FFXI Interview August

[Septimus]

It doesn't have to be useful at all Septimus. It certainly doesn't need to be as good as a Black Belt, nor does anyone really expect it should be.

It just has to exist (being left out is no fun) and look good walking around town. That's all.

If my wish could come true, the Wise set would vanish from existence and RDMs would get to quest a single accessory that is as awesome as a Black Belt is. I would rather be left out than have a JSE set that is a total joke. (Look at my magical accuracy! I can stun Fafnir now!)

[Kwijiboe]

SE is scared of adding anymore NMs, with or without sellable drops for fear of rmt monopolizing it.

Then there's assault, where SE decides the way to work for an item I want is to hack at a stone wall for 30 minutes, up to 4 times in a row. What a sense of humor SE has.

Tons of new zones added, with only one NM, and very gimp drops with it (yet, for some reason, people are absolutely obcessed with Cerberus).

This brings us right back to RMT being a huge problem. Someone earlier mentioned "Zero Tolerance" to RMT, and I remember back then they changed the TOS(I think it was TOS?) that gave GMs more power to strike against RMT.

I'd like some more NMs of all levels, in the old zones, each and every zone had at least one or two NMs... but with that, SE would need to address RMT first.

I've seen quotes where GMs say that if you ban a rmt group, another one will pop up soon.. ban them anyway.

So all in all, my question is.. "You gave power to GMs and proposed a zero tolerance to RMT, but when we speak with GMs, they say 'Sorry, we don't have that power' what gives?

[Raineer]

If my wish could come true, the Wise set would vanish from existence and RDMs would get to quest a single accessory that is as awesome as a Black Belt is. I would rather be left out than have a JSE set that is a total joke. (Look at my magical accuracy! I can stun Fafnir now!)

I would focus on m.acc if only magical inaccuracy meant that my spells physically missed the target and hit something behind it, thinking of tiamats attacks that go "through" the tank.

[Khamsin]

It doesn't have to be useful at all Septimus. It certainly doesn't need to be as good as a Black Belt, nor does anyone really expect it should be.

It just has to exist (being left out is no fun) and look good walking around town. That's all.

If my wish could come true, the Wise set would vanish from existence and RDMs would get to quest a single accessory that is as awesome as a Black Belt is. I would rather be left out than have a JSE set that is a total joke. (Look at my magical accuracy! I can stun Fafnir now!)

MND+7
Fast Cast +12% (affects both recast and casting time equally)
Enmity -5
Magical Damage Taken -5%

This work?

[Septimus]

It doesn't have to be useful at all Septimus. It certainly doesn't need to be as good as a Black Belt, nor does anyone really expect it should be.

It just has to exist (being left out is no fun) and look good walking around town. That's all.

If my wish could come true, the Wise set would vanish from existence and RDMs would get to quest a single accessory that is as awesome as a Black Belt is. I would rather be left out than have a JSE set that is a total joke. (Look at my magical accuracy! I can stun Fafnir now!)

MND+7
Fast Cast +12% (affects both recast and casting time equally)
Enmity -5
Magical Damage Taken -5%

This work?

Hmmm...

INT +5
MND +5
Fast Cast +12%
Magical Accuracy +15

If it had MP and healing MP on it, I would probably never take it off. (Don't want to be greedy though.)

[Raineer]

MND+7
Fast Cast +12% (affects both recast and casting time equally)
Enmity -5
Magical Damage Taken -5%

Done.

Please report to SE tommorow morning at 9am sharp, you have the corner office on the top floor waiting for you. Your secretary is a Mithra named Flooziekitten. Congratulations on all your success.

[Devek]

One other suggestion you could make to him...

Each time Fafhog spawns have his level increase by 1.
Each time Fafhog goes SSJ(god I hate that term) decrease his level by 1.

Eventually he would get incredibly strong and only the best linkshells would be able to beat him.

The easiest NM in the game shouldn't drop the best gear

[suji]

Forgive me if this has been stated before, but I'd like to see a new type of EX item: an LS EX item. An LS EX item would be tradeable between any two people who have the same linkpearl equipped. They would not be sellable on the auction house or able to be bazaar'd or sent via the delivery box.

I believe this would solve a number of problems:

- Abjurations could be made LS EX so that you could give them to someone in your linkshell who really deserves it but wasn't able to attend that particular fight.

- Sky pop items could be made LS EX to a) help with the RMT issue while simultaneously not preventing players from trading pop items if they are unable to attend an event.

- Gear that's intended to be kept within an LS could be done so more forcefully so that players who choose to defect from their LS would be unable to sell these items to other players and instead be forced to either drop them or give them back to the LS that they belong to.

