Creating Player-Led Groups In EVE Online And Final Fantasy XIV

While looking at the requirements for purchasing a free company house in Final Fantasy XIV, I was struck by the difference in creating a player-run group in FFXIV and EVE Online. I think the difference is due to how important the advantages to a single player of owning a free company or corporation. At least, in the eyes of the developers.

I created a corporation back in 2009, so my personal knowledge is a little stale. According to the Eve University Wiki, the following is required:

• Corporation Management trained to at least level 1.
• 1,599,800 ISK in your wallet (other sources indicate that is the creation fee).
• Docked at a station which you want to be your corporation headquarters.
• Have no roles assigned to you if in a player corporation and not be the CEO of a corporation.

After completing the tutorial, and definitely after running through the career agents, players will have the ISK to buy the Corporation Management skill book and pay the creation fee.

Final Fantasy XIV is a little harder. First, the player creating the free company must have completed the level 20 quest to join one of the Grand Companies. Next, the player must have one class at level 25. I use class instead of job because jobs are not available until level 30.

Once the basic requirements are met, the player goes to one of the Grand Companies to get a petition to start a free company. At the time, the FC name and tag is chosen. Afterwards, three other players (or three characters on a player's second FFXIV account)must sign the petition and agree to join the free company. Finally, a payment of 15,000 gil to the Grand Company is required to seal the deal.

Are there any game-breaking or rule bending effects of a single player owning a corporation in EVE? I don't think so. CCP prefers players get out of NPC corporations, so even going into a solo corporation is a benefit. I know getting out of my starter corporation was a big incentive to create my own corp. Industrial players find advantages in owning a corporation with only their characters as members, thus helping the economy. Any disadvantages I can think of are limited by the game's PvP mechanics.

In FFXIV, the big disadvantage I can think of is housing. Due to the limited housing, a single-player owning an FC house is taking away a chance for another player to own a plot of land, as well as taking away a source of FC private rooms for other players. Part of the requirements for an FC purchasing a house is the FC must contain at least 4 members and have a rank of 6 or higher. Also, a financial incentive does exist. Square Enix makes money off of selling additional inventory space in the form of additional retainers. A single player owning a free company would make trading between characters on a single account much easier as well as providing additional inventory slots.

Still, compared to some other games, the requirements and process to create a player-run organization are not great. They only appear so in FFXIV because I came to Eorzea after playing EVE Online.