INTERVIEW !!!!!!!!!! MAKE IT STICKY OR BURN :P

[Elmer the Pointy]

I dont know if you are allowed to release the recording of the interview, but perhaps someone well versed in Japanese may be able to determine what they were discussing after each question?

Sorry if someone already asked this but I don't have time to sift through 8 pages atm.

- Shadida

I told bercus I would be willing to translate the Japanese parts if he wanted. He said he would send along some audio, but not until the weekend since he's quite busy.

Hopefully there's a few tidbits of info hidden in there, but after reading the interview it really seems as though they have no clue about the mechanics of the game and aren't there for anything other than absorbing fan frustration and slinking away back to SE.

I bet if I listen to this it'll be like
"Instant Dynamis? Guys, he wants instant Dynamis...take out the time extension mobs."
"Jailer drops? Like those colored candies?"
and of course:
"Um... uh... tell him it's because of PS2 limitations"

But we'll see :D

[Don Katsu]

no, everyone should have the opportunity to try.

but people are complaining about the difficulty associated with obtaining items, not the adventure involved with fighting a new mob. And if people wanted to just experience the fight, there's KS99 too.

now if you mean giving people the opportunity to try to kill these NMs and obtain the items, then that's a different story. but LS who can barely handle Fafnir will have no chance at a beefed up Nidhogg inside a BC.

the example i keep using is Bahamut. How many NA shells on our server have been able to take it down? I don't even think many can handle Ouryu.

1)Adamantoise and the KS99 adaman aren't the same difficulty.

King behemoth and KS99 behemoth aren't the same difficulty either.

2) I don't know about other linkshells but I know we are constantly trying to get a cloud evoker drop to do another Ouryu. CRK got Ouryu to 80% then 30% they haven't had another opportunity to try because they haven't gotten the cloud evoker to drop either. but they do an ENM like once a month, JR goes every week.

If you can get drops like Ridill and Defending Ring from a BC I'm sure people will find anyway possible to do those even if they wipe 10x times. Bahamut has 1-2 good drops. Nidhogg has nothing but good drops.

[phirien]

no, everyone should have the opportunity to try.

but people are complaining about the difficulty associated with obtaining items, not the adventure involved with fighting a new mob. And if people wanted to just experience the fight, there's KS99 too.

now if you mean giving people the opportunity to try to kill these NMs and obtain the items, then that's a different story. but LS who can barely handle Fafnir will have no chance at a beefed up Nidhogg inside a BC.

the example i keep using is Bahamut. How many NA shells on our server have been able to take it down? I don't even think many can handle Ouryu.

1)Adamantoise and the KS99 adaman aren't the same difficulty.

King behemoth and KS99 behemoth aren't the same difficulty either.

2) I don't know about other linkshells but I know we are constantly trying to get a cloud evoker drop to do another Ouryu. CRK got Ouryu to 80% then 30% they haven't had another opportunity to try because they haven't gotten the cloud evoker to drop either. but they do an ENM like once a month, JR goes every week.

i really think SE could leave the HNM system as is, and create better loot pools for Jorm, Tiamat and Vrtra.

This would ultimately shift the current LS who camp Faf/KB/Asp on a daily basis to the COPWyrms, creating an opportunity for new LS to kill Faf, or at least learn how to and gain some experience.

and even if the same old LS continue to camp zilart kings, it would be much harder to cover 6 spawn windows compared to only 3 spawn windows now. there would be too many time overlaps for the same LS to be getting all the HNM.

LS who can't kill when given the opportunity will have nothing to complain about.


and HNM drops are overrated, Shine.

NLegs- are terrible.
Ebody- is best body piece for the jobs that can use.
MBody- good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get.
Dalmatica- only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational.

KBs drops suck aside from defending ring.

Aspi's drops suck. Mahatma Body shits all over Crimson Body.

The only truly awesome items , items that will never need to be replaced off Zilart Kings IMO are: E-Body, DRing, Ridill Black Belt. And you can make a case for Dalm and MBody.

[Gafgarionn]

no, everyone should have the opportunity to try.

but people are complaining about the difficulty associated with obtaining items, not the adventure involved with fighting a new mob. And if people wanted to just experience the fight, there's KS99 too.

now if you mean giving people the opportunity to try to kill these NMs and obtain the items, then that's a different story. but LS who can barely handle Fafnir will have no chance at a beefed up Nidhogg inside a BC.

the example i keep using is Bahamut. How many NA shells on our server have been able to take it down? I don't even think many can handle Ouryu.

