FFXI: Seekers of Adoulin expansion announced (yes, in 2012)

[darkewaffle]

http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/...fitable-ff-ever-new-expansion-announced-13639

Awesome, I love the hell out of this game. Two new jobs and a brand new continent is pretty big, and I would love to see the expansion shift things around and take away a lot of the emphasis on Abyssea. Here's hoping for somewhat of a return to form.

PS2 support is being continued in Japan evidently but it sounds like it won't be available in EU or NA. I know they don't want to alienate all the PS2 players (which is evidently a pretty big part of their subscriber base in Japan still) but I can't help but wonder how much more the game could grow if they phased it out finally. I think it's got the absolute best art direction around and all it would really take is some higher res textures and expanded in-game graphics options to really look not just modern, but outstanding.

 

[darkewaffle]

Doing some more reading and from talking to my friends, evidently there's a lot more in this pack as well. An all new UI, a bunch of new crafts/trades, some sort of 'survival' mode while exploring the new continent (living off the land type thing), some sort of system where you can turn into or take control of a monster and play against parties (I think? it's unclear still), and it sounds like more of the 'big' encounters may be less structured given the idea that the new continent is rugged and unexplored.

I'm wondering if they may institute a conquest/influence type system that slowly cultivates the continent and opens up new features/areas as players 'civilize' it; they've done a lot of large scale/macro style events like that in the past.

 

[Arkadrel]

I loved FFXI and played it for like 7years or more or something crazy like that.
However FF14 was about to be released so I stopped playing, thinking new FF MMO would rock the socks off of the old one (haveing done most of the things I wanted in ffxi, at that point).

I gave all my gil away to friends, and deleted my characters (because I didnt want to be drawn back in) (this game is impossible to quit from).

Being lucky enough to get a beta invite to FF14, I thought things going fine.
Then I played ff14 and noticed nothing but bugs/glitches/poor combat system and on general stuff that worked well in ff11 -> craptastic in ff14.

I seriously think SE. should just drop FF14 and make a new MMO thats called FF15, and remake/reuse the systems from FF11 (just new story, new classes ect).

A new expansion for FF11 is the next best thing though, makes me want to play again.

 

[darkewaffle]

Yea, if FFXIV had 14s graphics and cut out some of the interface/action 'lag' and was otherwise identical to 11 I would have loved it. As it was I actually did like the combat but travel, map design, the 'leve' system, character level/class level split (which has since been remedied iirc), it all felt like one step forward two steps back.

I'm really looking forward to 14s 're release' this fall/winter/spring though too, whenever it is. The press material they put out looks like they're really taking re-making the game seriously and I think a lot of the ideas they proposed would do a lot for the game. I'm actually most looking forward to the map re-makes, as one of the best things about FFXI was how vast and intricate each area was which I think was lost in 14.

 

[Arkadrel]

I hated it all..... I dont know wtf those guys in charge of FF14 where thinking.

Im amased how much I could love ff11, and then just hate everything about ff14.
The interface was ment for a consol controller, and was horrible with a keyboard (while ff11 keyboard was awesom, didnt need mouse for anything), there was lag input delay for interface and it was slow, their was surver lag.... I wont go on and on about it but... there was alot wrong with ff14.

What surprised me the most was intire beta forums for ff14, was full of people complaining about everything, and no one listened, they launched the game as it was. That and that they had such a good system in ff11, but rather than keep it (because heaven forbid something that works get re-used) instead they made a pile of crap (just be orginal or new / outside the box).

...it all felt like one step forward two steps back.

exactly how I feel about ff14.

I wont be going back to FF14. I played Beta, to many things to dislike to try the "re-launch" of the game.
I wont be going back to FF11 either as it stands, other newer games out there Id rather try.

In order for me to try another MMO they made, they ll have to "dump" ff14,
and make something thats ALOT more like FF11, before Id give it a go.

