Assuming you have bought and registered the original XIV at any time. You will recieve the new client and have to download a massive patch. You also get 30 days free.

Just got my alpha email, looking forward to seeing how this plays compared to 1.0.

lucky! be careful when taking photos, they might be watermarked.

Screenshots really don't do this game justice beauty wise. You need to see it in action!

I probably won't be taking any pics, at least to post anyway. What I will say is how pleasantly suprised I am at how smooth the game is, in comparison to 1.0. I no longer have to wait 5 seconds to equip something, or talk to an npc after clicking it. Makes me more impatient for 2.0.

Alpha First Look: Video 5 - Quests and Combat

We hope you enjoy our fifth installment in the Alpha First Look video series, in which we witness our heroes undertaking quests and engaging in battle.

The Duty List allows players to complete a quest from start to finish without needing to refer to the journal, as quest objectives and destinations can be easily confirmed through this new feature. Combat is also improved to be more intense and varied—weaponskills can be used to initiate battle, and spells can be cast from further away.

* The battles in this video involve low level enemies. Targeting and actions are demonstrated with the mouse instead of keyboard for greater clarity.

* Level progression is primarily quest-based.

* The battle system is currently undergoing significant revision, including changes to all damage algorithms and the claim system.

Yeah i'm really hoping they have a lot more planned then the trash quest system every MMO out there thinks is so fun.

What other system you're hoping they have planed? Do you mean like grinding on monsters?

Combat system and leveling like 11 before they downgraded it.
Level sync. Fields of valor started out as a good idea but then they went over board.

I think he means that he hopes the quests are more interesting and unique than the standard fare typical MMOs provide. If so, I feel the same way.