- With the introduction of LS EX items, crystals used for creating LS EX items could be introduced via the same same as the HQ crystal system but such crafted items would then become LS EX to the linkshell of the player performing the synth-- thus allowing for crafted items to also be LS EX. This would hurt freelance crafters who normally do synths for other linkshells but also encourage linkshells to look to their own crafters for synths. Of course, they could give the crafter a temporary pearl.

There are several issues with this system (particularly in the linkshell system) that would have to be addressed before such an LS EX item system could be introduced:

- Players reforming an LS with a new name would need to have some way to designate the relationship between the old linkshell and the new linkshell so that all players using LS EX items wouldn't suddenly be unable to use them because of the new pearl. One way that this could be resolved would be that the LS EX items don't actually require the pearl associated with the item to be equipped, but rather for it to be kept on that player. This could then lead to players having unnecessarily many dead linkpearls laying around. Better organization of linkpearls would mostly eliminate this issue; a "pearl bag" or some such item that can contain linkpearls and only take up one slot would be a reasonable solution to this issue.

- If the above paragraph were implemented, a player choosing to defect and steal LS EX items could unequip his pearl before the leader had a chance to break the pearl, thereby leaving that individual with the item forever. Better LS management tools would be needed to help remove unwanted members from the linkshell even if they weren't currently using the pearl. This is assuming the player didn't want to give the item back to the LS in the first place-- they would just be left with unusable trash.

There are probably other issues that would have to be thought through but, from my initial thoughts, it doesn't seem like the system would add too much complexity to the game and for sure it could be a solution to the sky drama that we have been seeing.

In this system, RMT who wanted to sell Kirin's Osode (assuming it were made LS EX) would then have to give players a linkpearl to their LS if they wanted to trade it to them. I'm not sure how this would play out but if tools to view members of an LS were made public (like the web interface that they have been working on) at least we could see who is buying things from RMT.

[Tencteri]

First off, it isn't about interrogation or whatever the fuck you want to call it. It is about honesty. Those questions aren't useless because I am sure you remember very well when Sage Sundi said in his last interview that ToAH was going to be a pure low level expansion. As someone who plays the game, I have a right to know what was the reason and intent that he lied about what the expansion was from the last interview.

Second, I know very well that Sage Sundi is the producer, but he still has no reason to lie to any of his fans about how the game is going and what is being made.

Third, I do have legitimate sources that can confirm the true answer to the question that I offered, even if SE does deny it. Also, Misterbob and those who said shit about my questions are idiots because they don't seem to understand what the facts are and what the truth is.

Last, no question is ever considered "dumb" or "stupid". My questions are just suggestions and don't even have to be asked to Sundi or the others at all, but it is questions that I would like answered if those questions ever get brought up.

"It's not what you know. It's what you can prove."
Think about that quote before you start saying shit and judging people without actually looking into the facts like I did.

[Devek]

In this system, RMT who wanted to sell Kirin's Osode (assuming it were made LS EX) would then have to give players a linkpearl to their LS if they wanted to trade it to them. I'm not sure how this would play out but if tools to view members of an LS were made public (like the web interface that they have been working on) at least we could see who is buying things from RMT.

I don't see why people have such a hard on for RMT.

They could sue IGE for copyright infringement. Even if they didn't win they could easilly get a judge to make IGE cough up a list of players they mail gil to(and how much).. that information would probably be public as long as it didn't include personal information. That information being public would destroy the reputation of many players and probably put an end to to RMT once and for all.

[Khamsin]

MND+7
Fast Cast +12% (affects both recast and casting time equally)
Enmity -5
Magical Damage Taken -5%

Done.

Please report to SE tommorow morning at 9am sharp, you have the corner office on the top floor waiting for you. Your secretary is a Manthra named Flooziekitten. Congratulations on all your success.

Fixed?

[aurik]

MND+7
Fast Cast +12% (affects both recast and casting time equally)
Enmity -5
Magical Damage Taken -5%

Done.

Please report to SE tommorow morning at 9am sharp, you have the corner office on the top floor waiting for you. Your secretary is a Manthra named Flooziekitten. Congratulations on all your success.

Fixed.

Do remember, Bercus, that Sundi is just a mouthpiece with questionable data. There's no point in grilling him on details. Ask larger questions like "Is there any plans to revisit and revise past content that didn't succeed, like Al'Taieu NMs, Expeditionary Forces, et cetera?"

[Nystul]

First off, it isn't about interrogation or whatever the fuck you want to call it. It is about honesty. Those questions aren't useless because I am sure you remember very well when Sage Sundi said in his last interview that ToAH was going to be a pure low level expansion. As someone who plays the game, I have a right to know what was the reason and intent that he lied about what the expansion was from the last interview.

I think the word you are looking for was integrity.

Additionally, I remember that interview but I recall him saying that TOAU would be HIGH level expansion, as a counter to the typically low level targeted COP stuff (the majority of missions being level capped etc). I recall seeing him say this specifically, and then discussing how I was happy about this with a friend sitting next to me who read the same thing. Perhaps you should go look for that quote again.