 

[PowerYoga]

FF11 took years of my life, but it was one of the best experiences. The story was incredibly great for a MMORPG and made me actually want to finish the quests.

FF14 was shit at launch. A barren lifeless world devoid of conflict and story with stupid leveling mechanis... the game was wholly inadequate to be released in its state. Huge UI lag and a quest system that made it feel like a chore to play through. Apparently it's a lot better now but when you have nowhere to go but up, it's not a good baseline.

 

[Imported]

FF11 took years of my life, but it was one of the best experiences. The story was incredibly great for a MMORPG and made me actually want to finish the quests.

FF14 was shit at launch. A barren lifeless world devoid of conflict and story with stupid leveling mechanis... the game was wholly inadequate to be released in its state. Huge UI lag and a quest system that made it feel like a chore to play through. Apparently it's a lot better now but when you have nowhere to go but up, it's not a good baseline.

I agree. I quit XI in December.. Though I don't think I'll be going back even with this expansion.

 

[sushicide]

tarutarutarutarutarutarutarus

 

[Tweak155]

Reading this is tempting me to start it up again. However, even though I only logged 35 days or so (kinda low for an MMO), I just don't see me going back.

 

[Aikouka]

Being a Final Fantasy fan, I picked up FFXI at release and tried to play it on dial-up. Well, the latter is certainly doable, but not when your connection just randomly stops receiving data. I ended up dubbing that as the "R0 Problem" since FFXI displayed send/receive information, and my "R" (receive) would drop to 0 randomly.

Well, since I couldn't play it, I cancelled my subscription. When I saw that Welcome back to Vana'diel campaign (a few years back), I tried to renew it, but it wouldn't work.

Oh well... the last thing that I need is another MMO.

 

[SS Trooper]

I completely forgot that FFXIV was a thing. It looked so good and I was so excited for it to be the next gen mmo that I ignored the control latency in beta. The whole reason I didn't pull the trigger is because I didn't have a good rig at the time. Then everyone told me it was broken so it fell off my radar.

FFXI was the first MMO I played. I played from my PS2 with a usb keyboard. It was sheer awesomeness. Never has a game pissed me off more than that one, but I still loved it.

 

[manimal]

I still pay for my characters though I log in once a month to say hello to old shell mates but most of them scattered.

I have all these little things I wanted to to in 11 that I just never got around to. All I have to do is beat matt two more times I get a cap >< Trading all those GD fish got me pissed off enough that I dont play anymore

 

[gothamhunter]

This should go F2P...I would play it so much then.

 

[darkewaffle]

I still check FFXIAH even when I'm not playing just to see how things are looking for a shot of nostalgia, the economy in this game is unlike any other, but in a good way.

So many good memories of NM hunting and the FF community. It's in recent years been infiltrated by the ironic frat ubergamer twit (you know, the people who say "bro") state of mind but even still I think it's got a really unique, positive community overall. I remember last time I played, on Cerberus, I randomly ran into this guy while farming leeches in Pashow (interestingly enough, Beastman Blood is worth next to nothing now) who it turns out merged to Cerberus from my old server Hades and I just talked to this stranger for like an hour while out there killing leeches and bees about how the game's changed, the economy's shifted, old players we both knew. Like I've never, ever talked at any length to strangers in any game other than FFXI nor gotten so much willing help from generous players with difficult/lengthy quests.

I remember back when I played at US release when the community was almost all Japanese it was considered impolite to even inspect people without asking them first lol.

 

[PowerYoga]

how dare you look at his gear!

One of the big HNM LSes on my server (midgardsormr) had one guy that is always ridiculously decked out but hates people inspecting him. He also hates non-jp players. So one day one of the NA HNM LS just rounded up around him and all started inspecting his gear... 30-40 guys doing it. He logged off about 5 minutes later.

 

[Aikouka]

Can you tell when someone inspects you?

 

[PowerYoga]

yes. "____ checks you" or "____ is inspecting you". You can also turn off the notifications.

