Test Server Findings

[Slycer]

Given that the rewards, whatever they may be, will probably involve killing dudes, I think it's safe to start by trying to find out how much it will take to clear the zone.

Guess it wasn't clear with what I said, what I meant was that we need to figure out what exactly the clear condition for the zone is and how that translates into reward items before we worry about how many people we should be taking to the event to optimize reward acquisition.

Based on Prothescar's post, it doesn't sound like they are much harder or easier than some of the Limbus mobs at 75 (I'm assuming he was in there solo). If anyone is planning on being around later and wants to give it a go with more than one person, I might try it out.

[Prothescar]

I'm going to guess you need to kill all three bosses to clear each zone, and killing the babies probably weakens the main one. It makes sense, because the Euvhis present an obvious choice (link all the closed ones, or fight only the open one). Also, the demons not linking would be a big tip-off if it is confirmed. How many people do you think it would take to full-clear the zone? How about half-clear it, assuming we don't have to kill all the little guys?

I'm surprised that they didn't have to re-add Temenos Aerns/Ghrahs for the new Limbus zone.

3-6 people should be fine as long as you have someone capable of curebombing and another capable of sleeping.

[Slycer]

Is it possible to re-enter repeatedly without restriction on the test server to test stuff in Limbus?

[Prothescar]

Yes, only so much I can do solo tho. Will need more people to get a better grasp on the mob mechanics and to see if there's multiple floors (likely).

[Septimus]

Looks like an in-game event, likely tied to Vanafest. I'm not sure about the crafting ones, but the moogle crafter and new NPCs in Windurst/Sandy/Bastok makes me think it's also some kind of in-game event.

Moogle Crafters were from last year's Adventurer Appreciation Campaign for the Moogle's Largesse. I would imagine that the Aspiring Adventurers are probably for the Adventurer Appreciation Campaign as well.

And is it too geeky of me to be excited that they have Fablinix involved in something?

[Byrthnoth]

I killed all the normal Demons in Apollyon 99 (because I had a Dem ring). The boss Demon dropped a brown/gold chest with nothing in it and opening it didn't finish the zone. Nothing dropped anything. All monsters used their 2-hour when their HP dropped below 50%. I never had Violent Flourish resist, and the final NM was susceptible to Rudra's Gravity.

The front 8 Demon helpers were BLM, RDM, DRK, or PLD. They do not link. The layout was symmetric left/right as you face them, I think. There were definitely two of each, at least. Chainspell is the most dangerous thing there, but if you just run away the Demon will sutter-walk towards you like any other chainspelling monster (hi Skuld). Their defense/HP obviously varied by job, but overall I'd characterize it as unimpressive and would guess they're level ~99-100 monsters.

The last two Demon helpers broke the symmetry pattern that I think I was seeing and also linked with each other (PLD + DRK). They weren't much (if at all) harder than the 8 before them. I may have also just pulled them poorly, because I got lazy and started aggro pulling so as to not waste FMs or TP about half way through.

The tall demon was a WAR. He took about the same amount of damage as the PLD Demons, but had much more HP and could use Hellborn Yawp to dispel all buffs and do ~500-700 damage. I only saw this move below 50% HP, but he only TPed once before then. One time he used Hellborn Yawp -> Soul Drain -> Soul Drain back to back. He may also have had more evasion than the other ones.

I killed him and opened the chest with 3 minutes remaining. Much of my time was wasted doing things like running from Chainspell and waiting for Invincible, and I didn't remember to eat food until I was about half done. A party of 6 with a good strategy (kill the SMN Ahrimans 10 minutes apart so you can Sacro both of them, bring holy waters, etc.) should have no problem clearing all three monster groups handily. A good party of 3-4 should be able to clear it most of the time.

[Tachi]

Central Temenos basement 1 (Sam+Smn duo)

You can Ranged Attack a Ghrah ball without linking the Hume. They can morph into Bird or Spider, casts aga III and Tier V nukes.
Hume is highly resistant to physical damage, has a high Double Attack rate, access to Mighty Strike and Meikyo Shisui which it use several times.

The Euvhi Boss can be carby pulled, has access to Stupor Spores, Nutrient Absorption, Vertical Cleave and remain in his open state. It always uses 3 TP moves in a row.

Both NMs dropped a +10 min time with a empty Chest, killing the two didn't open the teleport.

[Squah]

Is anyone else starting to stockpile ABC's for when this goes out on public servers?

[Byrthnoth]

Mine keep selling instantly at 8k, so apparently yes.

[Toth]

Test server was updated today. Anything new from DAT mines?

[Ophannus]

The JP post mentions new Ultima/Omega so I assume they've added those though they could be just copypastas of NQ Omega/Ultima and not reskinned. INb4 ARCH ULTIMA/ARCH OMEGA

[Mahoro]

Someone on OF used 5 Voidclusters on a Botulus Rex and he essentially turned into a cute l'il plush doll:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...l=1#post319084

Seems like a decent addition for some of the harder T6's and stuff like Bismarck/Morta/Fjalar where you can adjust difficulty of the fight based on the players you have available. Would be silly to spend 'em on anything else.

[Spira]

did a quick skim of graphic assets.. didnt see anything of that sort

they added all the pulse weapons onto test server again, along with the 4 new mobs that i'd sniffed out before (mole/yeti/rock thingy/mossy rock thingy).

only new thing i saw was 2 new fireworks type stuff.. one is a new shoot from ground and the other is a bubbles animation.. for sunbreeze i believe.

[Buffy]

What are the void clusters buy able with?

[Khamsin]

What are the void clusters buy able with?

Void nuggets.

[Spira]

Decennial Coat set?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7YY3Kqw5-a...s1600/robe.png

[Septimus]

Yes, that is the current event gear from the Vana'versary. The fireworks that you mentioned earlier may be in the game already as well.

[Spira]

o well. i musta missed it before..

[Septimus]

I did a cursory parse of the items, aside from some minor changes indicating that things will be updated to them later, I didn't see any new items with stats on them. I may need to adjust my parsing still, it really isn't set to look for the kind of changes that you would find in the test server, but I am fairly certain that it caught everything that it should have caught.

[Zag]

I thought they were gonna fullblown remake these zones for a nice chunk of FF11 online time... Nyzul should have been standard rules with floors 101-200.
Einherjar has one freaking chamber after all this long? Limbus has arch ultima and omega which sounds fun but its like 1-2 zones again from what im reading?
Salvage and nyzul were my favorite but now I won't get my hopes up for salvage revamp because it will be 1 extra floor on the salvage zone with 1 chariot boss designed for level 99 players probably.

Hope they have a new add-on coming soon because that is doodoo and I want more of this game!