What do you think of the expansion so far?

[Soje]

Last night there were no HNM. There were no trigger mobs. There was no camping. There was no botting.

There were large groups of lvl 75 shouting it up like a bunch of Bastokan noobs for info on quests, missions, npc locations etc.

Groups were formed where linkshell membership didn't matter. Lines were crossed. New areas were visited. Friends were made. And for the first time in as long as I can remember it felt like a game.

[Hyjynx]

Last night there were no HNM. There were no trigger mobs. There was no camping. There was no botting.

There were large groups of lvl 75 shouting it up like a bunch of Bastokan noobs for info on quests, missions, npc locations etc.

Groups were formed where linkshell membership didn't matter. Lines were crossed. New areas were visited. Friends were made. And for the first time in as long as I can remember it felt like a game.

Couldnt agree more, it feels like a fresh new start almost. Someone in my ls had the audacity to suggest that we gather triggers because sky was empty, on the day that ToA went live. Needless to say she was ignored

I must say that I'm looking forward to the idea of doing things with small groups of friends and building up points to gain hawt lewtz sans other people dictating to you what you can or cant get/lot and the rest complaining about some crap.

[Jonel]

Having only crossed 8 zones, completed 2 of the 3 new job quests, completed a few standard quests, a couple missions, fought over a dozen of the new mobs, and a few NM, I feel that I'm just barely scratching the surface of the content available at this early stage of release.

Al Zhabi / Aht Urghan (AU) is impressive, to say the least. I'm glad that reaching the Aht Urghan Empire was a relatively simple task compared to completing Promyvion for Tavnazia access. With the availability of MogHouse, AuctionHouse, GuildSupport, and upcoming ChocoboStable, I can see Aht Urghan being an alternative center of commerce to the already crowded Jeuno.

The surrounding zones are comparatively huge and mobs are plentiful. All ranging from EP to VT which can potentially be a new area for roaming EXP PT to wander freely without losing chain or conflicting with another EXP PT.

Besiged information is scratchy at best. I haven't seen an instance of this event yet. Then again, it's too early to tell since the Beastman forces are required to build an opposition before they can stage an attack on Al Zhabi. According to the Besiged information from the recent version update notes, I can either gather a few players and intercept the opposing forces outside the gates or wait inside the city for their attack. Both, I look forward to.

The new music is fairly good. I was expecting the music in the new zones to be slightly more epic rather than chilled and mellow. Not to say that the music is bad, but I feel that it could have been better.

The scenery is simply jaw-dropping. Props to the designer who created the landscape for Wajaom Woodlands and Arrapago Reef. Both zones are perfect examples of how the scenery stays consistantly impressive with each expansion. Wajaom Woodlands gives the best illusion of being surrounded by a thick wooded area since The Sanctuary of Zi'Tah.

Of course, the expansion is not without it's draws. You can argue the following all you want, but please keep in mind that this is simply my personal opinion.

- If your HomePoint is not set to Al Zhabi / Aht Urghan, the fastet transportation will be by boat, which is a 15 minute long ride. This makes it very difficult if you need to hurry to the new zones for whatever reason.

- TS Mamool Ja in Mamook. If Mamook is the equivalent of other Beastman homes such as Davoi, Castle Oztroja, Beadeaux, Sea Serpent Grotto, and Quicksand Caves, I don't see why placing TS Mamool Ja in Mamook should break the consistency of Non-TS Beastman in these zones (with the exception of NM / HNM). Especially when placing a device that disguises you as a Mamool Ja, that already penalizes the player for having that costume activated. If you're going to have the disguise device, don't put in the TS mobs and vice versa. It's almost redundant.

In conclusion, TAU accomplishes what any expansion should serve. Add new content, new gameplay features, and enhance what's already been established, all while presenting it in excellent visual asthetics.

To SE, I say "well done." To the patient readers of this thread, I say "fuck off" --erm, I mean "enjoy TAU." I haven't been this excited to play FFXI again since I began playing almost three years ago.

[Sorrower]

An LS mate descibed the boat ride over like one of those slave ships carrying people to the new world.

Jesus christ....lol

[Khamsin]

- TS Mamool Ja in Mamook. If Mamook is the equivalent of other Beastman homes such as Davoi, Castle Oztroja, Beadeaux, Serpant Sea Grotto, and Quicksand Caves, I don't see why placing TS Mamool Ja in Mamook should break the consistency of Non-TS Beastman in these zones (with the exception of NM / HNM). Especially when placing a device that disguises you as a Mamool Ja, that already penalizes the player for having that costume activated. If you're going to have the disguise device, don't put in the TS mobs and vice versa. It's almost redundant.

Can the TS Mamool Ja see through the costume?

