Letter from the Producer LIVE Part XXI Digest Thread

[Bayohne]

At the start of the broadcast, we'll be using this thread to post the Q&A from the Letter from the Producer LIVE Part XXI!

Watch the stream live on Twitch.

As we'll be updating this thread constantly throughout the event, make sure to reload every so often! We'll be posting all questions and answers exclusively in the thread and posting reminders occasionally on Twitter. However, please keep in mind that translations won't be occurring in real-time and there may be a delay.

After we create the full Q&A summary, it will be posted in the "Letter from the Producer LIVE" forum and this thread will be removed.

See you here at 9:00 a.m. (PDT) / 12:00 p.m. (EDT) / 16:00 (GMT)!

[Bayohne]

The show kicks off in five minutes! Tune in now!

[Bayohne]

There are multiple levels to Ishgard and when players first visit the city, they will enter through the Gates of Judgement and walk into the Foundation in Ishgard where the scars of war are deeply visible. It’s an area that hasn’t really been repaired.

This area is home to a great deal of lower class citizens, but there is also a building that houses the knights that Aymeric belongs to.

Past the market district, there is an area where the nobility live. This area has been well kept and it is quite beautiful. Additionally, there is a giant tower that has been placed in the center of the area, and the great cathedral of Ishgard is located here as well.

Adventurers that arrive to Ishgard will first walk around the city, and explore using the aetheryte network while grasping the current situation of the town.

Additionally, the guilds for the three new jobs will all reside inside Ishgard, therefore you’ll first have to come to Ishgard if you would like to become one of these new jobs.

[Bayohne]

*The stream introduces gameplay of the Coerthas Western Highlands area.

This is an area that was originally accessible in FFXIV version 1.0, so those who played at that time will likely be familiar with it. This land has been affected greatly by the Calamity, but it has been gradually restored over time, and there is a camp located here known as the Falcon’s Nest.

The field areas in Heavensward are considerably large, and the distance between camps is greater than that in A Realm Reborn. With that said, you’ll have quite the adventure to reach your destination.

The first dungeon you will visit, Dusk Vigil, is also located in this area.

You’ll be able to obtain a flying mount soon after starting the main scenario. However, you won’t be able to fly immediately when you get it. In order to fly you will first have to travel around the area and locate “aether currents.”

There are currents that you will come across while doing the main scenario, but there are also those that you will have to discover on your own.

With that said, it’d be best to hunt down these currents as you go through the main scenario when you visit these new areas. Afterwards, you’ll be able to head to locations that can only be visited by flying mounts and be able to challenge various sidequests.

In A Realm Reborn, the density of the areas were thick, therefore it was difficult to add new locations or events afterwards. For this reason, we have made sure that the Heavensward areas are large so we can add locations later on.

[Bayohne]

*The video introduces gameplay of the Dravania Forelands area with flying mounts.

You will encounter enemy chocobos in this area. Those who play FFXIV may already know this, but the majority of the chocobos you see in Eorzea are from Ishgard. For this reason, there are actually villages where they hunt chocobos as part of their livelihood.

Unlike areas in A Realm Reborn, each area in Heavensward is built much larger.
When comparing one area, it is about 1.5 to 2x larger, and you can especially feel that when traveling without using a flying mount, and there are many places where you can explore.

Many new dangerous looking monsters can be seen in Heavensward areas. We have seen many comments where players felt the A Realm Reborn areas were too peaceful as the monster placement in the areas were a bit too easy; however, the monsters in Heavensward are very strong. If you encounter two or more monsters at same time, you’ll either need to fight doing your best, or be prepared to run.

If you plan on stepping in areas such as the beastmen camps, and other dangerous areas, you’ll probably want to talk with nearby players to get through them.

[Bayohne]

*The video shows more of The Pillars in Ishgard.

The Pillars area is known as the Last Vigil. Players visit various citadels such as this. For example, Stone Vigil and Dusk Vigil, but as the name implies, this is the final citadel.

In addition to Haurchefant’s House Fortemps, there is also the Holy See. As mentioned during Niconico Chokaigi 2015, the 12 founding knights are also located here.

The Pillars will be the earliest bastion you come across while progressing through the main scenario.

In Heavensward we've enhanced the contrast of shadows, so I believe you will receive quite a different impression than what you've experienced until now. It will also be possible to adjust your character lighting as you please.

[Bayohne]

*The stream shows off a video demonstration of black mage actions. Please note that all action names are tentative.

With Heavensward, the level cap will be increasing to level 60 for each job, and we’d like to show a sampling of the type of ways each job will change by taking a detailed look at black mage.

