http://twitter.com/VanaFest2010
Last night SE announced changes to FFXI that will affect the way we will play the game. Those of us who watched it on the live stream saw the transaltions live via Twitter, and then posted later on the Vanafest website.
Most significant update:
Level Cap Increase
History is about to be made with the increase of the level cap in the March version update and beyond! The increase will take place in stages until the new maximum, level 99, has been reached.
Up until now, character strength has been limited to level 75, and additions to the game such as monsters, strategic content, and equipment had been designed to correspond to this.
However, with the game having reached a certain level of maturity and the bulk of existing notorious monsters having already fallen prey to tenacious bands of adventurers, the development team has deemed that the time is now ripe for the bar to be raised.
Note: The level cap update will be the June 2010 update.
Abyssea
Abyssea is a parallel world existing beside Vana'diel. A land fraught with perils, Abyssea is home to savage hordes of heretofore unseen creatures. Ferocious, towering NMs, new-look HNMs—even the garden varieties will confound would-be challengers with their unfamiliar and formidable powers. These and a whole host more await hapless adventurers with open arms and voracious maws.
- The first release, “Vision of Abyssea”, will debut this summer for the price of $9.99 (£7.99).
- Following later this year, “Scars of Abyssea”, and “Heroes of Abyssea” will round out 2010.
- Abyssea will be very different from Dynamis in that you can do these areas with one full party.
- These differ from previous add-ons in that adventurer focus will be on fighting strong enemies, epic battles, and new armor to collect.
- Though the term is not yet finalized, adventurers will be able to earn “AF3” in Abyssea.
- Tanaka showed a picture of the current idea for PLD and BLM "AF3".
In Abyssea, concerns such as the over-population of battle areas and the need for large time investments will be a thing of the past. The development team is hard at work creating a world where parties can engage in rewarding battles with powerful foes and collect prized equipment with the least of fuss. The expansive realm of Abyssea will comprise several new areas which will be introduced over the course of three add-ons
Special Talk SessionIn attendance at the special talk session were Producer Hiromichi Tanaka, Director Koichi Ogawa, Battle Director Akihiko Matsui, planners Yoji Fujito and Mizuki Ito, and Global Online Producer Sage Sundi. The discussion revolved around the new content being planned for the upcoming version update as well as the game's future direction. * All announcements made are for content under development, and thus changes may occur without notice.
Job Adjustments
The job adjustments planned for the March version update have been announced, with further discussions revolving around the future direction of all jobs.
Overall DirectionUp until now, most job adjustments have been implemented with ease of party-forming in mind. From this point onwards, we plan to shift the focus towards ease of participation in endgame content. The role of each job will also come under review.
Currently for instance, the role of debuffing enemies is the exclusive domain of only a few jobs, but we intend to examine ways to enable more professions to perform similar roles, empowering each with the capacity to handle a wider range of situations. Our goal is to achieve—without sacrificing the uniqueness of each job—greater ease of participation in endgame content and provide the opportunity for all participants to contribute equally.
The scope of our vision for job adjustments does not stop there, however. Maintaining battle balance remains one of our highest priorities. As such, we intend to conduct reviews on an ongoing basis and introduce new equipment and adjust weapon skills as necessary. It is anticipated that the level cap increase will impact the balance of certain elements more than others. We will keep a close watch on these areas and, if the situation demands, review and reconsider even the adjustments that have been announced. Our ultimate goal is to provide the most rewarding, balanced play environment possible to all adventurers.
March Version Update Job Adjustments
[ Beastmaster ]
The following changes will be made to enhance the usability of the job ability “Call Beast”:
- New synergy recipes for the creation of consumable items required to perform the ability will be with a higher rate of yield for HQ items.
- Certain ingredients needed to synthesize/synergize the items will become more readily obtainable.
[ Summoner ]
Two new long-awaited avatars, Alexander and Odin will be added. Both new avatars will appear and do the summoner’s bidding only when Astral Flow is in effect. Be aware, invoking one or the other will automatically initiate Astral Flow, the effect of which will end upon the avatar’s release. In accordance of their introduction, summoners will become able to use the “Astral Flow” job ability even when no avatars have been invoked.
- Avatar: Alexander
- Uses “Perfect Defense” to reduce damage sustained by party members and prevent status ailments.
- Damage reduction and resistance rate will vary with the summoner’s remaining MP.
- Avatar: Odin
- Uses “Zantetsuken” to vanquish all foes within the area of effect in one fell strike.
- When used against NMs, will instead deal damage.
- Amount of damage dealt and accuracy will vary with the summoner’s remaining MP.
- More monsters within the area of effect will reduce accuracy.
With adjustments to attributes of the Harlequin and Valoredge X-900 frames and the performance of attachments, automatons will be made more durable against incapacitation. In addition, the hand-to-hand combat rating of puppetmasters will be raised from rank C to A, making them formidable combatants in their own right. http://www.playonline.com/ff11/event/va ... e_9845.jpg
Future Direction of All Jobs
The future direction of adjustments for all jobs beyond the March version update will be announced at a later date.
They did say the updates of some on the Twitter page:
- BLM: To go along with the level cap removal, it may be a ripe time for BLMs to learn….METEOR!
- DNC: Dancers may see different methods of TP gain as well as the possibility of casting Waltzes on members outside of their party
- COR: Thinking about adding a greater gambling aspect to COR by making XI a special number that enhances roll effects
- THF: An enhancement to Treasure Hunter as well as a new type of Steal ability may be in store
- WHM: Possibility of receiving new divine and healing magic spells, and more chances to use divine magic
- WAR: May get an ability allowing them to tank for a short period of time enhancing their versatility in parties
- SAM: Thinking of lowering the level you earn Sekkanoki, to open it up to jobs with /SAM support. Maybe a new ability, too?
- DRG: Discussing ways to enhance the wyvern’s powers and thinking about creating a new type of “Jump” ability.
- DRK: Looking into adjusting dark magic accuracy and cast times. With increased spell usage, will consider new ways to recover MP, as well.
- RDM: Addition of new enfeeble spells
- MNK: We may see an ability that would grant higher accuracy and subtle blow in exchange for lowered TP gain and a WS restriction.
- RNG: Possibly adding an ability that helps decrease enmity. Or an ability that offers double-powered attacks that consumes double the ammo.
- They also showed PLD, BLU, and NIN but didn't list translations of the mentioned changes.
EVEN MORE
Please make sure you visit: http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/event/vanafes2010/ for the complete updates.
Items include: Mog Bonanza Changes, New Campaign and Missions, New Add-On Content: Abyssea, Trial of the Magians ( A new armor/weapon enhancement system ).
