Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV bringing you another producer's letter all the way live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/final-fantasy-xiv-bringing-you-another-producers-letter-all-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/final-fantasy-xiv-bringing-you-another-producers-letter-all-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/final-fantasy-xiv-bringing-you-another-producers-letter-all-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Not on the agenda: gunblades.
Between the release of patch 1.19 and the announcements regarding the game's future, Final Fantasy XIV has been drumming up quite a bit of excitement from its fans. And what better way to capitalize on that excitement than to have another installment of the producer's letter live for everyone to enjoy? On November 3rd, Naoki Yoshida will once again be taking to the broadcast waves to answer player questions about the most recent patch and future updates.

The official announcement notes that the particulars of the broadcast are not yet determined, but as with the previous live event, players can submit questions in advance or via Twitter on the day itself. While Yoshida will strive to answer as many questions as possible, there will be time constraints, and of course the audio will be in Japanese with a translation to come further down the road. Still, it's a chance to get more questions about the game answered by the man with the plan himself, and that's something many players will no doubt be excited by.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV bringing you another producer's letter all the way live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadcastffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlive-broadcastnaoki-yoshidaproducers-letterq-and-aquestions-and-answersreal-world-eventssquaresquare-enixTue, 25 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Non-reactive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-mog-log-non-reactive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-mog-log-non-reactive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-mog-log-non-reactive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
As pretty much everyone reading this column knows, there was a big bombshell dropped on the community on Friday of last week. As at least a few people reading this column also know, this column is written on Thursday. This isn't the first time that this has been relevant to the discussion, but what might seem a bit unusual is that last week's column did not discuss 2.0 or the billing cycle at all. It just continued on with my impressions of 1.19. To be quite honest, my actual Friday was spent at the local casino for dinner and some shopping.

I could have, of course, written a new column for last week by virtue of that breaking news. Certainly it was big. But as it stands, I looked at it, considered it, and realized that I didn't actually have a strong reaction to what had been announced. I was vaguely excited about 2.0, of course, but for the most part all of the big sweeping announcements about the future of Final Fantasy XIV didn't make nearly the impression that one might think. And there's a good reason for that, I believe -- it's because these announcements weren't as sudden or shocking as they look at face value.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Non-reactive

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Non-reactive originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changescolumnculturefeaturedfeesffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19ffxiv-patch-1.20final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfinal-fantasy-xiv-2.0naoki-yoshidaopinionsquaresquare-enixupdatesyoshi-pyoshidaSat, 22 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Our interview with Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/our-interview-with-final-fantasy-xivs-naoki-yoshida/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/our-interview-with-final-fantasy-xivs-naoki-yoshida/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/our-interview-with-final-fantasy-xivs-naoki-yoshida/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Spot all the references! The one on the left may evade you.
There are big changes on the horizon for Final Fantasy XIV, as revealed last Friday. After a year of free play, the game is bringing its extended free trial to a close and setting the stage for further large-scale improvements, culminating in the preview of "version 2.0" that will change the face of the world and the game forever. It promises to be a year filled with new content, time-limited events, and plenty for players to enjoy as the new version approaches.

We were fortunate to have a chance to talk with the man at the head of all the changes, Naoki Yoshida, about the changes already put into place and the ones on the horizon. Past the break are Yoshida's opening remarks regarding the state of the game and the community as well as our questions, which covered everything from class balance to the end of the very extended free trial period.

Continue reading Our interview with Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida

MassivelyOur interview with Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceclassesdevelopmentf14featuredffffxivffxiv-patch-1.19ffxiv-patch-1.20final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfinal-fantasy-xiv-2.0future-patchesgame-mechanicsinterviewinterviewslaunchesmechanicsnaoki-yoshidapatchesrelaunchesrevampssquaresquare-enixupdatesyoshi-pFri, 21 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Love potion number 1.19]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/the-mog-log-love-potion-number-1-19/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/the-mog-log-love-potion-number-1-19/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/the-mog-log-love-potion-number-1-19/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
I've had another week to digest the enormous patch that we got last week, and I have to say that... I'm still not done. Really. I'm no longer in the stage of absolute baffled disbelief, but I haven't yet gotten a firm grip on all the changes. Heck, I haven't had time to explore all of them to my satisfaction. I've been questing and riding a chocobo hither and yon and noticing how repairs now cost me essentially pocket change.

