Whatever happened to Cait Sith and Atomos?

[Seiowan]

Announced last July, there was a lot of hubbub surrounding the potential inclusion of two new avatars, Cait Sith and Atomos. The first was intended to be a summonable pet much like Carbuncle or Fenrir, while the second, Atomos, was intended to be a 2hr avatar like Odin and Alexander.

Since the initial speculations and buzz, however, it has died down completely and there has been scant talk on the subject and no further information other than the fact it's being worked on. I realise it took Square-Enix quite a long time to eventually release Odin and Alexander after their announcement, though I suspect that's largely because of the new mechanics needed to summon them.

Has there been any further news on our feline friend and her mawed companion?

[Camiie]

It's for SMN so it's at the bottom of the priority list.

[Dragoy]

Has there been any further news on our feline friend and her mawed companion?
Not that I can recall, other than the recent Roadmap that is (though Atomos is MIA).

[Kaych]

SE announces that Cait Sith is coming around July http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/22873 .

My guess is that Atomos might come when they implement new 2hr abilitys in June or when they enhanche them around October^_-

Cant w8!!

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Rejoice smns! If you look at the roadmap pic, it shows Cait Sith following you. So she's not a 2hr only.
Still saying atomos will be though, how else would he work?

[Cabalabob]

I have a really bad feeling about atomos being connected to the merit 2hrs... I really hope they stick him in with Odin and Alexander and have something more creative in the works for smn merit 2hr, but the fact they announced cait and merit 2hrs but not atomos does not bode well... The way it is it's lookin like they are gonna move odin and Alex to be merit 2hrs along with atomos or something crap like that.

[Kaych]

Another thing is that the picture with Cait Sith looks like it is in a city. My guess is that maybe you are able to teleport with it, move faster or something.

[Cabalabob]

Another thing is that the picture with Cait Sith looks like it is in a city. My guess is that maybe you are able to teleport with it, move faster or something.

That's southern sandoria (s), you can summon pets in the past cities due to campaign battles in cities. Probably pointing to the fact that cait sith mainly hangs around in the sandoria area in the wings of the goddess missions, so unless you were looking into some deeper hidden meaning or something, that's why it's in a city. if anything it's hinting to the fact it will come from wotg missions and not voidwatch as some have speculated.

Though having a pet that can teleport us/the party would be an interesting twist, and suppose it makes sense due to the wotg c/s's where it does it.

[Cdryik]

Got a rep for atomos from french community rep, Atomos is for 2013 (in bold in quote, "I can just confirm that he'll not be available before 2013").


Pour le moment malheureusement nous n'avons pas plus d'information concernant Atomos, je peux juste confirmer qu'il ne sera pas disponible avant 2013 (ce qui explique son absence de la feuille de route).

[SpankWustler]

C'est la vie. C'est la mort. C'est un anus géant.

[Saiken253]

I still don't want Cait Sith... there's still so much work that needs to be done with SMN and Cait Sith is not fixing anything....... In fact we are most likely only going to use it for the cuteness factor after we find out that all of it's BPs are useless and go back to garuda/Shiva/Ramuh/titan =\

[Daniel_Hatcher]

I still don't want Cait Sith... there's still so much work that needs to be done with SMN and Cait Sith is not fixing anything....... In fact we are most likely only going to use it for the cuteness factor after we find out that all of it's BPs are useless and go back to garuda/Shiva/Ramuh/titan =\

It wont, but new Avatars may make them look at the failures they did on SMN. Not likely, but a better chance with them developing something on SMN then not.

[SpankWustler]

Summoner has gotten a lot of interesting defensive or support stuff (Earthen Armor, Shock Squall, Perfect Defense, etc.) and a lot of disappointing offensive or damaging stuff (Night Terror, Holy Mist, Zantetsuken, etc.) relatively recently. Even the "new" Wards that do somewhat pointless stuff, such as lowering enemy attack, have a higher potency than anyone expected before testing them.

Given this, I'd say the odds are fair that Cait Sith will come with some Wards of acceptable potency. Of course, even if this pans out, it is important to remember that the Development Bros are crazy people who revel in completely banal things that increase useless attributes.

So, any new Ward of epic potency is just as likely to be a potent source of Magic Evasion Down or provide an extremely potent Aquaveil to all within a 10 yalm radius as it is to be actually useful and inflict Defense Down or something.

[Luvbunny]

So whatever happen to this promise? Another empty one as usual? Seems like nothing new or exciting in the horizon until 2013 with the new expansion, even then, they will not fully release the content two three years after. Did they finally figure it out how to fix Atomos so it does not look like a giant alien buttonhole?

[Sargent]

Firstly, next time the test server is live, SE says Cait Sith is available for testing.
Secondly, SE said Cait Sith will be added "very soon".

I'm guessing next major update.

[Teraniku]

Well Cait Sith could do it like Blade & Soul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwrel&NR=1&v=f4e1udHVYVs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZCM6B-_f4U

But i really doubt it .

[Calysto]

small up as it was supposed to happen in july (at least on the test server) and there seems to be no news at all.

so what happened ?

[Luvbunny]

As usual, empty promises, crappy new two hours, lackluster ideas for future development - what else is new lol. Probably best way is to take a 3-6 months break if you want substantial updates worth your money.

[Infidi]

As usual, empty promises, crappy new two hours, lackluster ideas for future development - what else is new lol. Probably best way is to take a 3-6 months break if you want substantial updates worth your money.

No way, meng! I gots some empys to build ! XD

[Daniel_Hatcher]

Is anyone surprised after how long it's taking them to implement the Storage in all cities.

[Infidi]

Is anyone surprised after how long it's taking them to implement the Storage in all cities.

Sometimes I get lucky and the moghouse moogle is across from the porter moogle in lower Jeuno, lol. Glitches ftw. He works too, but vanishes after exit the menu.

[Dreamin]

As usual, empty promises, crappy new two hours, lackluster ideas for future development - what else is new lol. Probably best way is to take a 3-6 months break if you want substantial updates worth your money.

THIS.

Wouldn't surprised me at all that they'll come out and say that they never really promised the 2 new avatars. Just that IF they were to give us new avatars, those would be the 2 that they would give us.

Frankly, I dont think anyone who plays any of the 3 pet jobs (BST, SMN and PUP) with any regularity is surprised since SE seems to be completely clueless about pet jobs (okay maybe less so for PUP since their AI fix has really fixed a lot of their pet issues). And more troubling is that it appears that no one in SE dev probably plays any pet job at all.

[Babekeke]

I'll be surprised if we get Cait Sith before the new expansion comes out. Atomos I don't see us getting before 2014.

[Calatilla]

Inb4 we never promised this.

[Babekeke]

Summoner
Name: 15_召喚.jpg Views: 263 Size: 18.9 KB

Vision
Mystics who conjure avatars to fight by their sides, then sit back and enjoy the show while paying close attention to their MP as their minions deliver devastating blows to adversaries and provide aid to allies

We intend to make it easier for avatars to wreak havoc upon enemies, but also emphasize how vital the act of managing the source of their magical powers is to summoners.

Example Adjustments
A new ability that expends an additional amount of MP to shorten the recast time for blood pacts.
Introducing the avatars Cait Sith and Atomos.

There's definately no mention of a promise there...

Oh, and that "new ability that expends an additional amount of MP to shorten the recast time for Blood Pacts"...
That's not coming anymore. It's been converted to our new 2 hour.

In the same way that WAR was told it would get a new JA to change their damage type of regular attacks, and it got formless strikes as a 2 hour., and BRD was told it would get a new song to reduce an enemy's magic defense, and it got it as a JA for new 2 hour.

[Camiie]

Now now, be nice! The lone intern in charge of the new avatar project is doing the best he can while juggling his other duties of picking up everyone's lunches and setting up the projector and playlist for the daily office movie marathon. Seriously, you guys can be slave drivers sometimes.

[noirin]

I wouldn't be surprised if they did something like...wait till the last week of December to launch Cait Sith, and put Atomos somewhere in Adoulin as another long, overly tedious quest

[Hashmalum]

I wouldn't be surprised if they did something like...wait till the last week of December to launch Cait Sith, and put Atomos somewhere in Adoulin as another long, overly tedious questThey're taking their time detailing the Arch-Lilith's Toenail item you'll need to acquire to get the summon. After all, you'll need to collect 15,000 of them, so they have to look just right.

[Babekeke]

They're taking their time detailing the Arch-Lilith's Toenail item you'll need to acquire to get the summon. After all, you'll need to collect 15,000 of them, so they have to look just right.

If either of these are insanely difficult to obtain, they had better be worth the effort.

They had better be worth the effort!!

[Calatilla]

There's definately no mention of a promise there...

Oh, and that "new ability that expends an additional amount of MP to shorten the recast time for Blood Pacts"...
That's not coming anymore. It's been converted to our new 2 hour.

In the same way that WAR was told it would get a new JA to change their damage type of regular attacks, and it got formless strikes as a 2 hour., and BRD was told it would get a new song to reduce an enemy's magic defense, and it got it as a JA for new 2 hour.

Promise or not, why even mention them? They`ve been in the game since WoTg release, so hinting at introducing 2 avatars that are already in the game is pointless. Even if they are only in cs's.

[Babekeke]

The thing with introducing a new avatar is that it has to be situationally good, whether we like it or not.

If it's bad, then what was the point?

If it's better than every other avatar, then the others will never be used (or it can be this, but a meteor/arise style scroll drop).

So it has to be good for certain situations, or have certain weaknesses, for example much better DD capabilities, but remove the -50% damage taken, that way other avatars are still better for soloing hard NMs.

Personally, I'd like to see Cait Sith be slightly more powerful in general than other avatars, but have no element, so other avatars are still better choices vs mobs with a particular favourite elemental attack, but Cait Sith is better vs more physical monsters.

I don't see Atomos having any use whatsoever. Odin is useless outside of an exp pt in abyssea where you can spam revitalisers and ISL chests. If you're doing zerg content, Alex is the only way to go for Astral flow. If soloing or low-man/all pet jobs, the new 2 hour will own. We don't need another 2-hour only avatar, unless his move will be to grant an alliance-wide embrava effect, or similar DD-type buff. To be on-par, it would have to be 100% double-attack with an att/acc or str boost or something similar.

[Okipuit]

Hello summoners,

The most recent road map scheduled Cait Sith to be implemented around the July to August time frame; however, implementation will be delayed.

As we had a large amount of other projects and various requests to work on, we were unable to secure enough time for this and had to lower the priority of Cait Sith.

We apologize for everyone who was looking forward to it.

Once we get some insight into the new implementation timing we will be sure to make an announcement.

Changing the topic for a moment, in the next test server update we will be reducing the recast times for avatars and spirits to a uniform 5 seconds. (Except Odin and Alexander)

While there may not be a big feeling of difference for using multiple avatars, it will become more efficient to switch to an avatar temporarily and then call out a previously used one right away. This will also be quite effective when using the new 2-hour ability, as your Blood Pact timers will be reduced as well, opening up paths for application.

[Dreamin]

Thanks for the headsup. Are SMN's 2 new avatars the only thing that was on the original 2012-2013 roadmap the only thing that is being delayed? Or are they additional delays in other parts of the roadmap that you can give us more information on at this time?

[I believed in another thread, SE has already stated that the WoE changes will be delayed].

[Sargent]

Changing the topic for a moment, in the next test server update we will be reducing the recast times for avatars and spirits to a uniform 5 seconds. (Except Odin and Alexander)

While there may not be a big feeling of difference for using multiple avatars, it will become more efficient to switch to an avatar temporarily and then call out a previously used one right away. This will also be quite effective when using the new 2-hour ability, as your Blood Pact timers will be reduced as well, opening up paths for application.

Well yay for Fast Cast gear being less useful (more inventory!), but still, are there any plans to do anything with the horrific 45s cap on BP delay? Thats a lot longer than any other job has to deal damage.

[Salvation]

Well yay for Fast Cast gear being less useful (more inventory!), but still, are there any plans to do anything with the horrific 45s cap on BP delay? Thats a lot longer than any other job has to deal damage.

^^This
While a reduction in recast times for avatars and spirits is nice, it's still functionally useless while our hands are bound to the 45 second BP cap. Speaking of which, whatever happened to the proposed job ability that would allow us to reduce the BP recast further?

[Luvbunny]

What else is new lol, delay delay and more delay. At this point, we all should just take a break as subscribers, 3-6 months off should be enough to tide us till more new contents coming. Seriously, hire more people....FFXI is pretty much the most profitable series in the franchise, HIRE MORE PEOPLE, get things done. Enough with screwing around with FF14....

[Kalilla]

That would only work if hiring more people would help make more money, and I just don't see it.

[Luvbunny]

To make money, you must spend money and invest more. You do not make money by pretty much ignoring your subscribers, and running your longest subscription game to the ground. I think if you recall, FF14 is one of the biggest disaster, yet they still invest and put more money because they believe they will make some when they can properly launch version 2.0. Why can't the same principle be applied here, to a game that is pretty much printing them money.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

and still BST, DRG and PUP are restricted to stupid timers.

[Zubis]

^^This
Speaking of which, whatever happened to the proposed job ability that would allow us to reduce the BP recast further?

New SMN Two Hour! ._.

[Cowardlybabooon]

I think SE actually has decent resources and uses them efficiently, it's not as simple as hiring more people. There are however, cases where they should tell us yes rather than no on suggestions just because they will take a lot of work.

[Lilia]

New SMN Two Hour! ._.

a ja with mp for BP timer - is 100% better as a ja what i can all 2h......

:(

I rly hope SE change BP timer

[Camiie]

Hello summoners,

The most recent road map scheduled Cait Sith to be implemented around the July to August time frame; however, implementation will be delayed.

As we had a large amount of other projects and various requests to work on, we were unable to secure enough time for this and had to lower the priority of Cait Sith.

So, priority drops from bottom of the barrel to below the barrel.


We apologize for everyone who was looking forward to it.

