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Lilia Lia · **08-14-2015, 12:18 PM**

(08-14-2015, 12:02 PM)Oli! Wrote: As an afterthought, a good analog for thinking about how something that would seemingly see such little use would still be a service is Airplane travel. Some people might travel by airplane once a year. Some might travel once a month. A small amount of people might travel every day, or every few days. In this case, it isn't the frequency of use of any one group of people, but the sheer number of people using the service collectively that make it profitable. Less expensive or less uncomfortable methods (chocobos, airships, etc.) would therefore still see use. Chocobo and Airship Travel are to Aetheryte Teleportation as Bus and Rail transportation are to Flight. Additionally, Aetheryte, like Flight, can only take you to very specific, already-established places. Chocobos and Buses can just drop you off at whatever backstreet you need to go. That's another advantage for them.

That does make a lot of sense to me.Â

I guess my main concern is just the dramatic and story consequences of teleportation being so real and so convenient.Â It seems to me like it makes life far too convenient for people and I'd prefer if it weren't real for that reason.Â It kind of trivializes the world geography.

As an aside I don't think all RPers are "adventurers" though I'm sure many (or most?) are.

mongi291 · **08-14-2015, 12:19 PM**

I used to ICly travel with Aetherytes.
Then I travelled on foot from Ul'dah to Gridania.
It was... beautiful.
And then Aetherytes disappeared from my RP.

**Unnamed Mercenary** · **08-14-2015, 12:22 PM**

(08-14-2015, 12:18 PM)Lilia Lia Wrote: As an aside I don't think all RPers are "adventurers" though I'm sure many (or most?) are.

It's a gradient. People range from [non-adventurer]<==>[adventurer].

But as the thread's shown, I'd probably acknowledges it's something that's there, but it's definitely not something so commonplace and accessible that people avoid all other forms of travel for it. As brought up in a linkshell about this very topic the other night, Franz certainly wouldn't be able to bring say, a chocobo or a cart with him. His axe? Sure, yeah. It's close-range and on his person.

Caspar · **08-14-2015, 12:26 PM**

I think the gamey side of 14 has led you to believe there are usable aetherytes in walking distance of every settlement. Eorzea is much bigger I think than what we see in game. Even using aetherytes, you'd still need to ride or walk to a lot of rural or remote places. It's reasonable to believe communities closer to aetherytes aren't lived in by everyone. And again, there's clearly a limit to what you can take with you. I'd also argue aetheric conditions in the area could delay or disrupt travel. Really though, I think it's inappropriate to head canon things out of the setting as opposed to in. It causes too many conflicts with the basic lore, as opposed to thinking of excuses to not teleport, which all sound plausible enough

Cato · **08-14-2015, 12:31 PM**

I mostly avoid the use of aether travel altogether. I'm lucky enough to have a good excuse for it since those with Garlean blood in their veins either can't use an aetheryte at all or in the case of half-breeds they can only do so on rare occasions and are usually left sick in the aftermath.

It does feel like a cop out when it's used heavily though. I can understand it being used for emergencies but it's always a shame when people seem to want to skip through any and all travel in favour of instantly arriving at their chosen destination.

I'd like to see more people getting creative and using the boat in Limsa or Costa del Sol to reflect a period of IC travel. It can be a lot of fun! You never know who you'll meet when travelling the roads either - I've had people come up and join in with role-play whilst venturing through the wilds with a friend's character.

Caspar · **08-14-2015, 12:34 PM**

(08-14-2015, 12:31 PM)Graeham Wrote: I mostly avoid the use of aether travel altogether. I'm lucky enough to have a good excuse for it since those with Garlean blood in their veins either can't use an aetheryte at all or in the case of half-breeds they can only do so on rare occasions and are usually left sick in the aftermath.

It does feel like a cop out when it's used heavily though. I can understand it being used for emergencies but it's always a shame when people seem to want to skip through any and all travel in favour of instantly arriving at their chosen destination.

I would rather handwave the passage of time. Not all of us have gratuitous amounts of time to invest in rp. If it means I can play the scene I want to rather than unplanned, uneventful travel rp, I'll take it. I really, really don't want to disrespect others' time. Spontaneity is indeed cool, but what makes it spontaneous is that it's unplanned and unexpected. The rest of the time, you're walking or riding somewhere.