 

[manimal]

I would always hit a macro when I got inspected changing gear making them stop examining me ^^


/em farts

I would even change into a sweet HQ level 25 subligar that I crafted and put on my chef hat and odd assorted pieces for a WTF gear set.

people would examine and ask wtf are you doing>?

I would say crafting pies while fishing and drinking beer~!

 

[Arkadrel]

This should go F2P...I would play it so much then.

I could picture that actually.....tons of consumables;

Ninjitsu Tools in packs buyable for real money.
Ranger Arrows in packs buyable for real money.
Oils for puppetmaster in buyable packs.
Food types in packs buyable
Drink types in packs buyable
Potion types in packs buyable

Potion that gives +refresh effect duration 1 week in shop.
Potion that gives +exp buff effect duration 1 week in shop.


Smaller Inventory for Free2play unless they bought a item to make it larger.

Maybe a Exp potion that auto levels you up to level 50 (so new characters can join in on lateron activities) (if they pay for it, instead of spending 2 weeks grinding exp)

Starter packs of item sets? of a decent quality in shop
(ofcourse not that highest level ones, but from level10 -> 60 or something).

How about Crafting bundles of crafting ingredients for various levels of crafting in bundle packs?




I actually think theres big enough demand for various items, that a free2play model could work. It would make some major changes to the player economy though.

 

[manimal]

man two weeks to get to 50.....

Took me a year to reach 70 the first time at NA launch.

 

[Arkadrel]

@Manimal

It depends on how fast you level ofcourse, some people can find a good exp group and start together 8-12hours of pure exp grind that just goes flawless and you ll shoot up in levels.

Other times, you ll find open spot in a tired exp pt thats just about to break up and maybe only get a hours worth, before going back to LFG.

Two weeks to get to 50, isnt so bad actually. Id say most can do 75+ within 1 month.
But again this depends on how well you know the game, if you have gear for leveling, right subjobs and luck with groups.

First job I leveled up in ffxi took ages too
Once you know all the sweet spots, have all the needed subjobs and item sets for leveling, things go alot smoother.



Seriously though.... Free2play could get me playing FFXI again.
I love the TP->WS -> Skillchain -> MB system.
And I love that all the modiferes are differnt for most things, and that you could gear swap to maximise each ability.
That made no 1 peice of armor "best", you ended up minimum haveing:

1 item set for WS
1 item set for TP
1 item set for healing abilties
1 item set for magic bursting
ect
ect

so much loot to gather to maximise your character.

 

[Imported]

Or if you were like me on some jobs, you just went with one or two sets. Like my WHM had a +CutePot and -Phys set (which doubled for every mage job I had).. and that was it. My MNK on the otherhand must have had 3-4 sets for everyday use.. TP, WS, tank, eva, mixes of them, the oh-shit set.. lol. Having Windower and its macro abilities really made the game so much better for me.

After Abyssea, getting 50 was a joke. Actually, getting whatever max the level was was a joke.

 

[Paul98]

whaaat, I stopped playing a few months ago because there was very little that I hadn't done that I still wanted to do. Along with so little new real content.

I will most likely play again in a couple months to see how things are going and what new stuff there is to do and explore.

the removal of the 75 cap and addition of abyssea, and other stuff during that time allowed me to come back and play for quite a while. Where as normally I come back for a month then stop playing for a few months again.

 

[zokudu]

Love this game but quit playing when my ps2 died years ago. I got back into it a few months ago when there was a sale on Steam. Def going to be getting this and playing some more.

 

[darkewaffle]

The new Grounds of Valor books are pretty crazy for 'normal' levelling; higher rewards than the old Field of Valor books along with buffs for completing each page and pages that auto-repeat. Me and two friends were in Korroloka synced to like 27 and after an hour or two our sync was 34-35 and I went from just under 57 to just over 59 I think.

It's actually kind of nice though, stuff like that strikes a decent balance between the uber-grind of years past and the uber-speed of Abyssea, especially for small parties.