Test Server Findings

[Kaisha]

Darcia just says they're not taking applications at this time.

That's her default "You don't have expansion registered/installed" line, so a fresh character copy is probably mandatory.

[Hitou]

Ah okay. Makes sense.

[Spira]

Some new graphic models from the test server update.

YUM.. COCKS!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U6xrUnZRdv...Y/s640/LOL.png

(click me)

[dasva]

Part plant part one one eyed tentacle monster.... yep definitely fitting for a mega boss named yum cocks

[Chamaan]

I fucking love that big pink Braviary.

[Gwynplaine]

Well that tree NM model is disturbing as hell. The pink bird will probably be a regular new mob if it follows the pattern so far. Two new Naakual NMs also means there is probably going to be two more new zones this update. Pattern seems to be that there are going to be at least 6 areas following the elements. Each one has it's own Naakual associated with a mob family and element, as well as a new unique mob in it's family. Yahse and Rala are just sort of... there.

Ceizak has a vermin/wind theme with the Bee Naakual and grasshopper mobs.
Foret has an aquan/water theme with the Shark Naakual and craklaw mobs.
Morimar has a reptile/fire theme with the Trex Naakual and matamata mobs.
Other zone should have an avian/thunder theme with the abova Naakual and the new pink bird mobs.
Some other zone should have the plantoid/earth theme with the above tree Naakual and the man-eating plant mobs in the opening cutscene.
Yet another zone should have a beast/ice theme with the whatever the hell from the Amano artwork.

Could also be that Cirdas will become the Dark elemental themed zone with umbrils and some new Naakual. Location-wise it seems like the areas will all come off of Cirdas in a circle like the spokes of a wheel with the X-gates connecting tunnels.

Also I did try to run a bunch of the large files through EWH viewer to see if there was new zones, but I didn't find anything new.

[Kaisha]

That NM reminds me of that giant mushroom thing in the old leaked zone dats. Wtf was that supposed to be anyways? Haven't been in any of the Naakual battlefields yet, which I assume the shroom was at.

[Jeryhn]

Could also be that Cirdas will become the Dark elemental themed zone with umbrils and some new Naakual. Location-wise it seems like the areas will all come off of Cirdas in a circle like the spokes of a wheel with the X-gates connecting tunnels.

Actually, I think the dark-themed Naakual might be story-related, maybe in Rala?

Spoiler: show

There's actually another zone line, right in the center of Cirdas at (J-7). Of note in that area is another one of those vine things that will probably require a survival skill to climb up to access. In one of the pictures you'll see a Castoff Point where the river crosses the tunnel. Going up that tunnel kicks you backwards to the area where you zoned into Cirdas. My guess the zone there will connect to the Yorcia Weald (a word that means "forest", also the final area with a [U] version) and given that the source of the roots are there in Cirdas, whatever is in the zone above it is probably where the "Yggdrasil" that's involved in Adoulin's story will be. Probably also where we might find that tree Naakual based off the Amano artwork.




As you can see, the earth Naakual is right at or over Cirdas, with what looks like the shadow of a great tree next to it.

http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy...of_Adoulin.png

Another thing to note, there's are two more zone lines at (D-3) and (F-14), which probably correspond to the two other outside zones we should be getting in the next major update (Kamihr Piedmont & Marjani Gorge). Additionally, there are several areas that look like battlefield areas in Cirdas as well, with only thin walls that separate the accessible parts of the zone from them like the walls in Delve, though each one seems to have a different layout. There are four of them, and they are found at (C-9), (F-4), (F-14) and (N-11).

[Spira]

i think you're right about the NMs and zonelines.

there are 6 naakuals listed in the dats..

Yumcax, Hurkan and Kumhau remain.
likely Plantoid, Bird and Beast, based on the Amano art.

each Naakual appears to have 1 zone corresponding to them. Colkhab just happens to have 2 cos he's like the starter area.

i think the zone chain is like this..

From Adoulin
Ceizak > Sih > Hennetiel > Marjami Gorge?
Yahse > Moh > Morimar > Kamihr Piedmont?

..and from Sih/Moh > Cirdas > Yorcia Weald

considering the mobs they've added are plant and bird i'd assume we're getting plantoid zone and bird zone first.. between Marjami and Kamihr we still can't say with certainty which is for which. but a highland area lines up better with a Piedmont and its adjacent to Morimar which is pretty high up as well, and suits ice elemental.

That NM reminds me of that giant mushroom thing in the old leaked zone dats. Wtf was that supposed to be anyways? Haven't been in any of the Naakual battlefields yet, which I assume the shroom was at.

that was the beehive tree found in Colkhabs lair ya..

[Toth]

Can't access the test server but can anyone see what exactly should we now gear to maximize the new elemental magic damage? Is it all going to be INT or does a mix of INT and MAB still win out?

[Taim Meich]

Most nuking gear has a mix of MAB and INT into it already. There's not going to be much of a difference, save from some extreme cases in which INT may favor earth/water elements a bit more.

[Azat]

Actually, I think the dark-themed Naakual might be story-related, maybe in Rala?

