Notorious Monsters - Where the Buffalo Roam (12/07/2010)

[miokomioko]

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...d263ca519bec7d
http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...830cb89cf03f39

Tarbh Uisge

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...7f2927b9b040ab

One of the last great buffalo of Vylbrand, Tarbh Uisge was captured while still a calf by an ambitious mummer and trained to entertain audiences around Eorzea. Repeated application of stimulatory and suppressive magicks, however, have slowly eaten away at the beast's sanity, rendering it violent and unpredictable. After its capture nearly a decade ago, Tarbh Uisge was imprisoned on a remote island in the Rhotano Sea and soon forgotten by all...

Wanted: Tarbh Uisge
Not long ago, Mathistien of the Cloven Hoof and his traveling grotesquery was one of the realm's most popular exhibitions. People would flock from all around the countryside to see such spectacles as the two-headed nannygoat, the hairless phurble, and the show's main attraction—the colossal Tarbh Uisge. However, it was not until after the giant creature broke loose from its fetters and trampled through Limsa Lominsa, starting a fire that destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed countless innocent citizens, including two high-ranking thalassocratic officials, that it was revealed that Mathistien was actually an assassin for the Zer'maat Five. Needless to say, the mummer was promptly arrested and exiled to a lonely island prison in the Cieldalaes, where he has remained in solitude for the past ten years...or so we thought, for lately there have been rumors that the assassin has fled his island prison and is not only back on Vylbrand, but has brought with him his loyal pet, Tarbh Uisge. Azeyma's Shields is certain that this is the work of the Zer'maat Five, and will stop at nothing to recapture this dangerous criminal and bring him back to justice.

Levequest Location: Bloodshore



Those who are successful in slaying Tarbh Uisge will be rewarded with a special item known as an Allagan runestone. There are a dozen in all, each representing one of the twelve deities who watch over the peoples of Eorzea. Rumor has that in Ul'dah resides a young trader named Rowena who seeks these rare stones and is offering pieces of finely crafted equipment in exchange.

The following is an example of some of the items available for barter:

Templar Armor
Worn by Ishgardian temple knights who have pledged their lives in service of the Fury, this suit of stunning silver plate and chain is an breathtaking display of master craftsmanship.

http://static.finalfantasyxiv.com/to...c080b089685f9c

Favors: GLA MRD LNC ARM MIN
Optimal Rank: 46

Templar's Chain Coif
Defense: 67
Magic Defense: 56
Evasion: 12
Resilience: 63
HP: +30
DEX: +3
Elemental Resistances: +18

Runestone Required: Allagan Runestone - Byregot


Templar's Haubergeon
Defense: 130
Magic Defense: 78
Evasion: 28
Resilience: 63
STR: +8
DEX: +4
Elemental Resistances: +23

Runestone Required: Allagan Runestone - Rhalgr


Templar's Sollerets
Defense: 50
Magic Defense: 50
Evasion: 20
Resilience: 52
STR: +1
Elemental Resistances: +12

Runestone Required: Allagan Runestone - Llymlaen


Templar's Tassets
Defense: 17
Magic Defense: 16
Evasion: 7
Resilience: 16
HP: +14
MP: +6
Elemental Resistances: +7

Runestone Required: Allagan Runestone - Halone


* The aforementioned items are still under development and may change before the time of their release.

Old news, but pretty sweet looking NM. It looks like either there might not be a Crafting or Gathering set at all from these NM leves, or that's what's next and Pugilist gets screwed with getting slapped on it along with Fisher and Botanist.

I like the subtle mentioning of other locales that make for promising future zones... "a lonely island prison in the Cieldalaes"

Also:

the hairless phurble

[baroom]

My guess is there will be many sets including a Cuirass set for GLD becuse this one has str and dex and no VIT. Just have to wait and see!

[miokomioko]

Also, the Optimal Rank is 46... Hm.

[Zettofaia]

Not sure why there is Miner on a set that offers absolutely nothing for the class, lol.

Looks good anyways, I'm really hoping for tanking, gathering and crafting sets eventually.

[Hyan]

I'm more interested in the NM's that drop potential crafting equipment.

I think it's confirmed that the largest NM's are accessed through faction leves at rank 50.

Also, where do the weapons come from... if these runes are only used for Armor, they gotta come from somewhere else.

[miokomioko]

It's pretty easy to come to the conclusion that the third (and last) set is going to be some light armor for Pugilist, Archer, and some random shit like Fisher, Botanist, and Carpenter that will get absolutely no use of it and have no point in even being on the favored classes.

