Final Fantasy XIV @ gamescom 2009 (Updated)

[Dimmauk]

So, how does everyone else feel about, what looks to be, a 10 ability limit in FFXIV?

I am not sure how I feel about it. On one side, I understand that many players dont use more than 10 differant abilities in a givin fight. On the other hand I dont think I like the idea of limiting my access to the full compliment of abilities attributed to a givin class that a player is currently playing. I dont think it is difficult, using ffxi system, to see how you would have an issue with needing to do something that required you to hunt through your ability list for an ability/spell that you do not use enough to warrant a macro.

Sure, players use all of their abilities, but I can see the arguement that many abilities simply arent touched in situations. However, they are used quite a bit in other situations. For example:

RDM's (HNM): Haste, Refresh, Cure, another Cure, Convert, Para2, Slow, Stun, Stoneskin, Phalanx2
RDM (Party): Haste, Refresh, Cure, another Cure, Convert, Para2, Slow, Stoneskin, Phalanx2, last for preferance
RDM (Solo): Haste, Refresh, Cure, Convert, Para2, Slow, Stoneskin, Phalanx, DoT, Enspell
please go easy on my list. i dont main rdm. But, many here do so I used that as an example.

The only real problem i see for rdm is solo work. As you will have another player focused on status effects, curing, or even DoT's in group situations. (most of the time) But, when solo you need to be able to cure debuffs, put enough pain on an enemy to eventualy win, and survive till the enemy is dead. Its not hard to realize that this requires more than 10 abilities.

You see, the thing that confuses me, is that FFXIV proports its self to be a game that is solo/low man friendly. I would think that limiting players to using 10 abilities, set before a fight... only serves to hinder that. Because in larger group activities, it is easier to specialize in one particular role than when you are faced with a low-man/solo situation.

I do not think I like the Guildwars-esk feel of a 10 ability item bar. I know it is too early to know if this is how it will work. But, that is the feeling i get after reading through the information in the other thread.

Didnt they say there was going to be macro sets?

[xopher]

Didnt they say there was going to be macro sets?

yes they did. You'll be able to use macros to use abilities that aren't in your command tray.

People need to quit flipping out over stupid shit that they don't understand.

[ringthree]

38 pages late to the discussion, whoops.

I saw character weight in the lalafell video. The lala had to push through the hume looking guy, and there was a bit of a stop as pixels crossed.

That's always bugged me about FFXI. I hope that gets modified before the release.

Still, the attention to detail is amazing, it really captures your attention.

That is interesting as I believe most people, even people that don't play FFXI, find that to be something that they really enjoy because it adds a good amount of immersion.

[dejet]

"However, Sundi believes that seeing as Final Fantasy XI made it this far without segregated servers, adding such a feature in Final Fantasy XIV would feel like a step backwards. They would rather work at making mixed servers a success instead of abandoning them altogether."

Even tho the numbers of JP players i have played with are very limited, i have made some good friends that hail as far as the UK. Im happy that they plan to keep the "mixed servers" option open. I also have been in a mixed ls that camped day and night. JP members EU members and NA members on the east and west cost. Stuff like that gets fun, Playing at any time with people all over the world? the just need a better system.

A real big part might have been the limit of the PS2, they said they could only add so many words to the system. ps3 should have no such limit, making it easy for them to add as many thigns to auto trans as they wish. players say we want a phrase that means "great day huh?" and they can add it lol.

[ringthree]

Didnt they say there was going to be macro sets?

I think that Will is jumping the gun a little on this one. We have no idea how all of this is going to function, so it's a wild stab in the dark to say it's going to be any one way or another.

[Arelian]

You see, the thing that confuses me, is that FFXIV proports its self to be a game that is solo/low man friendly. I would think that limiting players to using 10 abilities, set before a fight... only serves to hinder that. Because in larger group activities, it is easier to specialize in one particular role than when you are faced with a low-man/solo situation.

Well first off, you can't really transpose FFXI's spell list on FFXIV because we simply don't know if they'll have different variations of the spells. For all we know, there could be 1 cure spell but you get another ability to affect the potency of it. There may not be different tiers of spells, and that in itself would cut the spell list down.

But in response to the bold part, it would actually assist in low-man situations because you could have access to a wider variety of abilities. In FFXI, the classes the excel in low-man are the ones with staying power and being able to set a cure-esque spell onto anything would raise your ability to live longer. You don't necessarily need specialized roles for low-man content in just about any game I've played, it's always the hybrid jobs/classes that excel at it. Not the job(s)/class(es) that can only really do one thing.

[willriker]

Yeah, they did say they were going to impliment macros. But im not sure if you need to drop a macro onto one of your ability slots. Im thinking of a WoW type of macro.

Where, yes you make a macro to your liking, but you set the macro into your tool bar. If its not in the tool bar it cannot be used. So, i was thinking along the lines of macros behaving in that way. If so, yes you can make a macro, but it would absorb one of your tiles in the tool bar. Basicaly, a limit of 10 macro/ability combination.

Unless i am completely reading the information wrong... or even jumping to a conclusion a bit too early.

[xopher]

Sage Sundi's real name is Keiki Usui.

Sage Sundi would be written

セージ　サンディ

in Japanese kana.

Wait. His name is cake?

[Datonare]

Sorry if it was posted before, I've read all pages but I just might have missed it. I know the characters were only being hit 1 damage, but did anyone notice if they passively regen'd that HP while running around? I don't think I saw anyone "rest."

[Destinye]

Sorry if it was posted before, I've read all pages but I just might have missed it. I know the characters were only being hit 1 damage, but did anyone notice if they passively regen'd that HP while running around? I don't think I saw anyone "rest."

Being that it's an alpha, and they said the characters were on steroids, it's likely just because of that.

I honestly dislike native HP/MP/SP regen in MMOs, it cuts down downtime which is true, but it just makes it feels..too easy.

[xopher]

Where, yes you make a macro to your liking, but you set the macro into your tool bar. If its not in the tool bar it cannot be used. So, i was thinking along the lines of macros behaving in that way. If so, yes you can make a macro, but it would absorb one of your tiles in the tool bar. Basicaly, a limit of 10 macro/ability combination.

What would be the point in making a macro for an ability and having it take up a slot that already activates said ability?

I mean, say you press 3 to cast a spell. Why would you make a macro that is /ma "spell" <t> and put it in slot 3. It will do the same thing.

Pretty sure macros are going to be independent of the action bar.

[Naos]

So there has there been any mention of an economy or an Auction house? Will the only way to obtain armor be through Quests? Or do you have to make your own?
This was a huge aspect of FF11, and was wondering if there was something similar in FF14?

Gah I can't for the life of me remember where I read it, I think it was the FFXIVCore interview? They said there won't be an "Auction House" but it'll be something very interesting. That's the only piece I've seen about it so far unfortunately.

You would think that there's gotta be something similar though. I for one though the AH was a really useful part of the game. Maybe some pieces of it could be refined but all in all quite handy...

[Jazz Kazuko]

Lots of interesting info. Thank you for everyone who posted them.

Though are there going to be anymore interviews? I have three questions that's been bugging me. First, I wonder if there will be any more skillchains, or group incorporative skills. I saw the skills being dished out in the video but didn't see anything other than that. Second, how is the seek system going to be implemented? Let's be frank, we play mmo so we can play as a group. Solo is fine but I could play that offline. If there are no jobs and no levels, how are group going to be gathered?

Finally, I hope there will still be artifacts. I know there won't be anymore job but somehow putting on white mage artifact just make me feel like Final Fantasy. So will there be job specific gear that look like certain class in FF?

[Destinye]

Lots of interesting info. Thank you for everyone who posted them.

Though are there going to be anymore interviews? I have three questions that's been bugging me. First, I wonder if there will be any more skillchains, or group incorporative skills. I saw the skills being dished out in the video but didn't see anything other than that. Second, how is the seek system going to be implemented? Let's be frank, we play mmo so we can play as a group. Solo is fine but I could play that offline. If there are no jobs and no levels, how are group going to be gathered?

Finally, I hope there will still be artifacts. I know there won't be anymore job but somehow putting on white mage artifact just make me feel like Final Fantasy. So will there be job specific gear that look like certain class in FF?

Sadly instead of questions like these..people waste them on:

"Will there be jumping!?"

-.-

I really do hope they retain the Artifact gear, so far the only thing that bothers me is that either this is just a 'base' armor..or everyone will look the same lol. (i.e all gladiators will all look like the ones in the demo and etc.)

[xopher]

Sadly instead of questions like these..people waste them on:

"Will there be jumping!?"

-.-

I really do hope they retain the Artifact gear, so far the only thing that bothers me is that either this is just a 'base' armor..or everyone will look the same lol. (i.e all gladiators will all look like the ones in the demo and etc.)

Considering the lengths they are going to for character customization I doubt everyone will look the same.

[Uzor]

you tell me you finish CoP/ZM cuz the story is cool ?

note: people had their brains before their join date, so its not a way to judge them/what theyr saying

I finnished ZM before CoP was even released, and I finnished CoP soon as it was available as well. Not for the reward, but because the storyline, if you'd have paid attention, was actually good.

I also completed ToAU soon as it was available, not for the reward, but because I actually like storylines.

Then I quit, so I haven't had the chance to complete WoTG. Either way, my linkshell did the same, and they've completed all missions current in WoTG, even though there's no reward for it yet.

There's a lot of people that actually do the missions for the storyline, and not for the reward. The rewards are just a bonus. I for one am not only exited for FFXIV because of the possible rewards and battle system, but for the storyline.

A note for the future: You and your friends does not equal all of the FFXI player base, and thus I would recommend you to not assume the entire playerbase agree with your opinions and feelings about the game.

[Kaishen]

Sadly instead of questions like these..people waste them on:

"Will there be jumping!?"

I'm glad that question got asked so people would finally stfu about jumping...

Oh wait, it didn't work.

[Cantih]

10 is a very tight.
I can squeeze everything for my THF into 20 macros, but that simply wouldn't be possible for my SCH.

Anyways, looks like I was right about how much info would come out of gamescom, when they updated the JP and NA sites after the magazines came out.

I can't wait for TGS, lets see if I can predict it too.

"There will be a playable build but not the same subject as GC's Leve/Hunt,
info on the weapon and/or armor system will be presented,
and a beta test timeframe will be announced"

[Chantal]

That is interesting as I believe most people, even people that don't play FFXI, find that to be something that they really enjoy because it adds a good amount of immersion.

I do think it's great in certain situations... but...

I have been MPK'd/annoyed by big LSs because of that so many times at least pre-crimson cuisses. They just form a massive blob on my kite path <.<

[Cantih]

What would be the point in making a macro for an ability and having it take up a slot that already activates said ability?

I mean, say you press 3 to cast a spell. Why would you make a macro that is /ma "spell" <t> and put it in slot 3. It will do the same thing.

Pretty sure macros are going to be independent of the action bar.

Well, when I was a young RDM on Cactuar, I had a macro that hit a mob with Bind, then two nukes, and another which cast all my pre-melee buffs (Blink, Enspell, Regen)

Wait. His name is cake?

I immediately wanted to make a Keiki is a lie joke.
(Delicious Keiki?)