Tell the devs they can apologize by making Cait Sith a really exceptional Avatar. Make her a little powerhouse of awesome, and not just Carbuncle 2.0.


Once we get some insight into the new implementation timing we will be sure to make an announcement.

I'm thinking holding my breath would be a bad idea.


Changing the topic for a moment, in the next test server update we will be reducing the recast times for avatars and spirits to a uniform 5 seconds. (Except Odin and Alexander)

While there may not be a big feeling of difference for using multiple avatars, it will become more efficient to switch to an avatar temporarily and then call out a previously used one right away. This will also be quite effective when using the new 2-hour ability, as your Blood Pact timers will be reduced as well, opening up paths for application.

Now that's more like it! I think that actually will be a difference that will be felt and appreciated. This is the sort of love SMN needs. Please don't decide later that it's overpowered...!

[Hayward]

As far as Cait Sith and Atomos are concerned, take all the time in the world. More avatars--and restricted to 2 hours at that--isn't really going to fill the holes in the job that are still prevalent and, I believe, known to the developers. Fix the dings under the hood first then worry about the paint job. Any auto mechanic worth his/her license knows that.

I am quite impressed by the plans to reduce recast timers to 5 seconds. This will do wonders for soloing and quick-reaction situations; however, BP timers need to be separated by avatar for this to truly shine. Anything short of that would be incomplete at best.

[Mokeil]

Hello summoners,

The most recent road map scheduled Cait Sith to be implemented around the July to August time frame; however, implementation will be delayed.

[...]

Once we get some insight into the new implementation timing we will be sure to make an announcement.

Okipuit, while I thank you for taking the time to comment on this for us, I wish to say that I am a little disappointed that the only concrete fact you can actually tell us is something most of us had already assumed. There's a whole new expansion in the works, new two-hours to implement, and even two new jobs; I understand that there are, from development perspectives, higher priorities... Still, to be told only that any new avatars (Promised to us very nearly a whole year ago!) are indefinitely delayed while other, more recent-seeming issues are settled is a little frustrating to have to hear.



Changing the topic for a moment, in the next test server update we will be reducing the recast times for avatars and spirits to a uniform 5 seconds. (Except Odin and Alexander)

I believe Salvation has already hit this nail squarely on the head, and I wish to second his sentiments wholeheartedly:


While a reduction in recast times for avatars and spirits is nice, it's still functionally useless while our hands are bound to the 45 second BP cap.

Now, I'll admit that there aren't many large problems still facing today's Summoner (By my reckoning there are only two major problems, and a handful of minor ones), but how exactly did this recast thing get precedence over everything else? I mean, did it only come up because of the new two hour, or is this actually something that people in the other language forums have been asking about?

I would also like to note that even with the new two-hour taken into consideration, I still don't see this recast change being really useful. The time involved in dismissing the current avatar, summoning a new one, and waiting for it to get into a useful position relative to the mob/party will eat a mighty good chunk of the proposed 30 seconds for the new two hour. I don't see us as being likely to swap between avatars as a result of this.

[Mokeil]

Camiie and Hayward -

The two of you seem fairly excited about the change to the recast timers. Personally speaking, I'm just not seeing why. Yes, it is a nice change, but nothing spectacular. I'm willing to accept that my cynical, crotchety nature might be Blinding Me To New Possibilities, however.

Would the two of you mind elaborating on your excitement, to help a jaded soul see the awesome?

[Sargent]

Now, I'll admit that there aren't many large problems still facing today's Summoner (By my reckoning there are only two major problems, and a handful of minor ones), but how exactly did this recast thing get precedence over everything else? I mean, did it only come up because of the new two hour, or is this actually something that people in the other language forums have been asking about?

I honestly don't think the magic recast thing matters too much anyway, people who cared about it used Fast Cast gear and/or put up Haste to mitigate it (I have it at ~17s myself). The Blood Pact timer is the much bigger issue regarding Summoner because again, the SMNs who wish to Blood Pact faster and decide to gear swap for it are blocked by the hard cap.


and still BST, DRG and PUP are restricted to stupid timers.
Sorry if I missed this, I'm not too familiar with those jobs. However from my perspective, these jobs can still put out decent damage on mobs that matter. What can Summoner do, pull out a Staff? Let's be realistic, while the restriction is unfair for all pet jobs, Summoner gets shafted the most when it comes to restricted damage.


Tell the devs they can apologize by making Cait Sith a really exceptional Avatar. Make her a little powerhouse of awesome, and not just Carbuncle 2.0.
Second this, last thing we need is "hey look, you get a shiny new avatar! It's useless though!", much like the BST frog pet.

[Camiie]

Would the two of you mind elaborating on your excitement, to help a jaded soul see the awesome?

I'm just that good at being sarcastic!

[Infidi]

Well... at least we are getting a cool new 2hour! 9 BPs in a row, woo! .....if you have the mp pool outside of abyssea to do that many. ^o^ j/k j/k, I say a small good is better than none at all. ^^

[Babekeke]

Avatar... recast... wtf!?

The only time I might even notice that this has been changed, is when weakened!

I don't see why anyone would appreciate this, and I certainly don't see why anyone would specifically gear for it. If I have an avatar out, and decide to swap it for another for 1 BP then re-summon the original one, my original avatar has been out for long enough that the recast was up anyway! 30s recast being less than the 45s BP timer = recast is always up. Unless you're weakened. Or slowed and didn't remove it first.

P.S. Thanks Okiput, for coming in on the 60th day of the 62 day window that had been allowed, to say that this was going to be delayed.

[Zhronne]

^^This
Speaking of which, whatever happened to the proposed job ability that would allow us to reduce the BP recast further?
It became our new 2hr.

[Jerbob]

I suppose this news is predictable if nothing else. I even struggle to feel let down anymore, let alone actually disappointed. We all knew it was going to happen.

I recognise that the development team is, for whatever reason, always busy and stretched to the limit, but when we are paying for the service you can't expect us to sympathise for several years straight every time something gets delayed or is implemented in a terrible way. Obvious case in point is Alexander/Odin - we were waiting years for those and they turned out to be incredibly lame, boring, and an obvious cop-out. It's got to the point where most updates have become a bit of a joke in my linkshell on account of how uninspiring they are.

As a related side note, we don't want two-hour only avatars, SE - and I use the term "avatars" lightly here because, let's face it, they really aren't. I'd rather not be able to summon Atomos at all than have yet another of these pointless additions, regardless of how powerful or otherwise the effect may be. I know some people like them for various reasons, but the potential is there to do something so much better - two-hour only stuff is such a waste, and it's a bit of a slap in the face as far as I am concerned.

Reducing avatar recast is welcome, I suppose, but only in the sense that being given a bowl of slops at a banquet is welcome. I really don't want to be so negative and to sound so ungrateful, but to be honest there's not much more I can say that wouldn't be a barefaced lie.

[Secondplanet]

WOW all i can say is most ppl are really taking this laying down. Not to sound rude but i am DOWN RIGHT PISSED OFF.

While you constantly give bst new jugs almost every update you can't manage to make time to even give us 1 avatar to add to our roster? i just came back after being away for some time cause cait sith was coming out soon and was really looking forward to it and this happens. I don't complain about the power of avatars cause i manage to make do with what i have, I even pull stuff off the makes me a legend amongst my group and even random strangers i help.

All i can say is Square Enix yet again you let us down and try to cover the fact with a very useless think like the recast timer. Overall i'm kinda lost for words since this is turning out to be your song so I'll be ending this.

*hold up a glass* Heres to the new man in charge, BREAK THE CYCLE OF LETTING US DOWN *pour liquid on the floor*

[Camiie]

WOW all i can say is most ppl are really taking this laying down. Not to sound rude but i am DOWN RIGHT PISSED OFF.

I don't blame you at all. We probably all should be raging hard, but I think many of us are just worn down from fighting the good fight for SMN over the years. We've come to expect this sort of second-class (third-class?) job status from SE.

[Dreamin]

I don't blame you at all. We probably all should be raging hard, but I think many of us are just worn down from fighting the good fight for SMN over the years. We've come to expect this sort of second-class (third-class?) job status from SE.

I dont know between BST and SMN, I honestly do not know which one SE can careless more about. I just hope the new director will spend a few hours each week to just play the 2 damn jobs to experience what we have to deal with.

[Camiie]

I dont know between BST and SMN, I honestly do not know which one SE can careless more about. I just hope the new director will spend a few hours each week to just play the 2 damn jobs to experience what we have to deal with.

I play both, and both have spent a long time getting the short end of the stick and still are. I don't want to get into it over which job is worse off, because it's rather subjective and dependent on circumstances. They both need help and to be treated better than SE treats them. SE needs to get over this apparent phobia they have of BST and SMN becoming overpowered. They've definitely overcompensated in that regard. At this point it would take drastic measures for them to even approach where other jobs are, much less become OP.

I'd almost be willing to bet that the delay comes from them thinking what they had planned was too powerful somehow, and they went back to the drawing board over it. I'm fully prepared to be completely underwhelmed by what we end up with.

[Herby]

There's no way anyone could defend SE for what they're doing to pet jobs in general. It's just downright EMBARRASSING how they almost always promise SMN something really good and deliver something mediocre at best.

The last really good SMN update was Elemental Siphon and I don't even remember when it was released... it was that long ago.

Avatar's Favor: Sounded really good on Paper, but several issues destroy any usefulness of this ability except for the perp cost reduction for lower level summoners. I mean seriously, why does it have to charge up over more than 1 minute, until the buffs are actually any good? And why the hell does it reset on ANY Blood Pact usage? It's like SE says: well if you wanna use Avatar's favor just stand around and look stupid.

Mana Cede: Somewhat mediocre, it'S not useful for fully merited Magcial Blood Pacts. it shouldn't be MP -> TP but a downright damage increase for the next BP or something like that.

Blood Pact Ability Delay: -15 is cap? seriously? Every other job is able to cap their spellrecast @50% (and yeah i know BPs are JAs but they still act as our SPELLS) why do we only get 25%? and btw we have gear for almost -40 seconds delay. That's almost trolling us

There are a few more issues with Summoner like DoT of Avatars etc. but my post is already way too long~

Thanks for reading the post of a really angered main-SMN

[Kaych]

They still have til 15 September to introduce Cait Sith, according to theyr roadmap. I dunno if Atomos will be summonable, but if he will it prolly will be a 2hr. It might be as Phoenix, just an cut scene avatar ;)

[noirin]

Odds are IF Atomos ever was introduced they'd go with their original intentions-Cait Sith as a standard avatar, Atomos as a 2hr. It would probably have some move that either flatout kills lower mobs and does absurd dmg to hgiher ones [ala zantetsuken]. Unless it did that one soul move it does in wotg, taking giant chunks of stats off of mobs [i think it was like, ~60 of each stat?] and applying them to the summoner...

Cait Sith would probably be a Light pact, Atomos dark, and Cait Sith will probably use the moves all Sith use during Wotg.Honestly with all the abilities and character models already in the flippin game, I'd love to hear the actual excuse as to why this isn't in game yet. "Other Priorities" doesn't cut it for me, and that's from the point of view of a ffxi player, not one that's actually a smn [haven't lvl'd the job yet myself].

[Annalise]

Blood Pact Ability Delay: -15 is cap? seriously? Every other job is able to cap their spellrecast @50% (and yeah i know BPs are JAs but they still act as our SPELLS) why do we only get 25%? and btw we have gear for almost -40 seconds delay. That's almost trolling us


Interestingly, the Relic+2 set has -23 bloodpact delay. As far as I recall, it is the only 5-piece equipment set in the game that has useless bonuses when the full set is worn. You can reach -15 delay with three pieces, the -8 on the other two pieces do nothing since 15 is the cap.

It makes me think of making a 5-piece gear set with maximum gear haste on it, and then adding on a set bonus of 8% more gear haste.

Granted, we can just use the 3 pieces and ignore the other two for bloodpacts if we wanted... but as a set, it's a bit odd. No other set in the game does something like this.

[Herby]

Interestingly, the Relic+2 set has -23 bloodpact delay. As far as I recall, it is the only 5-piece equipment set in the game that has useless bonuses when the full set is worn. You can reach -15 delay with three pieces, the -8 on the other two pieces do nothing since 15 is the cap.

It makes me think of making a 5-piece gear set with maximum gear haste on it, and then adding on a set bonus of 8% more gear haste.

Granted, we can just use the 3 pieces and ignore the other two for bloodpacts if we wanted... but as a set, it's a bit odd. No other set in the game does something like this.

I don't think there's any equipment setup where any other job can exceed it's cap by such a big number like SMN can on BP delay. most of the delay gear is useless after you got your magian staves since they already give -12 delay on a single piece. That's just so odd and I don't understand SE's reasoning behind it

[Secondplanet]

I really think SE should have to do something to make up for this like separate all of our bloodpacts into their own counters to help us out.

And SE before you say it would make us overpowered i say it can't we only have 2 high'ish level bloodpact rage's that one it physical and other magic. All other before it fail hard compared to the limit you set on the lvl 75 attacks.

Or at least give us basic control over our elemental's so we can choose which magic they will use. Even if you set it up like a quasi puppet where you can issue a suggestion like magic attack or magic enfeeble and then they do their own thing.

[Dreamin]

I play both, and both have spent a long time getting the short end of the stick and still are. I don't want to get into it over which job is worse off, because it's rather subjective and dependent on circumstances. They both need help and to be treated better than SE treats them. SE needs to get over this apparent phobia they have of BST and SMN becoming overpowered. They've definitely overcompensated in that regard. At this point it would take drastic measures for them to even approach where other jobs are, much less become OP.

I'd almost be willing to bet that the delay comes from them thinking what they had planned was too powerful somehow, and they went back to the drawing board over it. I'm fully prepared to be completely underwhelmed by what we end up with.

