Fixing Old Content - NM Spawns

[Malacite]

Why is it that Abyssea is the only place with fast-spawning NMs?

It's very clear that with the recent changes to Dynamis & the advent of Abyssea, the dev team is trying to streamline things somewhat. So why not apply this to older content as well?

Inside abyssea, NMs are either force-spawned or on a 10~15 minute maximum respawn timer. This single change has been one of the greatest revolutions to XI ever, more so than the shiny new Empyrean Armor and other wonderful equipments. It shows that the devs understand that time sinks don't mean we're being challenged as players, just pointlessly aggravated.


So why not apply this standard across the board with regards to older NMs? Why for example, can an NM such as Leaping Lizzy still take up to 4+ hours to spawn when the majority of the playerbase is top-heavy? Most of these older NMs have R/EX drops that get outclassed very quickly anyway, or can't be sold for nearly as much gil as they used to.


What's particularly aggravating are the NMs involved with the Empyrean/Walk of Echos trials. A friend of mine was camping Orc Trap not that long ago and had to wait a grand total of eight hours before it spawned for him. Admittedly I haven't had luck quite that bad, but I'm sure we've all had our fair share of frustration with lottery spawns.


So I put this to the devs - do away with these unnecessary time sinks, especially the trial ones. If the recent Census is any indication it's not hampering the number of Empyrean & WoE weapons in circulation, only irritating everyone who wants to just move past the lottery spawns into VNMs and Abyssean NMs. The majority of these NMs (Abyssea included) are not even remotely difficult anymore - we can do without the speed bumps staggering our inevitable progress.


EDIT: Forgot to point out that Visitant Status isn't really a valid excuse for making Abyssean NMs spawn quickly. For newer players perhaps, but it's fairly common knowledge now how to effectively farm for time. Plus, many of the people I know have a rather sizeable stock pile of Traverser Stones anyway - I personally have over 600 saved up, so I'm not worried about running out of time.

[Tagrineth]

Honestly I think if anything, I'd like to see a maximum timer set for lottery pop NMs.

Leave the minimum of 30mins-1hr that applies to many of them, and give them a hard maximum of, say, double the minimum (e.g. an NM with a 45 minute cooldown can take up to 1hr30mins to repop, but after 90 minutes, the next placeholder is guaranteed to be the NM).

[Malacite]

Anything above 1.5 hours is just excessive and stupid.

I've been camping Intulo since 2 p.m today (it's now 11) and I've gotten ONE pop...

[Karbuncle]

I think the reason Abyssea NMs had their timers reduced was because of the incredibly high demand for them and the fact Abyssea is on (some sort of) a time Limit.

However, I wouldn't mind a maximum cap imposed... Camped Bonnacon for ~3 hours the other day, popped, TH11 on, And my reward was a buffalo meat. I hate this game some days.

I don't think reducing the spawn timer for every NM universally would be a good idea, But i do agree some cap should be placed.

[Zyeriis]

No more lottery spawns, problem solved.

[Malacite]

I mean hell, they even fixed 3 Kings with the BCNM update.

But what about the other 21~24 hour spawns? None of them even drop anything that fantastic anymore (at least compared to current gear)


It's currently 12:50 A.M and I'm waiting to get my 3rd claim on Intulo, then going to bed. I'll get the 4th pop tomorrow, not staying up until 7 am for this nonsense.

[Atomic_Skull]

I mean hell, they even fixed 3 Kings with the BCNM update.

If by that you mean they made them even more annoying then yes they fixed them.


If SE "fixes" NM spawns I can guarantee it will be in a way that you won't like.

[Elexia]

What needs to be done:

Minimum 1 hour spawn - Cool!
"Can take anywhere from 5 - 18 hours to spawn" -....yeah no. This is what has to go lol, though I'm pretty sure this is why they chose these NMs no one wanted to deal with before for magian trials. There's a reason no one cared for em before lol.

[Ilax]

Is time consuming that all, idk why you complain about it, of course is real annoying, but don't you think is challenging your patience on ewep, it also limiting the number of empy and by that i mean you be happy in abyssea to deal with only 3 group on glavoid because there 10 group still stuck for a week on NM/VNM, you for sure might not think about that parts.

Lift off all the time wait on these nm, and you have entire server trying pop glavoid (20 group) and then you be complaining: Why there no 10x ??? for this nm.

just my 5 cents on the subject.

[Zyeriis]

Is time consuming that all, idk why you complain about it, of course is real annoying, but don't you think is challenging your patience on ewep, it also limiting the number of empy and by that i mean you be happy in abyssea to deal with only 3 group on glavoid because there 10 group still stuck for a week on NM/VNM, you for sure might not think about that parts.

Lift off all the time wait on these nm, and you have entire server trying pop glavoid (20 group) and then you be complaining: Why there no 10x ??? for this nm.

just my 5 cents on the subject.

I highly doubt that the trial NMs outside of abyssea are limiting the production of emps in any way related to Glavoid or any emp weapon item NMs for that matter. From what I've seen, people get the items off the abyssea NMs before finishing (or starting for that matter) the trial NMs.