But I promised more talk about the patch this time around, and I've got more. I just want to emphasize how enormous this patch really is, bigger than any of its predecessors -- and considering how big several of Final Fantasy XIV's previous updates were, I'd say that's saying something. So let's talk about experience chains and powerleveling, class balance, and of course materia just past the break. Or rather, I'll talk. You know what I mean.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Love potion number 1.19

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Love potion number 1.19 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicsgrand-companiesguildleveslevesmateriaopinionpatchesquestssquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logupdatesSat, 15 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Patch notes for Final Fantasy XIV's 1.19a update unveiled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/patch-notes-for-final-fantasy-xivs-1-19a-update-unveiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/patch-notes-for-final-fantasy-xivs-1-19a-update-unveiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/patch-notes-for-final-fantasy-xivs-1-19a-update-unveiled/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No one expects the Immortal Flames! Or the patch release.
Patch 1.19 is still fresh in the minds of every Final Fantasy XIV player; it was a big change for the game that ushered in a lot of welcome additions and improvements. But not quite everything was ready for prime time when the patch went live, leading to the promise of a patch 1.19a with a few more features. With the patch having just gone live, patch notes for 1.19a have understandably been released, and the latest notes should continue to make players happy with several further updates beyond the obvious elements held over from 1.19.

Aside from the addition of the third beastman stronghold and the implementation of levequest history evaluations, the patch will bring the long-desired feature by which the game remembers your bar layouts when you switch classes rather than forcing you to re-arrange bars each time. There have also been several bugfixes and price reductions on several vendor-sold items across the cities. While this latest bridging patch won't be the game-changer of its predecessor, it should still be welcome when the servers come back online from the patch process.

MassivelyPatch notes for Final Fantasy XIV's 1.19a update unveiled originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
So there was a Final Fantasy XIV patch on Tuesday. Maybe you heard about it. It was only all over the parts of the internet that care about Final Fantasy XIV, and even some that don't. This was not a patch in the traditional sense; it was a huge reworking and revamping of several parts of the game.

It's a big patch, that's what I'm getting at. And I've spent the past several days diving into it with all the time I've had because this is the sort of thing that really changes a lot of core assumptions about the game.

So it's been a time of empirical testing, a time of leveling, a time of dropping a lot of gil on new pieces of equipment and getting ready to tell my readers whether this patch was everything promised or fell flat. And truth be told, there's too much to address even in one column. But I can at least get started.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Patch 1.19

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Patch 1.19 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsexperiencefeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgrand-companiesguildleveslevelinglevequestslevesmajor-updatesopinionpatchesquestssoloingsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logupdatesSat, 08 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Patch 1.19 delayed for Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/patch-1-19-delayed-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/patch-1-19-delayed-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/patch-1-19-delayed-for-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Yeah, he'll probably knock you all down, too.
While Final Fantasy XIV players were eagerly looking toward the end of the week for the game's newest patch, it's going to take just a few days longer for everything to be finished. In his latest letter to the community, Naoki Yoshida apologized for the delay but confirmed that in order to complete the testing process, the development team is holding the patch until October 4th. The guildleve history evaluation and the Ixali stronghold will also be held until 1.19a for further testing and refinement.

On the plus side, the full patch notes for patch 1.19 will be available for viewing on September 30th. Yoshida also included a video preview of the upcoming Ifrit battle that will go live in 1.19, showing what players can expect from the first skirmish against this mighty primal. Jump on past the break to take a look at the fight as well as some hints of the game personalities involved once the patch goes live next Tuesday.

Continue reading Patch 1.19 delayed for Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyPatch 1.19 delayed for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlebattle-previewffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivifritnaoki-yoshidanewspatch-delaypatch-notespatch-previewpatchespreviewsquaresquare-enixvideovideosTue, 27 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV shows off upcoming transportation innovations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-upcoming-transportation-innovations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-upcoming-transportation-innovations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/final-fantasy-xiv-shows-off-upcoming-transportation-innovations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Well now, everybody's heard about the bird, b-b-b-bird bird bird, bird is the word...
In any installment of the Final Fantasy franchise, mounting your noble steed means getting on a trusty yellow bird. Final Fantasy XIV has been distinctly lacking in chocobos for some time now, but with patch 1.19, all of that is being fixed. And better yet, the official site has just put together a preview of how the systems behind these mounts and the new airships will work... not to mention a preview video featuring the tune players are eagerly awaiting.

Players who have fully enlisted with a Grand Company will be able to purchase a personal chocobo for 3000 company seals, which will allow unrestricted access to your personal bird. Players without that option can still rent a bird for 800 gil as long as they've achieved level 10. Last but not least, airships will allow players rapid transit between the city states. But if you're the sort who won't believe it until you see it, jump past the break for all the bird-riding action you can imagine.

