Any Monstrosity additions/changes coming in the next few months?

[Ackeron]

So we are nearing a year since Monstrosity being introduced and it seems to have not found a place in most players 'I want to do that' list.

Personally I enjoyed Monstrosity and invested a decent amount of time in it thinking it may be supported more. I still can't play the monster I wanted which was Wyverns. Belligerency was a good move but the rewards are horrible and not worth risking your infamy or prestige for, so it is only used as a level capping tool to make leveling monsters easier. Another feature that was mentioned and hasn't been touched on is Monster Parties. People including myself have been hoping for that since this launched. Lastly monster -vs- monster PvP which was announced to be coming at launch still hasn't been implemented.

It's been months since any new content was added to Monstrosity, this includes monster families or other additional content. In one of the Vana'diel Digests it was mentioned that it was being looked into on ways to get more players to do Monstrosity. Since then all there has been is silence.

There are a lot of ways to get players involved. Just ask the players and they would come up with plenty. Off the top of my head I can think of some as well:

- Monster BCNMs for high end currency. (Dynamis currency/Alexandrite/Rem Tales/Plasm/Obsidian Fragments)
- Ability to summon one of your leveled monsters like the Adventuring Fellow or Trust.
- Being able to challenge your Monster Ego to fights for loot from that monsters family at the cost of prestige or infamy.
- Joining a Beastmen force in Besieged or Campaign.
- Add a storyline. We still have no idea why this started from a lore stand point.
- More monster Records of Eminence.

With that said, I'm wondering if anything is coming down the pipe for this feature or if I should write off Monstrosity?

[Mitruya]

I agree, I am really disappointed in no new Monstrosity content.

[DarkBEWD]

This is the answer we got when we asked about this back in April.


Greetings,

I checked in with the lead monipulator himself, Iwagami, and found out some of the plans that are on the horizon. Please keep in mind, however, that this is all still in the planning phases and there is a possibility that details may change.

When it comes to new content for monstrosity the team's plan is to create large scale PvP content that is reminiscent of campaign battles. Essentially, players will be able to become monipulators and join one of two NPC groups that are fighting each other, and aim to make it so their group wins.

As this is content that will require various features including a new interface, it will take a bit of time before it is implemented, but we will continue to share information as progress is made.

If you go to Gusgen Mines you can find the people who were in the thread with the above quote still waiting that "bit of time" for this new content. I personally don't expect to see it until mid-August as that will basically be Monstrosity's one year anniversary.

[Mitruya]

Couldn't they add some new families in the meantime, and access to new areas?

[DarkBEWD]

My guess on the reason for the lack of those kinds of updates has a lot to do with A) they've taken the survey feedback as "put Monstrosity on the bottom of the priority list because the majority doesn't care." B) They know that the next group of monster families (Undead, Arcana, Dragons, and Demons) contain the arguably most desirable/popular monsters and really want to hold out on them. C) They're putting all of the effort into the new system they're working on so they don't have much time for smaller updates right now.

The pessimist in me says A and B combined, but the optimist in me says all money on C and the addition of all 4 new families at once for the one year anniversary.

[Trisscar]

Bgwiki has recently added new items to its monstrosity list, including monsters to currently existing families that aren't currently in the game. Maybe they'll be added soon?

[Gameesh]

Bgwiki has recently added new items to its monstrosity list, including monsters to currently existing families that aren't currently in the game. Maybe they'll be added soon?

Where? I went to bgwiki trying to find these items you mentioned but can't find them. Can you point me in the right direction, please?

[Demonjustin]

Where? I went to bgwiki trying to find these items you mentioned but can't find them. Can you point me in the right direction, please?Here you are! (http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Monstrosity_Items_Now_Supported!)

[Gameesh]

Here you are! (http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Monstrosity_Items_Now_Supported!)

Thanks! I'm curious now; are these just placeholders? Either way, I'd more then welcome all those additions...

[Ackeron]

Bgwiki has recently added new items to its monstrosity list, including monsters to currently existing families that aren't currently in the game. Maybe they'll be added soon?

Gonna clear this up. Those were added to the game back in January and haven't been edited since on that page. Since I'm bored I'll go fix the values on the instincts. Stuff on that page is not new or recent.

Everything with the 2 headed snake symbol appears to have only the name put into the system it seems and nothing more. Which is sad cause King Pudding would rule the world!

EDIT:Finished changing that page with the most up to date info.
http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Monstrosity_Items_Now_Supported!

Gonna play a game of LoL then add links to the main pages for each section since when content does come out those are the pages that will be updated most likely and I won't have to type in the same info again.
Monster Info:http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Category:Monstrosity/Species
Instincts:http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Instincts

Edit 2: The main Monstrosity page is now linked at the top of that page to lessen confusion.

