Hello again, FFXIVers. I hope you’re all having a good time riding around Eorzea on your new goobbue mounts!

Well, like I mentioned in my last letter, today I’m going to be writing about the progress of patch 1.21, and posting an updated list of changes to the game. The total list is ridiculously long now, so what I’ve done is just update the parts relevant to 1.21. Take a look if you have the time!
Quests
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
OngoingSeventh Umbral Era questsPlanning and implementation of quests-
OngoingStorylines and world questsDevelopment and release of supplemental storylines and world quests-
1.21-NEW-
Instanced raid quests		-NEW-
Introductory quests for two new instanced raids		* Not required for entry into the instanced raids
1.21-NEW-
New seasonal events		-NEW-
Implementation and hosting of new seasonal events		-
1.21-NEW-
Player residence quests		-NEW-
Implementation of quests to gain access to player residences in each city-state		-
1.21-NEW-
Paladin		-NEW-
Implementation of level 30-50 job quests for PLD		-
1.21-NEW-
Warrior		-NEW-
Implementation of level 30-50 job quests for WAR		-
1.21-NEW-
Monk		-NEW-
Implementation of level 30-50 job quests for MNK		-
1.21-NEW-
Dragoon		-NEW-
Implementation of level 30-50 job quests for DRG		-
1.21-NEW-
Bard		-NEW-
Implementation of level 30-50 job quests for BRD		-
1.21-NEW-
Black Mage		-NEW-
Implementation of level 30-50 job quests for BLM		-
1.21-NEW-
White Mage		-NEW-
Implementation of level 30-50 job quests for WHM		-
New Content
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
1.21-NEW-
New instanced raids		-NEW-
Implementation of new instanced raid "Cutter's Cry" (level 50)		-
-NEW-
Implementation of new instanced raid "The Aurum Vale" (level 50)		-
1.21-NEW-
Paladin content		-NEW-
Unlocking PLD
-NEW-
Learning PLD abilities
-NEW-
Acquiring PLD artifact armor		To take the form of quests incorporating exploration and battle
1.21-NEW-
Warrior content		-NEW-
Unlocking WAR
-NEW-
Learning WAR abilities
-NEW-
Acquiring WAR artifact armor		To take the form of quests incorporating exploration and battle
1.21-NEW-
Monk content		-NEW-
Unlocking MNK
-NEW-
Learning MNK abilities
-NEW-
Acquiring MNK artifact armor		To take the form of quests incorporating exploration and battle
1.21-NEW-
Dragoon content		-NEW-
Unlocking DRG
-NEW-
Learning DRG abilities
-NEW-
Acquiring DRG artifact armor		To take the form of quests incorporating exploration and battle
1.21-NEW-
Bard content		-NEW-
Unlocking BRD
-NEW-
Learning BRD abilities
-NEW-
Acquiring BRD artifact armor		To take the form of quests incorporating exploration and battle
1.21-NEW-
Black mage content		-NEW-
Unlocking BLM
-NEW-
Learning BLM abilities
-NEW-
Acquiring BLM artifact armor		To take the form of quests incorporating exploration and battle
1.21-NEW-
White mage content		-NEW-
Unlocking WHM
-NEW-
Learning WHM abilities
-NEW-
Acquiring WHM artifact armor		To take the form of quests incorporating exploration and battle
1.21-NEW-
Player residences		-NEW-
Implementation of player residences at inns
-NEW-
Implementation of replay feature for quest cutscenes
-NEW-
Implementation of logout bonus		-
1.21-NEW-
Achievements		-NEW-
Additional achievements
-NEW-
Additional achievement rewards
-NEW-
Expansion of achievement system features such as rate of progress		-
1.21-NEW-
Intra-city travel		-NEW-
Implementation of system allowing for warping within each city-state		-
1.22Hamlet defenseRelease of hamlet defense duties* Postponed to 1.22 due to increase in scale
Guildleves
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
1.21-NEW-Abolishing Guardian's Aspect-NEW-
Guardian's Aspect to be abolished with the introduction of logout bonus		-
1.21-NEW-
EXP adjustments		-NEW-
EXP yielded by guildleves to be adjusted with the abolition of Guardian's Aspect		-
Behest
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
OngoingBalancing of behestsFurther adjustments to behest difficulty and rewards-
Company System
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
1.21-NEW-
Chocobo barding		-NEW-
Addition of personal chocobo barding for each Grand Company 		-
1.21-NEW-
Special supply & provisioning ops		-NEW-
Addition of unique and untradable item categories		-
Enemies and Non-Instanced Areas
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
1.21-NEW-
Job battle monsters		-NEW-
Addition of monsters for each job (including NPC battles)		-
1.21-NEW-
Additional instanced raid bosses		-NEW-
Addition of new boss enemies for the two instanced raids		-
OngoingBalancing of enemy attributesAdjustments to enemy parameters and reexamination of drops-
Battle System
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
1.21-NEW-
Job attributes		-NEW-
Implementation of unique attributes for each job		-
