One of the crucial vital selections you face when making a brand new character in Ultimate Fantasy XIV is which Information Heart (DC) to play on. Whereas, in the end, this comes fully down to private alternative, there are some things to remember earlier than making your determination. 

Every Information Heart in FFXIV accommodates quite a lot of world servers, although the precise variety of servers on every Information Heart varies. My very own Information Heart, Crystal, is a North American DC containing the next world servers:

• Balmung
• Brynhildr
• Coeurl
• Diabolos
• Goblin
• Malboro
• Mateus
• Zalera

Whereas Crystal general carries a repute for informal gameplay, every of those world servers carries a particular repute that you simply’re unlikely to know in case you’ve by no means performed FFXIV earlier than or are new to the Information Heart. 

For instance, Balmung is called the Roleplaying server and travelling to the Quicksands in Balmung is sort of a baptism of fireplace in case you’ve by no means dipped your toe into that type of gameplay earlier than, whereas in case you’re desirous to get into heavy end-game raiding then Coeurl is probably going higher suited. 

However, one other North American DC, Aether, is well-known for the PVP scene, so in case you’re wanting to attain high rankings in Crystalline Battle, you’ll do properly on any server throughout the Aether DC. 

There’s a DC and a server for each type of play, however there are different issues to think about too. 

choose the appropriate Information Heart for you in FFXIV

Language obstacles and tradition shock

Whereas Japanese DCs and servers are well-known for his or her heavy emphasis on raiding, it’s undoubtedly not a good suggestion to go for taking part in on them in case you don’t converse or perceive Japanese. There are some Japanese servers which are very welcoming to English-speaking gamers, corresponding to Tonberry or Kujata, that are residence to many gamers from Australia and New Zealand. 

Whereas many of the gameplay doesn’t depend on speaking and you’ll play for a really very long time with out interacting with one other participant due to Responsibility Help, FFXIV is an MMO in each sense of the phrase and finally, you’ll encounter a problem if there’s a language barrier. 

When it comes to European DCs, there are particular servers that include a excessive variety of gamers who converse particular languages, however extra on that later.

In addition to the language itself, you additionally want to think about that every a part of the world has societal norms that may clearly carry by to FFXIV. Enjoying on a closely Japanese server, you’re anticipated to know and perceive these societal expectations. 

Location

Take it from a British girl taking part in on North American servers – in case you play on a Information Heart that’s away out of your precise geographical location, you’ll encounter lag and it’ll have an effect on your gameplay. 

Whereas these points will be tailored to and overcome, they’re extremely irritating and limiting at occasions. You’ll must say “excuse my ping” loads and different gamers could query why you’re not avoiding issues as quick as you ought to be. That stated, location additionally isn’t the one factor to think about right here. 

Social circles

In the event you’re diving into some Eorzean exploration at this level, there’s a excessive probability that you simply’ve been introduced into FFXIV by pals. With that in thoughts, if you wish to play with them it is best to take into account becoming a member of their server. 

Whereas you might have to take care of the aforementioned lag points, you’ll even have a ready-made get together everytime you need to dive into raiding or dungeon operating. You’ll have the ability to keep away from the woes of Get together Finder, reduce queue occasions for day by day roulettes and also you’ll all the time have somebody to run round Eorzea with. 

Server standing

It’s price checking the Lodestone’s Server Standing web site earlier than making your determination as a result of it saves you the difficulty of attempting to hitch worlds which are presently congested (over-populated), however that’s not the one cause to examine this out first. 

Any world listed on the location as being most popular is unquestionably one thing it is best to take into account. Creating a brand new character on a ‘most popular world’ won’t solely imply you’re assured a spot, however you’ll additionally obtain the Highway to 80 buff. These worlds will probably be marked with a star once you’re searching by worlds. 

This buff stays in place till the world has a sure variety of gamers populating it or till 90 days after character creation and can enhance any EXP you earn by 100% till a Job reaches degree 80. You’ll additionally obtain 10 silver Chocobo feathers, which will be exchanged for low-mid degree gear, serving to you in your manner. 

change servers in FFXIV

No matter which DC or server you select to create your character on, relaxation assured that in case you aren’t completely satisfied there you may all the time change to a brand new server to hitch pals you’ve made alongside the way in which or just for a recent begin. 

With Cross-world journey, you may go to different servers or DCs to get a really feel for the group there and in case you discover that you simply’re fascinated by a particular factor of gameplay, you might discover a place that fits you higher than the place you began. Whereas visiting one other world is okay within the brief time period, there are limitations that apply when doing so that may be averted by merely upping sticks and shifting.

To alter worlds, you’ll need to pay a small payment of $18 USD/£12 GBP so as to use the House World Switch Service, however in case you’ve discovered your home inside Eorzea it’s one thing to think about. You are able to do this as many occasions as you want, so long as you wait just a few days between every transfer.

Each FFXIV Information Heart and their speciality

North America

Europe

Oceania

Japan

I’ve obtained to be trustworthy, as an English talking participant who has by no means dipped their toe into the Japanese servers, I don’t know an excessive amount of about most of them, particularly the newly added Meteor DC. Nevertheless, I can let you know what I do know.

The biggest variety of non-Japanese talking gamers on Japanese servers are situated on the Elemental servers, corresponding to Kujata and Tonberry. Different Japanese servers, corresponding to Masamune on Mana, are additionally welcoming to non-Japanese talking gamers, however there’s some etiquette to comply with, corresponding to not becoming a member of solely Japanese teams in case you don’t perceive the language or have an honest translation methodology.