[Krysten]

i honestly belive what is killing monstosity is no party mode.

[Demonjustin]

No party mode, slow XP at 50~60+ just like normal players, no in game reward for leveling monsters, hardly any reward for players killing monster players. Those are the 4 things I see as the main issues. I don't do Monstrosity anymore, I used to do it roughly 30~50% of my game time because I enjoyed it so much, now I just don't care much anymore. I have almost everything in Monstrosity to 60 besides Amorphs and I can't be bothered to finish it because after leveling the last 50 mobs to 60~90 I just got bored with it, I get nothing from it besides fun and that fun was killed by slow leveling speeds and the lack of being able to play with anyone besides myself.

[dasva]

A pvp system that highly favors either the player or the monster depending on how it's done with not much reward for players and even less for monsters... no new monsters for awhile on top of the only thing we've gotten since they introduced belligerence was new monsters. No uncapped zones. No party. No large scale battles... several of those things promised a year ago so people are treating it like smn and pets they will take years to implement. Also Unable to get even basic mob drops while on monster. Horribly rewards system unable to do it in soa areas. Unable to earn merits or CP while on monster etc

[Mitruya]

Agreed. I still go back to my list, that we need partying, drops, ability to harvest, new families, more areas to access (including Belligerency), better leveling grind, ability to get merits/CP ... the same things everyone is echoing here.

[Karbuncle]

Problem is they see Monstrosity as a side activity, therefor its getting side-activity treatment, and backseated to Hard Mode BF's and real events.

Thats been the problem with this system from the start, its treated as a "not an endgame thing, but not a "Chocobo raising" type side activity", so its been riddled with crap rewards, and not updated quickly because interest is lost when all you can do is exp. Right now Monstrosity is essentially "Solo exp simulator"... and the rewards are really really sad. But thats a problem I'm sure they're aware of. If they make the rewards really good and tangible, it in essence forces people to play an event where all you really do is level up the same jobs over and over with a different skin... if they rewards are too terrible (like they are now) people will grow bored when the novelty wears off (like they are now...).

There are a few solutions, SE would need to up the rewards for them... as well as introduce party play, and uncapped PvP(which would require Monsters being able to level up beyond 99, rather through "Merits" or something else.... personally, I recall someone postulating ideas for what could be rewards... I personally think getting the "HNM" Of each species to 99 should reward the player with the ability to purchase some items related to that Families Instincts and such, say for ~30k or so Infamy. Let me give you a few examples...

Beast




Lizard



Plantoid



Bird



And these would be just a few examples, all of them taken from bonuses Instincts give from their species. Maybe even special ones related to certain species... like

Malboro Hat (Yes, a hat that looks like a Malboro)
DEF/STATS
Enhances Resistance to all Status Ailments +20
I.lv115

[Selindrile]

Actual tangible rewards, party mode, nuff said.

[Krysten]

alot people are done with a pvp system, one on one anyway a large scale something... then maybe tbh i havent ever even tried it

[Gameesh]

If SE made it possible for monipulators to team up and add a few more areas (for the higher levels) then I'm 99% sure Monstrosity would be crazy popular again.
Then they can just continue adding the rest of the families...

[Draylo]

Where are the updates on this content!?

[Krysten]

Monster merits that would be awesome.

[DarkBEWD]

Where are the updates on this content!?

Sitting in the seat Cait Sith warmed up for them.

[Karbuncle]

And these would be just a few examples, all of them taken from bonuses Instincts give from their species. Maybe even special ones related to certain species... like

Malboro Hat (Yes, a hat that looks like a Malboro)
DEF/STATS
Enhances Resistance to all Status Ailments +20
I.lv115

Funny I should mention this a few weeks ago...

http://www.bg-wiki.com/bg/Morbol_Cap

[Ackeron]

Ain't no party like a Monstrosity Birthday Party!!!!

....

....

....

So lonely.

[Mitruya]

I really hope that there is more to the September update than what was alluded to in the latest Freshly Picked Vana'diel. Most especially where Monstrosity is concerned.

[DarkBEWD]

Alright Devs, it's been a good while since we had some info on how that content update has been coming along so...

How's that project coming along? Is it going well?
You said you'd chime in from time to time about any progress that's made, can we take this long drought of info as lack of progress? or did you just forget to update us?
What happened to all of the monster family additions? Are there special mechanics that are giving you issues? Are you working on multiple families? Did you somehow forget that you didn't release them all already?
What about plans for Monstrosity related quests and additional features? Did those get dropped at some point?
What can we expect for this event's future? Is it being discontinued? Has it simply been given lower priority? Has motivation toward further developing this content dropped since its release?