1.21-NEW-
Job actions		-NEW-
Implementation of job actions (including combos)		-
1.21-NEW-
Class action adjustments		-NEW-
Continuation of adjustments commenced in patch 1.20		-
1.21-NEW-
Battle log revisions		-NEW-
Partial revisions to battle log spec		-
1.21-NEW-
Spellcasting spec changes		-NEW-
Moving will be made to interrupt spellcasting		-
1.21Reworking of crowd controImplementation of rules for overlapping crowd control actions* Implementation confirmed for 1.21
Armoury System
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
1.21-NEW-
Job System		-NEW-
Implementation of a system for switching between jobs/classes (tentative name: job stones)		-
Items, Synthesis, and Gathering
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
OngoingNew recipesOngoing addition of recipes in line with new synthesis concepts-
1.21-NEW-
HQ synthesis changes		-NEW-
Revisions to balance and flow for HQ synthesis		-
1.21-NEW-
HQ attribute adjustments		-NEW-
Changes to the algorithm for determining HQ item attributes		-
1.21Abolition of slot costAbolition of slot cost for accessories and reorganization of equipping conditions-
1.21Accessory recipe reformsReview of synthesis recipes for accessories-
1.21-NEW-
Accessory attribute adjustments		-NEW-
Adjustments to accessory attributes based on change from slot cost to number equippable.		-
1.21-NEW-
New accessories		-NEW-
Addition of new accessories in line with accessory reforms		-
1.21Food effect reformsReform of food effects in accordance with new class abilities-
1.21-NEW-
Additional food items		-NEW-
Addition of food items in conformance with food effect reforms		-
1.21-NEW-
Food recipe adjustments		-NEW-
Adjustments to food recipes in conformance with food effect reforms		-
1.21-NEW-
Food item obtainability		-NEW-
Adjustments to the obtainability of food-related items (vendors and drops)		-
1.21Medicine recipe reformsReview of synthesis recipes for medicine-
1.21-NEW-
Addition of new medicine items		-NEW-
Revisions to medicine effects in line with new class abilities		-
1.21-NEW-
Addition of new medicine recipes		-NEW-
Revisions to medicine item recipes in line with changes to medicine effects		-
1.21-NEW-
Adjustments to obtainability of medicine items		-NEW-
Adjustments to dropped and vendor items related to medicine		-
OngoingReview of gear attributesAdjustment of attributes for existing gear-
User Interface (UI)
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
1.21UI changes accompanying introduction of jobs-NEW-
Additional slot to gear interface for job change items
-NEW-
Display of unlocked jobs added to attribute interface
-NEW-
Display of acquired job actions to the actions and traits interface		Multiple UI changes to accommodate job system
1.21-NEW-
Config adjustments and additions		-NEW-
Addition of "/textclear" to GUI config (feature that automatically hides the log)		-
1.21-NEW-
Expansion of the "face target" feature		-NEW-
Expansion of a feature that stops your character if moving and faces the target as part of changes to casting specs		-
1.21-NEW-
On/Off toggle for sub-targeting		-NEW-
Release of an On/Off toggle for sub-targeting feature for mouse and keyboard users
(Effects occur as soon as an action is execute on a target, eliminating the need to retarget)		* This is an improvement to mouse and keyboard controls. Toggling sub-targeting off while using a gamepad will reduce usability.
1.21-NEW-
UI updates to accommodate changes to accessories		-NEW-
UI changes in line with revisions made to how accessories are equipped		-
1.21-NEW-
Food/Medicine effect recast times		-NEW-
UI display of recast times for the reuse of food and medicine		-
1.21-NEW-
Food/Medicine effect help text		-NEW-
Display of help text for food and medicine effects		-
1.21-NEW-
Event replay feature UI		-NEW-
UI display for the event replay function available in the player residences		-
1.21-NEW-
EXP bonus UI		-NEW-
UI display when playing with an active EXP bonus earned while logged out		-
1.21-NEW-
Player search updates		-NEW-
Addition of search conditions to narrows searches to those players who have unlocked jobs
-NEW-
Ability to conduct player search via text command		-
1.21-NEW-
Achievement system updates		-NEW-
Addition of information regarding NPCs who unlock achievements
-NEW-
Addition of detailed progress trackers for achievements		-
Ongoing-NEW-
Pop-up help text		-NEW-
Changes to the when and where pop-up help text is displayed		-
The Lodestone
PatchPlannedCurrent TasksNotes
1.20
-1.21		Linkshell pageAddition of search function
Addition of member recruitment function
Reworking of main linkshell page		-
1.20
-1.21		Display language switchAbility to switch between Lodestone display languages-
OngoingMy PageImprovement of My Page features-

