Implementation of Monstrosity to the Test Server

[Camate]

Greetings,

For those of you who have been anxiously awaiting Monstrosity, you’ll be happy to hear what Ryota Iwagami has to say about it below!



Iwagami here!

I just added a forum avatar, so I'm all fired up today!

During this week’s Test Server update we will be making it possible to play a portion of Monstrosity. There are special features specific to the Test Server that will change when moving this content to the live servers, so I'd like to explain about this a bit. Also, the content implemented is subject to change.

What is Monstrosity?

Monstrosity is content that will allow you to turn into the monsters of Vana'diel and have a good time. Instead of just searching for power, try becoming various monsters and exploring a multitude of areas. You might just discover some interesting aspects that you didn't notice before!
Here is a commemorative screenshot!
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6780&d=1369910846&thumb=1

While the below stats are still in-development, by attaching what is known as "knowledge" (*provisional term) you will be able to add special traits. We are doing our best to develop this content so that combining types of monsters you can change into, the knowledge you set, and other aspects turn into an awesome time.

Rabbit Knowledge 1
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6781&d=1369910846
(HP+2% AGI+5 Attack+10 Cost: 3)

Bee Knowledge 1
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6782&d=1369910847
(AGI+5 Attack+10 Evasion+5 Cost: 3)

Crawler Knowledge 1
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6783&d=1369910847
(HP+3% Attack+5 Resist Slow+30 Cost: 5)


How to Start and Stop Monstrosity on the Test Server
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6778&d=1369910846&thumb=1
We've setup the “=TEST=Monster Playing” NPC shown in the above screenshot in North San d’Oria (L-9), Port Bastok (J-12), and Windurst Waters (K-10). By talking to this NPC, you can get setup to try it out and hear an explanation about the content that is ready.

Once you're all set, examine the glowing object next to the test moogle and move to the lobby area.

When you move to the lobby area you will be changed into a monster, and this is when Monstrosity begins!
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6779&d=1369910846&thumb=1

For the real content, we are planning to have Monstrosity begin from the three nations and then moving to a specialized lobby area.

You can return to normal from a monster via the following three ways:

Using the monster ability "Return" (*Provisional term). (Cannot be used in the lobby area.)
Examine the glowing object in the lobby area and select "End Monstrosity" (*Provisional term).
Select the "Quit Monstrosity" option that appears when you are defeated by a monster.



Content Available with the 5/31/2013 Test Server Update

With the Test Server update to take place on 5/31, it will be possible to change into a rabbit, mandragora, bee, or lizard, set knowledge and battle monsters in the field. The fields that you can play in will be 2 field areas near each of the three nations.

Content that will not be implemented yet

PvP
Unlocking of new monster types
Learning new knowledge
Adjustments to spawn locations when retrying the same area.


Content currently being adjusted

Monster stats, abilities, and magic
Amount of TP consumed when using monster skills
Knowledge stats and cost
Required experience points to level up


Features special to the Test Server

Method to select the type of monster you want to become
Method of setting knowledge



We'd like you all to check out the content on the Test Server so you get an idea of what it's like when you become a monster, as well as understand what kind of things you can do in the future with this content. We are developing this so we can continuously add new elements in a short amount of time, so please try it out and let us know what kind of things you would like to see! When submitting feedback on Monstrosity, please be sure to leave out the specialized features for the Test Server.

For how to participate on the Test Server, please check here (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/13713-Regarding-the-FINAL-FANTASY-XI-Test-Server).

Thank you very much!

[Karbuncle]

:Q

willplayimmediately.

[Karbuncle]

Will "Knowledge" Only effect us when in Monster form, Or will the buffs carry over while we are in our normal form?

Just curious really...

[Babekeke]

I've no idea about Japanese, but surely the correct translation of the stats on Bee Knowledge should read "Cost: 3"

[Camate]

I've no idea about Japanese, but surely the correct translation of the stats on Bee Knowledge should read "Cost: 3"

You are correct! Sorry about that. It has been fixed.

[Babekeke]

Oh go on then, apology accepted ^^

But only because you're a behemoth, which is Rune Fencer friendly, only using 1 element for your attacks (+ Meteor, which I still haven't tested to see if the mob version is dark element, or non-elemental yet).