Continue reading Final Fantasy XIV shows off upcoming transportation innovations

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV shows off upcoming transportation innovations originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airshipschocoboffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivnewspatchespreviewsquaresquare-enixupdatesvideovideosThu, 22 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest producer's letter for Final Fantasy XIV talks patch release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/newest-producers-letter-for-final-fantasy-xiv-talks-patch-relea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/newest-producers-letter-for-final-fantasy-xiv-talks-patch-relea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/newest-producers-letter-for-final-fantasy-xiv-talks-patch-relea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What do you mean it's not symbolic?
Whether or not you've liked the direction Naoki Yoshida has chosen for Final Fantasy XIV, it's hard to fault him for communication. His letters to the community have become a regular event, and even in the briefest installment he finds the space to share some interesting developments. The newest letter, for instance, is definitely on the shorter side, but it also confirms a target date of September 30th for the launch of the game's next major patch.

Patch 1.19 is heavily anticipated by players, bringing with it chocobos, new content, and a variety of other systems. And not only is Yoshida planning to release the notes for said patch early, but the letter also hints at another major update -- the addition of another 100 item slots for characters and 50 more for each retainer, greatly expanding each individual's storage capacity. While the letter also notes that the patch may be delayed by a few days depending on the final round of testing, it should be enough for FFXIV players to see that the team is hard at work on the patch.

MassivelyNewest producer's letter for Final Fantasy XIV talks patch release originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivnaoki-yoshidapatchpatchesproducers-lettersquaresquare-enixupcoming-patchesWed, 21 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV gearing up to celebrate its foundation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/final-fantasy-xiv-gearing-up-to-celebrate-its-foundation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/final-fantasy-xiv-gearing-up-to-celebrate-its-foundation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/final-fantasy-xiv-gearing-up-to-celebrate-its-foundation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's kind of strange that the Maelstrom is far and away the most stylish of the companies. You'd expect Ul'dah.
Another holiday is just around the corner for Final Fantasy XIV players, but this one is a bit different than the usual fantastic interpretations of real-world holidays. No, it's Foundation Day, a day celebrating the formation of the original Grand Companies of Eorzea nearly a thousand years ago, starting on a day that will be quite familiar to anyone who has been playing the game for... well, just about a year now. (Surely there's no need to spell that out.)

Starting on September 22nd and running until October 11th, the event will see recruitment officers for each of the companies stationed in the three cities, attempting to elicit more permanent membership from the adventurers running about. Exactly what the event will entail isn't yet known, but it's a safe bet that it will involve company seals and tie in to the upcoming expansions of the company system in patch 1.19. It also hints that we may see that patch on an obvious date, considering that the event will likely have to be patched in...

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV gearing up to celebrate its foundation originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversary-eventsffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivin-game-eventsnewssquaresquare-enixFri, 16 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Caravan security missions marching to Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/caravan-security-missions-marching-to-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/caravan-security-missions-marching-to-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/caravan-security-missions-marching-to-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We've got a great big convoy rolling through the night, we've got a great big convoy, ain't she a beautiful sight? Come on and join our convoy, ain't nothing gonna get in our way, we'll ride this rocking convoy for seals all through the day. CONVOY!
The list of features being added to Final Fantasy XIV in patch 1.19 just keeps growing. Not only will players be able to ride on the back of a chocobo, but a new set of missions for caravan defense will let players beat marauding fiends away from those selfsame yellow birds. And there are even Grand Company seals to be obtained in the exchange, which just sweetens the deal for players investing time and effort into the system.

Each of the Grand Companies will have a different caravan to protect and will enlist the aid of full members in ensuring the caravan's safety during its march from an aetheryte camp to one of the nearby hamlets. Monsters will attack the caravan in turn, sometimes driving off birds and sometimes outright damaging the cargo, and it will be up to players to feed, calm, and protect the chocobos laden with supplies. Once the caravan arrives at its destination, players will receive seals based on how much cargo actually made it to its objective -- a chance to earn more currency and get some nice experience out of the event.

MassivelyCaravan security missions marching to Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caravan-defensecaravan-securitychocobosdefenseffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmission-typesmissionsnew-contentnew-missionsnewssquaresquare-enixThu, 15 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV previewing beastman strongholds and UI improvements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/final-fantasy-xiv-previewing-beastman-strongholds-and-ui-improve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/final-fantasy-xiv-previewing-beastman-strongholds-and-ui-improve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/final-fantasy-xiv-previewing-beastman-strongholds-and-ui-improve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The amalj'aa have a culture of hospitality.
Fans of Final Fantasy XIV are eagerly anticipating the arrival of patch 1.19, which promises to bring no shortage of improvements to the game's mechanics and content. The previews of the patch are still ongoing, and the latest round covers both the changes coming to the game's UI and the upcoming strongholds for the beast tribes. Strongholds are described as challenging content for groups of adventurers, requiring a party to fight through guards to reach a central notorious monster, with the first preview covering the amalj'aa compound known as Zahar'ak.

