I am going to begin the painstaking process of summarizing that (as of now) 57 page thread for your viewing pleasure. It is the least I can do, considering while all you guys are out there actually fighting it, I'm cheering from the sidelines asking you to test crackpot theories. So, without further ado, here we go:
For this class you will need the following materials:
http://www.playonline.com/ff11de/downlo ... /AV_DE.asx
http://www.playonline.com/ff11fr/downlo ... /AV_FR.asx
http://www.playonline.com/ff11eu/downlo ... /AV_EN.asx
http://www.playonline.com/ff11/download ... /AV_JP.asx
http://www.stage6.com/user/eander/video/2217135/ (Combined SE videos)
(These videos are not a step-by-step instruction manual.)
http://www.demols.com/videos/AV3.avi (Demo's AV attempt on Kujata)
http://www.demols.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=457 (Demo's 2nd AV Attempt on Kujata + Logs)
Absolute Virtue Behavior:
Like other CoP bosses(Bahamut II, Proto-Ultima, Proto-Omega, etc.), there appears to be triggers set at different hit point percentages. 79%, 59%, and assumably 39% and 19%.
79% - When Absolute Virtue reaches 79% HP, it will unleash a volley of Meteors on the alliance. I do not know if it uses Manafont and Chainspell in tandem before doing this. You'll have to ask Rukenshin, as I am citing this from his experience. (Mojo, lolSky, Hades)
59% - When Absolute Virtue reaches 59% HP, it will pull out red bracelets. These bracelets seem to affect its AI, as it it seems to use 2 hour abilities in sequences. It also becomes capable of summoning 6 wynavs instead of 3. This information comes from observations of posts from other linkshell attempts, it is not my firsthand experience. (Mojo, lolSky, Hades)
Fighting Jailer of Love until it only spawns Ru'Phaubos reduces Absolute Virtue's Regen. From testing by lolSky on Hades on Jailer of Love, it would be logical to say that you've killed enough pets after the first 27(Enough to reach Phaubo only mode) or possibly the first 39~(What it seemed to take to completely break Jailer of Love's regen) (Mojo, lolSky, Hades)
Absolute Virtue "readies" some 2HRs, and others he just flat-out "uses".
Fealty may help you resist Meteor. (lolSky, Hades) Link
Doing Tier I->II->III->IV nukes of the same day rotation seemed to lessen regen and do unresisted nukes to it (Demo LS, Kujata)
Absolute Virtue cannot cast Meteor without first using Manafont.
Using weapon skills, job abilities or nukes of the incorrect element appear to make Absolute Virtue 2HR immediately.
Absolute Virtue has approximately 300% normal movement speed (lolSky, Hades)
Absolute Virtue appears to normally be immune to all enfeebling magic, Bio and Dia wear off instantly after hate is lost although elemental DoTs will stick (need confirmation for elemental DoTs) (lolSky, Hades)
Absolute Virtue can use all of the standard DRG aern TP moves as well as Explosive Impulse, which is a moderate damage AoE that causes Stun. However, it should be noted that Explosive Impulse can only be used under the effect of Meikyo Shisui.
When Absolute Virtue uses Call Wyvern he will summon three (or six, depending on his HP%) wynavs. Their behavior is detailed below. (lolSky, Hades)
Absolute Virtue's Two Hours: (Mojo, lolSky, Hades- theory in progress)
It is my personal belief based on observation and testing that my linkshell has done that when AV uses a two hour, it can sometimes also gain job traits and abilities related to that job. An easy example of this is the ability to cast Meteor and Comet when it uses Manafont. A less known example of this is a TP Regain trait gained when it uses Meikyo Shisui. This TP Regain trait didn't go away until it used another two hour ability was used(Link), so it's hard to say how consistent the job traits are. It is remotely possible that it was using the WS in retaliation to charm, but I think it is unlikely as it would have to be job mode or day of the week related as it didn't do it after it used Chainspell.
Here's a list of what is known, there may still be unknown traits.
Bard
It uses Soul Voice and gains the ability to cast Maiden's Virelai, which it will spam.
Beastmaster
The wynavs become stronger.
Black Mage
It uses Manafont and gains the ability to cast Comet and Meteor.
Dark Knight
It will use Blood Weapon.
Monk
It uses Hundred Fists.
Ninja
The wynavs will use Mijin Gakure.
Paladin
It will use Invincible.
Ranger
It will use Eagle Eye Shot.
Red Mage
It uses Chainspell and will spam Aero V, Aeroga IV, and Tornado II.
Samurai
It will use Meikyo Shisui and gains a significant Auto Regain trait.
Summoner
It will use Astral Flow. The wynavs will gain 300% TP and execute some powerful breath attacks.
Thief
It uses Perfect Dodge.
Warrior
It uses Mighty Strikes.
White Mage
It uses Benediction.
Absolute Virtue's Wynavs:
If you separate the wynavs from Absolute Virtue, they will "walk" back to Absolute Virtue and not run. (Aldaris, Garuda)
They can cast tier IV and ga III of the spells that correspond to the current vana'diel day. (lolSky, Hades)
They are immune to Bind, Slow, Paralyze, Stun, and Blind but ARE susceptible to Gravity and Silence.
