Fine to start with starter edition?

[Trilled Meow]

I am wondering if it's recommended to start without the Shadowbringers (and I guess Stormblood) content. Are there any big features I would be locked out of that I would want as a low-level character?

Also, when looking at differences in subscription choice, what is the benefit of having multiple characters on one server? What happens if you have multiple characters on the same server and then drop down to the lower subscription tier?

Thanks

[Kiana]

The only thing having stormblood and shadowbringers will give you access to starting out is viera and hrothgar in the character creator. Red mage and samurai are only unlockable at level 50, gunbreaker and dancer at 60.

There's not much benefit of having multiple characters, unless you're doing high end raiding and want to get best-in-slot gear on multiple roles ASAP (ex. character A gets tank gear with weekly loot, character B gets healer gear). Also covering more crafting specialists, if you have an FC to trade items between them, but there's very little reason to worry about. (And I say that as someone who has two omnicrafters. Don't worry about it.)

If you go back to an entry sub, you can only access the first character on the character list.

[Trilled Meow]

That is a really thorough answer, thanks!

[Caz]

Low level? Not really. Base game comes with ARR, Heavensard, and Stormblood. Only features you'll be "lacking" are access to the Shadowbringers jobs and zones.

Just starting out, I would recommend the sub with just one character per server. You can do all jobs and crafting and gathering on a single character. Due to the way mail works, you can't mail stuff to your alts on the same account. You can only mail to people on your friend list, and the target of the friend invite has to be online to become a friend. There's no tangible benefit to having alts other than just for fun.

You don't lose any additional characters when drop down a subscription tier. You just can't play the extra characters.

[Om3ga-Z3ro]

Originally posted by Caz:

Low level? Not really. Base game comes with ARR, Heavensard, and Stormblood.

Incorrect, base game only comes with ARR and HW, you will be missing SB and ShB jobs

[Xhal]

It's totally fine to start without it, I would actually suggest that you start without it, play the initial ARR content and then play though Heavensward and decide for yourself if you like the game and want to commit to it.

Its a long game with a lot of content to do and doing the initial content will give you a good idea of if you want to buy shadowbringers.