I'm actually thinking that BST had it worst right now, given that:
1. Their signature JA, Charm, is completely useless now.
2. They gave us a good pet (Falcorr and Dippy) and then turned around and nerf'ed their TH so that it is no longer useful for farming (even outside of Dynamis). While the main driver for this was for dynamis, the fact of the matter is that taking away TH from the pet doesn't really impact Dynamis that much but does take away our ability to farm other items.
3. They told us that they are going to give us item to raise the TH from pet and then take that away from us again and telling us that we were reading too much into what they have said here.
4. To this day, BST's pet is the only pet that does not zone with the master.
5. The latest proposed 2hr for BST is for us to 'EAT' our pet so that we can gain some Stoneskin that would be about half of the HP of the pet. While the reality is that NO SANE BST wants this. [Although to be fair, the original proposal would have been even more laughable, in exchange in eating our pet, we would gain Reraise. *Yawn*].

So based on the above, I would say right now, SMN is slightly better off than BST. At least the new proposed 2hr for SMN could actually have a real use unlike the 'eat your pet' and gain stoneskin.

[Dreamin]

They still have til 15 September to introduce Cait Sith, according to theyr roadmap. I dunno if Atomos will be summonable, but if he will it prolly will be a 2hr. It might be as Phoenix, just an cut scene avatar ;)

I dont know how you read they have until 9/15 to give us Cait Sith. Are we even reading the same post:


Hello summoners,

The most recent road map scheduled Cait Sith to be implemented around the July to August time frame; however, implementation will be delayed.

As we had a large amount of other projects and various requests to work on, we were unable to secure enough time for this and had to lower the priority of Cait Sith.

We apologize for everyone who was looking forward to it.

Once we get some insight into the new implementation timing we will be sure to make an announcement.

Changing the topic for a moment, in the next test server update we will be reducing the recast times for avatars and spirits to a uniform 5 seconds. (Except Odin and Alexander)

While there may not be a big feeling of difference for using multiple avatars, it will become more efficient to switch to an avatar temporarily and then call out a previously used one right away. This will also be quite effective when using the new 2-hour ability, as your Blood Pact timers will be reduced as well, opening up paths for application.


The bolded part clearly means that Cait Sith timing is TBD and not anytime 'known' at all.

[Mokeil]

I'm just that good at being sarcastic!

That was, indeed, excellent sarcasm. I /bow before a Master. Seriously! You just gave me a good solid laugh today. I needed that.



WOW all i can say is most ppl are really taking this laying down. Not to sound rude but i am DOWN RIGHT PISSED OFF.

Summoner has waded through a lot of BS over the years, and we're a lot stronger now than we used to be. But for the most part, changes took a long, long time to come around. Then came Abyssea and the Magian trials. Suddenly, we had a rush of new things. Atma! New Gear! Oh man, I can get up to some crazy stuff in Abyssea these days with the right atma... And now we have solid gear choices in just about every slot - real choices! Not just one piece and that's that (I'm looking at you, Yinyang Robe!).

Heck, my -perp set is so good now that I can leave any avatar out in any zone/weather combination you can think of, and I will get MP back for the privilege of doing so. This is before I even start to consider Refresh or Sublimation! It literally changed the way I could approach the job.

For the first time in a long time, it felt good to be a Summoner. It was like some sort of Cosmic Vindication for sticking with the job for so long. It was like SE had said, "We're sorry. We know we've been kind of lax about getting to you, but that's going to change. Just stick with us, because we've got great things in mind for you."

OK, sure, everyone got hefty buffs due to Atmas and newer, job specific gear, yes. But Abyssea and the Magian Trials were to be just the start - a glimpse, if you will, into the potentially great things that would be done for each of our jobs on the road to 99 and beyond. But for Summoner, that potential was never lived up to. From there, most everyone else has gotten bigger and better, while Summoner has just sort of languished in limbo with a few other neglected jobs.

That's the part that gets me. So many awesome things could have happened for us, but all we get are useless tweaks to things we don't even care about. When we actually get an official response, it's in relation to things we didn't even know we had asked about. I mean, seriously, who the heck was asking about making Wards cheaper or stronger if there were only a few people in the AoE range? We have so many other concerns voiced here, and that's the one they choose to answer?

Never before has the notion that Hope is the best spice to bring out Despair rung more truly than now. I just don't think I have it in me anymore to muster the truly righteous outrage this non-news deserves.

Honestly, though? I don't even think that's the saddest part of all this mess. Looking around these forums, most of us aren't even asking for newer and better things. Sure, new avatars or Blood Pacts would be cool, and all... But mostly, we just want years old problems to be taken care of. We just want to feel... whole.

To the Community Rep Team: You guys take a lot of gruff from us sometimes, in regards to the messages you pass our way. I recognize that you have little control over the contents, however. You all can only tell us what you're cleared to tell us, and a lot of that happens above your pay grade. So please know that if we are angry or upset or disappointed: It is not at you, but rather at the contents of the messages you carry to us.

[Quetzacoatl]

Square-Enix just bought you all a lot more time to finish up WotG before you realize you have to beat the entire expansion to get access to them, just like they did with Alexander and Odin for ToAU. GET TO IT!

[Lollerblades]

Summoner left out again I see …

[Secondplanet]

I'm actually thinking that BST had it worst right now, given that:
1. Their signature JA, Charm, is completely useless now.
2. They gave us a good pet (Falcorr and Dippy) and then turned around and nerf'ed their TH so that it is no longer useful for farming (even outside of Dynamis). While the main driver for this was for dynamis, the fact of the matter is that taking away TH from the pet doesn't really impact Dynamis that much but does take away our ability to farm other items.
3. They told us that they are going to give us item to raise the TH from pet and then take that away from us again and telling us that we were reading too much into what they have said here.
4. To this day, BST's pet is the only pet that does not zone with the master.
5. The latest proposed 2hr for BST is for us to 'EAT' our pet so that we can gain some Stoneskin that would be about half of the HP of the pet. While the reality is that NO SANE BST wants this. [Although to be fair, the original proposal would have been even more laughable, in exchange in eating our pet, we would gain Reraise. *Yawn*].

So based on the above, I would say right now, SMN is slightly better off than BST. At least the new proposed 2hr for SMN could actually have a real use unlike the 'eat your pet' and gain stoneskin.

I don't see how bst has it worst off, TH is for thf sorry but if they start handing out other jobs abilities its more of a cop out then a bonus.

Also with bst you get stout servant to a higher level then we can dream of. Already bst pets have a better physical defense then avatars and we only excel in magic defense which can't be used against us since most NM's use more then 1 type of magic. Look at turul, he spams thunder and wind magic so no one avatar will have the advantage in this fight. But all (minus maybe ceulubre) attack more then use magic which makes bst stand out better for tanking. Also you get a way to heal your pet while only 2 of ours are able to heal themselves.

And while bst is giving new pets with updated stats we are still stuck back in the day of 75 for most our stats and being told constantly by SE that its to maintain balance in a world that is off kilter.

[Camiie]

Square-Enix just bought you all a lot more time to finish up WotG before you realize you have to beat the entire expansion to get access to them, just like they did with Alexander and Odin for ToAU. GET TO IT!

I guess I'm way ahead of the game then. Been there. Done that. Got the earring.

I wonder what exactly they ARE doing over at SE HQ. It doesn't seem like they're accomplishing much of anything. I think we need a lot more than a new producer....

[Babekeke]

Square-Enix just bought you all a lot more time to finish up WotG before you realize you have to beat the entire expansion to get access to them, just like they did with Alexander and Odin for ToAU. GET TO IT!

Just in case anyone didn't do this the moment that they announced Cait Sith and Atomos anyway?


I wonder what exactly they ARE doing over at SE HQ. It doesn't seem like they're accomplishing much of anything. I think we need a lot more than a new producer....

They're preventing people from wasting 5 seconds a day by making AFK players in congested areas appear as 'ghosts'. Unfortunately, every SAM MNK WAR DRK and WHM thinks that this is all that's left in the game that needed fixing lol.

[Sayomi]

whatever happened to utsu san and jubaku ni (T-T)

[Babekeke]

whatever happened to utsu san and jubaku ni (T-T)

That's Atomos's BP.

[Ihnako]

I'm actually thinking that BST had it worst right now, given that:
1. Their signature JA, Charm, is completely useless now.
2. They gave us a good pet (Falcorr and Dippy) and then turned around and nerf'ed their TH so that it is no longer useful for farming (even outside of Dynamis). While the main driver for this was for dynamis, the fact of the matter is that taking away TH from the pet doesn't really impact Dynamis that much but does take away our ability to farm other items.
3. They told us that they are going to give us item to raise the TH from pet and then take that away from us again and telling us that we were reading too much into what they have said here.
4. To this day, BST's pet is the only pet that does not zone with the master.
5. The latest proposed 2hr for BST is for us to 'EAT' our pet so that we can gain some Stoneskin that would be about half of the HP of the pet. While the reality is that NO SANE BST wants this. [Although to be fair, the original proposal would have been even more laughable, in exchange in eating our pet, we would gain Reraise. *Yawn*].

So based on the above, I would say right now, SMN is slightly better off than BST. At least the new proposed 2hr for SMN could actually have a real use unlike the 'eat your pet' and gain stoneskin.
Are you serious?

#1
Charm isn't useless since there are a lot of areas where you can charm!
But heck the charmable mobs aren't lv.90+ so they aren't OP like your jugs. Maybe you should start to learn the job from the scratch because other BST got their job done with those crapy mobs.
Notice: SE said that there will be charmable mobs in the upcoming addon.

#2
Compared with all pet-jobs BST got pampered over the time like they did with SAM.
And that your pet doesn't get a better TH than any other job beside THF was the right choice.
I don't understand why a pet should have it from the start. It's a pet!

#3
They mentioned that they consider it but they also gave a solid answer why they won't introduce it right now nor in the near future.

#4
And? What's so special about it?
Oh I knew - you want to charm a mob in one of the high-level areas and pose with it in front of Jeuno?
Sorry to be sarcastic but as a BST I don't care about zoning cause I'll call/charm my pet when it's needed.
Notic: You'r not the old DRG where your pet is your 2h!

#5
I also can't see why you complain about the changes (on the testserver).

BST are allready a tanking samurai not to say you'r - in case we'll reduce everything to DoT - #2
BST is #2 in DDing, #2/3 in tanking, #1 in hate control and don't misunderstand me but BST even got a gear and weapon choice beyond what the job could wear naturaly.

Considering everything said above - BST is SE's lovechild while they lightly touch/adjust DRG.
PUP got an adjustment but it's still to early to say that SE truely understand the needs of this job. (There's a lot odd in it.)
SMN had and have to wait for what they got promised. And we'r not talking about a dealy for a month - we'r talking about years!!!!

So I understand why every SMN is PISSED OFF not to say PISSED OFF BEYOND RECOGNITION.

[Calatilla]

They gave us a good pet (Falcorr and Dippy) and then turned around and nerf'ed their TH so that it is no longer useful for farming (even outside of Dynamis).

Only having TH1 on BST isn't useless for farming, its still better than no TH, which is what you had originally. SMN and PUP can get TH1 using taru sash same with other jobs so SE kind of balanced it out between jobs. But I`ve always thought the only job that should have TH is THF, since that's always SE`s reason for not giving THF anything.

Be happy you have TH at all.

[Camiie]

Let's not turn this into a BST vs SMN thread please. I'm sure the mods will jump at any chance to lock this.

On topic now. How long ago were Cait Sith and Atomos announced? How many times have they been delayed and why exactly? Any particular reason or are they just not that important to the devs? If so, why are these avatars any less important than any other job additions that have gone through the entire planning, testing, and implementation process in the time since these were announced? Surely they aren't favoring more popular jobs because LESS popular jobs than SMN have gotten things in the meantime.

I realize that Avatars require some storyline to be added where other abilities/spells do not, but it's not like you guys are producing an expansion for these. In fact you did already (even though that took forever too). There's no need for Avatars to be years in the making unless you're James Cameron or Nickelodeon.

I wouldn't complain so much, but you guys are Square-Enix. Perhaps only a division thereof, but still Square-Enix. If you were some small no-name company and/or the game was F2P, I'd cut you some slack. I wouldn't expect much. You guys are the big boys though and are charging full price for admission here. I don't expect the moon and the stars, but I expect you to be able to deliver what you promise in a timely fashion. You're certainly not the only company who fails in that regard, but that's neither here nor there.

If you guys don't have the resources to get things done on time, then you have lousy bosses. You can tell them I said so. Part of a boss's responsibility is to make sure his workers have what they need to get the job done. I hope the new Producer realizes that and works to get everyone what they need to make things happen and makes sure everyone has their <Rear> in gear.

[Herby]

The most disturbing thing for me is that apparently the SMN community doesn't even care about being treated this way. Otherwise, I can't explain the lack of reaction to this news :(

[Camiie]

The most disturbing thing for me is that apparently the SMN community doesn't even care about being treated this way. Otherwise, I can't explain the lack of reaction to this news :(

I know what you mean. I think we should all be pretty darn upset about this. I can only hope the JP players are giving them a piece of their minds. The NA SMN community is being rather slack in standing up for our job. Even if Cait Sith and Atomos aren't brought out any sooner, we should at least put the idea in the devs' heads that we don't appreciate being strung along for YEARS on new avatars.

I know what it's like to have to prioritize my duties and sometimes let people know that there will be a delay in meeting their needs. I would never put someone off like this though. There's no way I could get away with it. I guess you guys at SE chose the proper line of work to be able to get away with delays, lies, and broken promises. Other jobs where such things are commonplace are plumbers, electricians, construction contractors, and auto mechanics. Nice company you're keeping there!

[Secondplanet]

I agree with others, we're all tired of complaining about the lack of anything for summoner. For years i have been pushing for them to give an atma to people who have done the level 20 fights or even issue a new reward since so few have done them. Others along with myself asked them to up grade the evokers ring to kinda catch it up with the times. Hell even combine the 2 and make it if you've done all the lvl 20 fights you can talk to karby and he will upgrade the evokers ring to +1. But seriously when was the last BIG update for summoner???

