New Version Update Announcement! (05/14/2010)

[Maurauc]

Are there weather NPCs for Aht Urghan zones? (serious question, idk). Even if so, not having weather NPCs for WOTG is pretty lame.

Yep, there's an NPC, I believe. Upper floor of the central square in Whitegate, south side. They tell you Bhaflau, Wajaom, Zhayolm and Caedarva. Useful for the weather quests, such as 100 spiders in light-based weather.

[LD]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the case, and we don't get truly original new zones until the next rotz/cop/toau/wotg-sized expansion sold at retail stores in a box.

While I wouldn't be surprised if FFXI had another full expansion, I kinda doubt it'll come in a box. Stuffing stores full of another set of disks isn't a risk I see SE taking for FFXI this late in the game. It made sense earlier, because of window shopping the relative freshness of the product. There's too much better competition now (soon, including their own), and they all allow DLs from the word GO. SE definitely has the infrastructure to deliver it as a DL, so since they'll only really be selling it to established fans, there's no real incentive for them to do otherwise.

Not the point, I know, but I felt like saying it.

[Hyan]

Could use something like Steam and just make it fully digital DL, yar.

[Spira]

While I wouldn't be surprised if FFXI had another full expansion, I kinda doubt it'll come in a box. Stuffing stores full of another set of disks isn't a risk I see SE taking for FFXI this late in the game. It made sense earlier, because of window shopping the relative freshness of the product. There's too much better competition now (soon, including their own), and they all allow DLs from the word GO. SE definitely has the infrastructure to deliver it as a DL, so since they'll only really be selling it to established fans, there's no real incentive for them to do otherwise.

Not the point, I know, but I felt like saying it.

kinda agree on this..
because SE and most developed countries around the world have the infrastructure to support DLs today, theres little reason why they'd need to adopt another method for releasing an expansion for FFXI.

Especially not when FFXI is already at such a late stage in its life cycle. It can no longer competitively promote itself to new players when it is so old. Nor does it really need to. Anyone who wants to play FFXI will find it, instead of the other way round.
As such, a non-promotional style of simple digital selling works well.

What makes this even more sensible is that its a much better move logistically speaking. They have no need to produce physical copies of the game that need to be stocked in shelves across the world. Doing so would incur more costs and probably prove to give them inventory headaches.

I personally do like the idea of possessing disc/dvdcases of the products I buy (especially the FFs) but this is one case where convenience exceeds tangibility.

If they wanna do something like that, the expansion would probably need to be worth the money in terms of content.. or they could throw the vana'ultimate collection along with it too.

[Shenrien]

knowing SE, 2 months after the last abyessea is released they'll release a bundle that will go for the price of 1 expansion, so I think I'll be picking it up then.

[Hyan]

knowing SE, 2 months after the last abyessea is released they'll release a bundle that will go for the price of 1 expansion, so I think I'll be picking it up then.

Considering it's quite possible that SE adds most of the the 75+ endgame content as well as most popular exp camps there, you sure you can last being left behind for 6+ months? =P

[Shenrien]

Well.. as I'm currently not playing, I think I can tough it out

[Aelyn]

For me Abyssea = new version of conquests zone and its related to Rulude Garden npcs (see Magians and VNM talk about of Abyssea since March, but it seems players dont read these quests )

I just quote myself from some days ago, and now i look at the Lathein Abyssea Screenshot (on official abyssea website) and I'm xD


The only link to WoTG seems to be Maw (atomos) link as I thought hehe, and we may have shortcuts in Walk of Echoes to get there too maybe (since Abyssea requires WoTG)

[Olo401]

Guessing we'll see the other two sets as well, maybe they'll be the armor given to us for Magian Quests.

Spoiler: show

http://petfoodalpha.com/wp-content/u...5/newarmor.jpg

Interesting how they swapped colors on the armor from the old models.. the mage outfit looks the same color as Adaberk, the pink/red RNG one like a lighter version of Baron's.. etc

[dannyl]

Because I didn't know that already?

I just don't like standing around for hours waiting on something that could last 5 minutes. The best alternative is to wait for a 50min window every 7 hours. Woo?

I just don't like the system. If you do that's great. Have fun with it.

OK then tell us, what other method would you prefer? Its called trials for a reason. Its tough (in a sense of waiting around, being lucky etc). Thats the trial, to see if you can have the patience for it. And like the other person said, its really at your own control, you can decide to do it or not and pick it up at any time. During your "bored" time, or whatever. So its clear you don't like it, but seriously, I'm curious to know what other alternatives to obtaining near best items do you have in mind besides what it currently implemented in the game today...... Do you really think SE would make it easy for anyone? At least this is... a bit more controlled.. and on a side note, I think its a great way to retain customers and give you a flavor of a grind. You can NOT have MMORPG without SOME kind of grind to it..

[Gwynplaine]

OK then tell us, what other method would you prefer? Its called trials for a reason. Its tough (in a sense of waiting around, being lucky etc). Thats the trial, to see if you can have the patience for it. And like the other person said, its really at your own control, you can decide to do it or not and pick it up at any time. During your "bored" time, or whatever. So its clear you don't like it, but seriously, I'm curious to know what other alternatives to obtaining near best items do you have in mind besides what it currently implemented in the game today...... Do you really think SE would make it easy for anyone? At least this is... a bit more controlled.. and on a side note,

The weather and non spawned NM trials are atrocious. Enemy grinding is boring but at least you can do it at your leisure. But pinning you down to relying on sheer luck while you stand around waiting is horrible gameplay if you could even call it "gameplay". Waiting for 8 hours for weather or an NM is hardly "playing" but yeah.

