• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Final Fantasy XI | OT | Vana'diel Forever

Ugh. I don't like the sound of those Mythic Upgrades. I will be really let down if Afterglow results in better stats.
as far as I understood both the afterglow and regular versions will result in the same final version, but the afterglow version of the quest will be a shitload shorter
 
Ugh. I don't like the sound of those Mythic Upgrades. I will be really let down if Afterglow results in better stats.

The quest will differ but the result is the same. They are ditching the separate paths, so the non afterglow will be harder. All upgrades get afterglow.
 

thedan001

Member
Wasn't the afterglow upgrades under Tanaka's direction before he gave up the reins on FFXI?

I know the empyrean weapons x1500 hmp and x60 riffcinders were from his if I remember correctly

SE has been catering more to casuals lately, wouldn't make sense if the new rem i119 was more longer/annoying than the current afterglow route, otherwise players would refer to that instead of whatever SE has cooked up for us

We'll see in a week
 

Loona

Member
I'm going to greatly miss FFXI's attention to detail in animations. I'm not sure we'll see another MMO with differing combat animations for every race AND gender. It is one of those subtle things that adds character to this game.

So satisfying.

I was really disappointed when ARR didn't manage this. Everyone plays exactly the same.

Not just combar animations either - I find it interesting how for example elvaans have a distinct posture for riding chocobos since their city has more of a history with their breeding.
 
Not just combar animations either - I find it interesting how for example elvaans have a distinct posture for riding chocobos since their city has more of a history with their breeding.
wow ive always noticed the animation but never realized why. This game oozes story and lore better than any other MMO ever. I think its abig reason why there are players that have been here for more than 10 years.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
From my understanding, they were ending significant story updates such as zilart, promathia, aht urghan, etc but keep updating tweaks and adjustments

Yeah. Basically no new areas, jobs, or unique monsters.

Still leaves plenty of room for updated versions of old BC's, NM fights, and quests involving already established characters.

I believe monthly updates will continue for at least another year, so the game isn't quite in "parking" mode yet.
 
Wouldnt mind seeing this game get a remake that streamlines everything and updates the artsyle

What a treasure trove of great and infuriating gameplay that i loved and hated for so many years lol
 

Loona

Member
Wouldnt mind seeing this game get a remake that streamlines everything and updates the artsyle

What a treasure trove of great and infuriating gameplay that i loved and hated for so many years lol

They'd basically just have to revise stuff that requires multiple human players like the auction house, maybe tweak some areas so glowing spots pertaining to specific content like Voidwatch don't appear in areas until the content comes up (it must be pretty weird to, for example, explore Uggalepih for the 1st time for Zilart missions and see the glowing spots for VW before you ever get a VW cutscene) - it kinda detracts from the atmosphere some areas were originally meant to have.

Nods to later expansions in earlier storylines could be a nice touch too (
like Odin music in relevant Shadowlord scenes
), or getting the Zilart version of the Shadowlord defeat scene when you actually defeat him, not later when you actually get to Norg for the Zilart missions, and continuity tweaks like not having to beat SL again if you change nations, and having Easha'ntarl in Kam'lanaut's place if you've finished Zilart already.

Also, NPCs like Lion, Zeid and Aldo actually joining boss fights if they show up in the cutscenes before a battle, now that they have actual battle animations and data.
Actually, with the Trust system implemented from the start, they could become party members almost as soon as you meet them, or at least after the fights in question - it would make more sense than getting their Trust ciphers from a login campaign when a mission scene would handle things just fine.

Actually, the trickiest thing might be how to handle seasonal stuff that actually made its way into part of the canon, like the Wake of the Lillies stuff...
 
wow ive always noticed the animation but never realized why. This game oozes story and lore better than any other MMO ever. I think its abig reason why there are players that have been here for more than 10 years.

Yoshinori Kanada worked on the game as animation director. Look up his history as an animator, he's had an interesting one.
 
So.... I was playing FF Explorers and discovered these. I had to craft them.

kMTx5QU.jpg

Now I can go to my grave saying I got a Kenkonken. Whoo!
 

Loona

Member
Every story scene in FFXI is now available on Youtube - from the major missions to the smallest quest that actually has a cutscene for it.
It's a monumental fan effort, considering that outside the playlist I linked to, which consists of over 900 scenes, the uploader also has alternate versions of several scenes on his account, which can change based on mid-scene "dialog" (mostly mute player character...) selections or prior accomplishments.
The same account also has some alternate shorter playlists that cover specific expansions or storylines, to make the whole thing a bit easier to handle (14 years of content after all...).
 