I think the only good thing we have gotten in years was the elemental siphon. And when was that given to us?

With all other jobs constantly getting new abilities/spells/EQUIPMENT where is summoner standing in this equation?

SE you talk over and over again about maintaining balance in this game but where is this attitude of yours when summoner is mentioned? You ignore us and promise us stuff you don't deliver.

I'm not asking for a Dev to comment on this, I think a Dev HAS TO EXPLAIN TO US ABOUT THIS.

[Herby]

There is actually a pretty easy way to fix SMN IMO.

i can't imagine those fixes would take very long to implement and sound minor on paper but would make a great impact on how SMN can be played.

1: remove or change the BP delay - cap, since we have enough gear to cap BP delay almost 3 times!!!
2: fix avatar's favor: remove or cut the charging time in half and BPs shouldn't reset the favor
3: let Ward pacts scale more with the level of the Summoner/Summoning Skill outside of duration

in fact I'd like to see those 3 things even more than Cait Sith but SE doesn't even acknowledge that SMN is pretty broken outside of their 2hr uses (Perfect Defense)

let me know what you think of my suggestions for fixes

[Babekeke]

1. Maybe not remove completely or the new 2 hour is redundant, but lower to 50% please.

2. I think favor should have 1 or the other penalty. Either we have a 25% reduction to BP damage, OR we have wards reset when we BP rage. Not both.

3. Can't think off the top of my head how they should scale more with level, other than making warcry a little more powerful.

[Herby]

1. Maybe not remove completely or the new 2 hour is redundant, but lower to 50% please.

2. I think favor should have 1 or the other penalty. Either we have a 25% reduction to BP damage, OR we have wards reset when we BP rage. Not both.

3. Can't think off the top of my head how they should scale more with level, other than making warcry a little more powerful.

Thanks for the input ^^

@ 1: you're probably right that 50% would be a more reasonable cap than remove it altogether.

@ 2: exactly, the damage reduction is enough of a trade off, on top of that SE never told us that the favors reset when we BP. We had to find out ourselves.

@ 3: a few examples to better show what i mean:

Rolling Thunder: as of now it's way inferior to Inferno Howl of Ifrit, I'd like it to scale more with level so it's more of a choice of elements than just the superior Inferno Howl.

Fenrirs stat boosting ward pacts could scale a bit more with level too, so it's a more appropriate buff for lvl 99, not sure about the numbers though.

Same is true for Diabolos' Dream Shroud and Noctoshield. IMO SMN's with like 450-500+ SMN-Skill should see a signifcant increase in the Phalanx effect Nocto gives. -13 damage is a really weak effect and in my opinion it should scale up to maybe 25-29~. This way it would still be inferior to RDM's Phalanx but at least at a usable point for lvl 99.

Ifrit's Crimson Howl could scale up to maybe 15% att+

[Mokeil]

3. Can't think off the top of my head how they should scale more with level, other than making warcry a little more powerful.

Nearly all of our old Wards could use a little bit of love. Herby has already rightly brought up a few culprits, but I'd like to especially bring up two other classics that used to get a lot of use.

(Note: I'm going to mention Scholar used as support job below. This is not an indictment on Scholar or /sch in general or in specific, but merely to point out that some of our main job abilities are rendered nearly pointless by anyone subbing Scholar, let alone if we ourselves are doing it. This does not seem Balanced to me.)

Aerial Armor: This gives 3 imperfect (i.e. not 100% effective at blocking an attack) images for a cost of 92 MP and not being able to use another Ward for 45 seconds. My Scholar support job, on the other hand can give 2 non-perfect images for the cost of a mere 40 MP (Recast time for Blink under Accession: 30 seconds). And then I'll still have my Ward timer for other things.

There is, of course, another consideration when thinking of Aerial Armor, and that's Utsusemi. Saying that Ninja is a popular support job is like saying that water is wet. That means lots of folks who might need those images for defensive purposes can already give themselves 3 perfect images, twice over. Why would they want imperfect ones from Aerial Armor?


Earthen Ward: At Level 99, this Ward offers 250 HP worth of protection for 92 MP. Support Job Scholar, on the other hand, can easily hit 350 HP worth of protection for only 58 MP (Recast time under Accession: 90 seconds). While Earthen Ward does get the advantage for the quicker recast timer, I think it gets balanced by the loss of all other Wards during that 45 seconds. This basically boils down to less protection offered for more MP. Why in the world would we ever want to use this anymore?

[Babekeke]

With regards to Crimson Howl, WAR's Warcry caps at 11.3% and can be recast every 4:10 with max merits. Since we can full-time Crimson Howl, I don't see it going over 10% in the name of 'Balance'.

Many of the other wards though could indeed use a boost.

[Herby]

With regards to Crimson Howl, WAR's Warcry caps at 11.3% and can be recast every 4:10 with max merits. Since we can full-time Crimson Howl, I don't see it going over 10% in the name of 'Balance'.

Yeah well, I wasn't looking at Crimson Howl as the Warrior Ability Warcry although it indeed gives a Warcry Effect but imo that has to be addressed too. It sucks that if you have a warrior in the party that can (and will) "cancel" your Crimson Howl with his own Warcry, they should be 2 different effects.

I also agree with Mokeil 100%

[Mokeil]

Just thought I'd take a second to draw attention to this post here:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/26191-New-2-hour-Abilities?p=359060&viewfull=1#post359060

The short version is that they've decided to tweak all our old two hours in addition to the new stuff - reducing the recast, making them two separate abilities that don't share timers, etc. Good stuff! But then there was this little jewel near the bottom...


As a general direction we will be raising all of the abilities so that they become useful. However, we believe that we will have no choice but add the lowering of effects of Perfect Defense and Embrava to our scope of adjustments.

So, in addition to indefinite delays to the avatars promised to us a year ago and the super-special-awesome tweak of lowering our avatars' recast timers, they're also taking the nerf bat to what is probably the only actual good use of our current two-hour.

Yes, Perfect Defense is powerful - one of the best two-hours in the game, I'd wager - but it also costs us all our MP to use, and has an effect based on how much of our MP we actually have at the time we use it. Frankly, an ability that eats 1,500+ MP had better darn well be awesome.

So... yea. I'm really feeling the love, SE. Way to go.

[Secondplanet]

If SE nerfs Perfect Defense they might as well make all avatars cost 10x more per tick to keep out and take away our mp bonus ability.

Its already hard enough for summoners to get into almost any event due to our restrictions but to take away our unique jem? thats not right. You gave away odin on us, why don't you just allow other jobs to use scroll of shiva while your at it.

[Kaych]

[QUOTE=Dreamin;357797]I dont know how you read they have until 9/15 to give us Cait Sith. Are we even reading the same post:

I am guessing that you are reading a different post or you dunno how to read the dates of a post. I posted my statement on 25 July and Okipuit posted his/hers 29 August. I also refered to this link Lol: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/22873-FINAL-FANTASY-XI-2012-Roadmap which clearly says Caith Sith will be implemented between 15 July and 15 September ^_-

[Babekeke]

Okiput just closed a 3 week old thread that was getting new posts in it every day. Reason: because of the 'necro bumps'.

I don't hold out much hope for this thread anymore.

[Mokeil]

Finally, please note that constantly bumping threads asking for updates and attacking the staff will not be tolerated. With that said, this thread will be closed.

To be fair, I think this was the reason that thread was closed. The last three pages were more or less nothing but empty and shameless bumps, or gripes about the lack of response. Though, to be truthful, I don't hold out much hope for this thread anymore, either...

In the interest of maintaining the topic last brought up by the aforementioned Okipuit: we got our recast reduction in the last update. So, to Summoners old and new: Did anyone even notice? Has someone discovered an awesome new trick or tactic involving this change - maybe an NM we can solo/duo more effectively now? Are they just laying the groundwork for this crazy, new Not-a-two-hour ability we're eventually supposed to get? Or was this just plain out pointless?

I know I mentioned it earlier, but I'm just not seeing the reason why they bothered. Another opinion might help me put this better into perspective.

[Babekeke]

I did duo the chariot that hangs out in the bombs in grauberg and I wished that I had merited the recast then. But I hadn't. And I still haven't.

It's situational at best, a lot of the stuff that smns solo/duo either we can keep the avatar alive on, or we have a good idea when the avatar will die so we can be prepared for recasting. It's only stuff that can 1-shot them that this update was really useful for, and discoid from that chariot is 1 such move.

[Vandheer]

Hello SMN. ^^ Though have not leveled SMN I'm equally bummed by the Cait Sith no show. Though a bit late, I thought it relevant to post a similar post to what I posted in the Beastmaster threads here in stating that I'd like to see a new roadmap from SE. Its been stated about one to two months ago by Akihiko Matsui that one was being made however its been a no show as well.



We are currently working on preparing a revised roadmap to be released. We expect this to take a little bit of time, but please hang in there.

Please keep us in the loop SE and not in the Dark as much as we currently are.

[Camiie]

They should work less on the roadmap and more on the road itself.

Also, as to Cait Sith's place on the roadmap:

http://www.craftster.org/pictures/data/500/medium/203180_28Dec09_Road_kill_pets_003.jpg

[Mirage]

While I don't think cait sith won't eventually be implemented, I can't help but to +1 that.

[Hashmalum]

The times on the "roadmaps" are just best guesses anyway which have the bad effect of disappointing people when the timetable isn't met. I'd rather just have a list of lists of upcoming changes with headings such as "soon", "in a little while", "in a long time", "and maybe someday (or not)". It'd be just as informative and more honest.

[Babekeke]

Hello SMN. ^^ Though have not leveled SMN I'm equally bummed by the Cait Sith no show. Though a bit late, I thought it relevant to post a similar post to what I posted in the Beastmaster threads here in stating that I'd like to see a new roadmap from SE. Its been stated about one to two months ago by Akihiko Matsui that one was being made however its been a no show as well.



Please keep us in the loop SE and not in the Dark as much as we currently are.

I'm starting to feel that SE is treating us like mushrooms...

They keep us in the dark, and feed us sh1t.

[Sp1cyryan]

I'm starting to feel that SE is treating us like mushrooms...

They keep us in the dark, and feed us sh1t.

I am starting to think what I have been thinking for years.

They are understaffed.

Sort of like when you start your job with six colleagues and four quit. Then they want the two to work as hard as the six did.

[Umisame]

I am starting to think what I have been thinking for years.

They are understaffed.

Sort of like when you start your job with six colleagues and four quit. Then they want the two to work as hard as the six did.

The last real avatar was Diabolos, Dec. 13 2005: http://www.playonline.com/pcd/update/ff11us/20051213fMt7e1/detail.html

Odin and Alex are two spells of 2h cooldown.

7 years waiting to get a new avatar, Cait Sith must be awesome.

[Babekeke]

The last real avatar was Diabolos, Dec. 13 2005: http://www.playonline.com/pcd/update/ff11us/20051213fMt7e1/detail.html

Odin and Alex are two spells of 2h cooldown.

7 years waiting to get a new avatar, Cait Sith must be awesome.

More than likely severely underwhelming.

[Zirael]

I am starting to think what I have been thinking for years.

They are understaffed.

Sort of like when you start your job with six colleagues and four quit. Then they want the two to work as hard as the six did.
Why would anyone want to quit working on FFXI? :confused: We're the friendliest, most patient and understanding customer community ever! :D

[Luvbunny]

Seems like they are lying to us again, and again... nothing really new here. Either that or they still cannot figure out how to make Atomos looks like less of a giant butthole. Between the new expansion and FF14:ARR, sounds like they overwhelmed with works, should just hire temporary workers to help them. Looks like they are pulling the "milk us for everything" BS tactics again while delivering minimal content updates.

[Camiie]

Why would anyone want to quit working on FFXI? :confused: We're the friendliest, most patient and understanding customer community ever! :D

My sarcasm detector is going off! We actually are an excellent customer community. We're loyal almost to our own detriment, but we can only take so many delays and disappointments before we rightfully call SE out on it. Trust me, most of the complaints are very well deserved. In fact, I dare say they're getting off easy most of the time.

[Okipuit]

Good morning!

We understand that many of you have been looking forward to the implementation of Cait Sith for some time now and we apologize that we have pushed it back and are making you wait longer.

The development team is would really like to implement this as soon as possible, but they are devoting a lot of their energy to the new jobs on the way as well as completely revamping the special abilities for each job.

Just to give you some insight as to how far along they are with Cait Sith, the avatar can currently be summoned and fight alongside characters; however, no abilities or effects have been added as of yet. Creating effects and adjusting abilities is pretty dense work, but they are working as hard as they can.

We apologize that we cannot give a concrete date for implementation, but we will be sure to let you know of any updates as we hear them.

[Dreamin]

Good morning!

We understand that many of you have been looking forward to the implementation of Cait Sith for some time now and we apologize that we have pushed it back and are making you wait longer.

The development team is would really like to implement this as soon as possible, but they are devoting a lot of their energy to the new jobs on the way as well as completely revamping the special abilities for each job.

Just to give you some insight as to how far along they are with Cait Sith, the avatar can currently be summoned and fight alongside characters; however, no abilities or effects have been added as of yet. Creating effects and adjusting abilities is pretty dense work, but they are working as hard as they can.

We apologize that we cannot give a concrete date for implementation, but we will be sure to let you know of any updates as we hear them.

Can we get an explanations as to HOW the 2 avatars that were promised over 1.5 years ago somehow got stuck behind the new special abilities of various jobs? You know, like the 'Eat your pet and gets a SS' that the BST new ability that NO ONE wants?

[Infidi]

Okipuit, could you ask if it's possible to put the summonable Cait Sith on the test server? I know no abilities ate ready but it'd be fun to at least see what she looks like in motion and such. :D Ohhh maybe the dev team can just make a video of her? :D

[Malthar]

That's ok, Okipuit. Tell the devs to take time in creating the new expansion. We want a good product, after-all.

[Secondplanet]

Good morning!

We understand that many of you have been looking forward to the implementation of Cait Sith for some time now and we apologize that we have pushed it back and are making you wait longer.

