Defenders of Eorzea trailer...

...And I find myself interested in the game once again.  The new official site is up and there are a few images to grab the attention...



Trailer shows off Ramuh, Frontlines, Crystal Tower II (Syrcus Tower), Kraken, Chocobo raising, Hunts and that snippet of Ishgard at the very end got me raising eyebrows.   is it just me or did that scene with the Holy See and the Knights of Ishgard suddenly reminds one of San d'Oria in FFXI?

By the way, I like the general music theme of the trailer a lot... hopefully the kids on the forums wont start moaning or complaining before the bloody patch is even released.

And on that wonderful note, Have A Nice Day!!!

First look at Ninja and Rogue job classes... Finally!!!

After being gradually frustrated with a few things about the FFXIV game in general, Yoshi and the Devs finally released the first new official video of the new job classes, Ninja and Rogue...



Several readers will remember that I have been itching to have a ninja and samurai class in FFXIV ARR since way back in 2009 and 2010...  so this new information and video is indeed pleasing to the eye.   It will be a pure DPS classI honestly thought the Ninja gear would look something like Edge's from FFIV...

In actual fact, what the Devs have done is recreate Shadow's gear from FFVI...

Well, I'm not disappointed to say the least and I must admit that it fits in more with the current "feel" for Eorzea; but I wont be surprised if the AF gear gradually evolves into an elaborate version of Edge's by the time it gets to the AF 2 version.  That said, the Rogue class and Ninja job was no real surprise to everyone since it had already been blatantly hinted at during the latest patch 2.2 storyline... plus it would make sense to assume that this will also tie into the gradual metamorphosis of Mor Dhona evolving into an independent city state.

But lets get back in track for a second.   It had been mentioned since the recent NicoNico event that these classes (possibly including Musketeer) would be released to us in-game "sooner than we think" and the general concensus has been that it would be in the 2.3 patch.

However, new information trickling down states that it will be in patch 2.4... and though I'm disappointed that Musketeer doesnt seem to be coming anytime soon on the horizon, Im still quite chuffed that we will now get Ninja.  And with that, they also released a new official trailer with the primals and a minor hint of the 2.3 patch...

Yoshi announces "Defenders of Eorzea"

Yep.

As you are all well aware, Yoshi had the first part of his most recent Live Letter completed just a couple hours ago... and formally announced that Patch 2.3 would be titled as "defenders of Eorzea".

Unfortunately, the great Reinhart was not able to do the translations this time around due to his recent employment by SE (congratulations once again)... however, the equally famous Giuseppe Nelva from Dualshockers.com (also known as Abriael on the FFXIV forums) was generous in getting a lot of images from the Live Letter...(CLICK HERE)

 

Thanks for those epic images.  DayCrash also posted up the new but brief preview trailer video on You Tube channel...



Ramuh... Novus weapons... more Hildibrand...more spiffy gear... we shall see how this pans out over the coming months.   Just no more annoying battles like Titan and I think I'll be able to maintain my interest in this game.   Anyways, have fun and until later, be well everyone

Letter from the Producer LVI ... and Sphere Scrolls?

Yep.  However, first off, I sincerely hope you all had a great Easter weekend... I quite enjoyed mine.

Yoshi just released the latest letter from the producer  and mentioned sphere scrolls as being one of the items needed for the next level of Relic weapon upgrade.  I'm skeptical of one thing though... does this mean we gradually abandon our runs for soldiery tomes and then begin a fresh focus on these "spheres of scrolls"?

Guess we shall see.  Speaking of runs, I've been doing the ol' Brayfox spam runs... (that goblin is still one of my favourite NPCs in the game by the way)... 

And I got round to snapping some images while finishing the books...

Of course, in between all the grind, I got my third piece of the truly atrocious Evenstar set... and I cannot stress enough how much I totally HATE the design... dunno what the Devs and artists were thinking...

...Which is precisely why I'm quite thankful for the Glamour system (I still think the term "mirage" sounded better)... and thus,  used my Allagan tunic of casting to cover the hideous Evenstar body.  Anyway, moving along, the Easter even just ended and these are just a few images from around the three starter cities...(I'll dig up the rest later)...

0Players who purchased the Collector's edition were also fortunate to have been given the fat chocobo and the moogle minion (finally!) to coincide with the early release for the PS4 version.  I thought it was awesome to realise that whenever I had my Moogle minon summoned and was idling near any other player also with Moogle minion, they would stary dancing together...

