As announced on topics this morning, the August version update is set to take place on Tuesday, August 6th, and Producer Akihiko Matsui has written up a message about the content as well as changes to the implementation schedule for certain elements. Please have a read!

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Hello all, Matsui here.

I have an announcement regarding the August version update.

The August version update is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, August 6, 2013.

The development team is working as hard as possible to add new Seekers of Adoulin missions, implement Monstrosity, add artifact equipment for geomancer and rune fencer, and make adjustments to reives.

So with that said, check out this screenshot of one of the missions!



I'd like to apologize to everyone who was really looking forward to the addition of new skirmishes and coalition assignment adjustments. Due to QA testing and balance adjustments, we will be pushing this back to an additional version update to come after the August 6th version update.

However, it will be possible to obtain the new skirmish parts starting August 6th (This will be nice as there should be an increase in the amount in circulation.). Also, we will be simultaneously increasing the rate in which you can obtain these parts as well as increasing the opportunities for obtaining higher ranking parts.

We are doing our best so that the additional version updates can take place around the end of August, so it would be great if you could start acquiring the new Bayld equipment, gathering up statue segments and existing skirmish weapons, and reading up on the new skirmish information that will be released beforehand in preparation. (We will be making a follow-up on the progress and schedule of the additional version update.)

By the way, the new skirmishes will involve protecting strongholds while defending against incoming monsters, and destroying monster spawn points.



You'll also be able to do things like set up barriers. (It'll be possible to place up to four.)



The Login Campaign scheduled for August will be affected by the additional version update, and as such we will be taking that into account for the campaign period.

Also there is another thing I would like to mention.
The additional momentum bonuses for reives that were announced previously have had their implementation period changed due to the fact that other reive adjustments have been given a higher priority.

During the August 6th version update, we will be revamping the evaluation methods for colonization reives, lair reives, and wildskeeper reives; and we will be making adjustments to colonization reives and lair reives in Yahse Hunting Grounds, Ceizak Battlegrounds, Sih Gates, Moh Gates, Morimar Basalt Fields, and Foret de Hennetiel.

In addition to the above, we will be provisionally removing the "Shortsighted Panopt" in Yorcia Weald in order to make it easier to take on lair reives in that area. We decided to adopt this method in order to make it in time for the version update as it is also directly related the increase of the colonization rate as well as wildskeeper reive battles.

We are planning to add the reive momentum bonuses and re-implement the "Shortsighted Panopt" in a version update to come after the one that is scheduled to take place at the end of August.

We've been receiving various feedback regarding equipment stat adjustments, and I had been preparing a response; however the volume of text starting to get very large, so I will be organizing it a bit and posting it in the coming days.

Also, Fujito has made a post regarding Mog Gardens, so please be sure to check it out.

Now then, I've created a list of the content scheduled for the August version update.

Missions/Quests

Implementation Period Update task and overview Task being worked on Notes
August Latter half of the Seeker of Adoulin missions Addition to the Seekers of Adoulin main story. -
August Seekers of Adoulin quests Addition of quests to Adoulin areas. Scenario progression quests and colonization system quests will be separate.
Implement quests that expand on the lore.
August [NEW]
Monstrosity quests		 [NEW]
Addition of Monstrosity-related quests.		 -
August Artifact quests for new jobs Add artifact quests for rune fencer. -
Add artifact quests for geomancer. -
End of August Adjustments to "Support" coalition assignments for the Couriers’ Coalition Set additional bonuses depending on the distance and bivouac condition. Implementation has been changed from the August version update to the additional update scheduled for the end of August.
August [NEW]
Adjustments to “Support” coalition assignments for the Couriers’ Coalition 		[NEW]
Bayld rewards for “Support: Yorcia Weald” and “Support: Marjami Ravine” will be increased.
-
End of August Adjustments to “Survey” coalition assignments for the Scouts' Coalition Set bonuses depending on the difficulty. Implementation has been changed from the August version update to the additional update scheduled for the end of August.
August [NEW]
Login Campaign		 [NEW]
Add new items.		 -
August [NEW]
Abyssea campaign		 [NEW]
Prepare the system for the campaign.
 -


