Translations of Patch 2.5 interviews
Famitsu Interview: This post
Game Watch Interview: Post #12 http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/124...=1#post6332191
Dengeki Interview: Post #24 http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/124...=1#post6333229
4Gamer Interview (not yet translated) - original: http://www.4gamer.net/games/199/G019924/20150119027/
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Full translation of source link:
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201501/20069775.html
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Overall Review of the Patch 2.5 Series
As previously announced, Patch 2.5 will be composed of three parts - Part 1, Part 2, and patch 2.51 which will be implemented between the others. These will lead up to the expansion pack which will be the first FFXIV expansion, Heavensward. While we talked about the overall feel of Part 1 with Yoshida, we also looked ahead to some information about patch 2.51 and Part 2 which are scheduled to be released in late February and late March.
A Beacon Gives Off a Bright Light
What's the symbolism behind the cup in the logo?
Yoshida: It's become the image that symbolizes patch 2.5 as a whole. As you're going through the main quest there will be a "Eureka!" moment where you realize what it means.
Will it actually appear in a cutscene?
Y: Yes. The meaning of this title will also become clear throughout the cutscenes.
"Beacons of Hope" seems to be talking about the future, while "Before the Fall" seems to be reflecting on the past?
Y: These both represent words that Minfilia spoke in the patch trailer. Instead of using the word "light" we used the word "beacon." It's a small point, but I think the meaning between "Before the Fall" and "Beacons of Hope" isn't much different.
So the atmosphere is not necessarily one of depression?
Y: In patch 2.5, we're at a turning point that will ultimately lead to a new journey with Heavensward. So, not everything is headed in a bad direction.
So rather than tying up all loose ends with the story, you want us to feel like some hope is left as things continue to get darker?
Y: When we were developing it, our goal was to get people thinking "I want to know what comes next!" like watching a TV drama.
Had you predetermined the title?
Y: We really wanted to get in the word "Fall" all the way back since 2.1.
Is the dragon that appeared in the last scene of the trailer Nidhogg?
Y: No, it's something else. Although if you want Nidhogg, hopefully you can wait a bit longer until Heavensward (laughs).
In the four line poem that you published earlier this year, we thought that the "scales of black" line was a reference to Nidhogg.
Y: The "scales of black" aren't pointing to Nidhogg (laughs).
Part 2 of Patch 2.5 is exclusively main scenario content.
Will the amount of main scenario added in part 2 of patch 2.5 be more than that in part 1?
Y: Although we originally planned to have about 2/3 of the new main scenario included in part 1, we've continued to adjust and move things around to better divide the scenario away from Part 1, so part 2 now has a larger volume.
So it would be better if we didn't compare the amount of main scenario added with that of previous patches.
Y: That's right. The other day, I played through all of the main scenario content to be implemented in part 2 from beginning through end and it took a considerable amount of time. Since the cutscenes have a lot of dialogue and voice work, there's a lot of volume there.
The main scenario is the main content of part 2 of patch 2.5?
Y: In part 2, we'll get to the end of the main scenario of the "Reborn" part of the storyline. Although there's a lot of information that hasn't yet be revealed, the defenses of Ishgard will be exposed by part 2 of patch 2.5, so this will become a centerpiece of the main scenario. Additionally, we want to continue to work on issues that players bring up to us throughout patch 2.5 and implement hot fixes before the launch of Heavensward.
And the details of Ishgard's defense will be important?
Y: After patch 2.5 is released, let's talk some more.
Crystal Tower: World of Darkness will include a number of chaotic elements.
So let's go back to the part 1 of patch 2.5 for a moment. First about the battle content. With Crystal Tower: World of Darkness, will the format be similar to the previous parts of Crystal Tower?
Y: We still have the Forbidden Land Eureka which will be separate, but this will mark completion of Crystal Tower for now. I think there are some people who expected the difficulty to be greater with it being the last part, but we kept it balanced so that the play elements would be on the same level as the before.
Any special gimmicks this time around?