Now THAT's very clever programming on the Dev's part.  Bloody well done.  Speaking of mounts, I briefly ran into my first glimpse of the white warlion mount while in Mor Dhona a couple nights ago.... and almost didnt get a screenshot because the person dismounted seconds after I saw it.  

However, the player (Eureka) was kind enough to re-summon the mount so I could take a few images...

Looks wickedly spiffy, dunnit?  Well, now I'm inspired to get back to tanking.  In the meantime, I'll also put up some more random images... first up, battle effects from... from... hmmm... cant remember now...

And then found someone wearing the High Allagan Healling robe....

Thats all for today folks.  Will be updating more as I find time.  Until later, happy gaming and be well.

Relic Upgrades, Atmas...and PS4 Early Launch

Yeah... those bloody Atmas.

Thinking about them almost made me forget that the PS4 launch for the game was released today.  But you guys all know that already, so I shall swiftly cut to the chase and begin my rant of past frustrations with this Atma thingy.

Been such a busy week for me that I didn't have the time to update the blog since last weekend (when I actually managed to secure all 12 Atmas).   However, I honestly believe I developed a new respect for that word by the fourth day after 2.2 launched... the drop rates on these things are simply ridiculous.

Here was my problem with the Atma FATEs... I didnt mind the grind at all; I already learnt how to like grinding during my old FFXI days.    However, I was stuck at 11/12 from last week Thursday night until two days later (last Saturday).  And I was quite pissed.

What really peeved me off is that you actually put in an immense amount of effort to get the bloody Atma and still have nothing to show for it.   Allow me to explain:

·         You camp the zone for hours staring intently at your map

·         Fate pops... you race there

·         You manage to actually be the one to initiate the FATE

·         You hurriedly gather 30+ items to turn in to the NPC

·         Fate ends... you hold your breath...

·         ]And even though it gives you your 27th successful gold medal of the day, you still dont get an Atma

As you teleport back to camp (muttering colourful words at your screen) you begin to get even more frustrated because you have been making a a very involved and heroic contribution to the fates.  This is exactly where I felt was the root of the problem lies.

I think the AI should have been sophisticated enough to recognize that a player had been in a certain zone for four or five hours straight (or has been actively been involved in FATES in that area for the last two days).  Thus, what would be ideal is that it sequentially begins to gradually adjust based on time vested or active contribution and increase the drop rates for that player.

Honestly, another thing that would have been ideal is that the Atma-Fates were unique and directly related to some lore related to the Twelve... but that's another separate argument for another day.    

For now, I completely understand the idea for the FATEs to be one of the methods of getting the Atma... and it is completely understandable that the Devs are using this Atma-hunt to try and activate dormant or empty zones with players (afterall, no Developer likes to see areas that they spent months creating to be suddenly devoid of players within a few weeks).    

Anyway, the Atma drops are so random that I just HAD to begin a screenshot collection of all the little buggers once I obtained them...

Idid so many FATES that I even mnaged to notch up my 500,000 seals mark and got my Limsa shield (finally!).    Been trying to get it since the closing days of 1.0, so at least something good came outta of this FATEs marathon madness...

Once I had collected all my Atmas. I wandered back to the NPC, and got my first book...

And now I'm spamming Brayfox  (Hard) like mad.  Speaking of which, I actually enjoy the battle dynamics and story line of the new Brayfox and it really is hilarious...loved that machine...

In fact, I have to admit that all three of the new dungeons are very well done... the graphics, the battles, and the music (applauds Soken).  And seeing Diablos again since my ancient FFXI days was quite spiffy...

Managed to also really take my time and pace myself with the new main storyline and I enjoyed it although I felt more could have been achieved.  For instance, I was fervently hoping that an in-depth lore about the Trident race in Limsa would be touched on... but at least they gave us some solid stepping stones that would lead into the obvious new class.  (*Cough--Ninja--Ahem*)

I also found that I geniuely liked Yugiri's character... she is mysterious and yet well written into the general storyline and I would like to see more of her in later patches + expansions...

Ahhhhh... speaking of new quests and missions, I mustn't forget the new Hildbrant and Gilgamesh tales.  Those were simply EPIC... and I had a great chuckle on several parts of the cutscenes.  The battle with Gilgamesh is also spectacular and will have you grinning madly...

What else did I do?    Ahhh.... I also visited the Aesthetician several times to secure a new look (yet again)... and least I forget, I also took a gang of pics during the last doll event...

Finally settled the long hair style you see in the last one you see up there.   Well, that's enought yada yada for now folks.... tanks for the emails, comments, and of course, as requested by Amelia, I will try out the Scholar class more often...

Take care everyone and until later, be well.