Spoiler: show

There's actually another zone line, right in the center of Cirdas at (J-7). Of note in that area is another one of those vine things that will probably require a survival skill to climb up to access. In one of the pictures you'll see a Castoff Point where the river crosses the tunnel. Going up that tunnel kicks you backwards to the area where you zoned into Cirdas. My guess the zone there will connect to the Yorcia Weald (a word that means "forest", also the final area with a [U] version) and given that the source of the roots are there in Cirdas, whatever is in the zone above it is probably where the "Yggdrasil" that's involved in Adoulin's story will be. Probably also where we might find that tree Naakual based off the Amano artwork.




As you can see, the earth Naakual is right at or over Cirdas, with what looks like the shadow of a great tree next to it.

http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy...of_Adoulin.png

Another thing to note, there's are two more zone lines at (D-3) and (F-14), which probably correspond to the two other outside zones we should be getting in the next major update (Kamihr Piedmont & Marjani Gorge). Additionally, there are several areas that look like battlefield areas in Cirdas as well, with only thin walls that separate the accessible parts of the zone from them like the walls in Delve, though each one seems to have a different layout. There are four of them, and they are found at (C-9), (F-4), (F-14) and (N-11).

Given the amano artwork I would say the "dragon like" mob in the bottom fighting the airship could be last Naakual. The artwork seems to flow with the beast affinity chart, top 4 forming beast loop and the dragonish one forming 2nd loop with aquans and bird. All of the naakual drawings were pretty well detailed, dragon has much more detail then the proposed "amorph purple snake" in the north edge. Also Adventurers are clearly defined fighting with each naakaul, dragon does seem to be engaged with the airship, leaning towards it being a mission style fight.

Given the demon nature of the umbrils, its possible Cirdas will connect to some demonic type zone/mobs thats the big bad for the expansion.

[Hitou]

Umbril are arcana but otherwise yeah they're creepy demonlike things. I'm pretty sure the big bad is probably gonna be Hades. Based on the large number of random dragons on the Amano art, I wonder if the 7th Naakual isn't show at all and will be revealed later.

I wonder if the Lion-yeti snow beast thing(s) will be in a full on snow zone like Xarc/beau/ule or if it's just the whiteness of the art, and the zone will look like morimar.

[Ophannus]

There are probably 6 naakauls for the 6 elements. Dark element is probably related to umbrils (demons) and light is probably that white dragon.

Vermins-> Plantoids
(Colkab) -> (Tree NM)
Wind>Earth


Birds->Aquans
(Zapdos)->(Tchakka)
Thunder>Water


bah just realized it doesnt work for achukka(lizard/fire) cuz theres already a vermin naakual and its wind not ice. Was gonna say the light dragon could go well to fit with a dark umbril(demon) naakual and complete the comparison.

The giant tree is just a reskinned Yovra #lazydevelopers #ps2rimitations

Also I guess Arciel is gonna use a dagger since she doesnt seem to have a greatsword? (fairly certain she's a RUN since the main protagonists of the expansion tend to have expansion jobs: Nashmeira and her Brother; Luzaf, Lillisette etc. Pretty sure Lion is a Ninja too since she's the daughter of Gilgamesh.

Also that dark antagonist dude looks like Juha Bach from Bleach//Vincent Volaju from Cowboy Bebop

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JU3LODEekb...Y/s400/Man.png
http://media.animegalleries.net/albu...t0009.jpg?=123
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb...rnx8o1_500.jpg

[Ophannus]

Also about that antagonist looking man...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JU3LODEekb...Y/s400/Man.png

That's probably a handbell in his hand?

Spoiler: show

Also that thing in the antagonist dude's left hand is most definitely a handbell. He's probably an evil/dark/bad Geomancer that's doing the opposite of what GEO's should be doing, and tainting the land or something for evil purposes. He's also using a sceptor which is a 1handed club which is a weapon GEO is proficient with. Would fit the paradigm of main characters having expansion jobs as Nashmeira was a PUP and her brother whom was an Antagonist was a BLU.

[Modoru]

He looks like dracula. Raaaawr.

[Chamaan]

Man I hope we get to be Draculas next expansion. Or maybe Mummies. Drc120/Mum60 please.

[Azat]

Umbril are arcana but otherwise yeah they're creepy demonlike things.

Mostly nitpicking but they are demons. despite the arcana behavior with magic aggro, the sams Hamanoha can be used on them which only works on demons. I am hoping RUN or GEO artifact quests will shed some more light on it.

[dasva]

the sams Hamanoha can be used on them which only works on demons.

No it can't. None of the circle abilities grant any dmg boost including killer instinct and none of the debuff versions can even be used on them. No monster correlation grants any bonus dmg (ie even if you have everything killer with bst af3 body no dmg increase) except for blu spells. Basically for all intents any purposes if you aren't using blu magic on them they don't have a type. I forget which type the blu spells put it as but it's basically it's own family outside of that

[Azat]

ah my bad, knew arcane crest didn't work on them but was going by friends info for hama.