The UI changes include the long-requested feature to make aetheryte, retainer bells, and similar environmental objects directly targetable. But that's the least of the improvements that include a UI lock feature, several adjustments to text colors to help indicate item quality and rank, and an auto-compare feature for equipment bought from vendors or retainers. While there's still no word on exactly when FFXIV players can look forward to the update going live, all signs point to "soon" for the latest major update.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV previewing beastman strongholds and UI improvements originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmajor-patchesmajor-updatespatchespreviewssquaresquare-enixuiupdatesuser-interfaceMon, 12 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Point by point]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-mog-log-point-by-point/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-mog-log-point-by-point/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-mog-log-point-by-point/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
Physical levels are leaving Final Fantasy XIV. We've all known that for a while, to the point that I even wrote a column speculating, in part, about what will happen to the whole bonus point system once that change goes live. As it turns out, what will happen for the time being is that it will be abandoned altogether, with character development going automated until at least 1.20. No more allocation of points to attributes any longer, and no word on what this will mean for the many traits designed to muck about with attribute distribution.

This is going to result in a bit of a downgrade for some players (if you're physical 40 and leveling something at rank 10, for instance), but by and large it's also going to help correct a longstanding issue that the game has had. We've got a lot more options for playing around with attributes and abilities when it comes to FFXIV than we did in Final Fantasy XI, but the downside of the breadth has been the simple problem that no one knows what the attrbute values actually mean. You know the number, but the number itself is pretty much meaningless.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Point by point

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Point by point originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attributesbalancecolumnfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivlevelsopinionpointssquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logupdatesvaluesSat, 10 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Patch 1.19 bringing leve reset changes for Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/patch-1-19-bringing-leve-reset-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/patch-1-19-bringing-leve-reset-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/patch-1-19-bringing-leve-reset-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mor Dhona's creepiness value will also be adjusted upward by approximately 10%.
The reset timer for leves has long been a point of contention for Final Fantasy XIV players, with the 36-hour interval feeling rather stifling at the best of times. But that system is being changed, and while there will still be limitations on how many leves a player can have at one time, the restrictions will be greatly lessened. The new system has just been outlined on the official site, with a new 12-hour timer for resets being just the tip of the metaphorical iceberg.

At each 12-hour reset, players will be given an opportunity to acquire four new leves, with up to 99 total allowances stacking. These resets are shared across all leve types, ensuring that players will always have full access to content of an appropriate level for whatever classes they care to level. There's also a new evaluation system in place that allows players to acquire new leves based on recent history, replacing the old evaluation system with the promise of further content enhancements. While 1.19 doesn't yet have a release date on the table, most players will likely be excited enough by the promise of an easier and more straightforward system for leveling any chosen discipline.

MassivelyPatch 1.19 bringing leve reset changes for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivguildleve-resetsguildleveslevequestsnew-systemspatchesresetssquaresquare-enixtimersupdatesFri, 09 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Land and Hand rising]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/the-mog-log-land-and-hand-rising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/the-mog-log-land-and-hand-rising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/the-mog-log-land-and-hand-rising/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header illustration by A. Fienemann
Two big pieces of news came out of the development pipeline for Final Fantasy XIV over the past couple of weeks. First, we're seeing a big streamlining process coming to crafting. Second, we're seeing a brand-new stealth ability for Disciples of the Land and only Disciples of the Land. Like clockwork, the former has already started prompting questions about dumbing down the game or stripping out the fun of crafting, and the latter has prompted all sorts of questions about balance and whether or not it's removing something integral to the game.

Of course, we've also seen no shortage of people happy about both of these changes; I don't mean to imply that there's some sort of uniform opposition to this approach. And these are big changes, without a doubt. Coeurl Step essentially removes monsters from the equation for all but the rarest gathering attempts, and changes to synthesis greatly simplify the system's overall level of complexity. It's easy to see both of these as negatives, but it's also easy to see both of them as positives when you look at the roles of the classes in the game and the overall thrust of the changes.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Land and Hand rising

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Land and Hand rising originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsfeaturedfeaturesffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivopinionpatchessimplifyingsquaresquare-enixstreamliningthe-mog-logupdatesSat, 27 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Materia system detailed for Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/materia-system-detailed-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/materia-system-detailed-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/materia-system-detailed-for-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The preview does not specify if smallclothes can be turned into materia. I find the concept horrifying.
Characters always wind up acquiring old and beloved pieces of equipment, ranging from a valuable dropped weapon to just a particularly nicely itemized ring. But with time, equipment grows obsolete or just no longer serves your needs. Normally, that means a trip to the nearest vendor, but Final Fantasy XIV is introducing a new system that turns your old gear into boosts for your new gear. The Materia system is coming with patch 1.19, and a detailed preview has been added to the official site.