The development team is would really like to implement this as soon as possible, but they are devoting a lot of their energy to the new jobs on the way as well as completely revamping the special abilities for each job.

Just to give you some insight as to how far along they are with Cait Sith, the avatar can currently be summoned and fight alongside characters; however, no abilities or effects have been added as of yet. Creating effects and adjusting abilities is pretty dense work, but they are working as hard as they can.

We apologize that we cannot give a concrete date for implementation, but we will be sure to let you know of any updates as we hear them.

I'm still greatly disappointed over this, while other jobs have received new abilities/skills/weaponskills over the level caps we have only seen 1 new bp for each avatar since then and none are attacks (except for carbuncles) and while you introduce new bst pets with almost all updates and make them better then the last ones we are still stuck with the same avatars with the same recast cap and the same cap on abilities.

SE THROW US A BONE HERE.

[Vold]

Well Cait Sith doesn't seem like some badass avatar to have to me so I can live with this delay. But you guys should have really dealt with this while you could have awhile back before your plate got too big. I have zero doubt that the soonest possible release is now post SoA release.

But seriously SMN should have got several new summons on the way to 99. You guys are pretty resourceful I'm sure you could have created some from thin air. What abilities to give them would be another story I guess but, um, Cait Sith was always meh. It made sense, at least. Maybe. I'm not sure. I know less time should have been spent on VW and more time on jobs.

[Malthar]

SE THROW US A BONE HERE.

Stop whining! It's not a tuuma!

[Mayoyama]

Okipuit, could you ask if it's possible to put the summonable Cait Sith on the test server?

Yes please! Even if it doesnt have blood pacts yet.. it would be like SMNs version of BST's frog pet xD Just to be able to see cait fight alongside woud be fun :)

[Babekeke]

I'd be happy for it to go live as it is. Let us do the quest to obtain her, and we can use her for just randomly idling, or wandering around on TW stuff farming or whatever. Then when we have a finished product that's been tested on the test server, then just add those BPs to the avatar that we have already got. :)

This will also reduce the huge queues of people waiting to get into the battlefield to obtain a fully functioning Cait Sith.

[Vandheer]

We understand that many of you have been looking forward to the implementation of Cait Sith for some time now and we apologize that we have pushed it back and are making you wait longer.

The development team is would really like to implement this as soon as possible, but they are devoting a lot of their energy to the new jobs on the way as well as completely revamping the special abilities for each job.

We apologize that we cannot give a concrete date for implementation, but we will be sure to let you know of any updates as we hear them.

Okipuit, can you shed light as to what else was planned to be added that will be pushed back? While I'm sure were all happy that the team is taking the time to fix the majority of lackluster 2-hour abilities it is helpful to have an idea of what is to come next. Based on the previous roadmap, and as far as I'm aware, there has been no word on Dark Magic Fast Cast, Absorb spell adjustments, Ranged Attack adjustments, or Boost Adjustments and up until now the Cait Sith that were scheduled to be added after the new Two Hour Abilities.

I would just appreciate being kept in on the loop. >_<

[Calysto]

come on...
find an avatar codes.
copy/paste and change the name.
change the .dat for the avatar.

with just that caith would be able to melee and use the first avatar bp...

ok, it may not be THIS simple, but it's hardly worth a week of a single dev at worst...
also, "working on new jobs" and "revamping 2h" isn't an excuse.
you presented the new 2h a while ago, some of them were horrible or barely useful(and some clearly too good).
we have next to no info on the new jobs(or the expension as it is).

also, these things shouldn't be the developers problems but a designer.
a developer could probably make caith sith from scratch in a week.(this would require some time testing to adjust the values of course, but this come AFTER coding).
to me this just seems to mean you have no idea what bp give it...

[Luvbunny]

Can we get an explanations as to HOW the 2 avatars that were promised over 1.5 years ago somehow got stuck behind the new special abilities of various jobs? You know, like the 'Eat your pet and gets a SS' that the BST new ability that NO ONE wants?

This!! If they seriously overwhelmed with works, they should hire more people. Spend some money to make more. This has been the same lame excuse for awhile now. Seriously, if you are going to take "some time", then it better be good and not the atrocious new 2 hours similar to what they plan to give to beastmaster. Give people what they want and start learning by listening to what the audience wants. Stop living in a bubble.

[Jerbob]

Disappointing but expected news. I can fully understand that the pressures from other areas of development can cause things to be pushed back, but honestly - this is the case for 90% of annoucements that are made these days. I'm sorry, but the developers really can't use that excuse time and time again and people to accept it without issue - as many people have pointed out, if meeting deadlines and producing decent content is an issue, SE needs to allocate more resources to FFXI. Quite honestly, it is becoming embarrasing - when your players begin to find your update schedules a joke and start taking tongue-in-cheek bets on how delayed, misguided or blatantly flawed each item will be, there is a problem.

Working on new jobs is not an excuse. SoA is a new title that we will all be paying for separately. A dedicated, separate team should be involved to prevent just this sort of content slowdown/dropoff from happening, because I'm still paying the same subscription fees and I should therefore be able to expect the same level of service.

I apologise for the tone, which is obviously not directed at our exalted community reps, but there's only so many times I can read this kind of developer response without getting frustrated.

[Babekeke]

They could always release the new expansion WITHOUT the new jobs if they're struggling so much!

[Camiie]

Maybe I should just give up on SMN and pick up Rune Fencer or Geomancer since apparently actual work is going into those jobs. Even if they suck and/or end up as one-ability wonders, I won't be any worse off.

[Luvbunny]

I think their message is rather crystal clear, nothing is going to happen till the expansion is launched. So expect them to revisit this like, say summer of 2013. In the meantime, consider it as a good reason to put your subscription on hold for a good 6 months and come back when they actually put some good contents back into the game. Chances are you won't miss much.

[Babekeke]

I think their message is rather crystal clear, nothing is going to happen till the expansion is launched. So expect them to revisit this like, say summer of 2013. In the meantime, consider it as a good reason to put your subscription on hold for a good 6 months and come back when they actually put some good contents back into the game. Chances are you won't miss much.

If I did this, the 1 place that I would be sure not to spend 6 months, is FF14 though. I can't believe anyone is actually leaving 11 for 14 when they're messing up 11. Surely everyone can see there'll just be the same story in 14 when there's actually content worth doing.

[Okipuit]

Okipuit, could you ask if it's possible to put the summonable Cait Sith on the test server? I know no abilities ate ready but it'd be fun to at least see what she looks like in motion and such. :D Ohhh maybe the dev team can just make a video of her? :D

Good idea! For those of you wanting to see this legendary cat in action, we just received word that the Development Team is preparing a video to showcase their progress on Cait Sith thus far!

[Infidi]

Good idea! For those of you wanting to see this legendary cat in action, we just received word that the Development Team is preparing a video to showcase their progress on Cait Sith thus far!
Yay! Maybe they'll have a contest to get some Cait Sith scythes :D Heh, kidding kidding. I know that has nothing to do with her. :(

[Waldrich]

I'd suggest Square Enix to show something "Seekers of Adoulin" related aswell, judging the last days of getting terrified by those drastic announcements.

But, "all good": it was only "cruor > gil", embrava and perfect defense nerf LOL
This won't change nothing to Square Enix only to the players.

Some players were devoted to abyssea, because it was progressive and profitable at same time, when square enix makes something that the players will exploit for 2 years just to see it nerfed, it just makes us think they don't know where this game can get to.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

The development team is would really like to implement this as soon as possible, but they are devoting a lot of their energy to the new jobs on the way as well as completely revamping the special abilities for each job.So is what you're saying is that they'll be added with the expansion.

[Camiie]

So is what you're saying is that they'll be added with the expansion.

Ah! I get it. They'll be a "feature" of the new expansion (even though they have nothing to do with it) so that SE has something to pad the list of features with because the expansion will be in an impossibly ridiculous state of incompleteness even with all their resources supposedly being poured into it.

[Phogg]

I put the over/under line for the number of developers on their "team" at 2.5. Place your bets!

[Babekeke]

even with all their resources supposedly being poured into it.

All four of them^^

[Psxpert2011]

Good idea! For those of you wanting to see this legendary cat in action, we just received word that the Development Team is preparing a video to showcase their progress on Cait Sith thus far!

Case CLOSED! THREAD LOCKED
(now, back to wish list of possible new bst pets!)

[Camiie]

Case CLOSED! THREAD LOCKED
(now, back to wish list of possible new bst pets!)

The issue is only resolved when Cait Sith and Atomos are fully implemented. CASE OPEN! THREAD ACTIVE!

[Luvbunny]

When they finally figure out how to make Atomos looking less like a giant butt hole, then they will implement it. But yeah, it would be great if they would just put the new avatars in December updates. Looking at the way things are run, we are not getting anything substantial in the next 3-6 months other than "smaller" adjustments (we know what this one refer to). If anyone is looking to take a break from the game, now would be a good time to do it. You won't miss much, spend some time during the holiday with your loved ones and family and come back in the Spring, hopefully some good contents will be waiting for us. Not that there are none to do in the game as it is now, there are boatload of old contents that are still appealing if you are playing casually.

[Mnejing]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y5QvU04SnSI

[Herby]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y5QvU04SnSI


D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

[Psxpert2011]

The issue is only resolved when Cait Sith and Atomos are fully implemented. CASE OPEN! THREAD ACTIVE!

Well, OKAAAAAAY! :3







_____________________________________________________ _ _ _ _


I'm defiantly want to see Cait Sith summonable but will it substitute Carby?

How awesome will Cait Sith if it's summonable? Will Smn be able to have him/her out for long time?

Is Cait Sith going to ride a Moogle mount like in Final Fantasy VII? An avatar like Cait Sith skipping along the ground so casually since it's been seen floating most the time.

[Camiie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y5QvU04SnSI

Now I know how Geraldo Rivera must have felt when he opened Al Capone's vault.

[Babekeke]

Yet another epic fail to add to the list of epic fails by SE

[Edyth]

So, whatever happened to Cait Sith and Atomos?

[Calatilla]

They`ve been delayed because SE has more important things to work on apparently.

[Cabalabob]

They`ve been delayed because SE has more important things to work on apparently.

Yes they redirected the focus of the cait sith team onto PD nerfs, cause SMN is just that overpowered, they shouldn't get new things until they are gimped down to a worthless nub first

[Umisame]

Roadmap 2012
http://dl.square-enix.co.jp/ffxi/US/2012roadmap.jpg

When are we going to get Cait Sith?

[Dreamin]

Apparently, after they add the pricing lookup for items off the AH in game. Seriously, SE's priority is so messed up right now it's not even funny anymore.

[Babekeke]

The 2012 roadmap was declared nul and void in about october last year. They are (apparently) making a new one, but it looks like they're going to release it and then back-date it. It will probably be for 2012 lol

[Teraniku]

The 2012 roadmap was declared nul and void in about october last year. They are (apparently) making a new one, but it looks like they're going to release it and then back-date it. It will probably be for 2012 lol

Well the road map becam null and Void when Tanaka retired. Matsui has had to switch priorities because of the SoA workload was more than expected.

[Umisame]

I hope we can get Cait Sith with the next update/adoulin. It could be good to know if cait will be white magic or something else.

[Luvbunny]

So where is this news? No news about this two avatars which come from 2007 expansion... 6 years after its release. Are we going to have to wait until 2019 to get another new avatar from SoA??? Is the game going to keep going that long? It is about time they put some good in their promises...

[Ryolen]

I want the new avatars, better damaging BPs for the current ones, and make the :Wards scale to lvl 99 since they seem to be stuck at lvl75 lol

[Luvbunny]

I feel for you, really, since from reading the latest response regarding R/M/E, nothing much will be done for existing content. They are overworked, and not having enough man power to even do the current new expansion. We will be lucky to see 2 new avatars by end of summer. It's probably not going to happen till early next year, or even....mid 2014 lol. That is if you are still paying and playing this game.

[Mokeil]

I'm beginning to wonder if the real reason for the delay is that they just can't think of anything to give Cait Sith that wouldn't just have us asking, "And what was the point?"

[Babekeke]

It'll probably be carbuncle mark 2, but with better phys BP and worse ele BP

[Mokeil]

You know, I always wanted a Mk2 Carby summon... upgraded stats... a bigger, leaner character model... maybe a new BP:Rage...

It would have been a fantastic reward for the Waking the Beast quest.

EDIT: Making Cait Sith the Carby Mk2 wouldn't be quite the same, thematically speaking... I will be disappointed if that's all Cait Sith turns out to be.

I rather suspect I will be disappointed.

[Babekeke]

I rather suspect I will be disappointed.

Indubitably

[Zeldar]

I thought to complain here , but then remembered that it would do no good. I instead just liked the thread. Give our job some much needed attention please.

[Zeldar]

Cait Sith as a thf type would be nice, giving smn a low level TH. With Caits feline attributes, thf would be a fitting job type for our beloved, sneaky kitty.

[Babekeke]

Cait Sith as a thf type would be nice, giving smn a low level TH. With Caits feline attributes, thf would be a fitting job type for our beloved, sneaky kitty.

TH3, for the sole purpose of p155ing off all those BST lol.

[Infidi]

TH3, for the sole purpose of p155ing off all those BST lol.

Nah, we'll get Avatar: TH+ gear. XD

[Babekeke]

Nah, we'll get Avatar: TH+ gear. XD

Or both!!!!

[Camate]

Greetings summoners,

The development team has not forgotten about the implementation of Cait Sith and Atomos as new avatars; however, when it comes to job related content they are currently prioritizing adjustments and merit point categories for geomancer and rune fencer, as well as the new special abilities.
(They are prioritizing the new special abilities because they are being added to all jobs.)

With that said however, we are planning to implement Cait Sith and Atomos at the same time.

We mentioned this previously, but Caith Sith will be a type of avatar that will fight alongside you, while Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander.

Once we have some new information to share on the status of these two new avatars we will be sure to let you all know!

