Announcing the August Version Update

[Akihiko_Matsui]

Greetings, adventurers.
Matsui here.

The August version update is right around the corner, and I’m happy to let you all know that it will be taking place on Wednesday, August 5 (JST). As usual, I would like to give you an overview ahead of time of the content that will be implemented.

The August version update is a major update which will usher in the second chapter of Rhapsodies of Vana’diel, a new area, new battle content, and various other additions and changes.

In addition to the NPCs that took the stage in the first chapter of Rhapsodies of Vana’diel, the story will become even more exciting in chapter 2 with other NPCs from the past making an appearance. Furthermore, by progressing through the scenario you’ll be able to obtain new Rhapsody key items. Similar to the key items that you were able to obtain from the first chapter, you’ll be able to receive a large amount of bonuses that will make adventuring even more comfortable.

The new Escha- area we are implementing will harbor even more powerful foes. In addition to the regular monsters that you can fight there, you will also be able to participate in Geas Fete in this areas as well.

We’ll also be adding the final chapter of the Seekers of Adoulin-related quests that expand on the lore. Similar to how we’ve concluded other quests in the past, we’ve prepared a battle and reward items, so please enjoy them.

Item-wise, we will be adding a new system to enhance abjuration equipment, which will add item levels to this popular gear of the past, and it will be possible to use this equipment in battle once again.

Furthermore, we’ll be adding in two new features that aim to improve the quality of life. The first is a feature that will allow you to check the status icons of party members. By targeting a party member, you’ll be able to see both the support effects and status ailments that the player has. The second feature is the ability to save equipment sets on the server. Similar to how you can do this with your macros and configuration settings, when saving your setting files on the server it will now also save your equipment sets.

In addition to all of this, we will also be adding two new Unities, increasing the job point enhancement cap, adding new magic spells that can be learned through Gifts, adding new alter egos, and making a wide range of other adjustments and additions.

I hope you are all looking forward to the August version update!

Amongst the list of implementation items listed here, some are currently in testing.
Please keep in mind that we may remove certain items from this implementation list in the event that bugs take an unintentionally long time to fix or balancing issues occur during the development process。

Mission and Quest-Related

Implementation Timing	Update Task and Overview	Update Task and OverviewIn-progress Tasks	Notes
August	Sunbreeze Festival	Create the idol show event Create text	-
August	Blazing Buffaloes	Create text	-
August	Rhapsodies of Vana'diel scenario	Create text Create cutscenes Adjust battle balance Add new bonus key items	-
August	Seekers of Adoulin quest	Create text Create cutscenes Adjust battle balance	-
August	New battle content	Create text Create cutscenes	-
August	Adjustments to existing quests	Adjust the time until you can rechallenge mini-games Adjust real-world time restrictions	-

Area and Monster-Related

Implementation Timing	Update Task and Overview	Update Task and OverviewIn-progress Tasks	Notes
August	New area	Create new area Create new notorious monsters Create Treasure Caskets Create gathering points	-

Content and System-Related

Implementation Timing	Update Task and Overview	Update Task and OverviewIn-progress Tasks	Notes
August	New battle content	Create new notorious monsters Create new monsters Create new NPCs Adjust battle balance	-
August	Geas Fete	Create new notorious monsters	-
August	Unity Concord	Create new Unity teams Create alter egos for new Unity leaders Create speech text for Unity leaders	-
August	Unity Wanted	Lower the minimum necessary participants	-
August	Record of Eminence	Create new objectives Add items that can be purchased with Sparks of Eminence	-
August	ZNM	Adjust the respawn timer for the "???" point used to spawn notorious monsters	-
August	Adjustments to existing content	Make adjustments to coincide with the bonuses given by the Rhapsody key items	-
August	Conquest	Adjust the time in which you can reobtain supply quests	-
August	Fishing	Add new fishing spots	-
August	Mog tablets	Change rewards for finding tablets	-
August	Titles	Create new titles	-

Battle System-Related

Implementation Timing	Update Task and Overview	Update Task and OverviewIn-progress Tasks	Notes
August	Job points	Increase the enhancement cap	-
August	Gifts	Add new Gift categories	-
August	Magic spells	Create new magic spells	-
August	Red mage	Adjust the stats of Temper	-
August	Dark knight	Adjust the stats of Consume Mana	-
August	Summoner	Adjust the stats of Avatar's Favor	-
August	Puppetmaster	"Add high-tier attachmentsAdjust existing attachments"	-
August	Scholar	Adjust Embrava	-
August	Geomancer	Add a system to set a Geo-colure to a specified spot	-
August	Trust	"Create new alter egosIncrease the maximum number of alter egos that can be summoned at the same timeExpand the content in which alter egos can be usedAdd an error message when it's not possible to summon an alter egoAdjust alter egos so that they receive effects from AoE items"	-

Item-Related

Implementation Timing	Update Task and Overview	Update Task and OverviewIn-progress Tasks	Notes
August	Sunbreeze Festival	Create reward items	-
August	Blazing Buffaloes	Create reward items	-
August	Rhapsodies of Vanadiel scenario	"Add items that can be purchased as a Rhapsody bonusCreate reward items"	-
August	Seekers of Adoulin quest	Create reward items	-
August	New battle content	Create reward items	-
August	Geas Fete	Create reward items	-
August	New abjuration equipment	"Add recipes to enhance cursed equipmentAdd new abjurations"	-
August	Porter moogle	Add items that can be stored	-
August	Home points	Add new home points	-

UI-Related

Implementation Timing	Update Task and Overview	Update Task and OverviewIn-progress Tasks	Notes
August	Status icon display feature	"Create a system to check the status icons of party membersCreate a focus target feature"	-
August	Feature to save setting files on the server	Support equipment set saving on the server	-
August	Text command	Create new text commands	-
August	Configuration	Add certain text command features to the configuration	-
August	Puppetmaster	Change the automaton attachment screen UI	-