I want to play a Viara - best approach?

[Swimfan]

First time FF14 player, playing the base game (the 9,99€) version from Steam. I can already tell that I like the game enough to continue and I feel like I already owe the devs more than the 10 bucks I have payed.
So if I want to play a male Viara, I do need to buy the Endwalker Expansion (which apparantly contains Shadowbringer and Endwalker on Steam) and that magic item from the Moogle store to change appearance but if I do all that, I don't need to wait until I enter the Endwalker campaign - right? :-)

Thanks in advance - I sadly don't feel like content is communicated that great on Steam. I found no real explanation and indication that Shadowbringers even comes with Endwalker on Steam until I did some strange research. At first I thought the exp. was missing from Steam for some really strange reason :-P

[Sunny]

Yes. You will need to buy Endwalker to create a bunny boy.

HOWEVER, you MIGHT not need to buy a potion of Fantasia (that's the one that will let you race change).

If you have not finished the ARR MSQ, you will get a potion of Fantasia from those quests, for free. =)

AND

We are all getting a Fantasia when Dawntrail hits with the new character model and creation stuff.

Second HOWEVER

If you don't mind waiting until the end of June to race change, you can just buy Dawntrail. That will include Endwalker and Shadowbringers, AND if you preorder it you'll get an earring that's a big XP boost. But! You won't have access to Endwalker or Shadowbringers until June 28, which means no Bunny until then.

Only having to buy one expansion may or may not be worth the wait for you. If you don't wanna wait yeah, just buy Endwalker now and then you'll buy Dawntrail whenever you exhaust the content.

The general deal is -- and this will remain the same for the life of the game -- is that when you're first buying it, you buy starter game and then whatever the most current expansion is. The current expansion always includes all previous expansions.

As soon as Dawntrail launches, Endwalker will be unavailable by itself just like Shadowbringers is now. Over the life of the game, you can expect to buy another expansion every other year.

Complete edition includes Starter and all expansions at time of purchase (so if someone bought it right now, it would not include Dawntrail).

[Techno Tyrant]

-You can change your appearance at any time to any race that you have access to; you get 1 free appearance change after finishing the base "A Realm Reborn" Main Scenario Quest(it's a lvl. 50 quest; avoiding name cause spoilers); other than that it will cost 10$ USD(idk what that is your currency) each time you want to re-edit your character.

-To make a male Viera you need Endwalker; which is for sale now & includes Shadowbringers.

-Once Dawntrail releases you will not be able to buy Endwalker from Steam as all old expansions are included in the new one. (Dawntrail comes with Shadowbringers & Endwalker)

-As of this moment complete edition does NOT include Dawntrail, it will be updated AFTER Dawntrail releases to a version that does include it. Existing complete edition keys do not get Dawntrail added retroactively.

-If you do pre-order Dawntrail it will not give access to the other expansions right away; only when Dawntrail releases will you get access to Endwalker & Shadowbringers.

[xyz]

Delete your a/c. download the free trial - start progressing then wait 18 months hoping they add shadowbringers to the free trial then use your free fantasia from the MSQ to change to the race at no additional cost.

If you want to play Male Viera just buy the latest Expac.

[Swimfan]

Jesus you guys, what crazy detailed answers, thanks a lot!

First off: It's REALLY good to know that I get one Fantasia potion for free at the end of ARR because that's where I'm currently dangeling around (finishing up everything of that main campaign).

It's also interesting that the last expansion will be included in Dawntrail later this year. That is something to keep in mind.

Thank you very very much :-)

[hagare]

have fun

[Techno Tyrant]

Originally posted by Swimfan:

Jesus you guys, what crazy detailed answers, thanks a lot!

First off: It's REALLY good to know that I get one Fantasia potion for free at the end of ARR because that's where I'm currently dangeling around (finishing up everything of that main campaign).

It's also interesting that the last expansion will be included in Dawntrail later this year. That is something to keep in mind.

Thank you very very much :-)

IIRC every existing character will get another free Fantasia in Dawntrail because the graphical update coming will change how a lot of characters look.
you can see the new character graphics in the Dawntrail benchmark character creator;
you can get the benchmark here:
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/benchmark/