1)Adamantoise and the KS99 adaman aren't the same difficulty.

King behemoth and KS99 behemoth aren't the same difficulty either.

2) I don't know about other linkshells but I know we are constantly trying to get a cloud evoker drop to do another Ouryu. CRK got Ouryu to 80% then 30% they haven't had another opportunity to try because they haven't gotten the cloud evoker to drop either. but they do an ENM like once a month, JR goes every week.

i really think SE could leave the HNM system as is, and create better loot pools for Jorm, Tiamat and Vrtra.

This would ultimately shift the current LS who camp Faf/KB/Asp on a daily basis to the COPWyrms, creating an opportunity for new LS to kill Faf, or at least learn how to and gain some experience.

and even if the same old LS continue to camp zilart kings, it would be much harder to cover 6 spawn windows compared to only 3 spawn windows now. there would be too many time overlaps for the same LS to be getting all the HNM.

LS who can't kill when given the opportunity will have nothing to complain about.


and HNM drops are overrated, Shine.

NLegs- are terrible.
Ebody- is best body piece for the jobs they can use.
MBody- good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get.
Dalmatica- only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational.

KBs drops suck aside from defending ring.

Aspi's drops suck. Mahatma Body shits all over Crimson Body.

The only truly awesome items , items that will never need to be replaced off Zilart Kings IMO are: E-Body, DRing, Ridill Black Belt. And you can make a case for Dalm and MBody.

Seeing as how the wyrms have a longer span for popping, I don't think that'd stop any LS from whoring out the three kings.

[phirien]

no, everyone should have the opportunity to try.

but people are complaining about the difficulty associated with obtaining items, not the adventure involved with fighting a new mob. And if people wanted to just experience the fight, there's KS99 too.

now if you mean giving people the opportunity to try to kill these NMs and obtain the items, then that's a different story. but LS who can barely handle Fafnir will have no chance at a beefed up Nidhogg inside a BC.

the example i keep using is Bahamut. How many NA shells on our server have been able to take it down? I don't even think many can handle Ouryu.

1)Adamantoise and the KS99 adaman aren't the same difficulty.

King behemoth and KS99 behemoth aren't the same difficulty either.

2) I don't know about other linkshells but I know we are constantly trying to get a cloud evoker drop to do another Ouryu. CRK got Ouryu to 80% then 30% they haven't had another opportunity to try because they haven't gotten the cloud evoker to drop either. but they do an ENM like once a month, JR goes every week.

i really think SE could leave the HNM system as is, and create better loot pools for Jorm, Tiamat and Vrtra.

This would ultimately shift the current LS who camp Faf/KB/Asp on a daily basis to the COPWyrms, creating an opportunity for new LS to kill Faf, or at least learn how to and gain some experience.

and even if the same old LS continue to camp zilart kings, it would be much harder to cover 6 spawn windows compared to only 3 spawn windows now. there would be too many time overlaps for the same LS to be getting all the HNM.

LS who can't kill when given the opportunity will have nothing to complain about.


and HNM drops are overrated, Shine.

NLegs- are terrible.
Ebody- is best body piece for the jobs they can use.
MBody- good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get.
Dalmatica- only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational.

KBs drops suck aside from defending ring.

Aspi's drops suck. Mahatma Body shits all over Crimson Body.

The only truly awesome items , items that will never need to be replaced off Zilart Kings IMO are: E-Body, DRing, Ridill Black Belt. And you can make a case for Dalm and MBody.

Seeing as how the wyrms have a longer span for popping, I don't think that'd stop any LS from whoring out the three kings.

well it wouldn't be hard to change that. it would be easier to change them to 21-24 than creating a whole new BC and orb system and moving zilart kings into them.

[NynJa]

show me a leg piece for thieves that comes close to DEX+8 ATK+20, and you can say N.Legs are terrible.

[phirien]

show me a leg piece for thieves that comes close to DEX+8 ATK+20, and you can say N.Legs are terrible.

don't be such a sassy THF. nobody is killing Nidhogg for a THF WSonly leg piece.

[NynJa]

show me a leg piece for thieves that comes close to DEX+8 ATK+20, and you can say N.Legs are terrible.

don't be such a sassy THF. nobody is killing Nidhogg for a THF WSonly leg piece.

why the fuck would I kill Nidhogg for a body piece thats "good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get", Aspi for a Body piece that's "only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational" ??