Y: With Syrcus Tower, we set it up so that you could clear it pretty cleanly once you figured out the battle gimmicks. Relative to that, there are a few more "panic" elements in the World of Darkness.
Can you give us an example?
Y: The branching routes and boss gimmicks from Labyrinth of the Ancients are a good example. Also, in fights like the Cerberus one, for example, the opponent's defenses will gradually be weakened and many things will change.
In the trailer, we saw a lot of tricks like warping around and using the launch pads to move around.
Y: Since the World of Darkness is not in our world, when we were looking at stage mock-ups during production, I said things like "we don't need a physical bridge here," and that the atmosphere should feel about as foreign as possible from the real world.
Can you tell us exactly the number of the item level of the armor we'll be able to obtain in the new Crystal Tower?
Y: It will be 120.
What will the other rewards be?
Y: As far as defeating the bosses, the armor will be the main items to be received. Last time in Syrcus Tower we mixed upgrade items in with the equipment on the same weekly limit, so we wanted the equipment to take back the spotlight as the main reward this time. However, we've also added crafting materials that crafters will use to produce the new Crystal Tower weapons to Labyrinth of the Ancients and Syrcus Tower. Since it will be a guaranteed drop, if you want to obtain those materials, please go back and try Labyrinth and Syrcus Tower again. Of course, since other key materials will be required, we couldn't afford for people to find these items to be unobtainable.
Will the obtaining of items be determined at the last boss?
Y: There will be a variety of items along the way from the bosses. By the way, as promised, the last boss will also have items that all 24 people can lot for.
A special quest will appear after beating all of Crystal Tower.
Will you also be able to obtain Allagan Catalyst and Poetics upgrade items from the boss fights like before?
Y: Although we mentioned you could get these previously, the format won't be the same as before with the World of Darkness.
What do you mean?
Y: We've prepared a new weekly quest designed for players who have cleared all three parts of Crystal Tower. Once you clear Labyrinth of the Ancients, Syrcus Tower, and World of Darkness for the week, you'll be able to obtain a poetics upgrade item or a key material for Crystal Tower weapons as a reward.
In other words, in one week, we can play through World of Darkness, obtain an item level 120 piece of armor, and then obtain other items or materials for poetics upgrade by doing the weekly quest?
Y: You may not necessarily obtain materials in a week because you could also choose the poetics upgrade material. By having this separate, people should feel free to go ahead and "need" on the armor they want, which will eliminate the need for people to be lotting against a full party for equipment upgrade items.
Will you be able to choose any of the poetics equipment upgrade items when you complete the weekly quest?
Y: Similarly to the way we implemented them in patch 2.3, you won't be able to choose from all three at first. In future updates, we'll add the rest of the poetics upgrade items before the end of patch 2.5.
So you'll continue to add new items which can be obtained in patches 2.51 and part 2.
Y: Whether the schedule will be like that or something else is still under consideration, but we will be adding them in.
Since there are three different types of items available weekly, that should encourage more and more people to play through Crystal Tower compared to before.
Y: Yes, and since the weapon material can be sold even after you finish obtaining all the armor you want, I think people will keep going over time just to collect the material.
What's the number of the item level for weapons that will be crafted from these materials?
Y: They will be strong enough so that they can be used in the new instanced dungeons, but the item level itself won't be the strongest available. Since materia can also be attached, there would be some balance issues if the item level was too strong. If anything, we're expecting the demand to at least be there for glamours.
So even when it's fully melded with materia, it won't be the strongest?
Y: Although they will be fairly strong, since the base damage increases with weapon item level, I think weapons with higher item levels will still be stronger.
Using those same materials, will you be able to make anything other than weapons?
Y: There are some other things that use the materials besides weapons.
Will you also add the poetics equipment upgrade items as rewards for The Hunt?
Y: You'll be able to exchange them for Allied Notes. Like Crystal Tower, we'll gradually add to the selection of items over time.
Since the upgrade items for soldiery equipment like sands are also available, I'm guessing you'll need a lot of Allied Notes.
Y: Well, the poetics equipment upgrade items are quite valuable....