And if you really want some superior ideas for how these could've worked here's some:
-Flag the trial and put it in a new "magian trial quests" log instead of having to hold onto a physical item while you do the trial. Honestly why do I have to use this piece of shit wep while I grind these out?
-Stick to goals that you can make progress on without doing nothing for 8 hours such as:
*defeat x of y family type.
*gain x amount of experience points from y enemy.
*gain x amount of points from any hobby activity (endgame, choco racing, fellowship, guild points, MMM, ballista, etc.)
*complete x amount of weaponskills / of specific element.
*successfully enfeeble x amount of times on y family / of specific element.
*damage x enemy for y amount of damage or more for z times / of specific element.

etc. etc. All of that could vary in difficulty but anyone can do sit down and get to doing it while playing the game. But instead they had to insert their fucking random lottery = fun mindset of 10 years ago into the game. It's not fun and it's not acceptable.

I think it was someone on PFA who commented that where a trial requires killing an enemy, the more difficult the enemy checks the more points it coudl reward. I like that idea a lot as well. e.g. EP = 1 point, DC = 2, EM = 3, T = 4, VT = 5, IT = 6.

Do you actually have the balls to say "I have fun waiting for NMs and weather"? Because if you do you're either delusional or a liar. And please don't give me this garbage about how nice it is to see players working together. They're doing so because of how fucked up the requirements are in the first place.

[Karbuncle]

I do see where you're coming from and i think you're right its a flawed system in a way, but...

First off, having the weapon equipped only makes logical sense, needing to give the weapon the "energy" from defeating enemies / doing said task... like every single Mythic WS, Quest WS, and KSNM Latent weapon.

Second, some of your suggestions are just exactly what we already have to do with the weather/day restrictions removed ⌐ ⌐. Not saying thats a bad thing, but look at it this way, when doing a DEX/ACC Weapon, you're "required" To kill certain monster while there's thunder energy in the air, so in a sense you're imbuing your weapon with the power of thunder (DEX element) and the Moogle is only bringing forth said power as a reward for completing the task. I mean we should be lucky they just didn't rehash the quest WS bullshit and we have to preform "1000 Induration Skillchains"

Thirdly, some of the "suggestions" are just plain absurd, like Chocobo Racing, Guild points, and Fellowship NPCs.

I know you were probably just spit-balling and this isn't the best laid system SE has introduced (I mostly hate the "Lottery" spawn NMs no one fucking cares about being a requirement for some upgrades, killing them 3-6 times is bullshit even further), but it all at least makes some sense when you consider it. (Except the fucking NMs)

Not saying it isn't the least bit tedious, boring, and sometimes makes me want to cry, but you -always- have the option to say "I'll do it another time" and walk away from the game or doing something else.

I think it was someone on PFA who commented that where a trial requires killing an enemy, the more difficult the enemy checks the more points it coudl reward. I like that idea a lot as well. e.g. EP = 1 point, DC = 2, EM = 3, T = 4, VT = 5, IT = 6.

I also like this idea, and would in some ways be a lot more fun and quicker


My only real complaint is the Lottery spawn NMs. Fuck those hardcore.

[Gwynplaine]

I do not care at all about what "makes sense" from a lore point of view. Using that logic maybe it should just take 20 earth years to garden a treant sapling.

Were killing bird humanoids in a game filled with dragons and magic. Just make it so I don't have to invest a career in upgrading this shit and get me involved in like, playing the game I'm paying for.

[Forte]

And you think FFXIV will be any better...

[ronin sparthos]

I do not care at all about what "makes sense" from a lore point of view. Using that logic maybe it should just take 20 earth years to garden a treant sapling.

Were killing bird humanoids in a game filled with dragons and magic. Just make it so I don't have to invest a career in upgrading this shit and get me involved in like, playing the game I'm paying for.

Id like for you to explain what event in XI does not involve some form of grind that takes away from 'playing the game'.

[Gwynplaine]

I'm not even talking about grinding. I'm talking about NM and weather camping where you do nothing but wait for the dice to roll in your favor for hours at a time.

[Shenrien]

I'm not even talking about grinding. I'm talking about NM and weather camping where you do nothing but wait for the dice to roll in your favor for hours at a time.

I love KV its my favorite NM, especially when it takes 42hrs to spawn and no one is on to help you kill it so you end up kiting it for another 8 hours just to see a heavy bullet. ._.

And if you're talking about a running out of space issue, you can install up to a 320Gig HDD in your PS3, if they think others are running out of space, well then they can tell them to just simply upgrade their HDD or tough luck.

[Serra]

I love KV its my favorite NM, especially when it takes 42hrs to spawn and no one is on to help you kill it so you end up kiting it for another 8 hours just to see a heavy bullet. ._.

And if you're talking about a running out of space issue, you can install up to a 320Gig HDD in your PS3, if they think others are running out of space, well then they can tell them to just simply upgrade their HDD or tough luck.

This is precisely why I use Ace's over Turban.. screw that 1% haste >.> <.<;