They have increased movement speed. (lolSky, Hades)
Pet Peeves:
Astral Flow does in fact, do something. It forces his Wynavs to weapon skill. (Exactly like Jailer of Love's Astral Flow)
Your 2HRs are not reset. (Demo LS, Kujata)
Absolute Virtue does not draw the ability to 2HR from the alliance. (SapereAude LS, Garuda) Link
You don't lock every 2HR. In the video, Absolute Virtue 2HRs right before it dies. This is contrary to the myriad of other kills before hand, where they "locked" AV preventing it from using any 2HR, casting magic, or weapon skilling. (Any combination of the three)
Shield Bash does in fact, go through Perfect Dodge.
We know that:
The developers used their 2HRs multiple times.
The developers kited the wynavs around.
Absolute Virtue doesn't use Spirit Surge, and instead uses Call Wyvern.
Manafont was the only 2HR used every single time in the SE Developer video.
Day of the week nukes do something important.
We are aware of the seemingly unusual choices of gear by the SE Developers.
Also the video isn't 8+ hours long, it's more likely somewhere around an hour.
In the SE Video, Absolute Virtue READIES Chainspell at one point. This is the only time in the SE Video that AV "readies" any 2HR instead of flat out using it.
Timeline:
This is the time line of SE's fight with Absolute Virtue, it is very short and concise. Credit goes to Atreides of Fairy.
1. Iceday 12:10, Call Wyvern (from English Video, part 3)
player 2hrs used: blm, pld, smn, drg (call wyvern), rdm, brd, blm
2. Iceday 14:42, Soul Voice (from Japanese Video, part 1 and German Video, part 2)
player 2hrs used: blm, smn, blm, drg, brd, brd, sam, whm, blm, drk, blm, rdm
3. Iceday 16:14, 100 Fists (from French Video, part 2)
player 2hrs used: blm, brd, blm, brd, smn, rdm
4. Iceday 16:55, Meikyo Shisui (from Japanese Video, part 2 and German Video, Part 3)
player 2hrs used: blm, brd, blm, sam, drg, brd, smn, rdm, drk, brd
5. Lightningsday 5:07 Chainspell (from English Video, part 2 and French Video, part 3)
player 2hrs used: blm, brd, rdm, brd
6. Lightningsday 6:50 Soul Voice (from English Video part 1)
player 2hrs used: pld, blm, whm, blm, sam, drg, whm, smn, blm, blm, brd, drk, rdm, brd, brd
7. Lightningsday 8:55 Astral Flow (from French Video, part 1 and German Video, part 1)
player 2hrs used: blm, blm, blm, brd, rdm, brd, blm, drg, smn, whm, rdm, drk
8. Lightningsday 13:55 Astral Flow (from Japanese Video, part 3)
player 2hrs used: pld, blm, smn, brd, drg, blm, blm, pld, blm, rdm, brd, rdm
Theories Debunked:
Jailer Weapons
Jobs in the zone/alliance/close to AV, having any influence on which 2-hours he will use.
[Need help here]
Theories Need Testing:
Using Manafont directly after AV two hours, or a different two hour, prevents AV from using this two hour again. However, a reaction to an error such as using a wrong element of the day offensive spell opens up his ability to use this two hour again.
A combination of two hours used in succession used after AV two hours may prevent AV from the ability to use these particular two hours on a play by play basis.
Using no JA and WS prevents AV from using two hours, TP attacks and magic more rapidly.
Elemental spells in accordance to day slows AV's TP regen and may also weaken his spells and abilities.
Fighting AV at his spawn point with no Aern up without first wiping to his pop may do something.
AV either readies a two hour or uses a two hour seemingly without discretion on which two hour it is. The difference could be caused by player action.
AV uses two sets of two hours, reactionary and non reactionary two hours. The non-reactionary two hours are unavoidable but the reactions can be avoided.
Using the corresponding 2 HR after AV uses it makes AVs 2HR wear off.
[Need help here]
Absolute Virtue & Square Enix:
Originally Posted by Excerpt taken from the 2006 VANAFESTA Talk Session at the Tokyo Game Show in Tokyo, JapanOriginally Posted by Excerpt taken from the July 2007 Allakhazam interview with the FFXI Development Team at the E3 Expo in LA, CaliforniaOriginally Posted by Excerpt taken from the 2007 FFXIclopedia interview at E3 Expo in LA, CaliforniaTHIS POST IS SOMEWHAT INCOMPLETE, I REALIZE. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE RELEVANT AND WOULD HELP THIS POST, PLEASE SEND IT TO ME VIA PRIVATE MESSAGE AND I WILL UPDATE THIS THREAD. READING ALL SIXTY-THREE PAGES NOT ONLY GAVE ME A HEADACHE, I ALSO PROBABLY MISSED SOME STUFF.Originally Posted by Excerpt taken from the August 2007 interview of the FFXI Development Team at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you get an A+ on your test tomorrow!