[Jonel]

- TS Mamool Ja in Mamook. If Mamook is the equivalent of other Beastman homes such as Davoi, Castle Oztroja, Beadeaux, Serpant Sea Grotto, and Quicksand Caves, I don't see why placing TS Mamool Ja in Mamook should break the consistency of Non-TS Beastman in these zones (with the exception of NM / HNM). Especially when placing a device that disguises you as a Mamool Ja, that already penalizes the player for having that costume activated. If you're going to have the disguise device, don't put in the TS mobs and vice versa. It's almost redundant.

Can the TS Mamool Ja see through the costume?

hmm...good point. i was there last night and my pt had costumes on but still managed to get aggro. so...i dunno. i'm assuming so.

[Septimus]

- TS Mamool Ja in Mamook. If Mamook is the equivalent of other Beastman homes such as Davoi, Castle Oztroja, Beadeaux, Serpant Sea Grotto, and Quicksand Caves, I don't see why placing TS Mamool Ja in Mamook should break the consistency of Non-TS Beastman in these zones (with the exception of NM / HNM). Especially when placing a device that disguises you as a Mamool Ja, that already penalizes the player for having that costume activated. If you're going to have the disguise device, don't put in the TS mobs and vice versa. It's almost redundant.

Can the TS Mamool Ja see through the costume?

hmm...good point. i was there last night and my pt had costumes on but still managed to get aggro. so...i dunno. i'm assuming so.

It's a stretch, but has anyone tried to use deodorize when trying to get through there? Many lizards have a sense of smell that is almost as powerful as a human's vision (like snakes with their tongues), maybe the Mamool Ja are the same.

[BRP]

- If your HomePoint is not set to Al Zhabi / Aht Urghan, the fastet transportation will be by boat, which is a 15 minute long ride. This makes it very difficult if you need to hurry to the new zones for whatever reason.

May I ask you why your HP isn't set there?

[Spencehoe]

my first impression of TaAU was disappointment. I check the guy for the quest to get the boat pass. FUCK! Farming BS Items. So I decide on option A, and head to gusgen...along with 67457456747856763452447684 other people. I saw one Ghoul in half an hour. So I promptly warped back to jueno, cursing all those QSC keys I've tossed over the years, and shelled out 500k. As soon as I do, someone shouts that the guy doesnt give you the pass if you pay, its a one time warp. Fuck. So I warp to Wajoam Woods.

Yay pass! Yay map! Sneak/invis up and head to town. Holy shit that place is big. Huge even, yet not as anoying to navigate as windy. This leads to that, I get my BLU items, and start all the job quests.

Got a LS friend, and gathered some randoms for the COR/PUP quest bits in that Reef place. Man, that zone *SUCKS*, as does Cadevera Mire. Those Imps are truly a bane on Vanadial. I loved it. We all died a few times trying to finish up, but by the time I went to bed, I had unlocked all 3 jobs, and felt an immense sense of accomplishment.

All day at work Ive been trying to figure out what job Im going to play first. I think Im gonna wait for some more info on PUP, but I really cant choose between BLU or COR (Cor being a job I shit talked from the day it was announced....but now Im facinated by its potential.).

4 1/2 hours til Im off work. Can't wait to dive back in and kill some bunnies.

My overall first impression is that this expansion is going to rock. Hopefuly enough to keep my attention away from WoW. We'll see.

[deakka]

- TS Mamool Ja in Mamook. If Mamook is the equivalent of other Beastman homes such as Davoi, Castle Oztroja, Beadeaux, Serpant Sea Grotto, and Quicksand Caves, I don't see why placing TS Mamool Ja in Mamook should break the consistency of Non-TS Beastman in these zones (with the exception of NM / HNM). Especially when placing a device that disguises you as a Mamool Ja, that already penalizes the player for having that costume activated. If you're going to have the disguise device, don't put in the TS mobs and vice versa. It's almost redundant.

Can the TS Mamool Ja see through the costume?

hmm...good point. i was there last night and my pt had costumes on but still managed to get aggro. so...i dunno. i'm assuming so.

Did you get aggro from a Mamool Ja? or from a puk/mamool ja frogman/bugard/cockatrice thingy? As far as i know, the Mamool Ja and the cocks are the only thing sight aggro. The frogmen/puk's/bugards will still smell you though, try throwing a sneak on before you put costume on, then you can pretty much run around at will

[Jonel]

- If your HomePoint is not set to Al Zhabi / Aht Urghan, the fastet transportation will be by boat, which is a 15 minute long ride. This makes it very difficult if you need to hurry to the new zones for whatever reason.

May I ask you why your HP isn't set there?

I'm just recognizing the least amount of time required to reach Al Zhabi if your HP is not set there.

[BRP]

my first impression of TaAU was disappointment.

My overall first impression is that this expansion is going to rock.

Um.