Story in new dungeons will influence future development
It seems like we'll be able to play through the new "Keeper of the Lake" dungeon as we go through the main scenario, so will Midgardsormr be an important part of the story?
Y: Yes. Up until now, there haven't been any instanced dungeons which significantly progressed the main storyline. Since we're planning to do this the first time you play through these dungeons in patch 2.5 and hereafter, please watch the cutscenes carefully.
With Midgardsormr being a servant of the Twelve, I'm a bit surprised that we wind up fighting him.
Y: It plays a part in the main scenario as it moves forward. Midgardsormr seems to have some promise to keep with Hydaelyn, irrespective of the human race. The story is firmly based on the one from the original FFXIV era, so please expect that. Since the story momentum in patch 2.5 builds quickly, Midgardsormr will show up relatively early in the storyline.
Will this instanced dungeon be a higher difficulty than the ones that came before?
Y: Since we're adding it to the duty roulette: expert, the basic length and difficulty will be about the same as the other "expert" instanced dungeons. After you go through it, you should be able to clear it without any problems.
So the three new dungeons added in patch 2.5 will be classified as expert for duty roulette?
Y: Yes. The ones that were expert in patch 2.4 will be moved to high level.
Will any instanced dungeons be moved from high level to low level duty roulette?
Y: Since the number of high level dungeons has increased considerably, we're trying to figure out whether we should move them. With the number we originally had in mind, we thought it was okay, but the high level category is now the only one that's growing so quickly.
Do you plan to do something like adding a new duty roulette between the two?
Y: We're just discussing it at this point and we'll look at making actual adjustments as we get to Heavensward.
Next, please tell us about the features of The Wanderer's Palace (Hard).
Y: The theme will be the Mamool Ja tribe's occupancy of the Wanderer's Palace. For those who played FFXI, they may have been a little disappointed that the Mamool Ja were relegated to a small corner in Upper La Noscea. Now, those FFXI players should feel a bit of nostalgia and hopefully some of the elements will put a smile on their faces. Please pay attention to some of the gimmicks inside the dungeon also.
What about Amdapor Keep (Hard)?
Y: The pacing will be a bit different from prior instanced dungeons. Previous dungeons had a pretty fast pace, but this one has some tension throughout. Since there are some things that are unique compared to the other existing instanced dungeons, this one is my favorite.
I'm guessing the scene of the Demon Wall attacking from all sides is one of these changes.
Y: Well, you won't be able to fall off a cliff this time... (laughs)
Rewards of the Odin battle include exclusive armor!
So the Odin primal battle is completely different from the content we enjoyed last year at the Fan Festivals.
Y: Well, it's misleading to say it's completely different. With the Fan Festival and people waiting in line for so long, we wanted at least half of the people who tried to be able to win on their first try. In this version, on the other hand, since everyone can try it as often as they want, it's harder than the Odin battle that we had at the event. That said, I think it's a bit easier than the extreme Shiva primal battle.
Is it along the lines of the previous extreme primal battles?
Y: I think it will be about the same as the hard version of Ultima Weapon. Since we have this at the end of the patch 2.0 series, we want as many people to clear it as possible, so the win percentage should be relatively high.
Tell us about the reward items.
Y: We've received a lot of complaints that since the previous Odin armor occupied multiple slots, it was difficult to glamour it. So we've changed it so that the equipment can be obtained as rewards and equipped to individual slots. The tank equipment in particular will be similar to the previous Odin gear, so it will be easier to reproduce that appearance than before.
What about armor for casters?
Y: Since casters don't wear armor, they have a different style of robes named after Odin.
Will the ??? battle become clear?
Y: Please go through the main scenario (laughs).
Does it start with a "M"?
Y: You might come up with a variety of guesses (laughs).
The new Frontline rule is a deathmatch.
What new rules will be added for Frontline in patch 2.5?
Y: In Frontline (Slaughter), we are using the same PvP map as before, but there are no home bases. Instead, objects will appear at three intermediate locations throughout the area which will bestow favorable buffs to your alliance when they are defeated. In order to obtain this buff, I think people will wind up starting matches by immediately heading for bases, then battling each other afterwards.