When the patch goes live, all equipment will have a "Spiritbond" value that rises from zero to 100% as you make use of the item. Once the value is at 100%, the item can be converted to materia that is subsequently attached to a new item, giving enhanced values to the new item. The system makes full use of combat, gathering, and crafting professions, and from the looks of the overview it will enable all three to make some significant gains in power.

MassivelyMateria system detailed for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enchantmentsequipmentequipment-improvementffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicsitem-enchantmentsitem-enhancementsmaterianew-systemsnewspreviewssquaresquare-enixsystemsFri, 26 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV talks about the new stealthy gathering]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Pictured: stealth.
It's not always easy being a gatherer in Final Fantasy XIV. Sure, you get all of the features of a full-fledged class, and that's pretty nice. You are sent out into the wild amidst hordes of ravenous beasts, however, and you aren't given many defensive options beyond "try to throw a rock at things." At least, that's the case at the moment. Patch 1.19 is bringing a major change to the way Disciplines of the Land handle their trade, with a new ability known as Coeurl Step.

Named after the cat-like monsters found across the series, the new ability permits gatherers to enter an undetectable state for various tiers of levels at the cost of a severe drop in movement speed. Stealth can be maintained even while gathering, however, allowing players to sneak right past aggressive monsters and take their bounty from the land with ease. While Coeurl Step is exclusive to the gathering classes, there are few players who haven't picked up one gathering class or another, so most of the playerbase will benefit from the option to go incognito.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV talks about the new stealthy gathering originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesdisciples-of-the-landdisciplines-of-the-landffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgatheringgathering-classesnewsnon-combat-classessquaresquare-enixstealthupdatesMon, 22 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV streamlining the crafting process]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/final-fantasy-xiv-streamlining-the-crafting-process/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/final-fantasy-xiv-streamlining-the-crafting-process/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/final-fantasy-xiv-streamlining-the-crafting-process/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

She's making beeswax.
Crafting in Final Fantasy XIV is involved. Not just the mechanics of crafting an item, but also figuring out the frequently broad range of different items and skills needed for seemingly simple pieces of equipment. It can be immersive, but it's also frequently counterproductive and takes the whole process further than is necessary. Which is why the advent of patch 1.19 will see a major change to several crafting recipes, adding new formulas to the game that will allow players an easier path through the crafting system.

The overall goal is to reduce the number of intermediate steps needed to craft an item and reduce the number of parts that go into the construction of each item, thereby reducing both inventory clutter and the glut of of necessary crafts. While only a handful of specific examples are shown, they demonstrate that crafters should find the new recipes much easier to put together without extensive searching. But if you've still got Hempen Shirtsleeves clogging your inventory, fear not, as the old recipes will remain in place for a while. For the most part, it should be a welcome announcement that will make each act of crafting that much less ornate.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV streamlining the crafting process originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingcrafting-processffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivprofessionssquaresquare-enixstreamliningupdatesThu, 18 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest producer's letter looks forward to player-owned chocobos in Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/newest-producers-letter-looks-forward-to-player-owned-chocobos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/newest-producers-letter-looks-forward-to-player-owned-chocobos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/newest-producers-letter-looks-forward-to-player-owned-chocobos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Chocobo knights like chocobo days.
In most games, when you think of a noble steed, you think of a horse. But Final Fantasy XIV players have been looking forward to the large yellow birds that have always defined the series' transportation, and they're not that far off. Naoki Yoshida's latest producer's letter is all about patch 1.19, and that includes the system he promises to dub "My Little Chocobo."

Okay, he's actually fairly certain that the name won't make it into the game. But the patch does have a very long list of changes, including rentable chocobos and fully purchasable birds via the Grand Company system. And that's hardly the extent of the changes -- the upcoming patch will also feature further overhauls to the combat system, the abolition of physical level, and of course new leves and quests including Grand Company leves. FFXIV fans don't have a precise date to expect the patch just yet, but they'll probably be more than happy with the promise of a yellow steed of their own.

MassivelyNewest producer's letter looks forward to player-owned chocobos in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocoboffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivnaoki-yoshidanewspatchespreviewsquaresquare-enixupdatesMon, 15 Aug 2011 20:45:00 EST