"Oh btw, FFXIV Online in 2010"

[palmer_eldritch]

It looks like the crafting skills are actually going to be classes, and characters shift between classes more or less at will. So being a miner is something you do when you're not being a mage or whatever.

[Margalis]

That's my understanding. Blacksmith and miner are not mutually exclusive with fighting classes.

It sounds like (and I have zero inside info) that the class system is similar to the FFXI job system in some ways with job changing being much more fluid.

[Kail]

Since FFXI was my first true MMORPG, I somehow feel obligated to purchase and sub to this game for a year. I feel so dirty.

Heh, XI was the only FF game I've never played, and I was feeling a little guilty about it... logged on Steam and noticed that it's on sale: $8.00 for the complete pack now.  Do they still do that "we delete your characters if you unsub" thing?

[Reg]

I don't think they actually do that anymore but you do have to jump through hoops to get your character back if you've been gone a while. I'm fairly sure it's still possible to delete your account by accident thinking you were just canceling.  I think that's what has happened to most people who thought their guys were deleted for inactivity.

[Velorath]

It looks like the crafting skills are actually going to be classes, and characters shift between classes more or less at will. So being a miner is something you do when you're not being a mage or whatever.

I'm curious as to how this will work out.  Apparently crafting classes do have some in-combat abilities (Miners can throw rocks and debuff "enemies with mineral compositions", while blacksmiths can weaken metal enemies and discover extra loot).  I'm wondering how much grouping will be required to advance in crafting jobs, and whether or not it will be hard to get groups since crafters presumably won't be carrying their weight so much in combat (don't know how easy it is to switch classes and if it's something you'll be able to do between combat).

[01101010]

It looks like the crafting skills are actually going to be classes, and characters shift between classes more or less at will. So being a miner is something you do when you're not being a mage or whatever.

I'm curious as to how this will work out.  Apparently crafting classes do have some in-combat abilities (Miners can throw rocks and debuff "enemies with mineral compositions", while blacksmiths can weaken metal enemies and discover extra loot).  I'm wondering how much grouping will be required to advance in crafting jobs, and whether or not it will be hard to get groups since crafters presumably won't be carrying their weight so much in combat (don't know how easy it is to switch classes and if it's something you'll be able to do between combat).

From the previous link:

Q: Will you be able to change classes during battle? If it’s only possible outside of battle, will you be able to change classes my sheathing your weapon while your party battles?
A: There are two modes in FFXIV: A passive mode, where players can restore HP while walking, and an active mode, where they enter a battle stance with weapons drawn. Players can only change their class in passive mode.

I am mildy curious as to what uses a blacksmith or miner will have in combat - maybe there will be dungeons based solely on mining nodes or maybe going into a dungeon will result in a cave in to which you will need a miner to find a way out or dig a way out. 

[01101010]

http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/

Site is updated. Now with more flesh. Nice to see they are keeping some weapon skill names the same.

[palmer_eldritch]

http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/

Site is updated. Now with more flesh. Nice to see they are keeping some weapon skill names the same.

Flash? You got my hopes up:)

They also have new music on the site, which sounds like it will be the battle theme.

[raydeen]

http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/

Site is updated. Now with more flesh. Nice to see they are keeping some weapon skill names the same.

Flash? You got my hopes up:)

They also have new music on the site, which sounds like it will be the battle theme.

Sounds more like Mission Impossible. Are they trying to tell us something...?

[01101010]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-vjy97RuoA

Ingame look at vendors?

[LK]

Two things worry me about that video:

1. System Requirements
2. Linear Level Design of cities; not so much a world as tiny hubs connected by extremely linear paths.

I want interesting, well-designed cities, not, for example, Windurst. If I have to travel all around town to do town business instead of being able to get back to the game-play that I want, then they'll have failed hard.

I spent way too much time in Bastok moving between illogically placed areas of interest in the city.

[01101010]

Two things worry me about that video:

1. System Requirements
2. Linear Level Design of cities; not so much a world as tiny hubs connected by extremely linear paths.

I want interesting, well-designed cities, not, for example, Windurst. If I have to travel all around town to do town business instead of being able to get back to the game-play that I want, then they'll have failed hard.

I spent way too much time in Bastok moving between illogically placed areas of interest in the city.

Oh I hear ya about the clownshoes cities. I grew up in Windy and fuck that sucked...only I had no idea it sucked due in part to it being my first MMORPG and thus I didn't know any better. Shame on me. Sys requirements are not too outrageous - from what I gleaned off a few fans sites. It looks pretty, and when I say that, I mean it looks like a prettier version of FFXI...which might be a death knell. 

[Koyasha]

I'm not sure I agree about the cities; FFXI cities seemed more like cities than those in say, WoW, where they feel far too small to be cities.

[LK]

Depends on how much virtual world and how much game you want in your MMO. I prefer more "game"; less meaningless travel in a game is something I prefer. I want to move towards the action as optimally (note I didn't say quickly) as possible.

Yes, they have stunning visuals between the hubs. But I'm looking at it from a non-graphics standpoint.

[Rendakor]

Do we have to have that argument again?

[LK]

No.

Game does look a little slow and stiff.

[Velorath]

I'm not sure I agree about the cities; FFXI cities seemed more like cities than those in say, WoW, where they feel far too small to be cities.

I don't think I would have had as much of a problem with the cities in FFXI if the game had the kind of quest journal features of more modern MMO's so it wasn't such a pain in the ass to find a particular NPC.  Obviously that kind of thing wasn't exactly commonplace back when FFXI was developed though.

[01101010]

I'm not sure I agree about the cities; FFXI cities seemed more like cities than those in say, WoW, where they feel far too small to be cities.