Since there is no need to occupy positions, this will be more about fighting.
Y: It's basically a deathmatch. Defeating monsters that appear on the map and other enemy players will be important.
Will players only obtain buffs when they destroy the object?
Y: It's also possible to gain a cumulative buff when you defeat multiple enemy players in a row without being defeated yourself.
What's the effect of the buff?
Y: It simply makes you stronger. The idea is to make it more exciting as you defeat more people. Since it will make it more difficult for other parties when players have a buff, they'll try to team up to eliminate those players. By the way, defeating an enemy with that buff will earn bonus points.
What kind of battle will happen in the central area where monsters appear?
Y: It will frequently wind up being a battle with 72 people.
So with the existing Frontline and the new Frontline rules together, there will be a Duty Roulette: Frontline.
Y: By applying to the Frontline Duty Roulette, it'll help with matchmaking, but of course, there will also be the bonus associated with Duty Roulette. Since the bonus will be significant, it should help out with collecting Allagan Tomestones.
What is the actual name of the new rule?
Y: It will be called "The Borderland Ruins (Slaughter)." The existing base capture battle will now be called "The Borderland Ruins (Secure)."
FC actions are triggered through the Aetherial Wheel.
I'd like to ask a bit about gathering and crafting. Tell me more about the Aetherial Wheel.
Y: It's a mechanism by which Free Companies can obtain stronger company actions to boost various effects. The wheel stand gets placed in the Free Company house and the effect is attached to a dedicated wheel. To obtain the effect, you have to collect aether over a period of time.
Will the effect occur for all members of the Free Company?
Y: Yes. We're also planning to add new wheel stands in the future we prepare for company crafting along with the launch of Heavensward, so Aetherial Wheel is a preparation for that.
Will the resulting effects be greater than the effects of existing company actions?
Y: Neither the effects nor the durations will be greater than the existing ones. We created the system based on the assumption that people would gather the materials and use the wheel to produce the actions together in a fun way.
Yoshida was grinning about the work behind the new Agent of Enquiry quests.
How do you end up encountering the hard version of the Gilgamesh battle?
Y: It will appear through the Hildibrand scenario.
You've said that this is the end for now of the agent of enquiry quests, but have you decided if there will be a sequel yet based on player feedback?
Y: If we see a lot of people giving feedback, such as on the forum, saying that they want more Hildibrand story to enjoy, we'll consider it. We don't want to limit ourselves to just Hildibrand, since we have concepts in mind for other new series.
Looking at the trailer, it seems like strong monsters will appear. Will Hildibrand fight them properly?
Y: This is Hildibrand you're talking about (laughs). There's been a lot of foreshadowing previously in the storyline that will come to fruition in this scenario. You might even get a glimpse at Hildibrand's special talent... (laughs). Hopefully you're looking forward to it.
After you did the check of the scenario, what were your thoughts?
Y: It was so good that I was playing it until about 2:00 in the morning. (laughs)
High praise for Hildibrand (laughs).
Y: When I go around the staff working on these cutscenes, they cover their monitor and tell me not to look (laughs).
Well they don't want to show unfinished things to the boss (laughs).
Y: I think they're more afraid that I'll get angry over how much it's costing (laughs). Since the Hildibrand scenario has a lot of group cutscenes, the amount of motion capture increases so it often has a higher cost. Also, since there's a lot of slow motion playback in the cutscenes, it takes more advanced processing to accomplish that, so it increases the cost considerably. However, the staff on the Hildibrand quests is committed to their quality, even working overtime, so it's really a labor of love. And we really hope to deliver more fun content like that to you.
Gold Saucer is balanced so adventurers never lose.
Is the current Agent of Enquiry quest a lead-in to the Manderville Gold Saucer content coming in patch 2.51?
Y: Hildibrand has no particular relevance to the Gold Saucer.
So completing the Hildibrand quests won't be a prerequisite to accessing Gold Saucer?