Here's hoping we can expect some updates soon.

[Selindrile]

Ain't no party like a Monstrosity Birthday Party!!!!

....

....

....

So lonely.

Ain't no party like a Monstrosity party cuz a Monstrosity party don't START!

Aww ._.

[Mitruya]

SE suckered me in to another month for the incoming PUPdate but I doubt anything will change. There's not a damn thing to do on my server if you're not a BRD or RNG. So all I've been doing is working towards unlocking Behemoth. I'd really like to see some Monstrosity updates.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, October is a great time for monster-themed stuff. I'd love to see more seasonal stuff in-game (including in the Mog Garden) and have more casual activities.

[DarkBEWD]

Alright Devs, it's been a good while since we had some info on how that content update has been coming along so...

How's that project coming along? Is it going well?
You said you'd chime in from time to time about any progress that's made, can we take this long drought of info as lack of progress? or did you just forget to update us?
What happened to all of the monster family additions? Are there special mechanics that are giving you issues? Are you working on multiple families? Did you somehow forget that you didn't release them all already?
What about plans for Monstrosity related quests and additional features? Did those get dropped at some point?
What can we expect for this event's future? Is it being discontinued? Has it simply been given lower priority? Has motivation toward further developing this content dropped since its release?

Here's hoping we can expect some updates soon.

Bumpan thread.

[Mitruya]

Seriously? No updates AGAIN?
I really regret renewing my sub for this month.
Seasonally, October is a prime time for monster-related content. Overall I'm really disappointed in this update (even with the pet job buffs, I don't see them getting invites anytime soon).

[DarkBEWD]

You'd think we'd at least get Undeads this update. Oh well, seems all we can do now is bug the Dev team for feedback.

[Mitruya]

Yes, arcana, demons and undead would have been great additions this month.

[DarkBEWD]

Alright Devs, it's been a good while since we had some info on how that content update has been coming along so...

How's that project coming along? Is it going well?
You said you'd chime in from time to time about any progress that's made, can we take this long drought of info as lack of progress? or did you just forget to update us?
What happened to all of the monster family additions? Are there special mechanics that are giving you issues? Are you working on multiple families? Did you somehow forget that you didn't release them all already?
What about plans for Monstrosity related quests and additional features? Did those get dropped at some point?
What can we expect for this event's future? Is it being discontinued? Has it simply been given lower priority? Has motivation toward further developing this content dropped since its release?

Here's hoping we can expect some updates soon.

Here I come, bumpin' with the rest of them, the best of them, tougher than bumps, you can call me Bumples, unlike 'Totto I don't chuckle, I'd rather bump my muscles.

[Mitruya]

This thread was started in June, and there has been the barest of updates in-game (instinct sorting, whoopdedoo) and no dev comments at all.
The October update seemed light on content (yay, more BCNMs I wont be invited to) - they really missed an opportunity for a grand monster-themed month.
Here's hoping some seasonal stuff is still coming, but I want more than a repeat of the usual town event.

[DarkBEWD]

I walked up to a Yovra and said "I want to be like you." then it spun around and slapped me.
I walked up to a Wyrm and said "I want to be like you." then it turned around and whacked me.
I walked up to a Soulflayer and said "I want to be like you." then it said "some day you'll be like me."
I walked up to a Skeleton and said "I want to be like you." then it said "I want that too."
I walked up to a Snoll that said "You don't want to be like me." then it exploded.
I walked up to an Elemental that said "Magic is scary." then disappeared.
I came across a powerful monster and said "I want to be like you," and it replied "but you ARE like me!"
It turns out we were both Disappointed.

[Mitruya]

Still no mention of Monstrosity for this month or the next update. Has SE abandoned it?
I'd like to know whether to keep renewing my sub ... until the day my "lolPUP" gets invited to endgame.

[Gameesh]

I'm hoping for Undead as part of the Halloween update but it's probably wishful thinking :/

[DarkBEWD]

Man, how long do we have to wait just to get some info on what's taking so long and how far along the progress is? Hell, even if they actually just lost interest in further development or something along those lines I'd rather they just come out and say it than keep us in the dark. And how did we go from getting a monster family roughly every 2-3 months to getting none at all for like half a year? Can somebody with a red name and blue post background please answer these questions?

[Mitruya]

Any news about Monstrosity for the coming months? We've been asking since June ..

[Mitruya]

I just unlocked Gnole yesterday and man, it's a blast. Since it's kind of a werewolf it's the closest thing to something Halloween-like for this month. Although, I got spoiled by the fast-moving cats so I do wish the gnole moved faster.
Still hoping for some updates. We need all the mobs unlocked and more areas to exp in (especially for the bigger mobs). Plus partying and other content to keep it going. Please give us some news!