[Mirage]

But you promised these avatars long before the implementation of rune fencer and geomancer. Why didn't you finish what you promised first before you even implemented rune fencer and geomancer? You know, first in, first out.

[Mokeil]

Camate:

This post doesn't say anything that the last two posts from Okipuit didn't already say: Cait Sith and Atomos have been delayed indefinitely for other things. Each of the last two times we were also promised you guys would post when you had more news, yet each new post contains nothing new.

Each time a post of this type gets made, it just riles us all up again. Please do everyone - yourselves and us - a favor, and stop poking the hornet's nest. Please, don't post until you can give us something solid - e.g. a time frame for implementation or a detailed breakdown of the Bloodpacts we can look forward too.

[Nebo]

Greetings summoners,

The development team has not forgotten about the implementation of Cait Sith and Atomos as new avatars; however, when it comes to job related content they are currently prioritizing adjustments and merit point categories for geomancer and rune fencer, as well as the new special abilities.
(They are prioritizing the new special abilities because they are being added to all jobs.)

With that said however, we are planning to implement Cait Sith and Atomos at the same time.

We mentioned this previously, but Caith Sith will be a type of avatar that will fight alongside you, while Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander.

Once we have some new information to share on the status of these two new avatars we will be sure to let you all know!

Yes, yes. We are all aware that the development team has issues with prioritizing silly things.

[Alpheus]

But you promised these avatars long before the implementation of rune fencer and geomancer. Why didn't you finish what you promised first before you even implemented rune fencer and geomancer? You know, first in, first out.

As i was strolling through memory lane and re-reading the thread where comet and meteor were announced as spells and someone mentioned that spells like Ignis were dat mined at the time. Made me come to believe that RUN and GEO were conceived for quite some time.

Edit: Still the span of time between announcement and release is starting to get a bit long in the tooth.

[Sargent]

I dunno about you, but I'd rather see Astral Conduit than Cait Sith/Atomos. Hell, even the addition of the Alternator type Grip will be a much, much bigger adjustment than the new avatars, Summoner needs a lot more love than what is essentially two spells and a bunch of Blood Pacts. That said...


...they are currently prioritizing adjustments and merit point categories for geomancer and rune fencer, as well as the new special abilities.

With that said however, we are planning to implement Cait Sith and Atomos at the same time.

At least they've given us something to go on.

[Dekusuta]

Greetings summoners,

The development team has not forgotten about the implementation of Cait Sith and Atomos as new avatars; however, when it comes to job related content they are currently prioritizing adjustments and merit point categories for geomancer and rune fencer, as well as the new special abilities.
(They are prioritizing the new special abilities because they are being added to all jobs.)

With that said however, we are planning to implement Cait Sith and Atomos at the same time.

We mentioned this previously, but Caith Sith will be a type of avatar that will fight alongside you, while Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander.

Once we have some new information to share on the status of these two new avatars we will be sure to let you all know!

This update is greatly appreciated and I am glad Summoners are still in the mind of the developers.

However I am concerned that the current development team has no grasp of what the job entails. Summoner, as a job has fallen considerably behind beastmasters and puppetmasters.

We lack hate control tools to transfer hate, our pets lack the raw HP of beastmasters nor the amazing buffs provided to puppets with the new Adoulin Alternator animator.

The team's fixation with Avatar Magic Attack is nice and appreciated, as it does greatly enhance our already well rounded Merited Blood Pacts, but as a job, we're no longer well rounded. Summoners are still relying on level 75 bloodpacts for damage, our terrestrial avatars have barely evolved with no abilities. Why there are no level 99 abilities for each and every avatar that enhances summoners job as a damage dealer, party buffer and our ability to solo. All of which we have fallen behind on due to the other jobs getting new pets, and abilities (in the case of Pup). We can't even proc easily and reliably in dynamis to earn currencies. Why is it only summoners out of the 3 main pet jobs who has to suffer these handicaps?

Please don't just throw new pets at us and expect everything to fine.

[Alhanelem]

Such a major addition to the game should not really placed at such a seemingly low priority.

[Xerius]

Greetings summoners,

The development team has not forgotten about the implementation of Cait Sith and Atomos as new avatars; however, when it comes to job related content they are currently prioritizing adjustments and merit point categories for geomancer and rune fencer, as well as the new special abilities.
(They are prioritizing the new special abilities because they are being added to all jobs.)

With that said however, we are planning to implement Cait Sith and Atomos at the same time.

We mentioned this previously, but Caith Sith will be a type of avatar that will fight alongside you, while Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander.

Once we have some new information to share on the status of these two new avatars we will be sure to let you all know!

Well, at least they confirmed that SMN is on the bottom of the priority list.

[Trumpy]

Obviously geo and run had been in the picture a while just unbeknownst to us. Its not like they just decided to add the jobs a few months before the expansion came out. I am quite happy they are addin these new summons, and i am disappointed it is takin so long but i feel like im the only one not butt hurt that they arent released yet.

[Babekeke]

Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander.

Can it just be a special avatar similar to Alexander please? Alex was brilliant before the nerf-bat hit us, and is still somewhat useful now, whereas Odin was never anything other than a bit of fun during an exp pt in abyssea.

[Umisame]

Greetings summoners,

The development team has not forgotten about the implementation of Cait Sith and Atomos as new avatars; however, when it comes to job related content they are currently prioritizing adjustments and merit point categories for geomancer and rune fencer, as well as the new special abilities.
(They are prioritizing the new special abilities because they are being added to all jobs.)

With that said however, we are planning to implement Cait Sith and Atomos at the same time.

We mentioned this previously, but Caith Sith will be a type of avatar that will fight alongside you, while Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander.

Once we have some new information to share on the status of these two new avatars we will be sure to let you all know!

New grips for smns are nice and Cait Sith + Atomos could be great if SE adds them "soon". But i would like to know if there are plans to fix summoner job, is it even a priority for SE?

[Babekeke]

New grips for smns are nice and Cait Sith + Atomos could be great if SE adds them "soon". But i would like to know if there are plans to fix summoner job, is it even a priority for SE?

No, no it's not.

SMN only flags up as a priority to SE, if it has something useful or over-powered. Right now, they seem to have eliminated all of these, until we get our new 2-hour. If that turns out to be useful in anyway, watch it get nerfed within days!.

[solodragon1984]

On a scale 1 to 100 on priority SMN is a -1 cause that's how I've been feeling. Cause look at all the NERF we get as SMN yet nothing good is added and when they "Say" going to add new summons takes them... How long it been going on? yet they said was going to add new jobs AFTER they said anything on new summons and only thing they did on SMN was NERF it instead of making it better.
When they DO add something new for SMN they start to NERF it and make it weak or super useless or they add a new summon (Alex) that WAS good at start BUT they NERF it cause people are using it more for Nyzul Isle like scholars "Embrava Spell" that uses 2hr (at the time) just to cast it.

but anyways thanks for letting me rant.

[Jerbob]

...Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander...
I'm sorry, but we already have enough pointlessly restricted "avatars", we don't need any more atrocities on our spell list. If resources are not available to make an actual avatar, you need more resources. I'm still disgusted by Odin and Alexander. People saw it for a cop-out back then, and it'll still be a cop-out for Atomos.

I don't like to be completely negative if I don't have to be, and I'm sorry if this is rude, but it is frustrating, and this is all pretty much unacceptable.

[Babekeke]

I'm sorry, but we already have enough pointlessly restricted "avatars", we don't need any more atrocities on our spell list. If resources are not available to make an actual avatar, you need more resources. I'm still disgusted by Odin and Alexander. People saw it for a cop-out back then, and it'll still be a cop-out for Atomos.

I don't like to be completely negative if I don't have to be, and I'm sorry if this is rude, but it is frustrating, and this is all pretty much unacceptable.

I'll be satisfied as long as it offers something meaningful to current content. For some reason I imagine it might be some sort of enfeebling, as that's something that we don't have right now. But if NMs can be immune/highly resistant, what's the point?

My main gripe with these 'special' avatars, is that it's 1 use then over, whereas you could get 3-4 blasts with any other avatar. IMO they would work better if we hit AF, cast them, then have to BP. I'd be fine if the BP itself dismissed the avatar, and it was on say a 10-min timer so it can't be re-cast again during that AF, but AF should stay active, so we can then use another avatar's AF BP.

[CrAZYVIC]

I hope we can do something like this with Atomos, or will be Dissapointed with the Dev team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uDd-7NrxkU

[Chimerawizard]

Atomos' ability, what would it do?

seal abilities or spells for enemies within area of effect?

[Windwhisper]

seal everything with the chance similiar to Odins ability <.<

[Babekeke]

Atomos' ability, what would it do?

seal abilities or spells for enemies within area of effect?


seal everything with the chance similiar to Odins ability <.<

Seal, or Steal?

[Lilia]

maybe the same, what the cait sith ceithier have

when i remember right, it was aoe stats drain~50-70

[Archades]

reduce enemy's level for a limited time would be useful

[Mirage]

That's actually kind of interesting, and it would be a unique buff that other jobs can't do, and that would stack with all other buffs/debuffs as well.

[Babekeke]

Or a curse, perhaps? Currently the only way to curse a mob is to have the mob hit a BLM wearing Igqira/Genie gear.

[Dragoy]

Or a curse, perhaps? Currently the only way to curse a mob is to have the mob hit a BLM wearing Igqira/Genie gear.

Well... there is the Disc of Jinxes:


http://ffxi.gamerescape.com/w/images/4/49/Jinx_Discus.jpg (http://ffxi.gamerescape.com/wiki/Jinx_Discus)

Not that it's super effective... but it's there!

[Alhanelem]

Atomos should inflict amnesia on enemies within area of effect, 100% and unresistable, preventing TP moves for its duration.

[Dreamin]

Greetings summoners,

The development team has not forgotten about the implementation of Cait Sith and Atomos as new avatars; however, when it comes to job related content they are currently prioritizing adjustments and merit point categories for geomancer and rune fencer, as well as the new special abilities.
(They are prioritizing the new special abilities because they are being added to all jobs.)

With that said however, we are planning to implement Cait Sith and Atomos at the same time.

We mentioned this previously, but Caith Sith will be a type of avatar that will fight alongside you, while Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander.

Once we have some new information to share on the status of these two new avatars we will be sure to let you all know!


Seriously, please stop!!! Just stop with the teasing because it is extremely insulting. Caith Sith and Atomos were announced back in 2011 <- that's over 2 years ago!!!

[Mirage]

Or a curse, perhaps? Currently the only way to curse a mob is to have the mob hit a BLM wearing Igqira/Genie gear.

Nah, unresistable level reduction for a while sounds nicer.

[Chimerawizard]

Atomos should inflict amnesia on enemies within area of effect, 100% and unresistable, preventing TP moves for its duration.
amnesia & silence 100% unresistable. duration same formula as perfect defense.

[Babekeke]

Nah, unresistable level reduction for a while sounds nicer.

Unless this removed stats to that of an equivalent NM of lower level, this wouldn't actually affect anything since LCF was removed for Adoulin.

Or am I wrong?

[Mokeil]

amnesia & silence 100% unresistable. duration same formula as perfect defense.

I don't see this getting much use, given that Perfect Defense already makes players largely resistant to any spell or TP move anyways (with the added benefit of also mostly negating an enemy's auto-attack damage). This would at least need a longer duration on it than PD's.

For my own taste, since Alexander represents ultimate defense and Odin represents ultimate offense, I'd like to see something in between for Atomos. Following with what it does in the WotG mission fight Distorter of Time, Atomos should devour the stats of any enemy in range, then mirror those devoured stats (not just divide between) to all of the Summoner's party members. It should also probably include not just raw stats, but things like Attack, Accuracy, Evasion, etc, as well.

Exact values and durations are up for debate, but if done right I think it would provide a nice balance between the two extremes we currently have. Also, just in case it needs to be said: The stat drains should also be unresistible.

In fact, SE, please keep this in mind - no matter what Atomos does, it should be unresistible. The second every NM start's packing immunities to it, it will be dropped in favor of something more reliable.

[Chimerawizard]

I don't see this getting much use, given that Perfect Defense already makes players largely resistant to any spell or TP move anyways.
I disagree with this bit. Yes the enemy will still have auto-attack to work with, but that's one summoner's Astral Flow used for ALL players not needing to worry about abilities or spells for the duration, not just 5+SMN.
Slow, paralyze, elegy, stun, killer effect, etc can almost negate an enemy's rate of auto-attack, if it's not immune.

I agree with the rest, a super powered absorb-all would be cool (combines all absorb spells into it's SP & transfers the stats to party members within AoE, using standard multiple target reduction on both sides of the equation).

[Babekeke]

If FFXIV-2 ARR takes off, I doubt we'll ever see these avatars at all before SE decides to stop adding content to FFXI anyways.

[Mokeil]

Yes the enemy will still have auto-attack to work with, but that's one summoner's Astral Flow used for ALL players not needing to worry about abilities or spells for the duration, not just 5+SMN.


I had forgotten to think of this in terms of alliance size teams. So not used to doing big group activities on Summoner these days....

[Alpheus]

If its an absorb spell it better be as annoying to the mob target as Psyche Suction was to players.

[Mirage]

Unless this removed stats to that of an equivalent NM of lower level, this wouldn't actually affect anything since LCF was removed for Adoulin.

Or am I wrong?

Oh, I forgot about that. Lol me.

An unresistable AoE amnesia actually sounds like it would fit for Atomos anyway. After all, he was consuming memories and timelines that it deemed unimportant or unfit, didn't it?

[Archades]

Did that level correction removal even affect pets?

[Babekeke]

Did that level correction removal even affect pets?

Not directly, as level correction factor never affected Blood Pacts (not sure about their melee attacks). However, to make sure that the NMs were not just like fighting an EM mob, they were given much higher stats to account for no LCF. This stat boost DID affect pets.