Every story scene in FFXI is now available on Youtube - from the major missions to the smallest quest that actually has a cutscene for it.
It's a monumental fan effort, considering that outside the playlist I linked to, which consists of over 900 scenes, the uploader also has alternate versions of several scenes on his account, which can change based on mid-scene "dialog" (mostly mute player character...) selections or prior accomplishments.
The same account also has some alternate shorter playlists that cover specific expansions or storylines, to make the whole thing a bit easier to handle (14 years of content after all...).

That's pretty good.

It would also be very possible to construct new playlists that focus on specific parts of the lore like characters, nations or historical events, or segment it by job-specific quests. There's some overlap of course but playlists are easy to make and edit.
 

ZetaEpyon

Member
promos.png


Campaign Period: Tuesday, February 9 at 11:00 p.m. (PST) to Tuesday, February 16 at 6:59 a.m.

Chain Experience Bonus Campaign
  • Earn from double to three times the normal amount of experience from experience chains.
Chain Capacity Point Bonus Campaign
  • Earn from double to three times the normal amount of capacity points from experience chains.
Chain Monstrosity Bonus Campaign
  • Earn from double to three times the normal amount of experience from experience chains.
Abyssea Campaign
During the campaign, the default light values of pearlescent, azure, golden, and silver auras will be drastically increased.
In addition, a blue treasure chest has been placed near Horst in Port Jeuno (H-8). Opening the chest will enable you to claim one of the following prizes:
  • Eleven varieties of Atma
  • One Lunar Abyssite key item
  • 100,000 cruor
Mog Gardens Campaign
Mog Gardens will undergo the following modifications throughout the duration.
  • The number of shining stars received when entering a Mog Garden will be doubled.
  • The coastal fishing net will provide different special items.
  • Items may be harvest from Monster Rearing twice per day.
  • The following items will be sold in the gardens specially throughout the duration.
    Golden Seed Pouch / Chestnut Tree Sap / Monarch Beetle Saliva
    Mahogany Bed / Noble's Bed / Goblin Stew 880
Alter Ego Expo
Alter egos will receive the following improvements for the duration of the campaign.
  • Alter egos' Maximum HP and MP are increased by 50%.
  • Alter egos have stronger resistance to status ailments.
Adoulin Dial Campaign
The Adoulin dial is usable once per Earth day and provides a variety of rewards specific to Seekers of Adoulin content, such as Skirmish stones and airlixirs from Delve.
Further, the chance of receiving equipment from the SP dial will be increased.
  • The Adoulin dial is completely free to use.
  • At least forty-five days must have passed since character creation to be eligible to use the Goblin Mystery Box.
Incursion Campaign
  • During the campaign, monsters and notorious monsters will only drop grand coffers when defeated.
Geas Fete Campaign
  • Earn double the usual amount of escha silt from combat in Escha areas.
High-Tier Mission Battlefield Campaign
The number of personal drops in the following battlefields will be increased by one, and players will receive either a pluton, a pluton case, a pluton box, a chunk of beitetsu, a beitetsu case, a beitetsu box, a riftborn boulder, a boulder case, or a boulder box.
Ark Angels 1 / Ark Angels 2 / Ark Angels 3 / Ark Angels 4 / Ark Angels 5 /
Return to Delkfutt's Tower / The Celestial Nexus / The Savage / The Warrior's Path /
Puppet in Peril / Legacy of the Lost / Rank 5 Mission / Head Wind /
One to be Feared / Dawn / Pentacide Perpetrator / Trial by Fire / Trial by Ice /
Trial by Wind / Trial by Earth / Trial by Lightning / Trial by Water /
The Moonlit Path / Waking the Beast / Waking Dreams
* Higher quality items will drop more frequently on higher difficulties.

Domain Invasion Campaign
  • The respawn time of notorious monsters will be halved during the campaign.
mandies.png
 

DrForester

Kills Photobucket
Am I a horrible person for being 20 minutes into a CP party, seeing that announcement and immediately force DC?

I'm almost done with SMN Job Points (less than 250 to go), and figure with the campaign I can get it finished with one good party.
 
Abyssea coming back just in time for me to grind out a Twilight Torque for my paladin.