Hecatomb Subligar (DEX+8 ATK+20) is gonna add a hell of a lot more dmg than Dragon Subligar+1 (DEX+5), Pahluwan Seraweels (STR+3) or Dusk Trousers (ATK+14) to a THF WS than Adaman Haub (STR/DEX+10 ATK/ACC+15) will add to a Rampage over Hauberk+1 (STR/DEX+6 ATK/ACC+12).

[inafume]

show me a leg piece for thieves that comes close to DEX+8 ATK+20, and you can say N.Legs are terrible.

don't be such a sassy THF. nobody is killing Nidhogg for a THF WSonly leg piece.

Of course they aren't. But you said it sucks. It doesn't suck, and there are alternatives (Dusk) that are close but Heca Subligar is still better.

[phirien]

show me a leg piece for thieves that comes close to DEX+8 ATK+20, and you can say N.Legs are terrible.

don't be such a sassy THF. nobody is killing Nidhogg for a THF WSonly leg piece.

why the fuck would I kill Nidhogg for a body piece thats "good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get", Aspi for a Body piece that's "only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational" ??


Hecatomb Subligar (DEX+8 ATK+20) is gonna add a hell of a lot more dmg than Dragon Subligar+1 (DEX+5), Pahluwan Seraweels (STR+3) or Dusk Trousers (ATK+14) to a THF WS than Adaman Haub (STR/DEX+10 ATK/ACC+15) will add to a Rampage over Hauberk+1 (STR/DEX+6 ATK/ACC+12).

i'd say LS get more use of the other 3 drops though, wouldn't you? maybe my choice of words (terrible item) could have been better.

[BRP]

This interview was shitty, and you asked really shitty questions.

Ban this stupid fag. He hasn't said one smart thing since I've notice his existance.

Anyway, about the system... it still appears people haven't read the full thing. I recently brought up all the ways you could obtain orbs without camping in another thread.

Adamantoise Orb
Quadav King - 100%
*new* Antica King - 100%
New HNM - 50%
Xolotl - 50% (now has more health, summons more and no limit of number of summons, 3-7 day timer, 1 new drop, higher drop rates)
KSNM99 - 30%*
Certain BCNMs and ENMs - 10%*
Other Quests(Garrison? Unwelcomed Guest?) - 5%*
Metal Chip Limbus - 100%*

Both Metal Chip Limbus reward 1 Orb 100%, randomly chosen.

*=non-camping things

A LS with 30 active members, 1 week of activity.

1 Metal Chip Limbus, they get a random chip 100%(maybe even twice) 100%
They do 3-4 KSNM99(maybe even 5-8), 30% each. 3-4 * 30%
They do 5 six man ENMs for 10% each. 5 * 10
Garrison, and such wouldn't be reliable, but its not hard to imagine LS members earning orbs for their LS while doing these things, LS event or not.

Now...

4 x 3 HNMs. 12 HNMs. That pop in 3-7 Day Timers. Now, you add in Wyrms(who in this system, now have the best loot in the game, along with being harder), Cerberus , and Hydra(both with improved loot, or better said, better recipes and results, also being harder). Limbus(maybe evening an orb with the 75-coin chip). Dynamis. Free-time(people like to craft and stuff).

Thats 17 3-7 Day Timer HNMs, Limbus, Dynamis, and general free time(not to forget earning the orbs in the non-camping ways). Most LSes still do Sky. And Sea(though not mentioned, would probably be improved as well) If one LS can monopolize all that, then the server fucking blows, sorry. I know this wouldn't be the case. The biggest risk would be RMT, which is understandable. However, even they wouldn't be able to completely control all the pops. They can't control Sky, simply an annoyance.

Mind you, without massive pos.haxing some of these HNMs will not be easy to get to. RotZ Beastmen Kings would be big targets as they are 100% drop rate like the original Beastmen Kings. However, the Antican king wouldn't be easy to get to at all. I mentioned the idea of HNMs at the bottom of Pso'Xja zones... most lootwhores have never visited some of the uncapped towers, let alone know how to climb to the bottom.

Anyway, so now thats cleared up.

I'm happy Bercus was able to express his opinion and that the chart was collected, so both opinions get to be expressed.