[Babekeke]

Below is an example of the things we have been discussing:
Addition of battle content that can be undertaken by low-man parties or solo (+NPC)
The idea is something like an Adoulin version of Meeble Burrows.
Expansion of synthesis and other non-battle content
Continued adjustments to reives
Addition of solo-content that focuses on exploration instead of battle
Adjustments so that players’ efforts are more naturally tied to colonization
Revamps and enhancements to equipment
RMEC weapons, job specific equipment, etc.

Nope. No new avatars in the next few updates.

I'd be willing to bet a 100 Byne Bill that we don't get them this year....

[Deifact]

Nope. No new avatars in the next few updates.

I'd be willing to bet a 100 Byne Bill that we don't get them this year....

That's optimistic! I'd be surprised if we get them ever.

[Deifact]

Nope. No new avatars in the next few updates.

I'd be willing to bet a 100 Byne Bill that we don't get them this year....

That's optimistic! I'd be surprised if we get them ever.

[Psxpert2011]

/bump

Any update on the new avatars!? I'll soon be a SMN one day, give me something to look forward to! /teehee XD

[Infidi]

I know the last video they did wasn't well received, being practically described as something 'someone with .dat swaps could do', but maybe a video of them showing off Cait Sith and Atomos in action, fighting a mob and doing BPs and such, would help alleviate some tension? XD At least even time frame in regards to what is priority at the moment, if not an actual valuation of time, before they finalize the new avatars would be awesome.

[Babekeke]

Or just a yes/no to "Will we see them this year?"

[Infidi]

Calling it now: Cait Sith will be a PS4 exclusive.(See wat i deed der?)

[Mokeil]

The sad part is that FF XIV will see some form of Cait Sith before we do. They're offering a Cait Sith Doll minion/vanity pet thing for anyone who pre-orders.

[Secondplanet]

I'm getting tired of waiting, shouldn't we have gotten some news about this now that the major update is done with so we know when we will be getting them? Or is it all about adoulin right now and they just trying to sweep this under the carpet in hopes the we'll forget about it now?

[Babekeke]

100% guarantee that we won't even get any word on this until after the august update.

[Herby]

I'm also pretty sure we won't get them this year. Although I don't really care about them anymore. What i care about is ungimping Avatar's favor/Blood Pact: Wards and adjusting the Bloodpact delay cap to the overall increase in speed of the game.

[Edyth]

Will they even be worth it?

Will Atomos's blood pact be better than using Odin against trash or Alexander against NMs?

Will Cait Sith be better than any of the main six avatars for anything other than blood pact: wards?

Maybe Cait Sith will pull a Nursery Nazuna on us: a lion in sheep's clothing that outclasses every other avatar offensively. If it's not, I don't see the point. We're pretty good on wards already.

[Babekeke]

We're pretty good on wards already.

Well, we would be if they didn't stop buffing them at 75.

All of fenrir and diabolos's buff for a start need to scale higher in potency in today's gameplay.

13HP phalanx? you can pretty much get that on a melee/rdm these days.

[Mokeil]

For the record, a 13 pt Phalanx was pretty lame even back at 75. At 99 it's just laughable. Nearly all of our buffing Wards are. In general, we pay far more MP for less potent effects than anyone else is capable of, winning out only in durations. (Longer Duration Vs More Potent? Guess which wins in most scenarios.) Heck, a nekkid melee/sch is capable of putting out a more potent AoE Stoneskin than Titan can!

Even our best buffing wards aren't that impressive, comparatively. Hastega isn't any more potent than normal Haste, offering only the convenience factor of being AoE and lasting longer. Our Enfire is pretty nifty, yes, but any combination of RDM and SCH can come to within 10 points of that at 500 Enhancing, while being able to cover any other element as needed for when fire is resisted.

I will give credit to Crimson Howl and Earthen Armor, though, as these effects stack with what other members of the support line are capable of. Pretty much everything else is better served by being taken care of by the WHM, RDM, or SCH who is likely already there to cover healing needs.

Fenrir and Diablos now... Their Wards also need a revision in terms of potency, but I also feel like we need to have to variability of those Wards removed before they'll be of any use. When you really need that +Acc, it's going to turn out to be the time of the moon phase that grants +Eva. En-Drain? Nope, sorry, it's En-Aspir week. Want some MAB for your nukers? Better hold up the Alliance for another 30 minutes, because it's MDB time. From a thematic stand-point it's kinda cool and quirky, but ultimately all it does is make those Wards difficult to work with. This leaves them cast aside in favor of Wards we know will work the way we want them to right when we need them - not later on in the week when all the stars have aligned in the heavens and the Great Conjunction is formed.

Interestingly, our area-based cure spells do seem to stack up decently well for their MP costs. Generally, they come in just above Curaga II, but in the low ends of what Curaga III can do, but for an MP cost of just less than Curaga II. I bet these would make us a little more attractive if they didn't share the same timer as our buff/debuff Wards.

[FaeQueenCory]

Will they even be worth it?

Will Cait Sith be better than any of the main six avatars for anything other than blood pact: wards?
Cait Sith is Carbuncle's replacement... Or at least I suspect She will be.

Hopefully we will hear something soon... after they get rid of the bugs from this update lol

[Metalgod]

*NECROBUMP*

Been since May 31st 2013 since the last mention of Cait Sith and Atomos:


Greetings summoners,

The development team has not forgotten about the implementation of Cait Sith and Atomos as new avatars; however, when it comes to job related content they are currently prioritizing adjustments and merit point categories for geomancer and rune fencer, as well as the new special abilities.
(They are prioritizing the new special abilities because they are being added to all jobs.)

With that said however, we are planning to implement Cait Sith and Atomos at the same time.

We mentioned this previously, but Caith Sith will be a type of avatar that will fight alongside you, while Atomos will be a special type of avatar similar to Odin and Alexander.

Once we have some new information to share on the status of these two new avatars we will be sure to let you all know!


Since the new 1 hour job abilities and GEO/RUN merit point abilities have been released, when should we expect the new summons?? Remember they have been delayed for a long while now (1 to 2 years +).

[Tohihroyu]

When should you expect them? Never.

Cait Sith is in XIV, and Atmos is a statue. as summons in XI they are Vaporware, I sooner expect an Atmos minion in XIV then another "announcement" for them in XI. Its not going to happen, not for XI anyway.

[Metalgod]

I rather hold out hope they both get implemented eventually. Just wish we get an update to status on both summons and what abilities we are likely to see.

[Babekeke]

Camate's statement is quite clear, I thought. They plan to implement them when they implement the new SP abilities. Not the ones we just got, of course. Must be getting a 3rd set of SP abils around the 20th vana'versary?

[Okipuit]

Greetings,

At the Niconico Live FFXI Lounge event hosted on 11/27, Producer Matsui announced the following information regarding the status of Cait Sith and Atomos:



Sorry for making you all wait on this. We definitely want to implement Cait Sith and Atomos soon but it's not just the magic and abilities that we need to finalize, we also need time to develop the quest, storyline, and cutscenes associated with obtaining these avatars. As much as we want to have this completed and implemented, we haven't been able to allocate our resources to this which is causing a delay. Please hang in there for just a bit longer.

*Please find the corrected information here (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/22868-Whatever-happened-to-Cait-Sith-and-Atomos?p=481954&viewfull=1#post481954).

[Mokeil]

Wow. Just.... wow. I mean, really? I just don't have the words to express the pure bafflement this latest excuse has filled me with.

Given the scale of time we're talking about - since Cait Sith was first announced to today - pretty much all of those little details should really have been talked to death already. Literally years ago. The only thing that should need to be done at this point is just the programming. And there's no good excuse for that to not be done by now either.

This is just insulting.

[Zumi]

Is there not much funds budgeted for FFXI now?

[Catmato]

Is there not much funds budgeted for FFXI now?

There hasn't been since XIV bombed.

[Annalise]

Wings of the Goddess is still a new expansion, guys. Be patient.

[Redryno]

There hasn't been since XIV bombed.

Rob Peter to pay Paul, then change Paul into Peter and watch both of them fail.

[Masamune11]

I think we need to all stop the complaining. We are likely to hurt the feelings of the cube family of four that make up the entire Final Fantasy XI development team.

[Edyth]

Some very substantial new content has been developed since Cait Sith and Atomos were announced (Adoulin's areas, missions, quests, lore, characters, monsters, skirmishes, delves, items, music, and more; Monstrosity; two entirely new jobs), so the team has been very busy. It would be really nice to see this promised content delivered. Personally, I've lost some of my interest after all these years because I don't think they will have been worth the wait. Also, playing as Cerberus, a summon from FFVIII, in Monstrosity has helped my wounds heal.

[Tohihroyu]

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mezivq8COa1r6jbub.png

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/MgxK5vm6lvk/hqdefault.jpg

[Daydreamer]

I am not someone that logs onto the forums and comments on every single topic. I do however read these forums all the time and I have been looking forward for years now on some sort of resolution with Cait sith and Atomos. Because I rarely comment on things but once in a pink mage moon I want to give some of my input.

(Don't need every forum troll alive to explain how we got this, got that, had this adjusted, had this added, and are capable of this, and capable of that, I know all that has happened don't require your pointless explanations of the job and its history.)

First: THANK YOU!! for everything you have worked on and made come true in vanadiel and all realms of Final fantasy from the time that hironobu sakaguchi was involved with everything final fantasy until even now, I have truly enjoyed playing these games and I love the World's that are final fantasy. Arigato /bow.

Second: I have played 14 and don't care for it much summoner in that game is horrid if I have to cast ruin 1 more friggen time id likely sooner cast /shutdown. 14 is beautiful and even more boring than before the fixes. You got the AH right good job.
If we have lost all dev staff to 14 im sry to say im canceling my 3 month self renewing sub with 14 it just hasn't lived up to my hopes again.

Third: AH hasn't had a new Summoner scroll in how many years? Maybe some new spirits once you finally have time and resources to give summoner pets again?
If it has taken 2+ years to get these avatars out to us Can I just ask right now in advance along with some new spirits and the final implementation of cait sith and atomos, while that team is putting some efforts towards this game and its can we also get phoenix ? and maybe a few other future avatars figured out and created with back storys yada already in place so that such extended wait times are avoided.

Fourth: I realize this game is older and has its limitations but we are still paying full price for something that no longer has dev team resources ? Maybe we cant ever really expect it to last forever but we sure as hell can have fun hoping for it too. I have never had a problem with buying any expansions released and im sure most would agree we would pay full new game price for something that gives us the things we want. you want money ? we want avatars make some mini expansions and charge us for it. If the question is will we pay ? yes we will. will everyone cry about it ? yes they will lol. but if it gains us resources just be honest with us about it and I think you can limit the cry cry at least a little bit.

Remember all the voices on the forums are FAR!!!! from all the people that are actually playing and care about this game. Talk to you again on another pink mage moon. :o

[Rwolf]

I don't know why I got excited seeing this thread in the Dev Tracker. I should have expected that reply lol.

Though in all seriousness, it would be more humane to just be honest and say they really don't want to allocate the resources to do this. Give the Summoner community some closure and just say it's off the table then if the mood strikes, just throw it in as a random surprise down the road if they figure it out. It's lame to publicizing over a period of years that a piece of small content is coming but only after <insert this year's reason why>.

[Multiabuse]

Some very substantial new content has been developed since Cait Sith and Atomos were announced (Adoulin's areas, missions, quests, lore, characters, monsters, skirmishes, delves, items, music, and more; Monstrosity; two entirely new jobs), so the team has been very busy. It would be really nice to see this promised content delivered. Personally, I've lost some of my interest after all these years because I don't think they will have been worth the wait. Also, playing as Cerberus, a summon from FFVIII, in Monstrosity has helped my wounds heal.

Like any other company, they have to budget and prioritize resources. They should have been more careful with the announcement about the new avatars considering how harsh and critical of every move they make the forum base is.
I'm glad they have devoted their time to making quests, lore, and new systems in lieu of focusing their time trying to implement 2 avatars for 1 job in a game with so many others. I'd love to see Cait Sith and Atomos, but knowing dev resources in this game are tight one can only hope for so much. I'd much rather see SMN as a job fixed with said resources than to see a couple of flavor pets, if I can't have both.

[Umichi]

Greetings,

At the Niconico Live FFXI Lounge event hosted on 11/27, Producer Matsui announced the following information regarding the status of Cait Sith and Atomos:

Thank you, I'm sorry you cannot do this yet! Understandable as these aren't just pets in the span of things they are much greater beings!

[Sasaraixx]

I'd much rather see SMN as a job fixed with said resources than to see a couple of flavor pets, if I can't have both.

But you aren't going to get that either, so your point is moot. We've been asking for SMN fixes longer than we've been waiting for these avatars.

And it has nothing to do with how harsh the forum base is. It has been years since they were announced and every "update" we have received has just said "we have other priorities , please wait a little longer." We are far past a little longer. I honestly don't care anymore. Any interest I had in them has long since vanished because 1. I have little faith they will actually be useful and 2. it's taken so bloody long.

We all know there has been major content added and that there are few resources available to the XI team. Nonetheless, it still reflects poorly on the team when content continues to be delayed.

[FaeQueenCory]

Like any other company, they have to budget and prioritize resources. They should have been more careful with the announcement about the new avatars considering how harsh and critical of every move they make the forum base is.
I'm glad they have devoted their time to making quests, lore, and new systems in lieu of focusing their time trying to implement 2 avatars for 1 job in a game with so many others. I'd love to see Cait Sith and Atomos, but knowing dev resources in this game are tight one can only hope for so much. I'd much rather see SMN as a job fixed with said resources than to see a couple of flavor pets, if I can't have both.
The bold..... so much the bold........
What's really sad is that "fixing" smn... or at least a cursory fix.... would take all of 10min: adjust variable Blood Pact Timer Cap 45=>30s
There's some other stuff that need real fixing.... but if the timer cap was adjusted, having weaker wards and whatnot can come later.

