"Freshly Picked Vana'diel 2" Digest

[Camate]

Greetings,

To coincide with the December version update, Producer Akihiko Matsui held another "Freshly Picked Vana’diel" to go over some of the new content and discuss other topics pertinent to adventuring. Below is a digest of what was discussed, as well as the archived video.



Matsui here.

Did everyone enjoy last night’s “Freshly Picked Vana’diel”?
This time around we added some gameplay footage and went over a ton of content.

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http://sqex.to/Kxs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-iw4x-lfA&feature=c4#t=42s)
*Please note that the video is in Japanese only.

For those of you who didn't have a chance to watch, I've organized an overview of what was discussed so you can check it out.

Table of Contents


Player Survey (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38900-Freshly-Picked-Vana-diel-2-Digest?p=483319&viewfull=1#post483319)
Trust Initiative (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38900-Freshly-Picked-Vana-diel-2-Digest?p=483321&viewfull=1#post483321)
Records of Eminence (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38900-Freshly-Picked-Vana-diel-2-Digest?p=483322&viewfull=1#post483322)
Quality of Life Adjustments (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38900-Freshly-Picked-Vana-diel-2-Digest?p=483323&viewfull=1#post483323)
High-tier Ark Angel Battles (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38900-Freshly-Picked-Vana-diel-2-Digest?p=483324&viewfull=1#post483324)
MMO Anniversary Collaboration Event (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38900-Freshly-Picked-Vana-diel-2-Digest?p=483325&viewfull=1#post483325)
Future Plans (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38900-Freshly-Picked-Vana-diel-2-Digest?p=483326&viewfull=1#post483326)

[Camate]

Player Survey



(02:05~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-iw4x-lfA&feature=player_detailpage#t=2m5s))
Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey.

With the announcement of our plans to make it easier to enjoy the game while playing solo, we wanted to find out what players were hoping to see in the game, so we created a survey with the objective of seeing if our ideas fit with what everyone wants.

We are currently tallying up the results.

While this survey was implemented only for Japan as a test run, we will be implementing global surveys moving forward.

[Camate]

Trust Initiative



(10:10~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-iw4x-lfA&feature=player_detailpage#t=10m10s))
* The video shows gameplay of the in-development Trust spells for Lion and Tenzen and other NPCs while doing lair reives.

We made our objective for this version update to make it so battles can be undertaken properly with the new Trust Initiative.

While there are currently areas where you cannot call upon Trust NPCs due to testing-related aspects, moving forward we will continue to unlock the areas in which they can be used, so please look forward to it.

The development team is having a lot of fun creating the quests for each NPC's Trust spell. Depending on the progress through the quests, the NPC's dialogue will also change, so be sure to check it out.

As a plan for future development, we would like to make it so the NPCs speak while in battle. The core idea behind our plans for Trust is that we would like to keep increasing the number of NPCs available, so we are currently working with the programmers to do with without causing any lag.

Nearly 30-40 suggestions for Trust NPCs have been brought up and we are in the midst of narrowing them down. Of course we are looking into Prishe and young Excenmille.

For full details about Trust, please visit here (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38761-About-the-Trust-Initiative).

[Camate]

Records of Eminence



(25:56~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-iw4x-lfA&feature=player_detailpage#t=25m56s))
The specialized points you receive by doing Records of Eminence can be exchanged for item level 117 weapons and armor.

The weapons and armor can be obtained relatively easy in this content and the stats have been created in a way to help you in your adventures, so collect them to aid in your journey.

Moving forward we will be adding more objectives and equipment to Records of Eminence, so please look forward to it.

For full details about Records of Eminence, please visit here (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38764-Dec-11-2013-%28JST%29-Version-Update?p=482618&viewfull=1#post482618).

[Camate]

Quality of Life Adjustments



(37:20~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-iw4x-lfA&feature=player_detailpage#t=37m20s))
In order to make the game more enjoyable and easier to get into we've added elements such as home point warping and increased movement speed to reduce the time it takes to get around Vana'diel. By using home point warps, you'll even be able to easily travel to areas in the past, so please be sure to try it.

We've also made it possible to enter Assault, Salvage, and Meeble Burrows solo. Moving forward, we'll be making adjustments to other original content so it can be challenged with a small amount of players.

While we've made it possible to enter this content solo, please understand that there are no guarantees that you'll be able to clear it solo.

[Camate]

High-tier Ark Angel Battles



(44:46~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-iw4x-lfA&feature=player_detailpage#t=44m46s))
We've added high-tier versions of the classic Ark Angel battlefields for those adventurers who are looking for a challenging fight.

Items that are used for reforging artifact armor to item level 119, as well as equipment and armor that you can only earn from these battlefields, can be obtained here.

We set the amount of merit points needed to purchase the key item for entry rather high; however, when other battlefields are added in the future we would like to make adjustments to the amount.

For full details on the high-tier Ark Angel battles, please visit here (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/38764-Dec-11-2013-%28JST%29-Version-Update?p=482618&viewfull=1#post482618).

[Camate]

MMO Anniversary Collaboration Event



(48:08~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-iw4x-lfA&feature=player_detailpage#t=48m08s))
* The video shows off the event NPCs, equipment, and fireworks.

In celebration of the first year anniversary of DRAGON QUEST X ONLINE, the launch of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn, and the eleven-year anniversary of FINAL FANTASY XI we are holding a special collaboration event.

We'll be launching the second part of the collaboration event in March and we hope you are all looking forward to it!

For full details on the collaboration event, please visit here (http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics/ff11us/detail/11259/detail.html).

[Camate]

Future Plans



(59:10~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc-iw4x-lfA&feature=player_detailpage#t=59m10s))
In the latter half of December we will be implementing a small-scale version update. In this update we will be adding Shantotto, Trion, Volker, and Ajido-Marujido to the Trust Initiative.

Also, as a special event for the eleventh year anniversary, we'll be adding four more Trust NPCs in the New Year. We'll be holding another Repeat Login Campaign in January, and a new Trust NPC will be added for this as well.

We announced back in October that our plans were shifting to make solo play easier, but the December version update was really the first step towards this plan.
　
We'll continue to follow through with this plan in January and February, so please look forward to a great year of FINAL FANTASY XI in 2014.