Characters from version 1.0 will be allowed to re-customize their appearances once. This including the name of the characters, race, sex, date of birth, starting class, starting city-state, height, hair, face, bust size, and etc. However, the players will not be able to move their 1.0 characters to the other world.
Basic Gameplay
After the player created a character, the game will start in one of the three city-states depended on the starting class of that character. The player will not be able to change class until the player finished a level 10 class quest of the starting class.
Doing main story quests will help the player gain EXP, Gil, items, an airship ticket, an ability to use the inn room, permission to do
Guildleves, and be able to join
Grand Companies of Eorzea.
The player can choose between playing with mouse and keyboard or play on a gamepad. The skill HUD will adapts on the player's selected choice.
Leveling and Partying
Duty Finder is a new party search system in
A Realm Reborn. It allows the player to form a party with other players, including players from different
worlds.
Opening the duty finder will display a list of
dungeons,
guildhests, trials, and
raids. Check the box next to the desired duty and select Join. If the player is not in a party, or does not meet the party size requirement for a certain duty, the player will be matched with other players automatically. The player can freely continue adventuring while their parties are being assembled.
When undertaking a duty that requires a party, the duty finder automatically designates players as tanks, attackers, or healers, depending on their class or job. Players are then placed in balanced parties based on these roles.
Once the duty finder has assembled a party, players will be transported to the dungeon or raid area. Upon completion, players will be returned to their respective Worlds automatically.
Free Companies is the new guild system in
A Realm Reborn, in place of
Linkshell. The player needs to be level 25, have at least 4 starting members, and 15,000 Gil to register a Free Company.
Battle System
Limit Break
A Realm Reborn will implement a
limit break system for parties, in place of the
Battle Regimens from version 1.0. The party will have a limit gauge that will increase over time, and once it hits certain thresholds, a limit break attack may be used by one of the party members, which will then empty the gauge. Depending on how much the gauge is filled, the party may gain access to more powerful attacks or support moves. The gauge rises over time based on if each party member does their assigned role. If a party member dies, the gauge takes a hit and has to be refilled. The effect of the limit varies depending on the role of the casting party member and it's strength depends on how many limit bars, up to 3, are filled.
- Healer and ranged physical attackers: Heals all party member, level 3 raises fallen members.
- Offensive casters: Deals heavy damage to all enemies within the targeted area.
- Melee DPS: Deals heavy damage to a single target.
- Tank: Reduces damage taken for all party members.
Armory System
Classes
There are four base disciplines, each divided into several classes. Each class has its own weapon type, and as of the beta, changing classes is as simple as changing weapons; this is known as the Armory System. Classes can be changed at any time, except during a battle. The player can use most skills on any class after learning them, but skills are scaled with the current class level.
Players can use all skills learned by their current class, and set up other classes' skills based on his or her current max level. The maximum number of cross class skills that can be used is capped at 10 for a level 50 character.
Jobs
Introduced in patch 1.21 of the original version, classic
Final Fantasy jobs appear as types of specializations inside the armory system. Upon reaching a certain level in a class, players can do a quest unlocking the use of a job, obtaining a soul crystal, carved with the deeds of past warriors.
Setting a job on top of one's class severely limits the use of cross class abilities (can only use half the usual number - max of 5 skills at level 50 - and only from specific classes) but allows the use of powerful job-specific abilities and equipment. The main advantage of using a job will be the possibility of specializing on a role (like tanking as a Paladin) for high level party play, while using the regular classes will be advantageous while playing solo or in smaller parties (where things like a Thaumaturge who can heal can prove useful). Jobs change the player's base stats to help fulfill its intended role.
- Paladin, requires Gladiator level 30 and Conjurer level 15. Can use Gladiator, Marauder and Conjurer abilities.
- Dragoon, requires Lancer level 30 and Pugilist level 15. Can use Lancer, Pugilist and Marauder abilities.
- Monk, requires Pugilist level 30 and Lancer level 15. Can use Lancer, Pugilist and Marauder abilities.
- Bard, requires Archer level 30 and Pugilist level 15. Can use Archer, Lancer and Pugilist abilities.
- Warrior, requires Marauder level 30 and Gladiator level 15. Can use Gladiator, Marauder and Pugilist abilities.
- White Mage, requires Conjurer level 30 and Arcanist level 15. Can use Arcanist, Thaumaturge and Conjurer abilities.
- Black Mage, requires Thaumaturge level 30 and Archer level 15. Can use Thaumaturge, Archer and Arcanist abilities.
- Summoner, requires Arcanist level 30 and Thaumaturge level 15. Can use Conjurer, Arcanist and Thaumaturge abilities.
- Scholar, requires Arcanist level 30 and Conjurer level 15. Can use Conjurer, Arcanist and Thaumaturge abilities
Setting
World & Lore
Final Fantasy XIV is set in the world of
Hydaelyn. Players can currently explore a realm of Hydaelyn known as
Eorzea, though there are many other distant landmasses with numerous civilizations.
In Eorzea, towering mountains dominate the north, their peaks forever lashed with icy winds; to the south, a bleak expanse of unforgiving desert holds sway. These inhospitable lands hold irresistible lure for man and monster alike: the currents of
Aether that run through the realm. Aether is a magical substance that flows through the planet and everything living on it. It can be used in a number of ways, including fuelling
magic, powering machina, aiding in crafting, and allowing instantaneous teleportation through Aetheryte Crystals. This valuable substance can start wars, as different organisations and races compete for control over it.
Eorzea is said to cycle through prosperous Astral eras and disastrous Umbral eras. Eons ago, the land was inhabited by gods and goddesses, which the wandering tribes that settled the land called
the Twelve. The gods blessed the tribes that came to the savage land with welfare and prosperity, in what is known as the First Astral Era. The tribes began fighting with each other, and war tore Eorzea apart. The gods and goddesses vanished, starting the First Umbral Era. There have been six such eras of calamity since the First Astral Era ushered in the age of man. Each of the Umbral catastrophes has, in turn, borne the characteristics of one of the six elements. With the end of the last Umbral Era, all the elements had been represented, it was believed the current Astral Era would last into eternity. With the end of
Final Fantasy XIV 1.0, and the fall of
Dalamud, a period known as the Seventh Umbral Era has started. The unleashing of
Bahamut has destroyed much of the land, and numerous other dark omens signal great suffering to come. The
Realm Reborn relaunch will take place in this Seventh Umbral era.
Three major city states exist within Eorzea; the bustling commercial hub of
Ul'dah, the forest nation of
Gridania, and the marine city-state of
Limsa Lominsa. Each state hosts a
Grand Company - economic and military organisations tasked with defending the land. Adventurers join these organisations to further their goals and ambitions, while at the same time helping keep the peace over Eorzea.
Eorzea's main enemies consist of the
Beastmen races and the
Garlean Empire. Beastmen are a group of intelligent but monstrous clans, whose ideals and objectives clash with the humanoid races, while the Garlean Empire is a magically weak but technologically advanced, multiracial (though Hyruan-dominated) nation hailing from outside of Eorzea. They seek to conquer the land and its Aether, which powers their
Magitek Armor.