[Paksenarrion]

I have the patience of a caffeine-filled baby squirrel with ADHD eating a box of sugar. If you ask my friends, they'll tell you that I don't sit around waiting often, and have been known to run laps around town when I have nothing else to do.

And I'm trying for an Empyrean weapon, Verethragna. I honestly probably don't deserve one, because waiting makes me angry. But I've been trying my patience, and so far have managed to claim my three Tumbling Truffles and three Helldivers. Orctrap sounds like a nightmare to me, but I'm going to persevere.

I wouldn't mind seeing a maximum limit on these mobs, though. I can camp them, but lotto spawns with downtimes of an hour and a possible respawn in 10+ hours is insane.

[ShadowHeart]

they broke the 3 kings ..... but its what happens when people cry about a little competition they did it after no one camped them anymore though...... LMAO

yes reducing the timers on NM spawns and the kings would of been right choice instead of BCNM to get pop items that take 9999999 seals to get a hq pop that dont drop the item you wanted lol

[Airget]

For most time NMs it comes down to knowing the right NM to kill to make the most out of it. Though I consider this whole change is regarded to the empyrean magian trials. Though in that instance The NMs themselves are the challenge in terms of patience to obtain the weapon.

The funny thing about empyrean weapons is they get "easier" to do as you progress through them. First you deal with timed NM ranging from low to high, as you reach the second tier it's VNM in the main vandiel areas which don't have "time" to the most part and can be done in a large group for people to complete at the same time. The same goes true for the first part with the timed NMs, you can party up and have no competition for up to 18 people. The only time the "solo" reward comes into effect is when you need to obtain the items from the abyssea NMs.

Basically if the major complaint for this is cause of empyrean weapons, then you'er free to do weather/day trials for those weapons. If it's because of certain items that lose their luster at 90, It's just part of the evoultion, a majority of NMs lost their luster cause of abyssea but is it really worth it to waste resources altering the times of a wide range of NMs for a dinky piece that you won't use past lv 50.

You have to consider the resources to change every timed NM in every zone to the "new" system if they were to do it. I just don't think it's worthwhile to take the time to alter the old content in that sense when it could be better spent developing content that's designed for higher levels and new concepts.

If anything the one thing I can think of is maybe if they release the Colosseum it can be a hub in which you can "bet" an item and you face off again x NM based on what you bet. In Nyzul you can basically run into every NM in the game so I don't see it being a problem with the Colosseum and once people figure out what combo on items face you off against x enemy those items will go up in the market and the aspect of waiting for timed NMs will diminish.

[Sama]

the trial ones are especially stupid having 4-8 hr pop time for a level 17 NM

[Malacite]

It's about arbitrary time sinks that do nothing but annoy the player base at this point.

Farming Empyrean Weapons isn't hard - however that doesn't mean I have 10+ hours a day to devote to waiting for one stupid NM to spawn that I can frag in 2-3 attack rounds.

[Zyeriis]

and have been known to run laps around town when I have nothing else to do.
I do this even when I do have something to do and when I have no intention of doing something even if something worth doing comes up. Habits are fun (and annoying).

Ever run down the steps to the Port Jeuno auction house, then run up the other steps (while ignoring the auction house) just to run back over to the first steps that you went down and run down them again?

[Ilax]

Well take it that way, is better then dynamis and salvage since you can only do 2h event then you have to /wait 22h.

[Olor]

I agree with this completely - and while SE is at it - maybe they could fix some of the bogus NM drops out there? I mean I can't be the only person that has experienced this:

Me: Oh cool! An NM! Let's look up what it drops

/looks up the NM

Me: Oh, it drops an earring! Neat!

/clicks the link to the earring

Me: (crestfallen) latent effect? +1 MP when I'm in a party with a ranger? That is the lamest waste of space I could possibly imagine.

/runs away from the NM in disgust

I mean the NMs don't have to drop something uber, but it would be nice if it was even sort of kind of not a complete waste of time and space. Even an earring that was comparable to other options at that level would be neat. Not some useless piece of garbage...

[Vagrua]

Idk about supporting this idea completely, I mean it would be easier on most trials, but Empyrean Weapons would be way easier to make. These weapons already are comparable/better to/than the difficult to obtain Relic/Mythic Weapons. The time sink from the timed/lottery NMs are supposed to make it more difficult to obtain Empyrean Weapons imo. Already people can complete an Empyrean within a week or two. With this, they could possibly complete them even sooner. Just my 2 cents for this.

[Malacite]

Ever run down the steps to the Port Jeuno auction house, then run up the other steps (while ignoring the auction house) just to run back over to the first steps that you went down and run down them again?


Guilty. I also love to run circles around other people (though it's much more hilarious on my taru mule)


EDIT:
Idk about supporting this idea completely, I mean it would be easier on most trials, but Empyrean Weapons would be way easier to make.


News flash: Empyreans are already very easy to make. Just some are more time consuming/arduous than others, like farming Bukhis or T3 VNMs for Colorless Souls (ugh). I have a deep-seated hatred of Carabosse because of her nonsense rage mode (really SE? -50% damge taken? was that HONESTLY NECESSARY!? I swear she puts up a bigger fight than Shinryu and Rani) but none of them are really hard - except Bukhis, who cheats with his TP.

