redo any aspect of your character -- one time only. This includes the ability to change your name.

Everyone's getting a second chance at a first impression!

I don't see why they can't allow it in open beta if the data is carrying over. I guess that's what they could mean, after Phase 4 starts. I hope that's the case, I want to record cutscenes and stuff with the final look of my character. That and I'm sick of my char having the insult they called boobs on hyur females in 1.0. Got too used to my nice beta character to go back! >_>

[Hyan]

Pics

[Karinastar]

Definitely digging the new Thanalan, I also really like the savanna type part of it they showed in the last live letter. The sky looks amazing in that first picture.

[Gokulo]

HP/MP/TP bars look slightly different? Or rather, there's this weird outline on them.

[Mabubeezareel]

Also note the map opacity in the second pic, as well as the inventory grid laid out 4x1 as opposed to 2x2 in the first screenshot.

[Iremire]

Damn I was debating going back to Gridania but man Thanalan looks amazing now. 2 New icons in the menu as well.