Cato · **08-14-2015, 12:39 PM**

(08-14-2015, 12:34 PM)Caspar Wrote:
(08-14-2015, 12:31 PM)Graeham Wrote: I mostly avoid the use of aether travel altogether. I'm lucky enough to have a good excuse for it since those with Garlean blood in their veins either can't use an aetheryte at all or in the case of half-breeds they can only do so on rare occasions and are usually left sick in the aftermath.

It does feel like a cop out when it's used heavily though. I can understand it being used for emergencies but it's always a shame when people seem to want to skip through any and all travel in favour of instantly arriving at their chosen destination.
I would rather handwave the passage of time. Not all of us have gratuitous amounts of time to invest in rp. If it means I can play the scene I want to rather than unplanned, uneventful travel rp, I'll take it. I really, really don't want to disrespect others' time. Spontaneity is indeed cool, but what makes it spontaneous is that it's unplanned and unexpected. The rest of the time, you're walking or riding somewhere.

Yeah, claiming that a few days passed between heading from one location to another works well. It's a route I tend to favour as well. It's convenient without the baggage that comes with 'lol went 2 costa then caem bakk to go 2 uldah shopz then tele 2 ishgard' all within the space of an hour.

Lilia Lia · **08-14-2015, 12:41 PM**

On the topic of RPing travel, I'd really like to be able to have an RP that takes place on an airship while traveling from one place to another.Â Prolonged travel is always a great premise for a story, and periods where there's nothing to do but wait for your arrival are great instances for interaction.

But like you Virara, I'd rather just say "TWO HOURS LATER" or something.

How long does an airship trip take, anyways?

Caspar · **08-14-2015, 12:42 PM**

For an event I ran, I said it took the better part of a day's ride to get to a remote hamlet from the summerford aetheryte, and it was evening when the party arrived.

Spethah · **08-14-2015, 12:42 PM**

Septha can teleport and is seen using it quite frequently due to the fact she's not a fit person, she has motion sickness on chocobos and other land related transportation, she hates the water and generally just teleporting is just better than dealing with those problems. It makes sense.

Now Ira on the other hand, he's completely uneducated. He learned to speak through others, he cannot read or write and he has trouble with math and other things usually taught from people that much more fortunate than him. As a result he has no idea about magic (He doesn't even know what a carbuncle is okay) and as a result he's clueless to what aetherytes are. He just thinks they look pretty. He cannot teleport and everything he does is by foot. Yeah, by foot, he can't afford a chocobo ride and he's never been on an airship before so he does everything on foot.

And that's why I've only RP'd him in Ul'dah so far.

Fox · **08-14-2015, 12:43 PM**

I'm personally a bit uncomfortable with "I don't like it, so I'm going to pretend it doesn't exist." There is lore supporting it, so completely cutting it out does not sit well with me. Now I've not really used it ICly; as I don't really involve myself -too- much with time. Usually when I RP, it's episodic. Now using them to metagame is different and I likely won't rp with someone who uses it to god-mode. However! I've also not really run into any of these types so it comes off for me personally, as a strawman argument on my part. So I don't so much worry about it.

The lore exists for the game for a reason, we act within the parameters as much as possible. Sure there are some things that we tweak out, for example we do not play the Main Character. But something so integral as the shards, I would be very hesitant personally to remove. It would be like removing the MC, pretending that the current events don't exist, especially because they -are- used in the main story. It will not merely 'bend' lore, it breaks it to pretend that teleporting and shards do not exist.

There are better ways to do this; as others have said, one of these would be gil, or exhaustion of use, or the fact that they are likely more reserved for higher-officials, mages can only use them, your character doesn't like it, etc. And even -if- we decided that normal adventures could use it; as Caspar said- there's a lot of walking and ways to get around even with the shards. You still have to walk and take other routes.

To add on, most shards are in larger cities and places of commerce; Mayor Joe Schmo of Tiny Village Bork isn't going to have one. So if you need to go to Bork you gotta walk to Bork or hitch a ride with a pig farmer. So I don't really see much of a problem with the whole thing as long as it's done tastefully.

Blue · **08-14-2015, 12:49 PM**

Also, I should point out, though this is nitpicking, that technically speaking airship flights are rare. Unlike in FFXI where an adventurer could just buy the pass (at an insane cost, though, unless you entered in the good graces of the Archduke), in FFXIV you can get the airship pass only by becoming an ambassador of your starting city through several exemplary deeds that get the city leader's attention. It's to be considered a rare prize, and this implies that passes are difficult to come by.