I think Bercus did a good job, but he forgot an important thing or two, such as givng them the link to this site(though if he did, a warning such as "these guys might say they want to physically harm you, but they just have a hard time expressing their feelings" would have to be included). Very pimpish picture with you and the ladies lol.

[NynJa]

show me a leg piece for thieves that comes close to DEX+8 ATK+20, and you can say N.Legs are terrible.

don't be such a sassy THF. nobody is killing Nidhogg for a THF WSonly leg piece.

why the fuck would I kill Nidhogg for a body piece thats "good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get", Aspi for a Body piece that's "only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational" ??


Hecatomb Subligar (DEX+8 ATK+20) is gonna add a hell of a lot more dmg than Dragon Subligar+1 (DEX+5), Pahluwan Seraweels (STR+3) or Dusk Trousers (ATK+14) to a THF WS than Adaman Haub (STR/DEX+10 ATK/ACC+15) will add to a Rampage over Hauberk+1 (STR/DEX+6 ATK/ACC+12).

i'd say LS get more use of the other 3 drops though, wouldn't you? maybe my choice of words (terrible item) could have been better.

My PLD is lv8 and my NIN is lv40...though I'm well aware that PLD/NIN is the wave of the future. Can you enlighten me as to how M.Body is ideal for PLD/NIN over some of the alternatives ??

[Krandor]

I've long held to the belief that the only reason to really camp kings are :

Hecatomb Head, Ridill, Assjammer, Adaman Hauberk, Defending Ring

Most of the other pieces of gear are rather situational or not substantially better then what's available (blah blah A Hauberk only slighty better then Hauby+1, it's still the best body slot for WAR DRK and BST, a Dalmatica is only "worth" it if it's a RDM with AF2 hat), and even on that list Assjammer is now outclassed by Bahamut's Mask

Edit: I guess reading Nynja's post that Hecatomb Subligar could be included in the list, but I really didn't because of the generally poor public perception of THFs at endgame in terms of damage potential

[rooster]

I remember in the interview with BG you said something will be done, yet nothing has been done
(Sage Sundi laughed; ) )
They talked like 1 minute in Japanese; I think it was too much information at that time
Bercus : do you want me to ask again?

Sundi: yeah

Bercus : Why do they not drop Items required for the next fight at a 100% rate?

(They talked about something in Japanese and English and were mentioning the storyline of cop)

Bercus : this has nothing to do with the story…. >.<

(I think they didn’t know what I was talking about >.<)

Saori : There could have been a reason why the Development team didn’t want at this time for the mobs to drop the items 100% and we can’t really answer the question at this point.

This is by far the best one of the best parts of the interview.

Good Job Bercus!

When they started to give me answers the reason they dont drop 100% has to do something with the story line I looked at my friend, and this look means I want to bash my head against the wall.

I couldnt get to the point where Sundi said the the last BG interview that he cant tell us how but in some months we will find out new ways to obtain a Relic Weapon, duno what it was exactly I would just need another 30 minutes, hell I could go there again since the Convention is till Sunday, but NO way i drive again 7 hours total to get no answers.

Now you understand how I felt around this time last year.

Now that it's been a year, and things are pasted i'll say this...

When I had that interview with them I thought, "I drive all the way from dallas with 4 other people to come to this event and do some interview to get fking answers like this."

Sundi and others made it seem like they were really excited to talk to us and then.... No fking straight answers to anything.

Being a person driven by Otaku lvl hardcore stuff, I decided to switch games. Based on the feeling i had after the interview I decided these people are hopeless. I'd say to sundi and tanaka "come on, give the hardcore HNM community some love", and he said , "We have plans for more single player stuff like WoW. People shouldn't have to have a party to level". Maybe my favorite arena of MMOs is not important to them.

These are the facts.... When they have an event, they are told something to annouce or not to annouce. They know what to say and not to say, and they dont answer anything new or game breaking to people that dont pay up. If you aren't Pc Gamer or MS Xbox360 punkasses then they dont care. You're just a customer that has an opinion like the rest of them.

It's really a shame that they just cant be straight forward and listen to thier paying base of customers. Seems like FFXI dev team is run just like Bush runs the USA.

"These are the things that are going to happen, and I really dont care what you think about it. Just jump on the train and enjoy the ride. Oh and Dev team will investigate that. Did i say I dont know yet? Ok, I dont know."