EDIT:
We all know there has been major content added and that there are few resources available to the XI team. Nonetheless, it still reflects poorly on the team when content continues to be delayed.
In their defense, do you have any idea how time consuming FMVs are?
Dear God.
It's one of the most obnoxious things to program.
It's not like adding to a trade table (you can use excell and/or notepad? you can do this).
It's not like adding jobs to Relics and Empys (90% of progamming can be done in either excell or notepad... it's kinda sad...).
It's not even like adjusting or adding stats to items.
Or even adding new spells/items to the game.
FMVs take FOREVER to make.... because unlike all the previously mentioned things... you can't take an afternoon and do it by yourself.

[Jerbob]

This is unacceptable.

I've not logged on to XI for months because of how horribly downhill everything is going. I've been force-fed item levels and vertical progression, bizarre content tiering, broken Reives, and an expansion that I simply don't want to play as a result. This announcement is just the icing on the cake.

What you don't understand, SE, is that a lot of people have given up on Cait Sith. For me and many others, it's no longer about the question of whether you're finally going to start work on content that should have come out with the conclusion of WotG SIX YEARS AGO. It's about what it represents across the board - a consistent failure to deliver. A consistent lack of resources and staff. A consistent lack of acceptable response to feedback.

Please, SE. I want to play your game, and I want to be able to invite my friends to join me. I want to be able to be proud of the game I've chosen to play. Not all companies are in the position that you are in; you have people who still want to pay for your services because they hope to see the game's potential realised, despite repeated catastrophic mistakes. However, hope only takes people so far, and I've had enough.

I know that the developers are not entirely at fault here, and that crippling budgetary problems are playing their part in ruining the game. It's a bad set of circumstances. Just get the act together and start working on something amazing rather than something that's balancing precariously on the border between "barely adequate" and just "embarrassingly bad".

I suppose it's sort of ironic that I'm being forced to cancel my account just when a new recruitment scheme is starting, but honestly - do you really expect a mass return when you've done nothing to change the circumstances that caused people to evacuate the game originally? Sign me up for the 2015 event after all of this awfulness has been reverted!

[Sasaraixx]

In their defense, do you have any idea how time consuming FMVs are?

Does 3 years sound right? And are you implying that they underestimated how long it would take them to complete this task? (The avatars appeared on the road maps until they were removed.)

I think no matter how you answer either of those questions you are still left with the fact that this has been poorly handled.

[Rwolf]

I won't pretend to know anything about game design. I have a passion for the industry but I'm not a programmer, designer, director, etc. yet. Although, to be completely fair, it doesn't take someone in the industry to realize how disheartening that statement is. They've added 3 mini expansions, 3 abyssea expansions and a full size new expansion. Choc full of quests, vomiting tons of armor/weapons that outdate themselves within 1-2 months. Now they are adding several new complete battle systems and arenas. I don't think anyone is ungrateful for what the game has given so far.

However, being grateful for new content doesn't excuse promising a considerably smaller piece of content for years. And right when this would have been a great time to cancel the Cait Sith/Atomos project or at least revert it to a quiet behind the scenes addition. We are asked again to be patient and wait for who knows what time this is. I lost count.

I feel it's like being asked to wait in line at a store while the staff lets people who just got there move ahead of you. The staff promising you that you will be serviced soon but <insert new reason why not>. No matter how accommodating and sincere the staff may be, even offering you other things while you wait. Eventually it's going to bother most people. Rightfully so, because it feels like an apathetic promise meant solely to placate.

One thing I do have experience with is customer service. It would better just to be honest. There are ways to be honest with your customers without ruining reputation for not delivering promises. I'd rather have a company say something was more than anticipated than to continue telling me just wait a bit longer until they have the desire to figure it out.

[Tptn937]

I paid for each of the mini expansions as they were released. 15 dollars for body/head/leg armor that had surprisingly bad content. Imagine what I would pay for well designed avatars and not complete shit stories to go with it....

[Camate]

Hello,

There was a slight miscommunication regarding what was said during the Niconico live stream and we have a response from Akihiko Matsui outlining the correct statement.

I apologize for the error and have corrected the previous post.



Matsui here.

I apologize for making you all wait for the Cait Sith and Atomos avatars.

In order to implement these avatars, we need to not only create their associated spells and effects, but we also need to prepare various things such as the quest to obtain them and the battles related to the quests.

As there is other work to be done on this to get it ready besides just the avatars themselves, we'd appreciate it greatly if you could give us a bit more time to implement them.

[Masamonae]

I don't mean to come across as brash but haven't we been waiting for these said avatars for over 2 years? I understand you're all very busy making new content and whatnot, but I mean, 2 years is a long time. Haven't the SMNs been patient long enough?

[Dreamin]

SE is racing against Team Obama to see which would be the slowest to implement a promised made years ago (these 2 summons were announced back in 7/2011). So far, it appears that Team Obama is in the slight lead. Would SE make a come back? Stay tuned...

[Alhanelem]

Could you at least define "a bit more time" ?

This stuff was announced years ago. I've been away from the game for at least 6 months and I was pretty bummed not to even get any real news about this.

Producer, do you realize that the best way to ensure the continued longevity of your player base is to deliver on your promises (and the promises of those made before you came in)? Many other jobs have gotten new spells and abilities on a fairly regular basis over the last few years. SMN hasn't really gotten anything other than the new 1-hour (which, by the way, is awesome, so some thanks are deserved for that). Summoner is easily one of the most popular/famous jobs since the ones in the original game and new content for the job always seems to get brushed under the rug. Even PUP has gotten waaaaaaay more love.

[Tohihroyu]

Its not going to happen, plain and simple. its vaporware yet they keep on beating around the bush.

[Karbuncle]

You know when Cait Sith/Etc were first announce, I recall jokes about "looking forward to Cait Sith in 2014"... Its a little funny their half-joking post hit the mark so close.

[Hexadecimal]

SE is racing against Team Obama to see which would be the slowest to implement a promised made years ago (these 2 summons were announced back in 7/2011). So far, it appears that Team Obama is in the slight lead. Would SE make a come back? Stay tuned...

I think you're giving Team Obama way too much credit.

[Kote]

I've never put to much faith that there would be a CaitSith avatar letalone one for Atomos (it only does so much). At best, much of the pacts and animations should have already been done with the BC against Cait Sith Ceither. I was also more on the assumption that cinsidering the plot for Wings of the Goddess. Atomos would have more likely been a 2hr blood pact ability for Cait Sith.

As for why I don't expect this to ever to be finished is mostly due to the Kindrid Freelances in Campaign. They built up (via that taru npc) the fact they could be swayed to fight for the various nations. They made them NPC's when theres no battles. Then tossed asside so they can stay on track with the missions and various plot updates.

I think they made Odin and Alexander summons mid way through WoG. They could have also used an Alexander Idol as the summon and full size Alex as the 2hr ability. However I think they just took the path of least resistance on getting Alexander out quickly. Instead of developing new animations for an Idol to use all of Alex's abilities.

Now we had three mini expansions, a three part Abyssea mini expansion, and now Adoulin. Cait sith would have been done by now now or at best by the time we were fighting Provenance Watcher. The quest could have started after the WoG plot (like ToA) and fought in The walk of Echos. If they wanted a simple plot it could have been to make sure atomos stayed dormant or to prevent more Vw NM's from apearing in their world via Atomos.

More Likely in my opinion its probably the 2hr abilities (Cait Sith had none), filler pacts (spells dont have animations), and what to do with atomos (if at all). Since it had almost no animation effects or abilities, especially for combat. Cait Sith also doesn't have that glow like the other avatars. Then theres the prizes for defeating them, it'll need to be content relevant now. Hell I go as far as saying well see a sword weilding Magian moogle as an avatar by the time Cait Sith is done. Then Smmoners can say they have the disposable Paladin that Alexander could have been.

[Powder]

Hello,

There was a slight miscommunication regarding what was said during the Niconico live stream and we have a response from Akihiko Matsui outlining the correct statement.

I apologize for the error and have corrected the previous post.

Sorry for disgusted rudeness but before you promise us things in this game all this you said above should have been done. I gave up on summoner long time ago after you didn't keep your promise about these last two avatars.


http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Akihiko_Matsui
Matsui here.

I apologize for making you all wait for the Cait Sith and Atomos avatars.

In order to implement these avatars, we need to not only create their associated spells and effects, but we also need to prepare various things such as the quest to obtain them and the battles related to the quests.

As there is other work to be done on this to get it ready besides just the avatars themselves, we'd appreciate it greatly if you could give us a bit more time to implement them.

[Babekeke]

You know when Cait Sith/Etc were first announce, I recall jokes about "looking forward to Cait Sith in 2014"... Its a little funny their half-joking post hit the mark so close.

I think that whomever said 2020 is closer to the mark. They're just struggling to make atomos not sh1t, is all. My guess is that Cait Sith has been ready for ages. After all, she already had all the required abilities and animations.

[Zirael]

I don't mean to come across as brash but haven't we been waiting for these said avatars for over 2 years? I understand you're all very busy making new content and whatnot, but I mean, 2 years is a long time. Haven't the SMNs been patient long enough?
Cait Sith and Atomos are new content. Last update we got reskinned BCNMs and armor to play with. I'd rather have something new instead.

[FaeQueenCory]

After all, she already had all the required abilities and animations.
She really doesn't.
Theoretically, we're getting the same as all the other Avatars: a miniclone of the whole.
But the Cait Sith that everyone is like "bluhbluhbluh we already know her abilities cause we fought her bluhbluhbluh" is NOT Cait Sith.
That was just a small piece of Her.
A fraction of the whole.
1/10th to be exact.
Number Ceithir to be even more exact.
So what would be correct in guessing is that we already have witness to Her phys BPs...
But Her magic BPs? Her 2hr?
Her this-is-my-version-of-the-merit-BP? (Holy Mist, Lunar Bay, Night Terror)
We know none of these things.
And we have no basis to base anything on about them either.

And what about Her wards?
What are they?
Chances are we can probably expect to see a sneak-invis-ga as one... if only for 1) Her pieces go sneak/invis constantly in WotG and 2) its one of the few buff effects that isn't in a Ward.
Divine Favor, Mewling Lullaby, and Erie Eye might be some of Her Wards... but AoE dispel? ANOTHER sleepga? Giving Amnesia to players?
I can see the Lullaby happening... with the TP=0 taken out...
And I can even see Divine Favor retaining it's full AoE dispel...
but something tells me that Erie Eye isn't gonna happen...
And this is only 3/10 BPs... Carbuncle is "special" in that he has virtually no perp cost and only 8 BPs + his 2hr...
But everyone else is sitting at 9+2hr.
(I'm ignoring the Celestials and just drawing from Fenrir and Diabolos, since chances are that She will be modeled similarly to them... even though the Celestials are also 9+2hr too.)

There's a LOT more to Her than that one fight you have with 1/10th of Her in WotG.
All we can really take from that is that one her phys BPs have been done from the beginning.
??? Holy won't probably be one. It *might* but chances are it will be a similar thing to Holy Mist.... or just an AoE light damage spell like Thunderspark... but who knows. Though I'd think a full 10/10 Cait Sith would have more firepower than a random thing.

[Babekeke]

You're assuming that all the other nine use different moves.

[FaeQueenCory]

You're assuming that all the other nine use different moves.
No, I'm assuming that that 1/10th is 1/10th of the whole.

EDIT: plus I'm also using simple pattern recognition:
Every avatar, save Carbuncle, has a pattern to their BPs.
1 2hr
3-4 phys BPs
3 magic BPs
10-X wards

Carbuncle breaks the trend by having only 9 total BPs... but he's supposed to be "gimp" cause he's the "SMN-in-training" avatar... Plus he also has only 1 phys BP, 2 magic, and 5 wards.

Diabolos is also a bit different... He's sort of the "dark Carbuncle"... Though he's exceptionally weird because multiple of his wards really should have been rages... (looking at you Somnolence!)
Pavor Nocturnus a bit too...
And if we count the damage dealing wards (excluding Nightmare because it's Sleepga+Bio, not "nukes") he then maintains the 50ish-50ish rage-ward split...
Lord only knows why SE made Somnolence a Ward and not a Rage.

So basically we can "fill in the blanks" using LOGIC.
Cait Sith will have:
1 2hr BP
1-4 phys BPs (of which we have seen 1 when we fought 4... who is MALE on top of Cait Sith being female... More difference.)
3 magic BPS (TP based Banish II, TP based Banish IV, "merit" BP)
and
10-X wards, where X is the total of 1(2hr)+# phys BPs+3

She might have more physical rages...
She might only have the one we can safely assume She will have.
But we can't say she will ONLY HAVE ONE.
Because we don't know if she'll have more or not.

And she also might be like Ramuh, who breaks the trend of only 3 magic rages.
He has a 4th: the only non-2hr AoE rage.
And seeing as how 4 can AoE crappy-Holy... it would not be unexpected to see "Holyga" as a 4th magic rage on Cait Sith.
BUT said "Holyga" could just be Her "merit" magic BP... so.... again, we just don't know anything.

It would be really nice of the Devs to have a working list similar to the list of the second 2hrs be posted...
But I won't hold my breath for that.

EDIT2: AND she also might not have TP-based T2 and T4 Banishes.... Fenrir and Diabolos certainly don't have T2 and T4 dark nukes...
BUT those spells don't exist in the first place... so... it's all up in the air atm.

[Manux]

Has SE announced when they going to bring out the new avatars....

[Dragoy]

Has SE announced when they going to bring out the new avatars....

Sure:


Hello,

There was a slight miscommunication regarding what was said during the Niconico live stream and we have a response from Akihiko Matsui outlining the correct statement.

I apologize for the error and have corrected the previous post.



Matsui here.

I apologize for making you all wait for the Cait Sith and Atomos avatars.

In order to implement these avatars, we need to not only create their associated spells and effects, but we also need to prepare various things such as the quest to obtain them and the battles related to the quests.

As there is other work to be done on this to get it ready besides just the avatars themselves, we'd appreciate it greatly if you could give us a bit more time to implement them.

Or in other words: When It's Ready. ^^;