The Lore Team Wrote:What is an aetheryte?
Aetherytes are colossal structures comprised of crystallized aether. So that they may serve as waypoints for aetherial travel, these crystals have been amplified through the use of advanced Sharlayan technology.

Why doesn't everyone use aetherytes?
To traverse the Lifestream safely with Teleport and Return requires a great deal of spiritual energy, known as anima. While many individuals, such as adventurers, possess the fortitude to endure such travel, some individuals do not. What’s more, even if one has the ability to use aetherytes, the frequency with which one can do so varies. In essence, for some, the recast time for these spells can be far longer than for an adventurer.

As a result, only a fraction of the populace can utilize aetherial travel habitually, which is why chocobos, airships, and other forms of transportation still play a major role in Eorzea.

Why does it cost gil to use aetherytes?
Many aetheryte camps were destroyed during the Calamity, which necessitated their reconstruction. However, this came at great expense, and so teleportation fees must be collected to repay the as yet unpaid debt.

However, the gil doesn’t just magically disappear from your purse! Though it's not shown in the game, it's collected by the guards keeping watch of the aetherytes.

On a side note, guards posted by each city-state's aetheryte can tell you about aetherytes and teleportation magic. If you're interested, see what they have to say!

(10-26-2013, 12:38 AM)Torvhan Wrote: Hey been searching the internet for more information on travel times/distances and such to no avail. However I found an interesting tidbit recently posted in the lore forums.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/111277-An-aether-what?p=1473589

The Lore Team Wrote:What is an aetheryte?
Aetherytes are colossal structures comprised of crystallized aether. So that they may serve as waypoints for aetherial travel, these crystals have been amplified through the use of advanced Sharlayan technology.

Why doesn't everyone use aetherytes?
To traverse the Lifestream safely with Teleport and Return requires a great deal of spiritual energy, known as anima. While many individuals, such as adventurers, possess the fortitude to endure such travel, some individuals do not. What’s more, even if one has the ability to use aetherytes, the frequency with which one can do so varies. In essence, for some, the recast time for these spells can be far longer than for an adventurer.

As a result, only a fraction of the populace can utilize aetherial travel habitually, which is why chocobos, airships, and other forms of transportation still play a major role in Eorzea.

Why does it cost gil to use aetherytes?
Many aetheryte camps were destroyed during the Calamity, which necessitated their reconstruction. However, this came at great expense, and so teleportation fees must be collected to repay the as yet unpaid debt.

However, the gil doesn’t just magically disappear from your purse! Though it's not shown in the game, it's collected by the guards keeping watch of the aetherytes.

On a side note, guards posted by each city-state's aetheryte can tell you about aetherytes and teleportation magic. If you're interested, see what they have to say!

Now if only K'mana had the money to pay those taxes.

(10-26-2013, 12:46 AM)Theodric Ironheart Wrote: Hopefully this'll encourage more role-players to cease having their character instantly teleport halfway across Eorzea and back in the course of a single night! I tend to put a greater emphasis upon actual physical travel when role-playing since I find it tends to be a lot more satisfying. Setting up a camp for the night in the wilds or staying at an inn is a lot more fun than just popping to a destination and back again when business is concluded.

(10-26-2013, 04:03 PM)Navisse Wrote: Another friendly "Back in my day... get off my lawn!" from a 1.0 vet.

In 1.0, teleporting to aetherites didn't cost gil, it actually cost anima. Characters had an anima pool and each teleport cost a certain amount depending on how far away it was. Anima regened very slowly so it was completely possible to burn through your anima and be unable to teleport anywhere for a RL day or two. And if you burned through your whole pool it would take you a week or two before you had built up enough to anima to feel like you could teleport without deep consideration.

I had more than one friend that teleported out to the middle of no where and then realized they didn't have anima to get back and had to run the entire way. Or those that had so little anima that they had trouble taking part in end game stuff because they couldn't zip around willy nilly. Being frugal with your teleports and/or sharing them with friends was a big deal. 

I continue to treat teleportion as if I had anima. I concider it IC but use it sparingly.

(10-26-2013, 06:07 PM)Torvhan Wrote: Well I wouldn't doubt most people realize why the mechanic was changed to what it is, though I admit I am surprised that travel is such a gil sink....course being on of the only gil sinks at the moment beside low level mats/equipment it probably has its work cut out for it.

Most people on the lore forums imagine simply that adventures have sufficent anima to teleport all over the place with out concern now, thus the removal of the system. Of course whether characters are run as such is always up to the player.

I do like that they are taking the time to explain such features to us though, and the loss of the more immersive systems such as this is sadly just the name of the beast now a days. But these sacrifices bring us a bigger population and will help keep the development team working.

I do wish they'd make a happy medium for travel though, it would be nice to have actual running airships/boats and such. I know why we don't there isn't simply any land between those areas, hopefully its something we'll see in the future.

(10-26-2013, 09:42 PM)Yloise Dolet Wrote: Yes I just realized, there is no multi-person ferry that you can rp while traveling?

(10-28-2013, 03:20 PM)Navisse Wrote:

(10-26-2013, 09:42 PM)Yloise Dolet Wrote: Yes I just realized, there is no multi-person ferry that you can rp while traveling?

*adjusts Old Timer Hat*

There was in 1.0. The ferry between Thanalan and La Noscea was an actual ferry that you had to wait for and then ride.  There were no pirates or sea horrors and the ride was short but it was a very cute little boat. 

I was heart broken when I realized they'd removed it.