Just need decent earrings and a 2nd ring and I can pretend to be a tank.

What's the easiest HLBF to tank, presuming the rest of the group is competent?
 

SilverArrow20XX

Walks in the Light of the Crystal
Every story scene in FFXI is now available on Youtube - from the major missions to the smallest quest that actually has a cutscene for it.
It's a monumental fan effort, considering that outside the playlist I linked to, which consists of over 900 scenes, the uploader also has alternate versions of several scenes on his account, which can change based on mid-scene "dialog" (mostly mute player character...) selections or prior accomplishments.
The same account also has some alternate shorter playlists that cover specific expansions or storylines, to make the whole thing a bit easier to handle (14 years of content after all...).

Finally finished the playlist? I've been following her channel for a few years now. It's always cool to see her on Asura when I'm online. It's like spotting a celebrity lol.
 

ApharmdX

Banned
I wonder how the HTBF campaign works? Is it an extra drop slot for pluton/beiteitsu/boulders, or a legit gear drop slot?

I actually let my sub lapse for the first time in years. Not really enjoying the current state of game balance and play, so I'm playing XIV this month unless the HTBF campaign is worth re-upping for.
 

Varna

Member
I played from 2004-2010 and just reactivated my sub. Have I missed anything? >_>;

Good luck.

I did the same thing last year I think and it just wasn't the same game anymore. I pretty much hated all the new systems they added... they just felt super tacked on. Kind of like some fan made mod that adds new shops to an existing game.
 

DrForester

Kills Photobucket
Good luck.

I did the same thing last year I think and it just wasn't the same game anymore. I pretty much hated all the new systems they added... they just felt super tacked on. Kind of like some fan made mod that adds new shops to an existing game.

That's not an inaccurate statement. Abyssea felt like it was intended to be the grand finale. I have little doubt that Square expected everyone to move to FFXIV. Adoulin felt very much like a rush job when it first came out.
 
That's not an inaccurate statement. Abyssea felt like it was intended to be the grand finale. I have little doubt that Square expected everyone to move to FFXIV. Adoulin felt very much like a rush job when it first came out.
except the story missions, goddamn they have gotten impressive over the years. The cutscenes in SoA and RoV are both so amazingly done.

I remember the first time I zoned into Adoulin though, my first thought was "is this it...?" The city felt so empty and poorly designed. A lot of those problems came from the buildings needing the upgrades they earn from player involvement. I wish i had some comparison screenshots.

Adoulin's biggest problem was immediately introducing the gear that just trumped everything previously released. My god the exodus that caused, that mistake is still felt now. Things were much healthier with abyssea just before that. If adoulin wouldve just done what the older expansions did and expanded the game horizontally from abyssea I think the population would still be a lot higher.

Either way, things have gotten a lot better since abyssea's release with the armor upgrading which is fun and frustrating, and a wide array of useful content (which is something only FFXI has ever done well)
 
I wonder how the HTBF campaign works? Is it an extra drop slot for pluton/beiteitsu/boulders, or a legit gear drop slot?

I actually let my sub lapse for the first time in years. Not really enjoying the current state of game balance and play, so I'm playing XIV this month unless the HTBF campaign is worth re-upping for.

Looks like the extra personal slot is for non-gear items in addition to the guaranteed pluton/beitetsu/boulder at every difficulty level.
 

DrForester

Kills Photobucket
except the story missions, goddamn they have gotten impressive over the years. The cutscenes in SoA and RoV are both so amazingly done.

I don't agree. SOA had a nice story, but the cut scenes were lots of still photographs.

I don't think they've topped Promathia yet.
 

Varna

Member
That's not an inaccurate statement. Abyssea felt like it was intended to be the grand finale. I have little doubt that Square expected everyone to move to FFXIV. Adoulin felt very much like a rush job when it first came out.

I didn't mean that kind of stuff. I meant things they added during the leveling experience. All those field quest and the new equipment vendors. Instead of just smoothing out the leveling curve via gained EXP they added buff stations and "missions" to boost the amount of exp you could gain. The path they choose would have been all right if the game had actually been built for flipping through so many damn pages but it's not. Also instead updating vendors and having quest reward you with decent amount of gold to purchase equipment with they added another BS currency and new NPC to handle all the dealings. That's about all I could stomach. Felt like zero effort was put into the whole thing to be honest.

I don't think they've topped Promathia yet.

This is were my best memories with this game reside.
 
I don't agree. SOA had a nice story, but the cut scenes were lots of still photographs.

I don't think they've topped Promathia yet.
Promathia is still the tops for the actual story itself, mission design, and characters, but SoA and RoV reached a quality of animation I didn't think possible in this game. The still images weren't great, but compared to the overall cutscene quantity on SoA they weren't that prevalent. The fight scenes in RoV were better than any cutscene in any MMO i've played and put FFXIV ARR's shitty animations to shame
 
Personally, ToAU was my favorite expansion. All the zones were refreshing, different, and full of mobs we've never seen before. Not to mention it added 3 new jobs. PUP being something original was neat.

As much of a lag fest as the first few weeks of Besieged was... it was epic. Nothing since those days has given me the same rush as trying to defend the city from a near loss of the AC. Seeing the messages of the generals falling was crazy.

Most of the gear was gorgeous as well. Plus Whitegate remains my favorite hub. Nothing touches that expansion for me.
 

Loona

Member
There's a lot to like about CoP (I like the subtle factor of how the story makes you meet characters from all the playable races who seem to have transcended their lore-assigned flaws, like rage being the Galka flaw, but in CoP you see Jabbos trying to deal with moblins through patience and dialogue instead of aggression - and the point is emphasized by all those character being present by the climax of the story), but I can't help but wonder how much of the praise it gets has to do with how hard it used to be to advance through it.

The environment that was created practically from scratch for ToAU was pretty amazing on multiple levels though, from mechanical details like being able to break parts of certain mobs' anatomies (like marid tusks) or beastman weapons, to the chaotic cooperative nature of Besieged, to incredible side stories like Mihli Aliapoh's, not to mention the main missions themselves has some pretty great moments too (especially any involving Odin), or the variety of mechanics at work in Assault.

I have no problem with SoA's static illustrations, those practically only applied to telling parts of the backstory that were old enough to be considered legends.
 
I forgive the storybook cutscenes in SoA mostly because of the incredible effort they put into the details and animation of the unique character models. They could have gone stock Hume for Morimar/August/Teodor but nah they went with completely original models with unique animations. And it all comes together so slickly in the end.
 
I forgive the storybook cutscenes in SoA mostly because of the incredible effort they put into the details and animation of the unique character models. They could have gone stock Hume for Morimar/August/Teodor but nah they went with completely original models with unique animations. And it all comes together so slickly in the end.
stock was never an option, but Darrcuiln is animated fantastically. Arciela also fits onto a standard Hume skeleton, but she has tons of unique animations
 
I don't agree. SOA had a nice story, but the cut scenes were lots of still photographs.

I don't think they've topped Promathia yet.

In terms of actual animations and such, promathia used a lot of emote and canned racial animations for characters that weren't prishe. TOAU and beyond amped up the animation detail in the cutscenes significantly.Even for generic model characters.
 

thedan001

Member
I find it amusing that all expansions are discussed except for wotg...

Wotg was a big letdown, you'd be playing FFXI with all the lore build-up about Vanadiel 20 years ago, and the excitement of prospects being able to travel back in time to experience the entire climax of 3 nations warring with beastmen and the fall of Tavanzia

I remember playing 20 hours nonstop into day 1 wotg patch and thinking "it's really empty... but there's potential for updates!"

Those updates to wotg were the most disappointing part of it all, it was a span of over 1.5 years and nothing great came out of it, I would have loved to see some deeper lore with AF2 and relic weapon blacksmiths and be able to upgrade with those npc's

SE, what happened!?
 

Alvarez

Banned
So is the payment system for FF11 still fucking crazy? I'd like to play the game just to see the story, but... not if PlayOnline is still involved.
 
So is the payment system for FF11 still fucking crazy? I'd like to play the game just to see the story, but... not if PlayOnline is still involved.
playonline is still involved for playing, but payment is handled through square enix accounts now
I find it amusing that all expansions are discussed except for wotg...

Wotg was a big letdown, you'd be playing FFXI with all the lore build-up about Vanadiel 20 years ago, and the excitement of prospects being able to travel back in time to experience the entire climax of 3 nations warring with beastmen and the fall of Tavanzia

I remember playing 20 hours nonstop into day 1 wotg patch and thinking "it's really empty... but there's potential for updates!"

Those updates to wotg were the most disappointing part of it all, it was a span of over 1.5 years and nothing great came out of it, I would have loved to see some deeper lore with AF2 and relic weapon blacksmiths and be able to upgrade with those npc's

SE, what happened!?
at least it gave us lilisette, but yea WoTG was a huge disappointment. It never got any real endgame and just sat mostly ignored. By the time the story finished the first part of Abyssea was out and people moved on. It did provide some good leveling spots and Dancer, I fucking love Dancer
 

Loona

Member
I find it amusing that all expansions are discussed except for wotg...

Wotg was a big letdown, you'd be playing FFXI with all the lore build-up about Vanadiel 20 years ago, and the excitement of prospects being able to travel back in time to experience the entire climax of 3 nations warring with beastmen and the fall of Tavanzia

WotG did a lot of things right, from combat animatons in cutscenes to things like Lilisette's facial expressions kicking the crap out of most that preceded her.

The Windurst branch of the story was pretty great and tied in pretty well with stuff established in prior missions and quests as well as brining up something of its own to the table.

The pace of release was its biggest problem IMO.
 

ZetaEpyon

Member
The Windurst branch of the story was pretty great and tied in pretty well with stuff established in prior missions and quests as well as brining up something of its own to the table.

The pace of release was its biggest problem IMO.

Yeah, pretty much this. The story is really good, and there are all sorts of references and ties in to quests and characters in the "present day" Vana'diel, some of which you probably wouldn't easily notice unless you've done all sorts of job quests, artifact quests, and so on.
 
WotG did a lot of things right, from combat animatons in cutscenes to things like Lilisette's facial expressions kicking the crap out of most that preceded her.

The Windurst branch of the story was pretty great and tied in pretty well with stuff established in prior missions and quests as well as brining up something of its own to the table.

The pace of release was its biggest problem IMO.

Thought WoTG was okay, liked that you could chose any of the factions with it's own unique storyline that weaves in with the main story. Me and a friend used to duo the whole thing on BST and SMN (I was the BST). WotG made me fall in love with Beastmaster for making it so much fun to solo harder content that was meant to be beaten by a party of 6. Used to try my hand at some of the content (I forget what it was, but you enter it in Xarcabard(S) just for giggles.

I liked what ToAU did to pump longevity into the game a bit, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the storyline. It did give us a ton of unique and fun areas to die, I mean explore. Caederva Mire and the Reef were place of nightmares, but in a fun way.
 

Loona

Member
ToAU's story was interesting, but it just jumps so rapidly to its conclusion. Just a lot of buildup then BAM ending

In a way it still continues through the optional Odin fights after you finish the missions proper - you can fight him about a dozen times to plead for Luzaf's release every time.
Which isn't unlike the post-WotG quest to get the Lilisette traust and Cait Sith summon, I guess. Or Apocalypse Nigh after both Zilart and CoP.
And SoA also has a post-mission quest that make some sense of its events by referencing relatively recent game mechanics like Monstruosity, which was neat.
 

thefil

Member
My gf and I just hit rank 5 in Windhurst and got our airship passes. We also have sub-jobs unlocked and chocobo licenses. Both around level 42 in main job. Haven't touched any of the expansions except for cutscenes that start playing when we enter places like Jeuno and that tower in Qufim Island.

What kind of activities are available to us now that weren't available when we started the game? Just curious if we can start mixing other things in with our level grind and main missions.
 

Loona

Member
My gf and I just hit rank 5 in Windhurst and got our airship passes. We also have sub-jobs unlocked and chocobo licenses. Both around level 42 in main job. Haven't touched any of the expansions except for cutscenes that start playing when we enter places like Jeuno and that tower in Qufim Island.

What kind of activities are available to us now that weren't available when we started the game? Just curious if we can start mixing other things in with our level grind and main missions.

At that level, off the top of head you can start working on Chains of Promathia (gets you some nice story and gradually unlocks more areas) and Rhapsodies of Vana'diel (unlocks a number of perks, some of which make levelling faster) missions, unlock new jobs and start the quest to get your current jobs' artifact weapons.

The access to Jeuno can already get you started in heading towards aht Urghan and Adoulin areas, but those are best enjoyed at higher levels, although you can still enjoy some early story scenes in them.

If you're in Windurst, did you get your Portal Charms after the mission with the Three Mage Gate?
 
Top Bottom