So over the past few months I got really into the darkstar forums and project, and have successfully got my own personal private server up and running to my liking.
Now I don't know if third party software and private servers themselves are okay to discuss here, so I won't link to anything. If anyone can tell me if it is okay to chat about here I can link to my server's info page and the darkstar stuff, but I won't for now just in case.
Now, why I am posting here! My server is built to have roughly CoP era content. It has dynamis (functional but kind of halfway between old and neo dynamis, you can make relic weapons and everything and farm relic gear fine though)
As well as sky is functioning I believe, etc etc. Im not 100% sure on every little thing that does work and what doesn't work, but in terms of up to CoP content I think it is almost 100% accessible.
But my server has some big changes to ffxi
Primarily 2 changes:
#1: Hardcore mode
When you deathwarp, your character gets deleted. Raise I exists, but Raise 2-3, arise, reraise 1-3, instant reraise, reraise earring/gorget/hairpin, etc etc etc ALL removed from the game.
In other words, the only source of Raise is the spell itself (which is 75 million gil from npc... it also drops from a certain something but thats a secret until someone finds it) and Hi-reraisers (which drop off the KSNM99 fights super rarely)
In other words, perma death system.
Oh also the death timer is dropped from 60 mins to... 2 mins
A lot of people are complaining about this, but it is for good reason.
The darkstar forums already have like 20 servers with a wide variety of set ups in the CoP era, so this hardcore system is what makes my server different from the rest, if you don't like hardcore, there are other servers to play on.
#2:Smartloot, AKA all your shit is augmented
Whenever you obtain weapons or armor over the level of 15, the server automatically augments it as you obtain it.
But unlike ffxi augmenting, the augments your gear have are kind of intelligent (its a work in progress)
First off, the gear only rolls GOOD augments. By good I mean you wont get dex-5 or acc-4, but you might get acc+7 body for your whm, or racc+6 gloves on your war.
Second, the augments pull from a pool of 20ish based on the slot. Every slot and each type of weapon has a different pool of 20ish augments from which it rolls out of.
For example, you can get dagger skill+ on any dagger that drops, or shield mastery on a shield, or fast cast on a harp.
Im tweaking the pools as people give me feedback to make all the gear feel a bit more interesting and different from each other, but that will take time.
So why am I posting here?
I am looking for some more ideas to go with the above to improve my server. You must realize that the two above are already 100% working and implemented, yeah, the server is up and running in beta phase as you read this.
So basically, I want everyone to tell me the stuff they really wish FFXI had, or ways the game was different.
I can't change models.
I can't add new npcs.
I can't add new cutscenes.
I can't change visible stats on armor (these are pictures stored in the dats, I'd have to modify the picture on the client for them to see new stats)
I can add augments to armor
I can change the in game effects (not visual but actual effect they have) of any usable item or spell or ability.
I can move things around I'm pretty sure.
I can do basic triggers, IE "When you trade these items to this npc, do this thing"
I can add items to players inventories, take them out, gil, titles, etc.
I think I can add new titles but not sure about that, avoiding touching that.
Here's some examples of basic mods I did:
Potions, ethers, etc all stack to 12 now. (the 12 doesnt show up visually but they stack)
When you are set to Away status, armor/weapons you obtain won't roll augments (that way you can sell it on AH) But when a person buys it off the ah in not away status, it will THEN roll augments when they buy it.
This means you can craft a scorpion harness in away status, it wont roll augments, you put it on AH, someone buys it off you, you get gil, and they get it off AH and THEN it rolls augments.
Qu Hau Spring:
Trading any of the following gear+item to the Qu Hau Spring in Ro'Maeve will reroll the augments on the gear. (technically, it removes it from your inventory and gives you a new one, which subsequently rerolls)
Black Belt + one of Wyrm Beard, Adamantoise Egg, or Behemoth Tongue
Any level 75 Relic weapon + it's respective Attestation
Any level 75 completed Mythic weapon+ Either Tinnin's Fang, Sarameya's Hide, or Tyger's Tail
I would like to pick a good spot to have players able to trade any item + some random consumable that is a bit hard to get to reroll stats on it as well, but less restrictive.
Also I am debating letting you trade any piece of sky boss gear + their crest to reroll their gear at the spring as well. I think that is pretty fitting.
IE: Genbu's Shield + Genbu's crest
Kirin's gear will use any of the 4 crests.
Thats most of my big mods at the moment, I'd like to implement a lot more though! Tell me what you think.