Y: That's right. They are just quests designed to be cleared casually. Once the patch is released, you'll be able to enter immediately.
You've mentioned in the past that you'd like to keep expanding Gold Saucer over time, but will the facility itself actually change, like Revenant's Toll?
Y: We'll, we've assumed that we'll be changing objects within the area over time, like adding new machines for new mini-games. In addition to that, we'll add new courses for chocobo races. We wanted to gather all the different entertainment options together in one place.
We saw a boxing machine in one of the trailers, will that be something you can actually play?
Y: You can. It's a small minigame that you can play if you want to earn some Manderville Gold Saucer points, and you won't have to wait in line (laughs). There are a lot of simple games we added which just require pressing buttons with certain timing. They are just meant to be simple diversions that you can participate in while trying to accumulate points.
Are you including lighter games like that to increase the number of activities there?
Y: I think it's important that we have a variety of things to try out so people don't get tired of it. Also, it will be a fun way to kill time while waiting for the GATEs (Gold Saucer Active Time Events) that occur in the facility.
If there's only one machine, what happens if it's occupied?
Y: Since the games are played on a user interface, more than one person can play at the same time.
Will it be difficult to earn Manderville Gold Saucer points?
Y: Basically, it's designed so you'll always be accumulating, and to maintain economic balance, you can't recover gil from it. For example, you can earn points by just participating in chocobo races, but naturally you'll earn more by coming in first place.
So even if you finish the race with a low ranking, you can still get some kind of reward.
Y: Even if you come in the lowest place, Manderville Gold Saucer points will never be lost. The expected value of the items was designed based on a positive payouts.
So the initial investment is just a small amount of gil, but there will be no reason to buy more points in the future.
Y: Gil will be required at first to purchase a certain number of points, but later you will just continue to accumulate the Gold Saucer points. Of course, points cannot be redeemed for gil.
Will you continue to add new prizes available to exchange for Gold Saucer games over time to keep people interested?
Y: Yes, we plan to add more. Things like glamour equipment and mounts. We've already prepared several of the mounts for release.
What kind of mounts?
Y: Well, just as an example... a turtle. A small version of the Adamantoise that roams around Southern Thanalan. It's very cute (laughs).
Does it move slower than normal...?
Y: It moves at normal speed (laughs).
Since it bears the name Manderville, is there a theme of the items being from Thanalan?
Y: That's not likely to be the case, there will be a variety.
You can play Triple Triad with a lineup of NPCs.
In the patch 2.51 part of the trailer, I was surprised to see the player challenge Rowena to a game of Triple Triad.
Y: Maybe players can take out their frustrations with her by beating her, but she's likely to be a strong opponent (laughs).
So you'll mostly be able to challenge the more famous NPCs to the game?
Y: We've spread them around as much as possible. For many of them, we felt that it would be interesting to have people go and meet up with an NPC in a particular place. However, since there's a dedicated AI for each NPC, you won't always find it easy to win.
Will you be able to play with, for instance, Trachtoum?
Y: Yes, you can. As far as how strong he is, please check it out for yourself (laughs).
I bet the Wandering Minstrel in Revenant's Toll would have a really good card (laughs).
Y: You won't be able to fight him. Hiroshi told me that would be no good (Kazutoyo, main scenario writer).
Would it be a problem with our view of the world?
Y: Since he's a character that travels, when we move his location to suit the launch of Heavensward, there's a possibility that there will be a period of time that he wouldn't be available.
So basically we won't be able to challenge NPCs who may move to a new place in the future.
Y: It's not unusual to notice it when you just play normally, but in A Realm Reborn there are a lot of NPCs that change positions depending on the situation. Especially once we release Heavensward, NPCs will be moved a lot in various locations....
So we won't be able to play with NPCs that are only available for a certain period of time, like Seasonal Event NPCs?
Y: That's right. Since there are many people that will want to collect all the cards, we have to try to avoid situations where people wouldn't have access to certain cards which would make that impossible.
When you beat an NPC, will the card be obtained as a regular item?