[½pint]

The main thing I want is Ra/Ex Job-specific weapons, akin to AF weapons, which are significantly better than buyable weapons. Make them available from 10-seal BC's specifically designed to be solo'able for the respective jobs, much like Maat. Throw in extra weapons at 60 and 75 (maybe not, I guess relic fits this gap). I get annoyed that there are so many ra/ex quest rewards that are utterly awful. Make them the best items in the game, not the worst.

And somebody hire Cliff.

[Saphirea]

One question I would ask is why isn't there a windower?
I work from home quite often and need to have AIM and Outlook open at all times while I'm on my 12 hour oncall status.

I'll admit I use windower but yet it's considered a 3rd party material, if they'd add one in that would be beyond amazing.

Also the concepts of having SE stop reading sites such as KI and Alla because as was posted earlier who cares what a guy with one 55 level job has to say about end game content, the rest of the game up until 70 is quite alright its the meat and potatoes at the end that makes it enjoyable.

CoP dynamis I'd love to do them more often but when a run nets 17 coins total and 0 af2 and 0af2- why go?

[tornfleshofsoul]

I guess my questions would be the same as a few others'

1- Do you plan to update things in this game that are fairly old.

Example: Instead of making new weird Ballistas, why not change the rules or instances?

Rather than just killing off old things that some people still enjoy, and that new Xbox 360 players will soon experience, update them.

2 - Why continue banning the RMT accounts that hold the gil? That obviously hasn't stopped the RMT business, just slows it down (Band-ain on a gunshot wound) It's fairly clear who the RMT players are, if you watch them for a day or 2 in sky or other hot zones, target the farmers.

(Though, stopping the sky farmers would only slow it down again. They'll level new characters round the clock to get another group to sky)

As well, a suggestion: Stop hiring GMs that have no idea about the game.

Examples: When I called for a GM about MPKing, he asked me how you could MPK with undead. (pre-patch). And we all know how BS the people who got warnings for the Warp Taru thing was.. I mean come on.

I mean, they don't have to be hardcore players, but at least be familiar with the game above the dunes.

[Tencteri]

Nystul, you are 100% right that it is integrity too. Also, Sundi did mention after that specific interview I mentioned that it was going to be a high level expansion in the end. However, Sundi clearly said in the last interview he actually had that it was going to be a low level expansion. Ironically, the interview is from theorder itself. Check out question 5. Here is the link:
http://www.theorderls.com/bigkill_sundi.php

[Sixtail]

Epincus

While I agree with you on most things(though optional CoP cap isn't good in my opinion), I don't like the way you worded it.

People are not aggresive enough in these interviews. You need to be EGM vs Peter Moore style. Totally embarrass them if possible. Really push your points. Being passive is never going to work, it never has.

Microsoft is one beast. SE is something else and getting agressive will do one of two things.

#1 Cause them to never hold open question segments with english speaking gamers again. Fanfests will be of the devs and spokespeople telling us what's coming and any questions ahead of time will be screened.

#2 Do nothing. I'm seriously of a mind that RMT wise, SE can't do much unless they want to just start the large scale burning at the stakes Blizzard is way, way tougher on RMT's and yet WOW is infested. At best, it will buy us a few months before the RMT's return, adapt and become even harder to root out.

The other stuff like balance issues, New Dynamis being full of luz and the utter endgame clusterfuck needs to be addressed. For christ sake, there's shitloads of low level nm's for LS's who can't past muster in sky, SE needs to take the scorps, the birds and the Beastmen leaders, boost em about 10 levels, give em nasty AOE's links and put other viable shit on em.

[quannum]

Did the matt hilton interview ever happen? link?
here's a link to the last sage sundi interview BG did:
http://www.theorderls.com/bigkill_sundi.php

summary of last questions:

1q rationale behind the mob claim system change?
1a turbo pads created unfair advantage. (it helped NA? o rly?)

2q relic weapons take a long time. intentional?
2a yes. (he hints of cop dynamis also)

3q why does sea have suck ass drop rates?
3a "It could be bugged. It doesn't seem like it's the intentional way to design. Honestly I don't know, so I have to check into it."

4q jol is hard
4a dev team beat it with 18 lol

also "I guess so. Well if you have a forum or something, maybe I can write something later."

5q what's tau gonna be like?
5a low-level content. And also solo content and solo zones.

6q why can't i re-use previously earned meripo?
6a lol i don't know

7q why doesn't SE understand risk vs reward? (roz kings vs cop wyrms)
7a y helo thar question dodge

8q should ppl be husslin in the aery everyday?
8a this interview isn't over yet? when's lunch?

[shihei]

<3 how half you fucktards turned a thread about what questions to ask into....."My ffxi dream is.." thread..lol

Ask Sage Sundi(if he is there) how often he brushes his teeth