Here's a translated transcript of the first producer letter LIVE that took place at E3 (the one for English-speaking audiences with the English interpreter). It's probably the same as the info already out there, but it's a different translation of the original Japanese which was transcribed in a Game Watch article, so maybe there's something new, or it sheds a different light on something, or maybe you're just bored and feel like re-reading this info you already know.
At any rate, they took the rogue/ninja details and turned that into a news story at the top here and for the rest of the interview they just did a straight transcription.
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Producer/Director Naoki Yoshida hosted a Producer Letter LIVE from E3, with Michael Christopher Koji Fox answering questions from overseas fans. Prior to the broadcast, a trailer was published titled "A Realm in Peril," which showed Ramuh, who will be implemented in patch 2.3, along with a glimpse of Shiva near the end of the trailer.
Additionally, a new dual-wielding class, Rogue, and job, Ninja, were premiered in the broadcast. Rogue will be a DPS class which uses a blade in each hand and fights with poisons. Ninja will be a DPS class which adds the ability to use Ninjutsu. Both of these will be implemented in patch 2.4.
A bunch of other new information was published, such as information about crafter studios in the basement of FC housing as well as more information about the fan events to be held in three locations around the world in October.
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In response to a request to unveil something important for E3, Yoshida introduced a video which showed the new class, Rogue, and new job, Ninja. The Rogue is a class based on Thief classes which fights with a dagger in each hand. Because their skills are learned at guilds in the cities, it was thought that the name "Thief" wouldn't really fit, so Rogue was chosen. Also, the back story will be that the group were once thieves, but no longer, so the "Rogue" name was chosen.
The Rogue will be able to apply a variety of poisons to their weapons. You'll be able to use more than one poison and change the poison applied depending on the situation. There is also a skill called Stealth and certain skills that can only be used while in Stealth. Additionally, the base movement speed of this class will be faster than other classes, and fall damage will be reduced.
In addition to the skills from Rogue, Ninja will fight with Ninjutsu. The use of Ninjutsu will vary depending on the battle and the Ninja job will need to focus on using their Ninjutsu and poisons to keep up their damage.
In the videos that have been published, there is an ability where the character jumps up and stabs down with both daggers from above the enemy.
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Are there any plans to add a hug emote?
There's quite a lot of demand for hugs. I personally want the slap emote, but we'd like to implement these both as soon as possible.
Are there any difficulties with animating these?
Since it's an FF game, I think there are some people who care a lot about the characters overlapping or intersecting each other. It would be difficult and take a long time to get this to look perfect, so we'd like to implement it without too much consideration for the graphics.
Are there any plans to implement relics for gathering and crafting classes?
In patch 2.3, there will be new items you can get from desynthesis. From these items, there will be new tools that crafters can use. Or did you mean you wanted glowing relics for crafters and gatherers?
I want a frying pan that glows when I cook eggs. (laughs)
And it'll shoot out huge flames (laughs).
In the original FFXIV, Mor Dhona and Coerthas took up a lot of additional space, but they are much smaller areas now. Will you be able to go to other parts in the future?
After the Meteor fall at at the end of 1.0, there are areas that are no longer accessible since Bahamut devoured the world. For example, in the Carteneau Flats battlefield for Frontline, you'll be able to see some of the devastation in other parts of Mor Dhona. For Coerthas, more information will show up as things move towards Ishgard in the future.
In the last live letter, you talked about ultra difficulty content; can you provide some more details?
I was referring to the addition of the brutal mode of the Second Coil of Bahamut. Usually when we develop new content, we start with extremely difficult conditions at first and then adjust the difficulty down, but here we're going for maximum difficulty. I'm not even sure if you'll be able to clear it. Since we're just implementing this as a test right now, the drops will be normal High Allagan. There will also be exclusive titles available, so please try it out if you have a group of eight who have already completed the Second Coil. If we get a lot more players challenging this than we expect, we may even prepare some exclusive rewards for it. It will be implemented in patch 2.3.
Will you be adding any more high-difficulty FATEs like Behemoth or Odin in the future?
In patch 2.3, we'll be adding the Monster Hunts as high-difficulty field content. We may add some more high difficulty FATEs in the future.
Will you have any future content like Extreme versions of Ultima Weapon, Cape Westwind, or Livia?