Areas/Monsters

Implementation period Update task and overview Task being worked on Notes
August [NEW]
Adjustments to monster positioning		 [NEW]
Adjustments to make it safer to move with “Climbing Skill” in Sih Gates, Dho Gates, and Marjami Ravine.		 -
[NEW]
Temporarily removing the “Shortsighted Panopt” in Yorcia Weald.		 Planning to re-implement in a version update to take place at a later date.
Panopts that spawn in reives will not be included.
August [NEW]
Addition of missions battles		 [NEW]
Add mission-related battles.		 -
August [NEW]
Addition of quest battles for new job artifact equipment		 [NEW]
Add quest battles for rune fencer artifact equipment quests.		 -
August [NEW]
Addition of quest battles for new job artifact equipment 		[NEW]
Add quest battles for geomancer artifact equipment quests. 		-
End of August [NEW]
Unlock new areas		 [NEW]
Unlock skirmish areas.		 Implementation has been changed from the August version update to the additional update scheduled for the end of August.
End of August [NEW]
Addition of skirmish monsters		 [NEW]
Add skirmish monsters.		 Implementation has been changed from the August version update to the additional update scheduled for the end of August.
August [NEW]
Addition of monster data for Monstrosity		 [NEW]
Add monster data for Monstrosity.		 -
August [NEW]
Adjustments to monster respawn delay		 [NEW]
Reduce the respawn timers for non-aggressive monsters in East Ronfaure/West Ronfaure/North Gustaberg/South Gustaberg/East Sarutabaruta/West Sarutabaruta.		 Notorious monsters will not be included.


Content/System

Implementation period Update task and overview Task being worked on Notes
August Mog Garden feature expansion [NEW]
Additions to the “light of a star” exchange system.		 -
[NEW]
Increase the maximum rank of gathering points to 5.		 -
[NEW]
Add items that can be used in Mog Gardens.		 It will be possible to use food, fireworks, crystal clusters, movement items, and costume items while in Mog Gardens.
[NEW]
Add items that can be used as seeds and fertilizer.		 It will be possible to plant roots and bulbs.
August Addition of Monstrosity Add feature that allows players to transform into monsters. -
Add system that allows players to battle as monsters. -
End of August Additions of skirmishes - Implementation has been changed from the August version update to the additional update scheduled for the end of August.
August Increase coalition ranks Increase the maximum coalition rank to 7. -
Add coalition items, services, and appearance changes.
End of August Adjustments to Frontier Bivouac maintenance rate Adjustment coalition assignments which address this. Implementation has been changed from the August version update to the additional update scheduled for the end of August.
End of August Adjustments to Ergon Loci maintenance rates Adjust coalition assignments that address this. Implementation has been changed from the August version update to the additional update scheduled for the end of August.
August Blackout countermeasures Implement feature that allows you to set the number of characters that are displayed for all areas. -
[NEW]
Addition of feature that allows you to restrict the display of weather and geographical effects.		 -
[NEW]
Addition of feature to restrict the display of other characters’ equipment (armor).		 -
August Changes to /check display message depending on item level - When equipping items that have an item level displayed, the message displayed when using /check will vary depending on your average item level.
August [NEW]
Addition of /check message		 [NEW]
Add “incredibly easy prey.”		 -
August Adjustments to the amount of experience points gained Adjustments to the amount of experience points gained when an enemy is 6 levels or higher than a level 99 character. -
August [NEW]
Adjustments to the effects of geomancer’s geocolure spells		 - -
August [NEW]
Abyssea adjustments		 [NEW]
Increase the rate in which seals can be received through quests in Abyssea-Attohwa/Abyssea-Misareaux/Abyssea-Vunkerl/Abyssea-Altepa/Abyssea-Uleguerand/Abyssea-Grauberg.
-
[NEW]
Reduce the amount of Cruor needed to purchase Empyrean equipment.		 -
[NEW]
Reduce the amount of Resistance Credits needed to purchase Empyrean equipment.
 -
[NEW]
Implement a system where you can trade any three Empyrean feet for the foot equipment of your choice.
 The foot gear required to trade, as well the item you receive, will be the base (non upgraded) item.


