Starting City Pros & Cons

[Sabaron]

Oh, I realize that most of the names are not actually French, but that rather S-E has used French phonemes in the construction of the names--regardless of meaning.

I always thought of Norg as Japan.. It's small, very isolated, and uses Japanese phonemes and words.

Bastok is quite obviously reminiscent of American Democracy and Industrialism--it even includes Political waste and racism in its tapestry which America has been known to have every time we have a wave of immigration--Irish, African (forcible of course), Asian, and currently Mexican; Immigrants have historically been subject to at least mild oppression throughout our history.

Now Windurst, I'm not quite sure on. It's led by a (as far as Windurstians know) aged wise woman who sees into the future--it is very mystical and natural, but I can't pin it down to a specific culture.

[Mhurron]

Now Windurst, I'm not quite sure on. It's led by a (as far as Windurstians know) aged wise woman who sees into the future--it is very mystical and natural, but I can't pin it down to a specific culture.

Thats because Windurst is so much better then anything else. To base it on anything would dilute the awesomeness of Windurst.

[eticket109]

Don't forget the Hume/Galka situation when comparing Bastok to the U.S. There is a pretty strong correlation between that situation and the slavery/civil rights movement.

Sandy, despite the names, still strikes more of a Japanese chord with me then a European one. Japan and San D'Oria both strike me as strong kingdoms with long and important histories that don't like to have to rely on the help of others.

Windurst is a bit harder to place for me as well.

[Macht]

Windurst is more like a rain forest tribe, Kazham fits the like Amazon thing, Aht Urghan fits a sort of Middle East theme (Even has the constant wars too 'Beseige' ), San d'Oria definatly fits the French or European type. Jeuno kind of has a London type feel to it, including their own "Big Ben". >.>

For Japan it's probably more of those other ports in Aht Urghan that fits it better.

[Haggai]

Unless you are looking solely for starting areas (Saruta, etc), a Windy pro is nearby excavation in Tahrongi Canyon.

Another thing you may want to show is how easily you can obtain crystals in each area.

The Woodworking guild may be in San d'Oria, but one of the main crystals used (wind), isn't easy to get in that area. Better to head to Windy to kill Yagudos and bees. Then move to elementals in Tahrongi when higher.

Earth - everywhere (bunnies, worms, plants)
Wind - 1st: Windurst (Yagudo, bees). 2nd: San d'Oria (bats in KRT)
Ice - nowhere really... then again, ice crystals aren't used much.
Fire - 1st: Sandy (Orcs, Lizards). 2nd: Bastok (Lizards, Birds)
Water - 1st: Bastok (Quadav, Crabs). 2nd: Windurst (Crabs, Pugils)
Lightning - everywhere (certain Goblins), but I say 1st: Bastok for proximity to Konschtat Elementals
Dark - 1st: San d'Oria (Mushrooms) distant 2nd: Bastok (mushrooms in Gusgen)

I mention these because maybe someone is planning to do smithing, but can't decide Bastok or Sandy. The abundance of fire crystals in Sandy would probably help the decision.

Or say someone wants to do Bonecrafting and Woodworking, both of which need wind crystals. The player can't decide which guild they want to be closer to, but the abundance of wind crystals in Windurst could push them toward Windurst.

I don't know how you want to bring this information, but I feel it would be helpful.

[Icemage]

One pro if you're a mage in Windurst:

When Windurst is in first place, citizens can purchase Ginger Cookies (+5 mp recovered while resting, 3 minute duration) for 11-12 gil apiece. This is significantly less than their going rate on the AH and will greatly improve your performance as a mage without breaking the bank, especially at lower levels.


Icemage

[Murphie]

Of course, you can also buy them from Bastok or Sandoria if you're a mage and your nation is in first place. Windurst isn't at all special in that regard.

Basing pros and cons around where a nation stands in conquest is useless, since every sever is different and the standings change from week to week.

[Icemage]

Of course, you can also buy them from Bastok or Sandoria if you're a mage and your nation is in first place. Windurst isn't at all special in that regard.

Basing pros and cons around where a nation stands in conquest is useless, since every sever is different and the standings change from week to week.

Actually, each city's merchants sell some specific items only to its citizens when their nation does well in conquest.