[Gameesh]

I leveled Elasmoth to 99 last week, just to have at least one monster at max level.
Using meteor on a group of enemies feels so incredibly awesome. Elasmoth almost feels like godmode :P

[Mitruya]

Oh that sounds awesome. I'm on the path to Behemoth and having fun with Gnole. But I dread the grind on Opo and Rabbit.
Still waiting for Monstrosity update news.

[Ackeron]

Think they have written Monstrosity off. We haven't gotten anything in like 8 months. Can keep hope alive with the preview for Novs update saying something for everyone but I doubt anything for Monstrosity. Really wish Flan or Behemoth would chime in and give us a heads up or something.

[DarkBEWD]

Yeah I hope "content for every type of player" doesn't mean that Monipulators don't count as players anymore, that'd be a nice kick in the balls wouldn't it?.

[Ackeron]

Monstrosity was the thing I was most excited about from this expansion. It's sad to see they couldn't even at least implement all the monsters they showed in the previews.

[Gameesh]

I distinctly remember a poster (or was it a preview pic?) about Khimaira vs Hydra.
It's like FF11's version of Godzilla vs King Kong
(more accurately would be a wyrm vs yztarg I guess)

[Gameesh]

Oh that sounds awesome. I'm on the path to Behemoth and having fun with Gnole. But I dread the grind on Opo and Rabbit.
Still waiting for Monstrosity update news.

Also, grinding on a monipulator that has access to black mage spells is not a chore at all.
Just get some good mage instincts; these are the ones I recommend:
- Gnole 3
- Cerberus 2
- Flan (all 3)
- Hecteyes 3
- Manticore 2
- Colibri 1
- Eft 1 and 2
- Black mage
- Geomancer
- Coeurl 2 and 3
- Toad 2
- Uragnite 2 MUST HAVE

Equip as many as you can from that list and any monster with black magic will utterly destroy (and thus chain) VT's or sometimes even IT's.

If you still have room or don't have most of these instincts, then fill the rest with MP+ and/or refresh. Although refresh isn't required in Monstrosity. It's more of a luxery here since you have an insane amount of MP.

Opo-opo really isn't too bad. It's a quick DD monster with plenty of useful ws's.

[DarkBEWD]

It would sure be nice to celebrate 11/11 and the double EXP campaign, but there's no "Monstrosity Returns Campaign" to take part in and I've already maxed out pretty much all of my favorite monsters ages ago, can I get a Yovra, Wyrm, or Wyvern to play as or something?

[Gameesh]

I seriously don't understand why SE didn't implement a party mode of some kind.
It would have made the content incredibly appealing. It's the ONE drawback this content has.
People teaming up in Monstrosity MAY affect normal players leveling up but even then it's not really a problem.
Monster teams can take on incredibly hard monsters that human players wouldn't even dare get close to.
And most of the exp areas are places where people rarily go anyway (Aht Urgahn areas for example)

[Mitruya]

Also, grinding on a monipulator that has access to black mage spells is not a chore at all.
Just get some good mage instincts; these are the ones I recommend:
- Gnole 3
- Cerberus 2
- Flan (all 3)
- Hecteyes 3
- Manticore 2
- Colibri 1
- Eft 1 and 2
- Black mage
- Geomancer
- Coeurl 2 and 3
- Toad 2
- Uragnite 2 MUST HAVE

Equip as many as you can from that list and any monster with black magic will utterly destroy (and thus chain) VT's or sometimes even IT's.

If you still have room or don't have most of these instincts, then fill the rest with MP+ and/or refresh. Although refresh isn't required in Monstrosity. It's more of a luxery here since you have an insane amount of MP.

Opo-opo really isn't too bad. It's a quick DD monster with plenty of useful ws's.

Thanks for the tips. ^^
I've almost got Gnole to 75, but I took a break to collect some fairly easy instincts from other mobs. Such as Sabotender I (it was fun running around as a zucchini-on-legs and sounding like a squeaker toy). And I'm currently working towards unlocking the Morbol for its Tier I 'cause poison is like the bane of my existence (and who doesn't want to terrorize the land as a giant tentacle monster). LOL
I can tell you right now though, I am already starting to get burned out and there is no way I am gonna get all those you listed just to level the mage Rabbit. ;p I might get Eft I at least though to add to the few I already have, that's not so bad.
At any rate I'm really looking forward to the double exp campaign.

And I agree that Monstrosity should've been included in the campaigns (besides the double exp thing) or hell, just one of the monthly updates. It's way past time for all their promises to be fulfilled.
Bring on the khimaira!