Reives

Implementation period Update task and overview Task being worked on Notes
- Addition of reive momentum bonuses - Implementation period has been changed from the August version update.
Colonization Reive and Lair Reive adjustments are being given priority for the August version update.
August [NEW]
Revamps to the evaluation methods for Colonization Reives, Lair Reives, and Wildskeeper Reives		 [NEW]
Increase evaluation points for elemental-based attacks.		 -
August [NEW]
Adjustments to Lair Reives		 [NEW]
Adjustments to the difficulty and respawn rate of Lair Reives in Morimar Basalt Fields and Foret de Hennetiel (*)		 *The deeper in each area a Lair Reive is located, the stronger the lair will become and the amount of experience points and Bayld awarded will increase.
[NEW]
Add new skirmish parts as rewards for completing Lair Reives		 New skirmish parts will be obtainable in the August version update.
[NEW]
Increase the rate in which skirmish parts can be obtained.		 -
[NEW]
Increase the rate in which high ranking skirmish parts can be obtained.		 -
[NEW]
Lower the HP of lairs in Yahse Hunting Grounds and Ceizak Battlegrounds.		 -
August [NEW]
Adjustments to Colonization Reives		 [NEW]
Adjustments to the difficulty of colonization reives in Morimar Basalt Fields and Foret de Hennetiel (*) 		*Reduce the HP of obstacles, increase the damage that can be dealt, and increase the amount of experience points and Bayld that can be received.
[NEW]
Add new skirmish parts as rewards for completing colonization reives 		New skirmish parts will be obtainable in the August version update.
[NEW]
Increase the rate in which skirmish parts can be obtained. 		-
[NEW]
Increase the rate in which high ranking skirmish parts can be obtained. 		-
[NEW]
Reduce the HP of obstacles in Yahse Hunting Grounds/Ceizak Battlegrounds/Sih Gates/Moh Gates.
 -


Battle System

Implementation period Update task and overview Task being worked on Notes
August [NEW]
Adjustment to spell interruption rate		 [NEW]
If both item level and "combat skill+" are present on the item you equip as a main weapon, the interruption rate on spell casting will be reduced.		 -
August [NEW]
Adjustments to ninja		 [NEW]
If both item level and "combat skill+" are present on the item you equip as a main weapon, the number of Utsusemi shadows images consumed from physical AoE attacks will be reduced.		 -


Items

Implementation period Update task and overview Task being worked on Notes
August [NEW]
Addition of items that can be stored with a Porter Moogle		 [NEW]
Porter Moogle support for geomancer and rune fencer artifact equipment.		 -
August [NEW]
Adjustments to skirmish parts		 [NEW]
Increase the rate in which skirmish parts can be obtained in colonization reives and lair reives.		 -
[NEW]
Adjustments so that higher ranking skirmish parts can be obtained via colonization reives, lair reives, coalition assignment rewards, Soul Pyres, and gathering.		 -
[NEW]
Make it possible to obtain new skirmish parts via colonization reives, lair reives, coalition assignment rewards, Soul Pyres, and gathering.
 *New skirmish pieces can be obtained in the August version update.
August Addition of new equipment - -
August Addition of Bayld items Introduce new armor -
August Addition of new synthesis recipes - -
August [NEW]
Adjustments to equipment stats		 [NEW]
Adjustments to stats on equipment that have an item level.		 -
August Addition of artifact equipment for new jobs Geomancer -
Rune fencer -


UI

Implementation period Update task and overview Task being worked on Notes
August [NEW]
UI for Monstrosity		 - -



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