Patch 1.21 is going to be the biggest patch yet since the launch of FFXIV service.

The addition of seven classic jobs, their related abilities and artifact gear, two new instanced raids, private player residences, a cutscene replay feature, chocobo armor, a reworking of crowd control, adjustments to classes, revisions to how spell-casting works, changes to food and medicine effects and recipes, and so on and so forth. (The addition of the On/Off toggle for sub-targeting is another addition I’m looking forward to, being a mouse-and-keyboard man myself.)

For the long-awaited changes to food and medicine, we’ve gone back to the drawing board at a conceptual level, and will be making distinct changes to each item. We’ll be keeping you informed of the new concepts and such on the forums and in Topics posts, so please hang on a bit longer for more details.

There is something I have to apologize for. We were shooting to have the new “hamlet defense” content ready in time for 1.21, but despite the progress we’ve made, I’m afraid the scale is just too large for that to be possible. I’m truly sorry about this. But, it’s going to be fresh new content that can allow all classes to play an integral role (not just combat classes!), so I hope it’s something you can all look forward to. Again, I’m sorry for the delay, and ask for your patience and understanding.

I’d also like to share some info on the release schedule for 1.21. We’d originally aimed for the patch to go live in the second week of February, but after looking over the amount of content and all the accompanying UI changes, localization, balancing, QA’ing, and such, we’re currently looking at a delay of about two weeks. We’re pushing really hard for an end-of-February release, but ask that you wait a bit and keep an eye on the announcements we’ll be making on the forums and in Topics regarding details. (Don’t worry, none of this will have any effect on the version 2.0 schedule!)

Last of all, I’d like to talk about the merging of servers I’ve mentioned on the forums. This is something we’ll be doing to ensure that everyone has a chance to meet as many other players as possible and encourage embarking on adventures together. We’re currently looking into how to make this particularly effective for the European players distributed across all Worlds, as they are fewer in number than players from other regions.

The server merge is a temporary measure intended to help FFXIV progress. We’ll be reintroducing Worlds when the number of players demands it, and with relaunch of version 2.0.

We’re planning to allow for an adequate amount of time between when we release the information regarding the server merging and when we actually carry it out. But for now I’ll have to ask you to wait a little while for the details. Patch 1.21 is a much higher priority, so the merging won’t happen until sometime after it goes live.

Since we’re in the final phase of patch work, this letter kind of just zipped through things, but I also wanted to mention that in addition to the 1.21 environment, we’re also running 2.0 clients on the shop floor now. One of the things we’ve done so far is make sure that more character customization options will be going in the relaunch version. We’ll be releasing more info in the future, so keep an eye out for that as well!

Well, I’m gonna get back to it. See you in the next letter, or on the forums. See you soon!