I don't think I would have had as much of a problem with the cities in FFXI if the game had the kind of quest journal features of more modern MMO's so it wasn't such a pain in the ass to find a particular NPC.  Obviously that kind of thing wasn't exactly commonplace back when FFXI was developed though.

Back then, I kinda took it as par for the course. Forced a player to explore every nook and cranny and talk to every NPC. Granted, that resulted in me wanting to stab people at times without knowing why. The exploration and stuff was fine with me, but the reward for any quest was shit and didn't take long to see it for just another layer of time sink to boost monthly subs. Travel did get outta hand in that game, but since I didn't get to play EQ in its infancy, that run to Jeuno from a city was epic for me.

[Koyasha]

Yeah, I think the cities would have felt good and been more convenient, if you could see the NPC's you're looking for on your map.  I'd like a system best where the maps automatically display where the NPC's are - once you've met them.  Once you talk to an NPC, they display on your map from then on, but the first time, you have to find them yourself.  I've always thought that sort of 'do it at least once yourself' thing was a good idea.

But yeah, FFXI's quest journal was terrible.  Of course, at the time it wasn't that bad, since your other option was something along the lines of a binder full of scribbled notes, or a text file telling you what X is for, and referencing the quest at Allakhazam.

[Velorath]

A few things:

- The manual for Alpha testers has been leaked in a few places.  I won't link to it here or mention anything in it, but it does have some info that hasn't been publicly released.

- Some more interview stuff here.  Mostly more details about active mode and passive mode as well as some vague stuff about party size.  It also sounds like they're trying to make the game fairly solo friendly:

- Going it Solo  Being able to solo will factor big into the world of Eorzea, and the developers reveal that they are working hard to make a game that does not impede the solo player.  Naturally, since enemies can appear in parties, there will be difficult, or even insurmountable challenges out there.  However, Iwao in particular finds a certain romantic image in the lone adventurer, and hopes to accomodate that playing style to the fullest.

- There have also been some additions to the JP FFXIV site regarding races (lol night elves) which has been translated here.  Each race is broken down into two tribes essentially, so for Humans (Hyuran) for instance you get the Midlanders, who are more intellectual, and Highlanders, who are stronger.

[01101010]

- There have also been some additions to the JP FFXIV site regarding races (lol night elves) which has been translated here.  Each race is broken down into two tribes essentially, so for Humans (Hyuran) for instance you get the Midlanders, who are more intellectual, and Highlanders, who are stronger.

And male only.

[Murgos]

which has been translated here.

There is no here here.

[Velorath]

which has been translated here.

There is no here here.

Fixed now.

[fuser]

Lots of alpha info printed in Famitsu.

[01101010]

I am following an old ffxi friend's livejournal entries. He is basically posting all the NDA alpha stuff he can...

edit: also looks like they are using/testing with a controller  I am going to be very disappointed if its controls/UI is similar to FFXI cryptic shit. I am not saying go all standard WoW fare, but jeezus, those controls were on par with Playonline.

[tmp]

Lots of alpha info printed in Famitsu.

Interesting, they apparently use some variation of the "old school" way of letting the player decide how to change attributes of their character with points gained from whacking foozles, instead of the auto-growth-as-you-level stuff.

[LK]

Lots of alpha info printed in Famitsu.

Interesting, they apparently use some variation of the "old school" way of letting the player decide how to change attributes of their character with points gained from whacking foozles, instead of the auto-growth-as-you-level stuff.

Without respecs, this will create frustration. Honestly, drop a new player into a game and expect them to know how to develop a character involving permanent stat allocation? I'm not even sure how the hell that came into common practice.

[tmp]

Without respecs, this will create frustration.

Yeah, that's a given along with the usual min-max stuff, hence i thought it's interesting they'd go with that. Still, personally i guess i'm just ancient enough to find that rather appealing.

It's also possible the way this system works is similar to what the STO was supposed to have until they put the hard cap in the skill points you could accumulate in it. Of course, ff14 could well have the hard cap, too

[Lantyssa]

Have they said no respecs, either?

[Draegan]

I thought I had read that there weren't any respecs in the testing phase.  I don't know where I read that though.

[01101010]

I thought I had read that there weren't any respecs in the testing phase.  I don't know where I read that though.

The leaked alpha manual, you bad boy you...

[Velorath]

Lot of leaks coming out of this alpha already.  In fact, even the soundtrack has been leaked, or at least 70+ tracks (not sure if there will be more in the final game).

[Draegan]

I thought I had read that there weren't any respecs in the testing phase.  I don't know where I read that though.

The leaked alpha manual, you bad boy you...

Oh yeah.

[01101010]

Lot of leaks coming out of this alpha already.  In fact, even the soundtrack has been leaked, or at least 70+ tracks (not sure if there will be more in the final game).

Yeah... and this gets me curious. There are almost too many leaks in this alpha, my spidey senses are pinging back "suspicious."

[Velorath]

Lot of leaks coming out of this alpha already.  In fact, even the soundtrack has been leaked, or at least 70+ tracks (not sure if there will be more in the final game).

Yeah... and this gets me curious. There are almost too many leaks in this alpha, my spidey senses are pinging back "suspicious."

I wouldn't say it's suspicious really.  The game just happens to have a strong following on sites which don't seem to respect NDA's much.  In particular, I'm somewhat surprised that NeoGAF doesn't seem to moderate NDA breaking given that it's a fairly well known site that a lot of game developers and media types lurk on.  I've seen them post up the Alpha manual on there, post links to download the soundtrack, and post up links to a livestream from a (now banned from testing) Alpha tester.

Also, for Alpha Square only picked FFXI players as testers so just about everybody testing is a rabid hardcore fan that's probably friends with a few dozen other people who didn't make it in that are dying for information.