Right now, the only two real challenges to completing an Empyrean are:

1) Time
2) Competition over timed pops.


I don't mind having to spend time grinding, but there's got to be sensible limits - like a freaking respawn time cap on lotto spawns.

[Dragoy]

Definitely could use a "hard-cap" on the lottery spawners. I always did sort of enjoy camping things for ages even if they didn't ever have the loot for me which I so badly wanted. The random occurrences in this game are just ridiculous what comes to loot and such, but that's another story.

The spawn rate, especially for certain NMs, is quite alike though. I think it took 8-11 hours for Buburimboo to spawn to me one time, while other times it would be around the 90 minutes mark. And this is with a simple place-holder and only a small area. Let's not even venture into discussing about Stray Mary for example. ^^;

All in all, less time wasted into standing around (I actually do a lot of other stuff while standing there so it's not always that much of a waste, especially if you enjoy your time, then it's not a waste at all, but with things like Stray Mary there isn't much of a convenience on doing other things and one needs to pay more or less attention to it) while waiting for trivial monsters to spawn: yes please.

[Ryanx]

lotto pop NM"s what ever just make them have little bit higher chance to repop but still keep them lotto pop and time spawn make those force pop or lotto pop like king arthro his belt is out dated now by abyssea might be few job thats still best for them but still make KA lotto pop or force pop example have knight crabs up always kill those and he has a chance to pop insted of a knight crab or have knight crabs drop a pop item for KA

[Malacite]

Hey, buddy, how about some proper grammar & spelling please and thanks?

Slurring your words in-game is one thing, but no one's holding a gun to your head when posting in a forum.

King Artho is not a lotto pop, he is a timed spawn with a 3 hour window starting 21 hours after his last death. The Speed Belt is actually one of the few remaining pieces of old gear that is still credible, though I'd much rather use Goading or Twilight personally.


There is absolute no sound excuse SE can put up to defend the ridiculous state of these old lottery spawns. No one should have to spend literally an entire day just to get few claims on an NM, irregardless of the difficulty or rewards involved. I understand the need to keep rare gear limited in circulation, but this is still just a game. Last time I checked, games are played for fun, not to waste hours and hours of time only to get relatively nothing out of it. I'm pretty sure the majority of us have better things we could be doing than idling in <insert zone here> for hours on end. This is not how you challenge the player base, this is how you piss us off.

[Coldbrand]

But I loved when a 45 minute respawn frog suddenly became 16 hours when working on Rhongomiant base weapon!

[Legomike]

yes please and possible increase some drop rates

[Juilan]

Really simple way to fix them
have in memory the memory the number of maximum PHs
say Notorious Monster[6]
and then have something that is based on a random number generator and do % 6 for the first pop after window
and when that pops the new storage is [5] or what ever number popped... until you're at [0] remaining or hit the NM the issue is since would have to in and change the code for every NM i doubt this would be implemented we can dream though~

[Kavik]

I think the hard cap is totally sensible, 1-6 hrs is PLENTY long enough to wait for any NM, lotto or not... also while we're on the subject of repop timers, can we get rid of the mobs that only pop during such and so weather? 'repops 24 hrs after death, if there is windy weather, if not it just waits 24 more hours' talk about irritating.

[Malacite]

I think the hard cap is totally sensible, 1 hour is PLENTY long enough to wait for any NM, lotto or not... also while we're on the subject of repop timers, can we get rid of the mobs that only pop during such and so weather? 'repops 24 hrs after death, if there is windy weather, if not it just waits 24 more hours' talk about irritating.

FTFY.

Really, you don't mind blowing half a day waiting for 1 virtual monster to appear? Sitting around for 6+ hours doesn't somehow make you better than others, or show skill or dedication or anything - it just proves that you really have nothing better to do with your life and frankly I find it disrespectful on SE's part to assume that only people without a life will attempt and finish these things.

No one's asking for an "Easy Mode" here, this stuff is already very easy - we're just asking that we not have to waste our lives away on a game that should be fun and not a second job.

[Tezz]

It's not just NMs. Regular 16min respawns & even weather. Different types of weather shouldn't be so scarce all the time.

Lottery should be done away with or at least happen from any of the surrounding mobs and not just 1 single PH.

[Wolfe]

I've always thought that, for certain NM's, drops should be 100%. Leapin' Lizzy for example, horrid respawn (even though you can have 2 up at once), the drop rate sucks and the boots are outclassed EXTREMELY quick. You can't even use it on a lot of jobs.

Valkurm Emperor, should also be 100% drop. Even though it's more useful, it's R/E and can now be traded to your mules. There are a lot of mobs that if they drop something R/E, it should be 100%. Especially now that RMT's have quit FFXI because it's not profitable anymore. And with Emperyon (just about) crushing every piece of armor now, who even cares enough to go farm LL or VE? Just make it one of those things that, as you run through to help a low level friend, you can get this item for them, just because.