[solodragon1984]

anything on bringing seekers content on TS yet? cause would like to use Geo on test server and maybe those new slips for twilight gear storage slips ^^
BUT will be getting that started lol sounds like fun playing as a mob lol also when it's fully opened on main server will it be able to use beastmens?

[Tarquine]

*Prays to be able to unlock Behemoth at some point*

[ZeDingo]

And now, all the stories will become true. Dave will return to his blog to tell tales of the new "GM as a Monster" system, and how he wiped out entire zones of fishbots with Spike Flail.

[Numquam]

Finally! We get some real PvP in this game!

[SandriaBahamut]

<Black Phantom "Name here" has invaded!>

And then Odin comes riding up to your group...I have high hopes for Monstrosity and eagerly look forward to both its PvE and PvP effects

[Camate]

Hello everyone!

The Monstrosity content is now live on the Test Server, so definitely be sure to check it out! I think you all will have a lot of fun turning into a monster and exploring Vana’diel from another perspective.

While currently the amount of monsters you can become is limited, we will be adding more and more as they are ready and also expanding the number of areas.

Also, in case you were worried about whether each “knowledge” you obtain would take up precious inventory space, you can think of it more like blue magic and automaton attachments, which will be stored in a specialized place. So don’t you worry about inventory being taken up!

If you hop onto the Test Server sometime today, I MIGHT just be there chillin’ as a bee or something, so come by and check it out!

[Alhanelem]

I'm waiting to be able to fight people as a monster. :p

[CrAZYVIC]

I'm waiting to be able to fight people as a monster. :p

You will have lots of Fun!. When we CS lock you and zerg you down with embrava + PD ^^

[Infidi]

I played this for about an hour last night, it's friggin' fun from what I've tried so far. Gonna play it more in depth when I get home from work today. The only problem I've had so far was spawning as a lvl one near high lvl beast men mobs. It's a moot point after you've leveled up abit, but the "Retry" command after dying put me in front of a beast man four times, before I was able pull it far enough to respawn w/o aggro. Before it lets you move,after zoning in, it aggros you lol. This was in West Sarutabaruta, not sure of other zones yet. Obviously it's a work in progress still, just giving some insight. ^^ Maybe randomize where the "Retry" command puts you if you die right away, after the initial zone in from the home nations.

[Krystal]

I must say this new feature looks promising. I played it on the test server abit as a rabbit and at first it was intimidating with the lack of equipment, and the sentient being a little confusing. But as i played it on, i actually enjoyed myself! If I may be as bold to suggest, how about introducing a class which has the ability to transform into these monsters? You could call the class "Tamer" and their abilities and skills with the monsters they transform into are learned by fighting the type of monster they transform into(i.e Rabbit). Sort of like the blue mage except the skills learned aren't limited to "spells" The more of this monster they fight as lets say the rabbit monster, The more skills and monster traits they learn over time as they fight against over rabbit monsters. This is only a suggestion of course but I'm sure you have something better planned. ^^

[Camate]

Greetings everyone!

I hope you all had a chance this weekend to try out Monstrosity. :)

I have a couple of things to note about current features as well as features that are to be implemented in the next Test Server update.

Healing HP/MP

Currently, as some of you might have noticed, you are not able to heal. However, in the next Test Server update we will be making it so your HP and MP recover when you are not fighting for a specific period of time.

Monsters at the warp points

In the next Test Server update we will be making it so you cannot be attacked by monsters for a specific period of time after warping from the lobby area.

Return Feature

We're planning to make it possible to cancel the "Return" ability once it has been activated.


Buffs and Experience Points

In the next Test Server update we will be making it so when you enter the lobby area you can reset your status effects so that food or other special effects do not carry-over when you change into a monster.

Also, since this content was meant to be played solo, we aren't planning to make the experience points needed to level up as high as that of an adventurer. There will also be no death penalty, so you can just have a good time and get experience points.


Sentiencies Menu

Since I am sure many of you are curious as to how sentiencies will look in the UI, here are a couple of screenshots to illustrate how it will be:

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6820&d=1370251169

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6818&d=1370251169

As long as it's within the cost limit, you can customize your sentiencies as you like!

[Demon6324236]

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6820&d=1370251169

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/attachment.php?attachmentid=6818&d=1370251169Those lists are huge... I like! Looks like there is plenty of room for verity, and the time we have been waiting may have been well deserved!

