• Server load and code problems contributed to alpha test problems; have done their best to remedy them.
• Plan is to get one world server stabilized, add enough people to test the stability of that server, then increase the number of servers.  Goal is to have about 50,000 testers total.
• Heavy server load appears to have contributed to players’ inability to see aetherite and odd timing of character motion and attack.
• More players were added for alpha 2.   (Note from Xari:  Invitations went out yesterday, make sure you check your e-mail!).
• Beta testers will be able to play without time limits.
• A completely different battle system will be in place for beta, addressing tempo issues.  The current (alpha) system was never intended to be used, but needed to have something in place for alpha.
• Graphics will change drastically for beta.
• Guildleves are the best way to earn money, but server issues were making it difficult for testers to finish them.  Developers are thinking of solutions to the gil-earning problem such as adding a way to retry failed guildleves and rewarding party members for completion (and not just the person who initiated the guildleve).
• All races destined for inclusion in the final version will be playable in the beta.  (Note from Xari:  Yes, this includes Miqo’te!)
• The play area of the beta will not be extended, but changes will be implemented to encourage testers to play in other locations including dungeons.  Monsters may start to agro in beta.
• The chat and battle log shows all things within a player’s viewable range, with the focus on things happening related to your party.  Developers are planning on allowing players to have control over what information is shown to other players (such as whether others can see the monsters for your guildleve).  The chat filters will also be implemented.
• A mog house won’t be needed because players can carry a much larger number of items than in FFXI.  However, there are plans to make some sort of a large-scale house in the future.
• Developers wanted to have something different from a standardized auction system, so are trying to make a bazaar system that will work even when players are logged off.

The interview then continued with FFXIV Planner Kenichi Iwao:

• Players will be able to choose which guild they want to belong to from the beginning (as opposed to belonging to and having to work for a starting nation).
• Everything in Hydaelyn (the FFXIV world) is made of different balances of the six elemental aethers.  Crystals are pure manifestations of one element.
• The history of the world is split into alternating eras of stability (astral eras) and turmoil (name not yet localized).  The current era in the game is the Sixth Astral Era.
• Eorzean mythology includes “The Twelve,” 12 guardian deities of the city-states and players.  Each of The Twelve has their own personality; some are easily angered, some are more caring.  Each deity is related to an element.  It has not yet been revealed whether or not you’ll be able to meet the deities.  The Garlean Empire does not believe in The Twelve.
• You will select a guardian deity during character creation but will likely be able to change it during the game, with a penalty attached.
• FFXIV is currently set only in Eorzea but other lands and worlds may be made available later.
• The war with the Garlean Empire, seen in trailers and the opening movie, affects a lot of things in the story of the game.  PvP content may wind up being related to the story of this war.
• Eorzea resembles ancient Greece or medieval Italy in that many large, independent cities grew together and thrived.  Some of the cities in Eorzea had problems with each other in the past and still do, but generally the citizens get along with each other and some organizations manage to exist outside of city-state relations (the guilds).
• Some city-states have fallen since the map was made, and others have come into being.  The game map still shows the old city states.  The significance of the two flags on the bottom left of the map is a secret.
• When asked if city-state territories will change over the course of the game, the planner noted that they would like to do that, but it would present complications such as players new to the game not having the same starting experience as other players.  They do plan to implement some “social changes” at some point, however.
• Limsa Lominsa is the marine capital.  Ul’dah is a hub city like an oasis.  Gridania is surrounded by forests similar to a Mayan city.  There will not be drastic differences between the cities since they are all part of the same “cultural sphere.”
• Each guild has a city that houses its base of operations, but still maintains a presence, like a branch office, in each of the cities.
• They are planning on allowing players to play in the gambling and fighting arenas of Ul’dah.
• Chocobo, horse-drawn carriages, ships, and airships are all in the game.  It is still secret for how long they may be used and what experience level is needed to use them.
• There are NPCs in race/gender combinations that you can’t choose as a player (male Miqo’te and female highlanders).  He cannot declare that players will be forever unable to play as them.
• Monsters having something to do with FFXI will appear in the game, especially those from ToAU onward.  Qiqirn and Apkallu will appear in the game and can communicate with players.  They may appear in towns or in fields, too.
• The beast tribes have their own skills and there are things you can learn from them.  They also have their own opinions and sense of individuality.  Iwao thinks it would be fun if players can make and equip weapons which are influenced by their culture.  There will likley be more communication between humans and humanoids in FFXIV.
• The plan is to have outfits that deviate from the typical style of games.  Iwao cites sorcerers in heavy armor as one example.  The emphasis is on customization, including the ability to choose the color of your equipment.  The appearance of an item will match the components it is crafted from (e.g., if a hat looks leather-like, then leather is likely one of the synth ingredients).
• Players will likely be able to inscribe items they craft.
• Some NPCs are not named and instead show their direct impression, like “exhausted adventurer.”  These NPCs will be those that “don’t really do anything.”

This confirms a lot of what we previously mentioned as rumors.  I found the insight into the game lore provided by the Planner particularly interesting.  What piqued your interest?

Full text of the translated articles can be found on FFXIVCore here and here.