Some of the stats on gear sets in this game make me "wut." Melee/Crafting hybrid pieces that aren't the best for either discipline. What could possibly be the point other than inventory saving at the cost of being gimp? None of this class-specific fashion-realism crap matters if any class at any rank can wear anything they want.

[ZarakiKujata]

Other thing is, theres already ~rank50 armor that has these stats, cavalry/vintage haub both are str/dex 8/4 and come in a nicer color sooo these would have to have some unique stat added to make it even remotely worthwhile no?

[Hyan]

Kinda makes me hope that you can craft these even further.

[Meko]

The armory style looks pretty slick. It's nice to see armor that isn't glowing or armor that doesn't have unicorns dancing around on it. My only concern with this and the idea of NMs dropping crafting only materials or items. While I plan on keeping my crafting going at some rate, it surely isn't going to be my primary focus. I'm hoping for regular drops and rewards.

[Hyan]

What I'm kind of fearing right now is that since the development of this stuff probably started before the release, it's mainly designed for rank 43+ (50 GL's) while the game needs more stuff for 20-40 range. The development was already in motion, so they probably didn't change their plans on that front, and we'll see low-mid level content in March.

Not that I care, but those who play probably would benefit from short-term goals at this stage more than rank 50 stuff.

Of course it's nice to see the GL system finally "complete" with r50 additions.. and they do sound rather interesting too

First, several high-level leves will be introduced. Among those will be leves with not only new rules, but new monsters and new operation locations. Also, to answer the demand from our players, we will be introducing guildleve-based NM battles shortly.

[Meko]

I agree. I would love some mid level dungeons or something. I don't mind the leves but I certainly don't want ALL NMs leve based or instance based. I like the option of doing instances to prevent botting and to allow people the opportunity to fight mobs but I also enjoy open world dragons and NMs that influence zones. I really feel like SE is narrowing the game down to leves, instances, hallways and pathways. It's very WoW like in that sense where it isn't a giant open world like XI was or even EQ.

[Dantrag]

stats on the armor is boring ;/ I want to see some JSE, none of this, everyone under the moon crap can put it on.

[Hyan]

I don't really know whether you can just lump leves and instances together. It's more like a middleground. You don't have the botting and that stuff, but you're still out in the field with everyone else.

Although I do see where you're coming from, but I think open world NM's work better for something like Besieged/Campaign style environment.

I haven't heard of them mentioning anything about real instances yet, which is intriguing. I don't think there is even a need for instances as long as there isn't a huge overcrowding issues, which I think are exclusive to level cap later on. I wonder if they'll make instances for only BCNM-style encounters or if they will do it for something like Assault too. Where I would like to see an instance is inside the dragonship thing in Mor Dhona. Kinda like a sneak-peek at the first expansion environments with all the sci-fi inside the structure.

Although there's a huge focus on hubs (camps), I think they could just start making better use of the smaller subaetherytes to spread people and the content around the world. Only Black Shroud is full of hallways right now, I'd like it to stay that way imo. XI had zones like Arrapago Reef, too.

[solracht]

Stats dictated by armor type again. Lovely.

[Riposte]

Game is in desperate need of an enchantment/evolith system. If they make it like Repair, it would cermet crafters in endgame and also deal with market flooding of equipment. If something like a Templar's set has better potential for enhancements then it will be worth getting even if it is sort of identical to other sets. (And dyed gear can get different bonuses, like evolith)

[Cichy]

Stats suck on everything we've seen so far, wtf SE

[Hyan]

Could be a bit better, but the last thing we need is elemental staves situation #2.

Not like we need those stats for anything now >_>;

[Drakath]

As nice as this is, I agree that this isn't what FF14 needs right now. The majority of people are not even rank 40...

[Riposte]

Do gear stats fall under attribute caps?

I am worried how attributes work in this game. If single-digit differences matter(like the kind you get from gear), then the point allotment system is crazy(and bloated). At least it isn't very punishing when you do happen to come across a better plan. If they don't matter then all the STR, DEX, etc+ gear doesn't really matter until we get stuff like +10, +20. I doubt the latter is true.

[Cichy]

As nice as this is, I agree that this isn't what FF14 needs right now. The majority of people are not even rank 40...

I agree, this faction leves are nice but if you need 400 - 500 faction points to activate them + lvl 50s to beat them alot of people will be left out. Certainly it wont be the factor that brings back players that already quit.
SE really needs to come out with content for players starting lvl 20 - 30 the latest.