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Final Fantasy XI frees up Chains of Promathia
Final Fantasy XI's Chains of Promathia was a bit polarizing for the players -- you either love it or hate it. No one can argue that it raised the bar considerably on the game's cutscenes and storytelling, but it was also restrictive in many ways and limited player access to new zones (which were the only non-storyline elements added). It's a sign of its nature that there are still many players who want to finish the storyline, even though the option has been there for several years. Lucky for players, the June version update is addressing that. Although the removal of level caps was mentioned in passing at VanaFest 2010, the most recent news gives a specific list of what areas will be affected -- all four Promyvion areas, Pso'Xja, Riverne Site #A01 and #B01, the Phomiuna Aqueducts, and the Sacrarium. The announcement goes on to confirm that mission battlefields will also be uncapped, and the monster layout and strength will be adjusted in some of the areas to facilitate characters at 75 and above. It promises to spark new interest in Final Fantasy XI's most unique expansion and the corresponding zones, which is good news for anyone in the game.
The Mog Log: Community (roundup)
The state of higher education in Vana'diel is, quite frankly, appalling. It's easy enough to see why -- all of the Scholars are out doing field work instead of staffing any sort of university. Oh, sure, Windurst has its facilities, but most of the professors are too busy chasing skirts or trying to take over the world to bother enlightening any of the students. Let's face it, the only real chance that anyone has of learning anything when it comes to Final Fantasy XI is the community. It's been a fairly quiet month in terms of big news bursts, but Final Fantasy XIV is still a hot subject of conversation for reasons we can't even begin to fathom. And we've been getting more information on the lore of the game, certainly. Meanwhile, we've got a new version update en route for Final Fantasy XI, so while there hasn't been a great deal new to chat over, there's certainly plenty of things to speculate on. Take a look at some of the community threads we've been pointed to or found after the break.
Final Fantasy XI posts previews of the nation quest conclusions
It's a truism of any good story: all good things must come to an end. And it's certainly true of the overarching story for the last Final Fantasy XI expansion, Wings of the Goddess, which is finally approaching a conclusion after two and a half years. The upcoming June version update won't conclude the overarching mission storyline, but it will draw the nation-specific quests to a finale. Square-Enix has given the players a brief peek at what's awaiting them in these final movements of a story that quite literally stretches across a huge span of time. The San d'Orian story forces the nation's forces deeper into enemy territory, investigating rumors of a resurrected Count Aurchiat. Citizens of Bastok, meanwhile, will pursue the would-be assassin Klara Bester straight to Castle Zvhal itself... where Zeid's past is waiting to confront him. And as Windurst nears its final victory against the Yagudo, their final push brings out the true cost that the war has exacted on its people. It's the last hurrah for these stories, and the strength of storytelling is one of the greatest assets within Final Fantasy XI, so players are encouraged to look at the coming ending.
New Visions of Abyssea site for Final Fantasy XI launches
It's been a while, but we're finally seeing more information trickling out about the upcoming Final Fantasy XI add-on pack Visions of Abyssea, with the launch of the official teaser site. The first of three mini-expansions designed to help players hit the promised new level cap, the new page reveals that it's scheduled to go live with the June version update that hosts the first of three increases leading to 99. It also announces that there are plans for pre-purchases starting in early June, and gives a few more hints as to what the mysterious new zones will actually be. According to the backstory on the official site, players will apparently travel from Vana'diel to Abyssea via new Cavernous Maws, which leads to obvious suggestions that it's tied into the overarching and soon-concluding plot of Wings of the Goddess. There are also two screenshots of what may be assumed to be Abyssea itself -- or more accurately, a version of La Theine Plateau with a red sky. It would appear that the "mirror world" concept is close to the add-on indeed, but Final Fantasy XI players will have to wait a little longer to be totally sure.
Final Fantasy XI starts its eight-year art contest
On May 16th, 2002, Final Fantasy XI was released in Japan, meaning that the game has marked a full eight years of service in its country of origin. (It didn't come stateside for another year and a half, so we're a bit behind.) The team at Square-Enix is understandably excited about how far the game has come since that day, and what better way to show it than letting the players strut their stuff? That means it's time for the Eighth Anniversary Art Contest, complete with requisite fabulous prizes -- which include the coveted Chocobo Beret. Running until June 16th, the contest calls for players with an active Final Fantasy XI account to submit a picture of their finished artwork. As one might assume given the timing, the art is expected to have an anniversary theme, although how one wishes to tackle the subject is entirely up to the player. Only one submission is allowed per person, with all the winners receiving the Nomad Moogle Rod, and the two top winners also receiving the aforementioned Beret. Take a look at the official rules for all the details, and get ready to see what the game's worldwide community can come up with.