The MSQ explains that due to Garleans' proximity and their cannons, airship flights are used scarcely and only for very extreme situations, as there is risk that the Castrums will shot them down at any time if spotted.

So, while it IS nitpicking (because we've got chocobos and ferries too), I think it is fair to assume that Teleport travel is at least more frequently used than airships.

Nebbs · **08-14-2015, 12:52 PM**

I have in the past been in a group that imposed realistic travel times. While this added to the feeling of a big world, I found it got in the way of doing RP. It also meant that you were OOC when not in your characters agreed location.

The compromise I came up with is that forms of quick travel are available, but requires you to actually do something to use it. So you have to get to an Aetherite to teleport, and you will often see me running up to one, so much so I no longer think about it. Then there is ship travel, and chocobos and wagons.

The other thing you can do is ignore time in between RPs, so my character saw you yesterday, and now I meet you again on the other side of Eorzia. That could have been a week for me, and if you use the in game clock.. more. So time when you are IC is slowed, and then sped up in between.

I am certainly not a fan of IC TPing about like a demented imp. I find the ability to remove a character from a situation by just TPing out breaks a lot of plots. And after all we RP for fun and engagement, not avoidance?

Fox · **08-14-2015, 12:53 PM**

(08-14-2015, 12:49 PM)Blue Wrote: So, while it IS nitpicking (because we've got chocobos and ferries too), I think it is fair to assume that Teleport travel is at least more frequently used than airships.

I would have to agree with Blue on this. Besides one has to attune themselves to the Aetherytes as well. Which you would still have to get permission to do from the local authorities. Afterall when you first arrive at your city, your starting quests have you talk with the local authority on the matter.

Ignacius · **08-14-2015, 01:05 PM**

Easy questions get easy answers!

It would appear that adventurers are all possessed of the ability to teleport except in the following conditions:

-They are actively engaged in combat in a combat zone, such as a dungeon or in a fight in the open world.

-They are adventurers. Â It does not appear that non-adventuring types, mundane or mystical, are all able to teleport. Â This might be for various reasons. Â Maybe adventurers are the only ones who routinely travel between cities, thus the only ones who routinely attune to multiple aetherytes. Â Maybe it's too expensive for the average citizen. Â Whatever the reason, it appears that only the adventurers are universally possessed of the ability.

-They aren't taking much with them. Â You can't teleport more than you can carry with you. Â So carts of goods still have to travel.

That would say to me that teleportation is easily disrupted in combat by even unintelligent critters (it's a delicate process), is expensive, is difficult to get attuned, and isn't useful for most transportation needs. Â Therefore, it's only really plausible as a means of travel for adventurers looking to globetrot.

We aren't possessed of the abilities of Ascians and the like to simply vanish into thin air.

So it should be pretty easy to construct stories and scenarios to stop teleportation. Â If someone tries to teleport out of a situation, it should be almost comically easy to stop someone from doing it or not accomplishing objectives when they do.

However, to try to strike it from the record seems not only implausible, but takes away the core of being an adventurer. Â There's a big glowing crystal in many towns and Alphinaud seems to make pretty clear that they're seen as boons (he says the Scions are probably the only reason that Vesper Bay has no Aetheryte and means that as a bad thing). Â So it's not just there, it's part of the fabric of Eorzean infrastructure.

Pretending it doesn't exist isn't a lore stretch, it's a lore break. Â However, you may have many, many reasons your character doesn't teleport personally, if you'd like to avoid it. Â You could be too poor to reliably use it (your character has better uses of his money). Â You could have a religious objection (weirder things happen). Â You could feel that teleportation makes you skip the places you can do good and/or make money (which is true). Â You could simply not be able to do it for some bizarre reason (you're allergic or aether-intolerant).

But in response to the OP, I wouldn't strike it from the canon. Â Not only does it exist, but it exists in so obvious a form that it can't be taken as a mere game convenience.

Poll: Does your character use teleportation? You do not have permission to vote in this poll.
Of course, it's the best way to get around	20.00%	17	20.00%
I try to avoid it in favour of more conventional travel methods	70.59%	60	70.59%
I do not teleport IC at all	9.41%	8	9.41%
Total		85 vote(s)	100%

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On the topic of "teleporting" in RP

RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes