november-version-update
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Adjustments incoming to Final Fantasy XI's jobs
The most recent announcement for Final Fantasy XI's December version update covered a wide spectrum of improvements for the new level cap increase, but there are adjustments coming to lower levels as well. Subjobs won't be getting most of the boosts, but several mains will see improved or broadened functionality, starting with Ninjas receiving a long-awaited addition: Universal tools. Available in three broad categories, these tools can be used in place of any specific tool after a character has exhausted the ninjitsu-specific tool. Corsairs will see a similar update in the form of a new card that is imbued with all elemental powers, once again only usable after specific cards are used up. Beastmasters receive several new pet broths, Thieves acquire a stacking buff to Treasure Hunter when dealing melee damage, and Scholars see a significant improvement to Sublimation based upon level. Take a look at the official list of changes to see what your job of choice can expect with the coming Final Fantasy XI version update.
Final Fantasy XIV sends the November update live
Everyone in the US got to spend the day gorging on turkey and pie, but Final Fantasy XIV players got to gorge themselves on something else -- a large patch. The far-reaching November version update has gone live as of yesterday evening, bringing with it a host of updates and improvements to help bring the game up to speed in both content and accessibility. While the patch notes focus on enhancing the play experience, the improvements should be well-received by many players. Among the more significant gameplay changes are the movement of skill points to an end-of-combat reward in the same manner as experience points and the reduction of points needed for ranks 11 through 31. The UI response time has been improved, and the widgets of the interface have been changed around to make the game more accessible and responsive. Synthesis materials have been altered, inventory space has increased, and the high-quality drops that once clogged inventories are being streamlined. All of the details can be found in the patch notes, a veritable feast of good news for Final Fantasy XIV players from a very appropriate day.
Famitsu previews upcoming additions to Final Fantasy XIV
Discussion about Final Fantasy XIV of late has centered around the coming November version update, currently slated for today. But there's more coming beyond simply a host of UI fixes and system improvements, some of which have been previewed by Famitsu recently. The translation crew at FFXIVCore has put together a gallery of images as well as small descriptions of what's coming for the game, albeit without much contextual information about when these additions can be expected. The new retainer outfits are a cosmetic addition that's welcome without being overwhelming, but the previews of monsters show off familiar foes from the series as a whole, familiar faces from Final Fantasy XI, and new enemies to fight. And the weapon preview seems to hint at some of the equipment players can look forward to from the notorious monsters slated for implementation before the end of the year. Final Fantasy XIV players are encouraged to take a look at the preview -- and possibly put some time aside for play today.
November brings updates to Final Fantasy XIV's travel and questing
The Final Fantasy series as a whole has been marked by a surfeit of crystals, and Final Fantasy XIV's Aetheryte is heir to the tradition. Floating just above the ground, these crystals serve as both a nexus of quests and a point of transportation. Both of these functions are getting a distinct boost with the pending November version update set for the 24th. Teleportation costs are being reduced for both the major cities and three player-selected "favorite" camps, allowing players to zap from place to place faster. Return costs are also being reduced to 1 anima, allowing players who are either lost or in a dangerous region a quick option to get to safety. Meanwhile, levequest functionality at crystals is being improved, with players able to scale the difficulty of a given levequest downward once the quest has been started. This goes hand-in-hand with adjustments to the strength of enemies found in guildleves and improvements to the rewards of leve-linking, giving players more incentive to try to push themselves to the limits of what they can accomplish. The changes should be welcome boons to Final Fantasy XIV players, allowing easier movement and questing under all circumstances.
Final Fantasy XIV improving skill gains
Leveling up is an important part of any MMO, but the task is a bit more difficult in Final Fantasy XIV than it needs to be due to the system of skill point gains. As it currently stands, the random nature of point gains can make leveling very productive or completely pointless, since killing an enemy is no guarantee of skill points. It's a problem, one that Square-Enix is addressing along with a host of others in the November version update. Skill points needed for leveling from 11 to 31 will be reduced, and skill point gains will now come after the battle alongside experience points, making gains a reliable and steady reward instead of the current random system. The newest update preview also outlines some of the ability adjustments due for the large update, all of which are universal buffs for class abilities such as Life Surge for Lancers and Sacrifice for Thaumaturges. A mini-FAQ has also been added to clarify some of the finer points of the previous update previews -- the added storage space in the update will be an automatic addition, enemy spawns will be increased by roughly 50%, and the habit of aldgoats and dodos to stare into your soul may be addressed in the future. Whether or not you're satisfied with Final Fantasy XIV in its current state, both of the previews paint a brighter picture for the future.
The spawning grounds expand for Final Fantasy XIV
After the development team discussed the more technical side of the coming November version update yesterday, today's preview for Final Fantasy XIV is back to the gameplay. That's not to say it doesn't have any technical details or enticing hints for veterans of Final Fantasy XI, considering that the newest preview is discussing monster spawn placement and the upcoming notorious monsters. For example, the new preview notes that server processing is being spread across multiple servers, which should help handle large groups of monsters more effectively -- and should also help mitigate server lag and some latency issues players have experienced. As for notorious monsters... it seems only fitting that some of the most iconic residents of Vana'diel will apparently be getting a nod or two, with a promise that veterans may find some familiar faces among their new targets. The details of what can be looted from these creatures and who is coming to fight over dinner will be posted to the site in the near future. Final Fantasy XIV is working hard at making up for the issues many players had at launch, and that includes giving said players more monsters to fight against.
A look at the updated UI for Final Fantasy XIV
The first major update for Final Fantasy XIV is tentatively dated for a little more than a week from now, and Square-Enix is beginning to discuss the specifics about what the new update will contain. With the most recent reveal centering around the user interface, players can get a look at the improvements coming to one of the game's least-loved features, and the updates range from smoothing off the rough edges of targeting and mouse interaction to the substantial improvement of more inventory space. The latter will be welcomed even by those not put out by the interface, as another 20 slots will be added to both the character's inventory and the retainer's inventory. Other updates include improvements to the chat client, ranging from keyboard shortcuts to the ability to create custom tabs for players. There's also a redesign of the current Attributes & Gear panel into two separate interfaces, with the Gear window having much improved functionality and the Attributes window providing a better rundown of information. Players can take a look at the preview for a full picture of how the UI will be altered to improve Final Fantasy XIV as well as a quick look at what some of the new windows will look like and how they can be customized.
