lv99 bitch/speculation/etc thread

[Greatguardian]

Guessing they didn't even think of the consequence of upping the level cap yet, lol. Proof is that they start with level 80. Just to see if people can duo dynamis/fafnir or kill AV. I'm starting to wander what's the point of doing magian's trial if we are getting better gear anyway...

Personally, I think the entire reason for Magians existing is so that people won't ragequit after realizing that *everything they've worked so hard for up till now* is going to be obsolete in a year. If people already have full Usu (just an example), and like their full Usu, they are free to upgrade their full Usu in order to make it comparable to newer gear, without having to deal with new HNMs or new crafting recipes.

By the same token, the people who do go out and kill these new HNMs, and utilize these new crafting recipes will have awesome new gear. Gear which, if they so choose, they can also upgrade via Magians. Hm. Wonder how that's going to turn out, actually. Conundrum.

[urat]

Sounds to me like the "80 upgrades" are individual stats.

As in +15 acc = 15 of your upgrades. You'll only be able to do it once every 24 hours and each time its complete it adds +1 to a stat on your armor.

At that rate itd take about 2 months to fully "merit" a single piece of gear.

I really hope this time my rising sun+1 is compatible, I have been saving that thing for 6 months now waiting for some kind of augment system that'll allow me to put some nice stats on it. Maybe with the synergy update more gear will be added to the list of etchables!

I hope stats like DA/TA/haste are on the list of magian stats as well, could make for one epic chakram...

[Meepein]

Personally, I think the entire reason for Magians existing is so that people won't ragequit after realizing that *everything they've worked so hard for up till now* is going to be obsolete in a year. If people already have full Usu (just an example), and like their full Usu, they are free to upgrade their full Usu in order to make it comparable to newer gear, without having to deal with new HNMs or new crafting recipes.

By the same token, the people who do go out and kill these new HNMs, and utilize these new crafting recipes will have awesome new gear. Gear which, if they so choose, they can also upgrade via Magians. Hm. Wonder how that's going to turn out, actually. Conundrum.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Just look at WoW. Every expansion, they up the level cap, and there is raging at the fact that all that nice equipment people worked to get is outdone by simple quest rewards in the new areas. I think this was one of the main stumbling blocks for SE in terms of upping the cap, that and having to remake all of endgame. They needed a way to up the level cap and allow people to not lose all of their gear (cause, let's face it, some of the shit we use at 75 should not be used 24 levels after that, like say E. Bow.) Once they figured out how to modify existing items (through augmenting, they figured out how to make things work and what people do and do not like), they went forward with the level cap increase.

As for camps, I would expect new areas to be unlocked with higher level mobs. Some existing zones have areas we cannot get to (like ToAU islands and stuff), and other areas have mobs no one ever kills (so, you can wipe out everything there and make new xp camps.) Colibri should take us to about 77-78, after that I expect new camps/areas.

[Argettio]

Then again i haven't explored deep deep into WoTG

A quick look at wiki says that:

* 78-82 in Vunkerl Inlet [S] (and probably a few other [S] areas.
* 81-83 in Castle Oztroja [S]
* 79-82 in Beadeaux [S]
* 81-83 in La Vaule [S]
* 81-83 in Mamook/Arrapago Reef/Mount Z
* 80-83(ish) in Xarc/Glacier [S]

So it would be slow, but we could probably get to high 70s and maybe all the way to 80 on current mobs.

[Siatdiat]

A quick look at wiki says that:

* 78-82 in Vunkerl Inlet [S] (and probably a few other [S] areas.
* 81-83 in Castle Oztroja [S]
* 79-82 in Beadeaux [S]
* 81-83 in La Vaule [S]
* 81-83 in Mamook/Arrapago Reef/Mount Z
* 80-83(ish) in Xarc/Glacier [S]

So it would be slow, but we could probably get to high 70s and maybe all the way to 80 on current mobs.

Leveling to 75 in 2004 even though it was harder in alot of ways was alot more interesting than leveling up a job now. By the time I was 75 on my first job, I understood party dynamics, understood pretty much what every job was able to do in a general sense, and had visited most areas in the game for xp at some point. Even though LoO sucked to xp in, parties would stop xping and go kill Ose and Mysticmaker. I got my earring in a party there.

All the new players who have started in the past year are worse off than older players for a few reasons. The first is that bad players who reach 75 tend to go back to level subs and try to make level 75 party dynamics work at lower levels. Secondly, They spend most of their time leveling to 75 in probably 1/4 of the zones that we did in the past. People get to 75 hardly even using some of their abilities in parties or seeing others use theirs because they spend so much time level synced down.

I think if done right, we can basically explore a bit more in the coming year when we xp if the new xp designed for past 75 is good enough to cause people to want to put a bit more effort into getting out there.

I hate to say it but there has been so many updates that looked so full of win and ended up being so full of lose instead.

[pchan]

Personally, I think the entire reason for Magians existing is so that people won't ragequit after realizing that *everything they've worked so hard for up till now* is going to be obsolete in a year. If people already have full Usu (just an example), and like their full Usu, they are free to upgrade their full Usu in order to make it comparable to newer gear, without having to deal with new HNMs or new crafting recipes.

By the same token, the people who do go out and kill these new HNMs, and utilize these new crafting recipes will have awesome new gear. Gear which, if they so choose, they can also upgrade via Magians. Hm. Wonder how that's going to turn out, actually. Conundrum.

I don't think full usu will be ever not be on top or they need to release serious alternatives that keep acc/str/store tp/haste high. I'd be more concerned by lvl99 if I were a relic owner. At this rate a level 99 weapon is necessarily better than a relic just by the fact that monks/pups will get a free +12 DMG from skill. So if SE wants to put other DDs on par they got to give them easy to obtain level 99 weapons with comprable increase in dmg%, so probably +20 dmg or more for 2H- DDs. This should easily gimp any relic, and I don't think the possibility to do super hard quests to make relics on par is a really good consolation price.

[Gergall]

Past level 83, there are no non-hnm mobs so if you want exp you'll have to solo or trio or do fov/campaign. You can always cheat and level synch though, although I guess they would be as evil as to gimp level sync for level > 75.

I think MMM xp parties might become much more popular.

[Darkyrm]

Personally, I think the entire reason for Magians existing is so that people won't ragequit after realizing that *everything they've worked so hard for up till now* is going to be obsolete in a year. If people already have full Usu (just an example), and like their full Usu, they are free to upgrade their full Usu in order to make it comparable to newer gear, without having to deal with new HNMs or new crafting recipes.

By the same token, the people who do go out and kill these new HNMs, and utilize these new crafting recipes will have awesome new gear. Gear which, if they so choose, they can also upgrade via Magians. Hm. Wonder how that's going to turn out, actually. Conundrum.

Trial's of the Magians is the only thing holding me against quiting, I have almost perfect gear for my 3 jobs rdm/blm/cor if this level cap meant I have to regear all my hard earned Salvage & Expensive pieces it would simply be too much for me.

Having to relevel jobs + subjobs its allready a heavy burden looking at the future, I dont have as much time as I had when I started playing XI and I have quite a bit of fun doing this or that on my jobs without much concerns about leveling or needing too much gear.

In my case if SE doesnt make leveling past 75 too bad, Trial of the Magians can upgrade my gear fine & Its not too time intesive to get things from Abyssea I think I can stay maybe into ffxiv final release quite a bit on the other side if its too painful I might just switch to ffxiv asap.

[Havok]

I don't really understand the mentality of; I don't want to spend all this time/work getting new levels and gear. I'd rather start all over and spend lots of time/work getting levels and gear in another game...

If you want to play another game, play another game. Play the game you enjoy most. You're going to waste the same amount of time in any of them.

[Darkyrm]

I don't really understand the mentality of; I don't want to spend all this time/work getting new levels and gear. I'd rather start all over and spend lots of time/work getting levels and gear in another game...

If you want to play another game, play another game. Play the game you enjoy most. You're going to waste the same amount of time in any of them.

I think that you dont understad that I do enjoy FFXI a lot, but i dont like the idea of changing the way I play now (quite casually but being able to do a lot of things because I dont have to worry too much about levels/gear) to basically see how all my effort to get there gets wasted with the new cap gear, Trial of the Magians seems like it could solve that maybe.

If there was nothing like that and I just lost all my work with the new cap I would have little reason to keep playing XI and insted I would just play xiv wich seems like it will have quite a bit of options for casual Play (fov like quets / crafting jobs / fresh experience).

So dont put words on my mouth, its not about wanting or not wanting to play this game, the question is if the changes will make it worth to keep XI or not in my own personal situation / gameplay time.

[Silenka]

I seriously don't get how people automatically assume that we're going to be getting way better gear than what we already have and that it's going to be replacing most/all of our current gear. FFXI doesn't really work like that, it hasn't in the past and I'm willing to bet it sure won't start now. AF3 will likely follow AF1 and 2 in that more than half of it will be trash pieces, which means you're really only replacing one or two pieces per job. Add to that the fact that they haven't really said much about gear rewards yet - they are obviously pushing Magians quests as a way to get 'new' (refurb) gear. I doubt we will really see THAT much more new gear, and even if we do at least half will be trash as usual (see: recent update slew of new NMs).

I know it's a speculation thread but come on, people are acting like their speculation about gear being replaced is set in stone/absolutely going to happen and that's just not true. The QQing is lost on me. Instead I am envisioning all the awesome ways I'll be able to upgrade my armor...

[Greatguardian]

Gear has rarely been completely replaced when new *Content* is added. This is not the case when the level cap is increased. When you're 24 levels higher, you're 24 bloody levels higher.

Scorpion Harness was pimp-ass shit back in the day. That trash sells for under 100k on my server now, and only a fresh first-75 melee still owns one (Edit: For TP gear, in parties. Clarifying for nit-pick's sake. Yes, SH is a very nice situational piece) upon getting their limit breaker.

Think of it this way: How many people are wearing full Luisant Hauberk set at 75? Granted, the comparison is a bit skewed in my favor, but that armor is amazing at level 50. Give yourself 25 levels of character progression, however, and you have tons of better armor choices available to you.

My logic really is full of holes, and I know it. I simply find the notion that top-end *level 75* gear is going to still be the golden standard at *level 99*. It may *keep up*, it may not. I would not be at all surprised if gear that matches, or surpasses Salvage gear was the norm among armor found on NMs/HNMs and in LV99 Endgame content.

[willriker]

Gear has rarely been completely replaced when new *Content* is added. This is not the case when the level cap is increased. When you're 24 levels higher, you're 24 bloody levels higher.

Scorpion Harness was pimp-ass shit back in the day. That trash sells for under 100k on my server now, and only a fresh first-75 melee still owns one (Edit: For TP gear, in parties. Clarifying for nit-pick's sake. Yes, SH is a very nice situational piece) upon getting their limit breaker.

Think of it this way: How many people are wearing full Luisant Hauberk set at 75? Granted, the comparison is a bit skewed in my favor, but that armor is amazing at level 50. Give yourself 25 levels of character progression, however, and you have tons of better armor choices available to you.

My logic really is full of holes, and I know it. I simply find the notion that top-end *level 75* gear is going to still be the golden standard at *level 99*. It may *keep up*, it may not. I would not be at all surprised if gear that matches, or surpasses Salvage gear was the norm among armor found on NMs/HNMs and in LV99 Endgame content.

I dont think your logic is al that off. I was expecting someting similar. I dont think some people really understand how much of a differance 24 levels can make.

[Nightfyre]

Peacock Charm is a level 33 item and it's still good at 75 even without any Magian upgrades. 24 levels is 51-75, the range in which you can use the elemental staves. Gear that lasts 24+ levels is nothing new. Even if that changes, welcome to video games. There's a progression involved. Either progress, stagnate, or quit.

[Lucavi]

I think that you dont understad that I do enjoy FFXI a lot, but i dont like the idea of changing the way I play now (quite casually but being able to do a lot of things because I dont have to worry too much about levels/gear) to basically see how all my effort to get there gets wasted with the new cap gear, Trial of the Magians seems like it could solve that maybe.

If there was nothing like that and I just lost all my work with the new cap I would have little reason to keep playing XI and insted I would just play xiv wich seems like it will have quite a bit of options for casual Play (fov like quets / crafting jobs / fresh experience).

So dont put words on my mouth, its not about wanting or not wanting to play this game, the question is if the changes will make it worth to keep XI or not in my own personal situation / gameplay time.

If you don't like the concept of change in a game that you, as a customer, pay a company to continuously update with new content, then you are playing the wrong genre.