In this instance, Ness Rugetomal in Windurst Waters will sell Ginger Cookies only to Windurstians and only when Windurst in in first place. You cannot buy them when your allegiance is to Bastok or San d'Oria at all - the item will not appear for you no matter what the conquest results are.

http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/Ness_Rugetomal

Bastok and San d'Oria also have items similar to this in various shops, but none of the others is quite so useful or inexpensive.


Icemage

[neighbortaru]

ginger cookies are available in the 1st place nation from the head of the travelling perfomers, Valeriano. same price too.

[Kittyneko]

(Bastok)Cons:
-A mage or melee damage dealer may have a hard time getting started here due to the focus on defense

x.x Well, that sounds like any job would have a hard time starting here.

[Murphie]

Actually, each city's merchants sell some specific items only to its citizens when their nation does well in conquest.

In this instance, Ness Rugetomal in Windurst Waters will sell Ginger Cookies only to Windurstians and only when Windurst in in first place. You cannot buy them when your allegiance is to Bastok or San d'Oria at all - the item will not appear for you no matter what the conquest results are.

http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/Ness_Rugetomal

Bastok and San d'Oria also have items similar to this in various shops, but none of the others is quite so useful or inexpensive.


Icemage

I was referring to the traveling carnival where you can purchase Ginger Cookies if your nation is in first.

As I said earlier, basing your starting nation around conquest results is silly, as it's not a constant. You can successfully start a character of any job in any city and do equally well. The only difference is preference.

[Sabaron]

-A mage or melee damage dealer may have a hard time getting started here due to the focus on defense
-A mage or tank may have a hard time getting started here due to the focus on melee damage dealing

-A tank or melee damage dealer may have a hard time getting started here due to the focus on magic.

Any job can function in any of the three starting cities. All cities have weapons and armor and spells available, just in different configurations. You may have to get certain pieces from the Auction House.

-No city specific Tenshodo quest

A Job for the Consortium

The San d'Orian quest is easier than the other two Tenshodo Quests, but you can get your oh-so-lovely Airship Pass revoked. It's also not really for low-levels. You can make 1000gil each time you run it without endless farming for non-stackables.

[Futan]

Thats' interesting. I always thought that tenshodo quest was for all airships like that one where you find the person. Discerning something...

[Icemage]

Thats' interesting. I always thought that tenshodo quest was for all airships like that one where you find the person. Discerning something...

No. A Discerning Eye is actually a completely different set of quests.

A Job for the Consortium is the most difficult Tenshodo quest to repeat, since it REQUIRES that you ride the airship and pass through the customs gate in Port Jeuno (failure to do so, such as using a Warp or Teleport spell, or travelling by land, will cause you to fail the quest from "damaged goods").

You have about a 1 in 3 chance of getting caught, and getting caught means your airship pass is revoked for 1 full real life day (24 real hours).


Icemage

[Lunaryn]

I would add that in terms of outpost teleportation, a Bastokan has a couple advantages worth noting:
1) Once you get your newbie zone teleports, if you do, Sarutabaruta and Ronfaure outposts are easy walking distance from their respective cities. Gustaberg is a bit more of a pain. As a Bastokan, you'll have immediate access to the Metalworks, and if you're lucky enough to get newbie outposts, you can teleport pretty close to the other nations.
2) Easy access to Bastok means easy access to not only Korroloka tunnel, a nice but not always popular leveling ground suitable for full xp parties in about the 15-22 range or so, but easy access to Eastern Altepa Desert, the level ground of choice come 30. Western Altepa and Quicksand Caves figure in later on in levels as well; for a while, you're going to have your xp parties be either near Jeuno or near Korroloka. While you can get an Altepa Gate Crystal to allow teleporting here, you may not always be able to get a teleport; chances are that you can get back to your home nation quickly, though, and if that nation is Bastok you're a relatively short run away from the desert.
To a lesser extent point 2 has a pro-Sandy variation in easy access to the Northlands, but Xarcabard parties are rare in my experience so you'll mostly be going there for missions and quests, which means most likely you'll be high enough to use the Fauregandi or Valdeaunia outposts once you have time.
BTW, if you can put together your own parties as a Windurstian, keep in mind Buburimu Peninsula and Meriphataud Mountains can support parties within the traditional dunes ranges. Buburimu/Mhaura even has its own subjob quest. Meriphataud Mountains is good because there's a very large segment at the south end without any aggressive mobs which could support nice camps. I'm not sure exactly what level it becomes viable, but it's definitely worth a try.