New ability: Ley Lines
Ley Lines is a stationary buff that you can place on the ground, and when the caster stands inside of it, they will gain a 15% haste bonus. Due to this, depending on how long you are able to stay inside of this circle, the damage capability will largely change. Though it’s still being adjusted, at the moment, when you step outside of it the circle will disappear. Because of this, it’s an ability where you will have to carefully consider the timing to use it and its placement.

New ability: Sharpcast
After using this ability, the next spell you cast will grant you a guaranteed proc. You’ll want to use this when you want to get a proc with Thunder or Fire. The timing of this ability will also be important.

New ability: Enochian
Additionally, there is one more new ability known as Enochian. When using this ability you’ll gain a 30 second buff, and only while under the effect of this buff you will be able to cast Fire IV and Blizzard IV.

In order to use Fire IV and Blizzard IV, you’ll need to have Astral Fire and Umbral Ice, respectively, in addition to the buff granted by Enochian.

Also, Fire IV and Blizzard IV do not grant stacks of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice, so after learning Enochian your skill rotation will completely change.

Furthermore, you can also lengthen the effect duration of Enochian by casting Blizzard IV. Every time you lengthen it, the effect duration will become 5 seconds shorter, but as long you continue to cast Blizzard IV you will be able to maintain the effect of Enochian. There will be a lot ways to maintain this effect with existing abilities such as casting Blizzard IV with Swiftcast.

You’ll gradually learn all of these elements as you progress from level 50 through level 59, and then at level 60 when you learn Enochian the way the job is played will largely change.

Depending on the content, the optimal skill rotation will vary, so please try out various things to find the best rotation.

[Bayohne]

*The stream shows off a video demonstration of paladin actions. Please note that all action names are tentative.

Until now paladin has mainly used the Rage of Halone combo; however, we will introduce new combos which derive from Savage Blade and Riot Blade.

When main tanking, you’ll first use the Rage of Halone to gain enmity, and then use combos which includes DoT (damage over time) effects. Once you can maintain enmity, it’ll be better to utilize a different combo. When playing as an off tank, you will use the new combo route more, so how you fought until now will greatly change.

There will be below actions.

New action: Divine Veil
Sets a protective barrier around the target where if the target receive cures while under the effect, other nearby members will also receive a barrier effect.

New action: ???
There are other skills which will block enemy attacks.
By using this, you’ll be able to utilize shield swipe more effectively.

As before, paladins are excellent from a defense standpoint, so we have made adjustment in a way where it makes it possible to increase the defense stats for all party members.

[Bayohne]

*The stream shows off a video demonstration of warrior actions. Please note that all action names are tentative.

New ability: Deliverance
This is an attacking stance that can be used to increase your DPS when you are acting as an off-tank.

Similar to the Wrath you gain while using Defiance, you will gain up to a maximum of 5 stacks of Abadon when using Deliverance. When switching between these two stances, the stacks you have generated will be maintained, and you’ll be able to switch between Wrath and Abandon. The system was designed to allow for a more systematic approach to swapping between attacking and defending stances.

Additionally, there are weapon skills that consume Abandon, as well as self-healing abilities.

New ability: Raw Intuition
This is an ability that will guarantee a parry when receiving an attack from the front. However, when you are attacked from other angles, the attacks will deal critical damage. While there is somewhat of a risk, it’s a powerful ability when used properly.

[Bayohne]

*The stream shows off a video demonstration of dark knight actions. Please note that all action names are tentative.

Darkside
Similar to a paladin's Sword Oath, this stance is more of an attack-based stance. 
You take on an aura-like effect known as Darkside, while this is in effect your MP will deplete gradually. While in this stance, you will not be able to receive MP healing support from party members. There are weapon skills which restores MP so it’ll be very important to make good use of those skills to manage MP.

Grit
This stance will be used when in the tank role. With this stance, it'll be easier to gain enmity.

It will become important to switch between these modes when fighting and determining when you need to gain enmity and deal damage.

Also, there are a lot of dark knight actions that start with “Dark.”

Living Dead
Similar to Holmgang, this is an all attack blocking action.

Unlike other tank jobs, dark knight has an action where you jump towards the enemy, so it’ll be possible to use this first then follow-up with an area attack to gain enmity.

Tank job recap:
Various changes have been made to the existing paladin and warrior actions up through level 50, but these adjustments were made with how they will fight at level 60 in mind. Additionally, accuracy has increased while under the effect of Shield Oath or Defiance, so the part where these jobs needed more accuracy compared to other jobs has been eased up on.