[Karbuncle]

I'm very excited for this.

I should be able to play as Carbuncle QQ

[Alhanelem]

Monsters at the warp points

In the next Test Server update we will be making it so you cannot be attacked by monsters for a specific period of time after warping from the lobby area.It doesn't make sense to me that monsters will attack other monsters unprovoked, they never did that before, how would they know you aren't a 'normal' monster, from a immersion/lore/world standpoint?

[JofJAX]

It doesn't make sense to me that monsters will attack other monsters unprovoked, they never did that before, how would they know you aren't a 'normal' monster, from a immersion/lore/world standpoint?

Its actually funny you say that, since the game was originally designed to have that very thing happen. I assume they decided not to go with that because players wouldn't be able to level up because all of the mobs would be killing each other. Not only were you competing against other players but the mobs themselves lol. The monster correlation chart was pretty much the original plan of what mobs would fight and eat what. I think they still used some of the system every now and then with things like the NMs you have to feed other mobs to spawn like that slime or antlion in abyssea.

So while you can say it doesn't make sense to do it because we have never seen SE use it, the game technically was designed to do it in the first place.

[Mavrick]

It doesn't make sense to me that monsters will attack other monsters unprovoked, they never did that before, how would they know you aren't a 'normal' monster, from a immersion/lore/world standpoint?

Obviously by your name tag text color.
You may look like a bee but your name tag is still in white text >.>

[Kristal]

you can think of it more like blue magic and automaton attachments, which will be stored in a specialized place.

You weren't kidding about that... it's an unholy merger of the automaton attachment window and blue magic selection :D
The only thing missing is the ability to put a bee's head on top of a behemoth ;D (But who knows.. with the reuse of resources, it might be possible to activate a ValorMoth for a day or so :D

[Kristal]

Oooh... will it be possible to play as an automaton? As a PUP, I'd seriously love that :D (I'd probably stick with mechanical arcana regardless. Bees are for Beestmasters :D)

[Karbuncle]

I asked if i could be Carbuncle but lore wise I DOUBTS IT QQ

I'd create a Mule, name KarbunclePrime, and if someone defeats me, I'll log him in where i died and be like, IT AINT OVER > SEARING LIGHT.

No but really I'll Poison Nails you, and it'll sting a little. like a Bee sting. It'll be very uncomfortable for a few minutes.

[SandriaBahamut]

Well mostly depends on where you gain monster forms from (leveling up? defeating said monster X times?). If the latter, then Carbuncle (Akash in Abyssea) and Automatons (Troll puppetmaster) would "theoretically" be possible. Honestly though, I think it'll just end up being what is in the top half of the monster correlation chart.

[JabbaTheSut]

I knew that this would be fun, but I am still surprised at how much I'm enjoying this (even at such an early stage). You get the impression very quickly that these forms will have massive HP pools and damage output to be able to compete with normal players in pvp. Very exciting to see the directions that Monstrosity explores as more features are added!

[Cybermario]

Sweet! cant wait to play as a monster! o3o

[Vivivivi]

I was finally able to get around to checking this out.
Initial impressions: Very, VERY fun. There is something very special about being able to play directly as a monster as opposed to a pet job.

Gameplay: Feels solid, it's similar enough to playing as an adventurer without being jarring.

I'll wait and see regarding the Sentiencies to provide feedback on that.

I guess my main concern is around the context in which this will be implemented in the actual game. While it's a very fun system, can you give us a little insight into what might motivate players to play as monsters? Will we be able to take our monsters to a colonization reive or salvage for example? Will there be certain rewards only obtainable by playing as a monster? I apologize if these questions have already been addressed.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing the progression of this system, great work so far! ^_^

[Quade]

Maybe there is a way to also make Pankration fun by having the mod fights be players too!

[Mayoyama]

Tried it out, its def fun. not been in the actual game for about 2 weeks due to lack of motivation and rl crap but I could see myself spending several hours kicking ass as a behemoth lol.

I think this will be especially appealing to the more casual playerbase (and as a fun sidetrack from grinding delve for hardcores lol). Overall a well structured (and unique!) system that is familiar enough to the playerbase (battlewise) but still feels fresh and fun, coz that's what a game should be lol.