Y: When you win a card, it will be stored in your inventory. Once you use the item in your inventory, the item itself will disappear and the card will be stored in your card folder. By the way, to eliminate redundancy, you can only have one of each card in your folder. If you get a card that you previously obtained, you can trade it for Gold Saucer points so it won't be wasted. We were thinking about making the cards tradeable, but we have to put some more time and thought into that first.
How will you manage the card folder?
Y: When you open the card folder, you can create decks and choose your five favorites. There will be several combinations made in advance, and you should be able to select a deck that will work to your advantage given the match rules.
Will you continue adding more cards in the future?
Y: We're planning to add more with the release of Heavensward and additional in patch 3.1, so we'll be adding more over time.
Do you expect that the game would favor players who have possibly hundreds of cards in the future?
Y: That's likely. That said, since Triple Triad cards are just four numbers, it shouldn't be too hard to create a deck with high numbers.
And there may be some people who favor card design.
Y: I'm guessing after release there will be some demand to take cards with nice imagery but low numbers and increase the numbers. For those people, we'll have versions with the same design but higher numbers.
Of course, there should also be rare cards.
Y: I think you'll be able to boast if you obtain all of the legendary character series (laughs).
So it will be quite difficult to complete the set.
Y: Just because you defeat a NPC doesn't mean you'll necessarily get the card you want, so I think it will take a decent amount of time.
Zodiac Weapons will evolve to their ultimate form in patch 2.51!
Will Zodiac weapons continue to undergo development in the future? Like in Heavensward?
Y: Since players who have been going through the whole Zodiac weapon saga so far have put a lot of work into it, it won't be like we suddenly forget all about them. For Heavensward, since the character level cap will be raised at the start, the adventurer himself will grow, so players will be aiming to acquire new items through the new content. Whether it's the Zodiac Weapon Saga or its sequel, players will be able to continue growing a weapon in patch 3.1.
So Zodiac Weapon owners will get some attention at that time.
Y: Yes, of course.
Anyway, before that happens, there will be some further strengthening of the Zodiac weapons in patch 2.51.
Y: If you complete the "ultimate form" of the Zodiac Weapon in patch 2.51, you'll have the strongest versions leading into the release of Heavensward, so I think you'll have an advantage.
And the item level of the ultimate form is...?
Y: As usual, we can't say until we publish the patch notes. Of course, the item level is important, but the intention of the Zodiac Weapon is that players can tweak the parameters to their liking by adjusting the stats to take advantage of their preferences and suit the other equipment they have.
It hasn't been mentioned much, but do you have any plans to make adjustments in the future to the fourth turn of the Second Coil of Bahamut?
Y: No plans yet. It won't be performed at the time of patch 2.5, at least.
There are a lot of people who can't beat the fourth turn so they haven't even been able to try out the Final Coil.
Y: Since the gimmicks of the first and second turns of Final Coil are simpler than those of the fourth turn of Second Coil, and I think a lot of people are stuck in the Bahamut's Favor phase, we will work over time to relax those mechanics.
The amount of content in Heavensward is the same or more than a usual full release.
So with patch 2.5 and the rest of 2015, how enthusiastic are you for the coming year, and what was the meaning behind the New Year's poem?
Y: For now, patch 2.5 is our top priority, but of course, the climax of 2015 will be the release of Heavensward. As far as the poem I released, you shouldn't have to think about it too much (laughs). There will be a lot of tips for solving the mystery that will lead to Heavensward in patch 2.5. Before we get to that climax, we're planning to put forth the patch with three consecutive months of increasing momentum. I think the main scenario will be more exciting than it has been in a long time, and at the end, I hope everyone is looking forward to what's to come. Since we're planning to move ahead to Heavensward, the content of patch 2.5 has been designed to be a bit more easily approachable so that everyone can enjoy it.
Thanks! Finally, what's the first non-"spring" word that pops into your head for the release date of Heavensward?
Y: Well, you don't want me to say spring, so.... summer? (laughs)
Will it be May or June in spring? Or really summer?
Y: Well in house at Square Enix we think May or June seems to be springtime, and the general public seems to agree (laughs).