You should go pick up White knight Chronicles. You get to play online to have your virtual chatroom, and you'll never have to worry about the game ever changing or moving forward, so you never have to worry about aaaaanything eeeever being better than Sky and Salvage gear.

God forbid people want something new to accomplish after years of dropping 15 bucks a month. God forbid people want to see their characters, who they've poured a lot of effort into, continuously grow instead of hitting some hard cap for 4 years, and then the game simply becomes cock-blocking others outside of your LS from attaining what you've attained, day in and day out.

People say FF's community is the best? I beg to differ. Arguing against change and progress because of some contrived notion of self-entitlement at never having to work hard for an upgrade again is just... ugh.

[Thiefami]

I guess I do not really see the point in SE raising the cap to 99, if they did not intend on adding more gear. The mogquest will likely elevate a couple of pieces at 99, but I predict we'll see a lot of new high functioning pieces. Yes, I know, people have spent countless years gathering the armor they have now I seriously doubt its going to completely go to waste, but SEs primary focus is for you to spend countless more years obtaining more armor, and quests. It is after all a progressive game.

They will want you to play the new content and obtain the gear. That is the goal. Which leads right into the next issue, inventory. You will want to be able to function at top levels with your hard earned gear, but you just will not have the inventory to haul it, and the new gear, all with you. If the new gear will consolidate a lot of pieces, but basically have the same exact stats I would also be cool with that.

been a long time, it's time for something new this includes gear....that is also apart of the challenge.

[Hanyoko]

What I hope SE does with the trials quest is make current "endgame gear" (salvage, abjuration, etc) sets all able ato be upgraded. Then make 75+ new gear which is more powerful then previous but unable to be upgraded. This model would allow people to get the new stuff, while still spending time in the old content cause that old gear will ultimately be able to upgraded to something more powerful.

Time will tell though.

[Lucavi]

I still wonder what happened to people's excitement for a challenge. I mean, when RotZ turned to CoP, I didn't hear people whining about having to attain new gear outside of sky, but perhaps I wasn't listening enough.

I see there are a few intrepid souls here that are aching for something new, and it seems like, for the first time in years, SE is going to give it to them. Something that isn't simply a side-grade, or a tacked on zone, or a re-skinned zone, or a "new" spell or ability that's been in the .dats since 2004.

This game has been out forever now. This is the time when developers start to go balls out. I'd wager that a lot of people complaining about "change" had FFXI as their first real MMORPG.

[ronin sparthos]

If you don't like the concept of change in a game that you, as a customer, pay a company to continuously update with new content, then you are playing the wrong genre.

You should go pick up White knight Chronicles. You get to play online to have your virtual chatroom, and you'll never have to worry about the game ever changing or moving forward, so you never have to worry about aaaaanything eeeever being better than Sky and Salvage gear.

God forbid people want something new to accomplish after years of dropping 15 bucks a month. God forbid people want to see their characters, who they've poured a lot of effort into, continuously grow instead of hitting some hard cap for 4 years, and then the game simply becomes cock-blocking others outside of your LS from attaining what you've attained, day in and day out.

People say FF's community is the best? I beg to differ. Arguing against change and progress because of some contrived notion of self-entitlement at never having to work hard for an upgrade again is just... ugh.

I agree to an extent with your points but this new level cap increase is only exciting to me because XI had been at that hard cap for so long in the first place.

New challenges, new mobs, new events are what make these updates exicting because for the first time ever SE will be crushing some old content and replacing it with new. I for one welcome Fafnir and Dragon's Aery going the way of Simurgh camp.

Raise the bar and present the new "Fafnir" that will challenge established shells and keep it off no effort farm status for a short while. Make the newer mobs repop more often and it sweetens the pot even more.

Who the hell cares if the game goes to hell in a hand basket if SE is cranking out new challenges and exciting shit to do in upcoming patches? The game was already going to shit when the majority of endgame was based on how much shit you talk and how fast you could kill Colibri.

Bring back the days of a mob like Vrtra running about where maybe only 1 or 2 shells could handle it for a couple of days and you've got a successful patch.

[Mathayus]

If there is is level cap quest like all the times before, couldn't someone not do it and be a Lv75 slave for sync? Don't know if the ability to switch to merit at 75 will still be there or not, but switching to merit to not level past 75 could also be an option. With that, all the existing 75 merit locations could level you to 99.