The Mog Log: A million little topics
I promise you, this column is not an almost wholly fictional account of events that happened while my character was addicted to mithkabobs. (I just like working references in, if you haven't noticed.) No, this week is something a bit different for the column, since we're going to eschew our usual rambling manifesto style about Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV. Instead, we're going to be taking it piece by piece in the smaller scope. See, there are topics that are worth talking about here that fit into an entire column (usually between 1000-1500 words). Then there are topics that aren't worth talking about in quite that much depth, but still worth bringing up in brief. And not all of them fall under the aegis of forum talks or question-and-answer sessions, either. So today, we're going to be hitting a few smaller points in rapid succession. You don't have to read it, but then you'll miss the fascinating deconstruction of nihilism in the middle. Also there's a button you can click on for free money. Your call.
Final Fantasy XI offers adventurers its appreciation
If you are playing Final Fantasy XI this week, you are awesome. No, really -- your efforts at keeping the land free of bats, rarabs, and anything that vaguely smacks of being a reasonable leveling or merit target are appreciated. And if getting the obvious rewards of higher levels, drops, and so forth aren't enough, every year a week is set aside to let adventurers know just how much they're appreciated. And they're doing so via dashing clothing, interesting trivia for each character, and a variety of empowering moogle effects for all those who've been out in the world. The campaign, running until May 25th, isn't one of the more reward-oriented holidays -- but the addition of a full set of evening wear should entice almost anyone swayed by excellent clothing. (Which is really a fixture of the game at this point.) There's also an enticement for finding the scattered Mog Tablets, since unlike the usual boost of three random Super Kupowers, all eleven will be unleashed at once if the tablets are uncovered during the week. The official site has a helpful guide to said tablets, as well as the usual event fiction to commemorate the most integral part of Final Fantasy XI: the adventurers.
The Mog Log: Level 99 problems, of which a sub ain't one
Can you feel it? Do you wake up in the middle of the night, finding that you have scrawled the number 99 on your pillows and wall? Does each passing day grip you with a paralytic knowledge that soon, everything you know will be shattered? If so, you may want to see a doctor about that purple prose syndrome, but you're probably keenly aware that the level cap raise in Final Fantasy XI draws ever closer. With that comes chaos, madness, and the ruinous conclusion that you're going to need to do something about that there subjob. In theory, anyway. Consider: with 24 more levels on your main job, your sub will be also flying up twelve levels to 47 -- enough for new abilities even if said job is on the lighter side for that level band. The obvious thought process here is that it's going to change the face of job combinations significantly. But like much of the knee-jerk reaction to the Vanafest 2010 announcements, in a lot of cases not much is actually changing. That having been said... there are a few jobs that produce an interesting thought process.
The Mog Log: Assembling the gestalt of Final Fantasy XIV
We've been treated to a veritable onslaught of new information about Final Fantasy XIV of late, and when I say "treated" I mean precisely that. After all, Square-Enix's information comes at a glacial pace, to the point where they're still releasing information about Final Fantasy VII to this day. (Or squeezing blood out of that stone for all it's worth, reader's choice. I think my way is funnier.) Of course, the problem is that the information is released without a great deal of context. My hat goes off to the brave folks in the testing, scurrying about and trying to reveal as much as possible, but I know from experience what happens when your goal is "find things out" rather than "assemble a coherent picture." We know a lot of facts about Final Fantasy XIV, but we don't have a real idea of the scope of the game. For some people, that's second nature. For others, it's a challenge. And for some people, they haven't seen the piece or two that would make everything fall into place. So today, The Mog Log is taking a tour back through what we've learned and trying to put it all into some sort of overarching framework.
Final Fantasy XI releases April newsletter
The end of April is nearly upon us, so of course it's time for Square-Enix to release their most recent newsletter for Final Fantasy XI highlighting the still-fresh March update. Admittedly, the content doesn't quite have that new patch smell any longer, but the newsletter does its usual job of rounding up and pointing out some of the things that the players might otherwise miss. It also contains a cryptic hint from the development team in response to one of the biggest mysteries and frustrations for the update. In the "good news" department, the newsletter highlights a current sale for the game, $11 for the Final Fantasy XI Ultimate Collection at Gamestop via download. It also mentions the somewhat baffling habit that the new Voidwalker Notorious Monsters have of not always granting a title to players who kill them, with the development team teasing that "you will all discover the answer soon enough." Last but not least, it reminds former players that the Character Reactivation Service is set up to work with characters from the now-merged servers -- a chance for lapsed Final Fantasy XI players to get back in on the action.
The Mog Log: Everybody's got something to ask except for me and my monkey
Sometimes, people don't want answers to the questions that you expect. Sometimes people come up with solutions for problems you didn't know existed. And sometimes a question still gets asked even when you thought everyone knew the answer. It's a little bit of an unorthodox time here on The Mog Log, and it's going to be a bit of an unorthodox installment of our usual question-and-answer column. So let's dive right into the Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV questions, yes? Including those that are surprisingly meta. Baalur asked: "I don't think [customizable underwear is] half as ridiculous as the author. Why should the underwear be any less stupid than, say, a pet following you around?" Well, the latter is a slavering beast that's yoked to your will, and the former allows you to take great pains to make sure that your mito'qe is wearing her Lumberjack Boxers of +5 Vitality before she goes off to tank something. I think we can agree that one is just a bit more intimidating and cool, while the other is... well, still cool, but in an entirely different fashion.
Vana'diel's Feast of Swords returns to Final Fantasy XI
Amidst all of the Final Fantasy XIV news, it would be understandable if players had a bit of a harder time remembering what holidays are coming up in the venerable Final Fantasy XI. But it would be very sad to miss out on this one, the time-honored Feast of Swords that gives everyone a chance to swing wooden blades at animated samurai armor. It might seem a bit odd to have such a holiday presented as foreign in a Japanese game, but that's always been one of the oddities of the setting. Per the custom, there's a short fiction piece detailing the lead-in to the event, which continues the trend of Final Fantasy XI's moogles being portrayed as inscrutable meddlers. The holiday proper begins on April 27th, with the usual procedures. Talking to an event moogle gives you a special blade, and finding a moogle in one of several zones lets you enchant the blade to hunt the local armor. You won't be able to fight anything else, but it's all worth it when you slay the creature and get your ever-coveted cosmetic event rewards. In short, it promises to be fun times for adventurers of all levels, although possibly less fun for animated samurai armor.
The Daily Grind: What do you do when your character goes south?
It doesn't always happen, but it always can happen. One day you're running a happy catch-and-release playstyle with your Beastmaster in Final Fantasy XI, and then a patch comes that completely destroys the concept behind releasing your pet before a kill. You're tanking as a Frost Death Knight in World of Warcraft, and then you catch wind of the changes in 4.0. Your Invulnerable Tanker in City of Heroes is as untouchable as Superman, and then along comes a patch that coats everything in a light Kryptonite glaze. You haven't just had your balance adjusted -- the entire way you play your character has been gutted and left lying on the ground as a warning to others. If you're lucky, you've never been on the receiving end, but the question remains: what do you do next? Do you start over with a different class? Leave the game gracefully (or less than gracefully, depending on temperment)? Or do you go with the approach that this is the class you came in with and you are sticking with it, by gum? As a bonus, have you experienced this firsthand, or are you lucky enough to have been spared?
The Mog Log: The people have spoken!
Actually, it's more like the people never stopped speaking. Because there's been quite a bit to talk about over the past few weeks, most of it circling around the enormous bursts of information coming out of the Final Fantasy XIV testing process. We've gotten our first few looks at what the game might look like, and compared to the lockstep class-and-level progression of Final Fantasy XI it's like the game's being developed by a whole other company. Or like it's some mixture of all the best parts of the games of yesteryear, which might not be that far from the truth. If you haven't been in the mood to talk about the new hotness, of course, there's been plenty of other things to chat about, specifically the huge March update in Final Fantasy XI that added all sorts of new widgets. (An update I was lucky enough to take a tour of, if you missed it.) So jump on past the cut for the most interesting, though-provoking, or just most noteworthy threads over the past month around the web, as determined by reader mail and whatever caught my eye before my clicking hand got tired.
Eight years of Final Fantasy XI, another round of Mog Bonanza
After one iteration at the start of the new year and another run that coincided with VanaFest 2010, you would think that Final Fantasy XI was done with the Mog Bonanza for a while. But you'd apparently be wrong, as the official site has just announced that it will be running once again. But it's kind of understandable when you realize it's to celebrate the momentous eight-year milestone the game is hitting. That's a fine reason for players to start up the number-guessing engine in their heads again, especially when the rewards are still more wonderful prizes for every adventurer. Most of the rules from prior offerings still apply here -- a maximum of ten marbles per character, with prizes handed out in ascending ranks. Getting just the last digit right nets some small but pleasing prizes, while getting all five brings huge piles of gil or rare equipment. While it's not on par with the Relic and Mythic weapons offered at VanaFest, they're still desirable for almost any player. So mark your calendar foor May 16th, when marbles go on sale, and enjoy a solid eight years of Final Fantasy XI.