[phirien]

show me a leg piece for thieves that comes close to DEX+8 ATK+20, and you can say N.Legs are terrible.

don't be such a sassy THF. nobody is killing Nidhogg for a THF WSonly leg piece.

why the fuck would I kill Nidhogg for a body piece thats "good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get", Aspi for a Body piece that's "only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational" ??


Hecatomb Subligar (DEX+8 ATK+20) is gonna add a hell of a lot more dmg than Dragon Subligar+1 (DEX+5), Pahluwan Seraweels (STR+3) or Dusk Trousers (ATK+14) to a THF WS than Adaman Haub (STR/DEX+10 ATK/ACC+15) will add to a Rampage over Hauberk+1 (STR/DEX+6 ATK/ACC+12).

i'd say LS get more use of the other 3 drops though, wouldn't you? maybe my choice of words (terrible item) could have been better.

My PLD is lv8 and my NIN is lv40...though I'm well aware that PLD/NIN is the wave of the future. Can you enlighten me as to how M.Body is ideal for PLD/NIN over some of the alternatives ??

i already said mbody is way overrated. af2 body the way to go for most situations. only time i'd suggest MBody would be for PLD/WAR on someone with good shield skill and enmity in accessory slots.

i'm aware adaman hauberk will add less damage over alternative items compared to hecatomb legs will over alternative items.

dalm most useful for BRD, and you can make a case mahatma body is better. decent for RDM but only when stacked with AF2 head imo.

but let's face it, how many LS have THF who are good enough to honestly make use of those Nlegs? someone who wil be attending events on THF as opposed to BLM or SMN?

[Devia]

Thanks for conducting, assembling and posting this interview. Very nice job.

[Credos]

I think the interview was handled well, and went as good as can be expected. He probably asked questions that weren't strictly endgame oriented to keep SE on their toes, to mix things up a bit.

Furthermore, I think it'd benefit everyone to realize that any corporation during a press release or interview is not going to just divulge their plans for the months to come because of a group of concerned players. Questions are answered vageuly because they don't want to say something that might turn people off and quit the game outright. To prove my point, how many of us are going to quit because of the replys from this interview? I'm guessing that the number is small.

[Don Katsu]

and HNM drops are overrated, Shine.

NLegs- are terrible.
Ebody- is best body piece for the jobs that can use.
MBody- good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get.
Dalmatica- only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational.

If those drops were overated then people wouldn't spend months to years trying to get them.

SE exploded with items on Rise of the Zilart and they could have done so much more with CoP. Shortening the respawn times could even help but at the current time camping anything for up to three hours everyday sucks.

I wouldn't want cursed gear to be as common as the Walahra turban. I also don't like watching a pixilated monster destroy friendships and an end game community.

Not pointing fingers to any specific LS but: MPKing, talking shit in /say /tell /shout, botting, lagging out another shell, stealing HNMs is not the way this game was meant to be played. FFXI is cooperative not PvP they have specific instances like ballista for that.

[phirien]

and HNM drops are overrated, Shine.

NLegs- are terrible.
Ebody- is best body piece for the jobs that can use.
MBody- good but very overrated, AF2 just as good and easy to get.
Dalmatica- only really useful for BRD and RDM, and even for those jobs its situational.

If those drops were overated then people wouldn't spend months to years trying to get them.

SE exploded with items on Rise of the Zilart and they could have done so much more with CoP. Shortening the respawn times could even help but at the current time camping anything for up to three hours everyday sucks.

Also, I wouldn't want cursed gear to be as common as the Walahra turban. I don't like watching a pixilated monster destroy friendships and an end game community.

MPKing, talking shit in /say /tell /shout, botting, lagging out another shell, stealing HNMs is not the way this game was meant to be played.

they are all overrated, people are just idiots.

the only items that are hands-down, the best items for their slot are:

D-Ring
Ridill
Black Belt
E-Body

Situational Items:

MBody
Hecatomb Head/Legs
Dalmatica

tell me another item you think is good, that drops off zilart kings and i'll show you something better.

[Eternus]

The +slow on hecatomb puts it to WS only gear. It would be godly if it was not just WS gear. Defending Ring, E Body, Ridill, and Black Belt however are awesome in any circumstance. If you are playing FFXI for reasons other than to hang with friends and have fun, you will always be sorely dissapointed. If SE changes the 3 Kings to instanced battles, people will still find some way to complain about them and FFXI end game in general.