I recommend Siren as an alternative. There actually are a few RP Free Companies (player guilds).
As you may know, Balmung and Gilgamesh have been closed to new characters for months. The only exception is that sometimes, for a few minutes after maintenance ends (typically between 2-3 AM Pacific time - you have to stalk the maintenance window announcements), you might be successful before the lock hits. Getting new TWO new characters properly generated and onto the server at that ungodly hour, before the lock hits, will take a lot of luck and effort, especially since maintenance windows always finish on work days.
Yes, you have been told to pay Square Enix's $18 transfer cost after waiting three days. Even though Square Enix says transfers aren't allowed to locked servers, in fact they are not prohibited. I suspect transfers to popular servers is a good secondary income to Square Enix. In effect, it's an extra fee, just to be in an RP-active environment.
It is also in the interest of existing RPers on Balmung and Gilgamesh to encourage you to pay $25/character and transfer. After all, they don't want "new blood" going elsewhere. By not actively supporting any other servers on this site (the only significant web site for FFXIV RPers) they promote their comfort and fun at the expense, quite literally, of newcomers like you.
I don't think there is any nefarious plot here. It's just companies and people looking out for their own interests without appreciating the cost to others.
Furthermore, it's not uncommon to discover after a month or two that building a new character is a good idea, now that you know the game system. That's another $18 to transfer the new characters.
So, resist the $18+ "RP tax" and just come to Siren. The community there needs your help!
As you may know, Balmung and Gilgamesh have been closed to new characters for months. The only exception is that sometimes, for a few minutes after maintenance ends (typically between 2-3 AM Pacific time - you have to stalk the maintenance window announcements), you might be successful before the lock hits. Getting new TWO new characters properly generated and onto the server at that ungodly hour, before the lock hits, will take a lot of luck and effort, especially since maintenance windows always finish on work days.
Yes, you have been told to pay Square Enix's $18 transfer cost after waiting three days. Even though Square Enix says transfers aren't allowed to locked servers, in fact they are not prohibited. I suspect transfers to popular servers is a good secondary income to Square Enix. In effect, it's an extra fee, just to be in an RP-active environment.
It is also in the interest of existing RPers on Balmung and Gilgamesh to encourage you to pay $25/character and transfer. After all, they don't want "new blood" going elsewhere. By not actively supporting any other servers on this site (the only significant web site for FFXIV RPers) they promote their comfort and fun at the expense, quite literally, of newcomers like you.
I don't think there is any nefarious plot here. It's just companies and people looking out for their own interests without appreciating the cost to others.
Furthermore, it's not uncommon to discover after a month or two that building a new character is a good idea, now that you know the game system. That's another $18 to transfer the new characters.
So, resist the $18+ "RP tax" and just come to Siren. The community there needs your help!
