After much discussion and balancing, the development team has redesigned the system by which players obtain rare items to make the game experince more enjoyable for all!

Current Rare Item Aquisition Modality.

Currently, to get rare and powerful items, players must run on a long, unrewarding, nightmarish treadmill that only the sweet release of death can actually end. This was originally implemented when there were far fewer high-level players and intended to provide an incentive for players to continue to give us money for countess years. But over time the game has matured and more players have crowded into a system that was designed to be endless torment for only a twentieth of the current number.

The development team envisioned a three step process for getting abjurations and items from HNM kings.

New Rare Item Aquisition Modality.

After realizing that we were alienating some of our most loyal fans, we decided that we would like to continue to continue to sell games after this one is over. To accomplish this, we have been working on methods that will allow players to get the items that they want, with the least amount of effort possible on our part.

One of the major concerns of the player base is the use of third-party tools and the disruptive effect they have on hunting HNMs legitimately. To this end, we have decided to deemphasize free spawning HNMs by shifting their drops into closed battle systems like Einherjar. We began to slowly implement this policy at the beginning of the Treasures of Aht Urhgan expansion with the introduction of the mostly loot-free Cerberus, Hydra, and Khimaira and continued in the Wings of the Goddess expansion with Sandworm. By doing this, we will allow legitimate players to get the items they want without having to put forth any effort into fixing claim and flee tools.

The changes will drastically alter the way that the game is played in the following manner.

To supplement this change, drop rates for abjurations in Einherjar will be noticeably increased. In addition, the items Ridill and Defending Ring will be added to the loot pool of the boss of the Valgrind Chamber. The key item feathers will be changed to Permanent key items and will be required for entry into the Valgrind Chamber, but entry to the chambers will be handed with items in a system similar to Limbus.

We hope that these changes will make the world of Vana'diel a more pleasant place for all players and will keep you giving us money for years to come.