Massively's tour of Final Fantasy XI's March update
Eight years doesn't sound like a very long time unless you're talking about MMOs. Then it's the equivalent of dog years, only larger. But Final Fantasy XI has been running for all that time, and the game is still running strong -- and more to the point, bringing out a number of updates, improvements, and other positives for the game. Even as a veteran player, I haven't seen all of the content that's out there -- really, I'd be surprised if I've done much more than scratch the surface. I was given the lucky opportunity to get a guided tour of all the improvements and new content that the game had added with the most recent update, and it's certainly one of the more impressive drops the game has seen. Two entirely new summons, a new quest type, the penultimate missions in Wings of the Goddess, new Notorious Monsters, new areas... it's dwarfing to even consider it. I only had a chance to hit the highlights, and even then it was a lot to cover. So jump on past the cut, and see what's there to be seen.
More looks inside of Final Fantasy XIV
It's a good time to be a Final Fantasy XIV fan, with testing now in full swing and information coming out an accelerated pace. While we'd been in the dark for some time, we're now moving into almost having an information glut. FFXIVCore has been hard at work translating everything released by Famitsu, and there's a lot to digest from there, ranging from confirmation of things we've already suspected to new information altogether. Aside from several screenshots of the game in action, we find out that characters will indeed have both first and last names on creation, in the style of Guild Wars and Dungeons and Dragons Online. The battle system will apparently use staggered sets of abilities rather than steady auto-attacks, something more akin to City of Heroes than Final Fantasy XI. Learned abilities can be used regardless of a character's class, allowing extensive mix-and-match play with each character. In addition to all of that, we also learn just how deep the character building is: levels allow you to improve your stats and skill levels allow access to new abilities, but almost everything is built on player choice. There's a lot for Final Fantasy XIV fans to digest, but the game is shaping up to be very different than its predecessor while retaining the same rich flavor.
The Mog Log: How Final Fantasy XIV will crush our hopes and dreams
It seems only appropriate after last week to continue turning things on their ear. Fans of the column (I could probably just write "fan" there) have probably noticed that I talk about Final Fantasy XIV in a way not entirely separated from a child discussing their idol. I seem to maintain faith that the game will include every wonderful system ever, that it will take story and gameplay to an unheard-of level of connection, that it will be beautiful and vibrant and living, that it will bring food and water and smite our enemies. But I am not alone in this, and we are all so painfully wrong. If you have played Final Fantasy XI (and if you're reading this, odds are good), you know that Square-Enix uses hope in much the same way that Lucy uses a football. While I spent last week talking about how the old game deserves more love than we give it, this week I'm going to list five reasons why we'll be disappointed when Final Fantasy XIV arrives. (And tune in a few weeks from now when I am still not anywhere near getting into the beta. I'm a slow learner sometimes.)
The Mog Log: Unabashed adoration for Final Fantasy XI
Before you go any further in this column, I invite you to join us in today's listening: "Happy Together" by The Turtles. Stare at the above illustration while you listen, and I imagine you'll start laughing before long. But songs that can be turned unintentionally funny aren't the focus of today's column -- that's reserved for praise and adulation of Final Fantasy XI. See, I got called out not too long ago on being very negative about the game recently. And it's a fair accusation. I was unhappy with the the announcements at VanaFest 2010, I had been a bit critical of the game's obstacles and future before... in short, despite having been writing this column for a couple months, I hadn't said a whole lot of nice things about the game. It's easy to take away the idea that I don't like it any longer. That's not true, of course -- if I'd stopped liking it, I would have stopped writing a column about it -- but I haven't praised the game so much as cranked about it like a hurricane. Thus, I'm taking the today for five unabashedly wonderful things. No caveats!
House decoration contest running for Final Fantasy XI
The Mog House has always been one of the venues for Final Fantasy XI players to show off their creativity and personal sense of style, even more so when it became possible at long last for other adventurers to step inside. Allakhazam knows that it's one of the most celebrated parts of the game as well, which is why they've launched the first Mog House decorating contest. Arrange your furniture carefully, mail in some images of your uniquely adorned home, and you could find your dwelling renowned for its taste (and potential Moghancement benefits). Entries on the contest run until April 12th, with judging to conclude on April 20th via on-site poll. There are, of course, the usual requirements for all entries to be safe for work and not involve any hacking of the game client. Prizes include a signed copy of the Distant Worlds CD and a Japanese calligraphy set to help decorate the place you actually live, which is a nice touch. For full rules and submission guidelines, take a look at the contest page. Or you could just start by beautifying your home away from home, something most Final Fantasy XI players are inclined to do anyway.