Isn't that up to the Wandering Minstrel? (laughs) Actually we've been looking into battles like this to enjoy at Fan Festivals, maybe something like fighting four of the Imperials at once. We've gotten a lot of request for different battles, so we want to look into it and make sure the timing of adding them is right so they don't just go to waste.
When will you be adding individual player housing?
We're hoping that you'll be able to buy individual player housing around 2.38. I don't think it'll be pushed back to 2.4, we're working on it as fast as we can.
In the trailer you published, it looked like the primal Shiva was there.
When we were making the E3 posters we figured we would show Ramuh from patch 2.3, but the US PR team said "no Ramuh," so we figured we'd show Shiva instead (laughs). The story of Shiva will be a lengthy one and will start gradually from patch 2.3. This will be a longer, serious story that leads into an expansion pack, so please pay attention to it.
I have high expectations for this primal and I'm definitely looking forward to it.
For FF games, Ifrit, Ramuh, and Shiva are primals that you definitely have to have, so we're glad we're finally getting them all in.
Right now there are only the main scenario dungeons for a full party - are there any plans to add more in the future?
We get a lot of different demands from all over the world. Some people want us to make dungeons for fewer people, some people want solo dungeons, and others want 8-man dungeons. For people who have a full party and are looking for a challenge, I hope that you try all of the primal battles. It's difficult to plan out all the gimmicks for 8 people. It's easier for four person dungeons, and if these mechanisms from four person dungeons work out well for solo, we'll start looking into doing 8 person ones.
Will you be adding any content that Free Companies can participate in?
Because there are a lot of FCs which are just a few good friends and others which have hundreds of members, it's hard for us to know what to do with content that can please both. We're looking into this right now, though, and trying to plan out what kinds of things that FC members can join together to accomplish. I think we'll be putting out some kind of announcement about this before patch 2.4, so it's not too far off.
In the original FFXIV, weapons were able to increase the effects of certain actions; can you add attributes like this in the new FFXIV?
We're not implementing things like that at the moment, but that's not to say we can't in the future. If we had something with a particularly good effect, everyone would use that weapon, and we would have to make adjustments to battle content under the assumption that a lot of people have that weapon. I know people are looking for changes, but the development team of new FFXIV is really focused on maintaining a good balance. That said, we will continue to consider this in the future.
In the past, you talked about FCs being able to work on Airships, what's come of that so far?
We previously talked about creating a workshop in the basement of FC housing where crafters could work together to build an airship, and we are making progress on this. The size in the workshop will be like a miniature version, and it will become full size when taken out to the field. Multiple crafters will need to join forces to create it. I will show more when we're ready.
There was also talk about battling against primals in the field areas of Eorzea, and FCs being able to summon them.
We're working on that. We're still trying to figure out how we can do this and integrate it with the story.
What's going on with the marriage system?
We're currently developing the system with which players can pledge their love to each other. You'll be able to do this regardless of race or gender. We're aiming for implementation in patch 2.4. Since there will be a mount that only two people who have stated their vows can ride, I hope you look forward to it.
With Frontline being added soon, are there any plans for one-on-one duels?
We don't intend to add content for this, I think the main reason people want duel content is just to see what their PvP DPS is.
Are there any plans to add sound effects that are specific to the Zodiac weapons?
With Novus weapons, the new feature is that you can move stats around. It will continue to change until the end as it becomes a Zodiac weapon like those used by the Zodiac Braves. Although it's a time consuming process, the end reward will justify it.
Do you plan to have any other uses for Rowena Tokens in the future?
It's possible we might make something else use it, so it might be good to hold onto them unless your inventory is really maxed out.
I would like to keep my chocobo out while waiting for duty finder matches.
I know there's a lot of desire to do this, but it's technically very difficult to achieve. We will perform an update for Duty Finder in each patch, but we need to do this carefully to make sure we don't break it.
Right now you can only store one UI layout, but I would like to store multiple for each role.
We understand the desire for this, but this is also difficult to complete. Since this is something the UI team is looking into, we can talk about the timing later on. I think it would be a good addition to the Armoury system.
You'll probably talk about the expansion packs at the Fan Festivals, but can you tell us anything now?
The Fan Festivals will be a ticketed event, and there will be some in-game items that you can get with your ticket. If I say anything else, the community team will yell at me (laughs).