Beta-related:

• The system will be changed so it is easier to string together attacks
• The “tempo” of battle has been adjusted/increased
• The beta shadowing system has been updated, which accounts for the different appearance of screenshots taken in alpha vs. beta
• A “robust” chat log filter will be in place for the next round of beta
• More alpha testers will be added; participants have already been selected via drawing

Beyond beta:

• Limsa Lominsa will have two levels
• Gil will be easier to come by
• A “large scale” home is being worked on, similar to FFXI’s mog house
• You will be able to change the god you choose for your character
• Chocobo, horse-drawn carriage, boats, and airships will be used for transportation
• You will be able to choose different colors for your equipment

Additionally, the folks at Eorzeapedia did some additional digging and found a few other tidbits in the original leaked article (from Game Jouhou).  The  information was gleaned from Google Translate, so its truth may be a bit more uncertain.  These items are :

• Players may be able to bazaar goods while logged out
• Players can participate in Ul’dah’s fighting arena and gambling halls
• Items may be inscribed like in FFXI

Which bit of  information are you most excited about?  Discuss below!

Header image background courtesy flickr user hattie.stroud.

- There will be a skill set system but it will not be tree based.
For those unfamiliar with other MMORPGs, this means that a set of skills will be available to you as you gain levels or (in the case of FFXIV) become more proficient at your class/weapon. As you gain skills, can even set your character apart from others by taking different branches of particular skills that will allow you to specialize in that area such as becoming a BLM that is focused purely on Ice type of magic or a WHM that is focused on purely magic against the undead. FFXIV will not be taking this path, and it can be assumed that either the skills are already set in stone and thus alleviating the problem of casual players needing to figure out which branches they would need to specialize in to get the most out of their time and money.

- Points will not just be gained for each weapon but will also help in the development of your character’s attributes.
- Characters can wear almost any armor in the game! … Provided you meet the stat requirements necessary to equipment that piece of equipment.
- Monsters aren’t going to have levels, and we will still have the /check feature.

There are a few other juicy details posted on Derek Gorden’s article, so be sure to check it out at MMORPG.com!

We have heard a lot about the battle system, and Famitsu reviewed it as well. Above is a picture they provided of the layout with the labels translated. The player selects which action or ability they wish to use and it registers to their right-hand or left-hand gauge, depending on which hand holds the associated equipment. For example, a sword may use the right-hand gauge, but a shield held in the left-hand would use the left-hand gauge.

If the Action Gauge is full, the command will activate. If not, it will activate once the Action Gauge is stored to full. If the player has a full Action Gauge and does not activate an ability, they will begin to store up their Power Gauge. This gauge will increase the strength and accuracy of your techniques. There will also be a TP Gauge that will affect your techniques in unique ways. While the Action and Power gauges increase over time, the TP gauge increases when you land an attack or are struck by the enemy.

It will be interesting to see how or if they decide to implement the same system to how magic works. If so, would holding off on casting lead to stronger or AoE spells if the Power Gauge were to fill? Already the system set in place will really allow individual players to set not only their own playstyle but their own fighting style as well! To read more of the article and on the Progression of Guildleve, visit ZAM for more information!

Elmer Avenue! Where Elmer Works?

Over at the ZAM, Elmer translated a pretty long article regarding the battle system as well as the Guildleave system originally published in  Famitsu. Well it was a lot to read so… lets just summarize here.

• The characters that were playable at Gamescom were pretty buffed, as seen on videos that we’ve linked.
• Action Commands, the equivalent of World of Warcraft’s “Action Bar,”  is now in FFXIV, allowing players to customize buttons to execute macros and customize chat window positions. It is simply amazing.
• At the bottom left and right of the screen are your “Action Gauges,” representing your left and right hand. For example, if you are equipping shield/sword, then one Action Gauge is for the shield, the other for Sword. The bar that charges (TP in FFXI, Rage in FFXIV) is called the “Power Gauge.” Using special abilities will require your Power Gauge to be charged to a specific level.
• Using an ability from the Power Gauge will consume the stored power, but will also return a certain small amount of TP/Rage.
• Equipping different weapons will change your “Action Gauge” along with changing the different abilities/talent tree that you can have access to.
• Tanaka explained how they want a not-so Auto-Attack system, where you can engage a monster, and go iron clothes (I did!)
• As speculated, the emotes were made using motion-capture technology. Therefore, actions you see in-game are possibly a recording of a real human performing the same action.
• Aetheryte not going to be as usable as it seems in the Demo.

Tanaka also talked a bit about the video, describing how the players first started killing DoDos, then killing Puks. Well, it seems like the Guildleave was meant to “exterminate” Puks, but to pop Puks, you need to exterminate DoDo’s. So there is a little puzzle side of this game. But we all know once Wiki is up and running, nothing will really be a puzzle =P.

Regardless, that’s mostly the juice from the Zam interview. They also mentioned about an official forum, and of course the language barrier is such a “big problem” that Square-Enix won’t open a path of communication.

What has been shown so far is the Alpha version. Of course we should hold all judgement about XIV since it is only 40-50% done, and we can’t really give a fair evaluation until it’s really rolling. However, I am quite satisfied with what I see. Something unique, different, challenging and of course, something casual gamers can do (which will include me this time).

Source: Famitsu, English Translation: Zam.