Vagary alternative to unlock Empyrean +1 reforge?

[Raydeus]

Wondering if there are any plans to add alternatives. And if there aren't if it would be possible to add another way to unlock the reforge +1 process with Monisette.

[Sirmarki]

I've never been able to do it. My LS does it too late for me (I'm in the UK) and they generally dont start until 1AM my time (which is fair enough, they are in the US mostly).

[V-1000]

I too, wish there was another way to unlock empy +1 I work 3rd shift and my Ls is death at night time, Vagary seems to be one of those events they don't do as often. i have 3 Alts besides my main and it be so much easier if they just allowed people with limited amount of time to be able to still enjoy 119 version of AF3. I would make my own party but I don't know enough about it to waste other players valuable time simply to test it out. :/ another option to unlock reformed +1 would be very much appreciated.


Maybe consider making a low tier Easy or Normal version for solo players or people that have limited online playtime. Even if they lock all drops to the main event and the only reward is unlocking the AF3 piece

[Raydeus]

Yeah, with my schedule being so irregular I haven't been able to do it either. I can farm gil to buy the items, and do stuff that doesn't require much prepping, but events like Vagary are just a no go for me.

And I like the idea of having an easy version of the battle that only unlocks the pieces for reforge and doesn't give any other rewards.

[Jile]

Maybe consider making a low tier Easy or Normal version for solo players or people that have limited online playtime. Even if they lock all drops to the main event and the only reward is unlocking the AF3 piece

I think this is a great idea! My wife and I frankly gave up on the wins happening, sad reality when virtually everyone you know retires lol.

[Cdryik]

Same here, i've enhanced to 109 then i saw that NM in Vagary must be defeated, i've look on the internet what is required and it's going to be hard for lowman setup (3 ppl~), as Empyreal come from Abyssea, Abyssea event should unlock thoses upgrade tier.

[Raydeus]

Ambuscade also sounds like a good way to unlock Empy +1 reforge with halmarks.

[Stompa]

Some of the other Reforged already allow for fluctuations in the required number of REMs chapters, depending on the current state of your armour.

A solution to the Vagary problem would be simply to say ;

"you need 8x REM chapters plus the Vagary KI."
"you need 58x REM chapters."

This would allow people with small linkshells, on quiet servers, etc. to go and farm an extra 50x each of REM chapters 6,7,8,9,10.

And pay 58 chapters per slot, in recognition that they do not have the Vagary KI.

And pay the other items too, of course.

[Olor]

It would be nice if this happened. It is really crummy that all other AF was able to be mostly solo upgraded but AF3 is locked behind difficult group content.

[Kylos]

Please read my thread about changes to Vagary. I hope it becomes more accessible to all of you, because everyone should be able to unlock their empyrean reforged.

[Raydeus]

Another way it could work is by adding the Key item to the items sold by Emporox at Reisenjima.

[xiozen]

Same here, i've enhanced to 109 then i saw that NM in Vagary must be defeated, i've look on the internet what is required and it's going to be hard for lowman setup (3 ppl~), as Empyreal come from Abyssea, Abyssea event should unlock thoses upgrade tier.

I completely agree... while I can definitely understand attempts to link new, at the time, content to a reward system such as Reforge +1 Empy gear; it really doesn't make sense to not tie the Empy reforge process with Abyssea. I find it difficult to believe that no content could have been created of the appropriate level and challenge (even while taking into account use of atma) within the Abyssea zones specific to reforge process.

Considering I myself have yet to get the wins necessary in Vagary and just gave up; implore SE to look at this and implement content while using the Abyssea assets--assets that currently sit empty... ??? On any given day, search an abyssea zone and you'll find no one present... perhaps since the abyssea assets are already in the game, what's the problem upgrades that tie into abyssea gears reforge???

[Raydeus]

Vagary Campaign During this campaign, defeated monsters are more likely to drop the Etched Memory and Codex of Etchings items. Additionally, exchanging the following key items at the Odyssean Passage in Leafallia (H-8) will yield two additional rewards*.

Fabricated Ward of Biting Winds / Fabricated Ward of Miasma / Fabricated Ward of Impurity / Fabricated Ward of Ashen Wings / Fabricated Ward of the False King

* These are the same rewards as those available via the dialogue option ?Whatever the master deems worthy.No word whatsoever about any alternative ways for unlocking reforge +1. So I guess that's our answer.

[Zeldar]

Well what this event should do is create more interest in vagary, therefore increasing your chance at getting the clears. I like how people these days want everything handed to them rather than struggling a little to earn things. As for the comment about making Abyssea a requirement to reforge since empy gear is from abyssea, they did. Last time I checked, you need to actually kill abyssea NMs to get the 109 upgrade mats.

[Raydeus]

Well what this event should do is create more interest in vagary, therefore increasing your chance at getting the clears. I like how people these days want everything handed to them rather than struggling a little to earn things. As for the comment about making Abyssea a requirement to reforge since empy gear is from abyssea, they did. Last time I checked, you need to actually kill abyssea NMs to get the 109 upgrade mats.

Can you tell me where exactly are we asking for things to be just handed to us?

[Zeldar]

Well, by asking to allow some type of abyssea completion as an alternate requirement to reforge. What they are requiring is that you are able to complete ilevel content in order to upgrade ilevel gear. If the requirement is instead something like "clear all abyssea bosses" then your are only required to complete level 99 content to unlock 119 gear. So yes, I consider that alternative practically handing it to you.

[Zeldar]

But eh, whatever. I think I'll just stop trying to talk sense into lazy people that don't want to keep trying harder things until they succeed. No wonder the developers of this community keep leaving....the community is nearly impossible to please.

[Jile]

I'm not sure what your playerbase is like on Slyph; however, on Phoenix there are no shouts for Vagary (barring a few people begging for someone to join and help that go for hours relatively unanswered) and the Vagary zone's are vacant as there is newer and better content out there. For individuals who are returning to the game, their odds of finishing Vagary are frankly nil.

SE needs to make a solo-entry version of all Vagary zones where people can enter and kill the boss only with no chance at any drops other than the KI for the win.

[Rydal]

I think Vagary is fine the way it is. Similar to my post regarding Sinister Reign, I think that it is unfair to reward people with something meant to be earned by doing difficult content by giving them an easy way out to get the same exact reward. Don't get me wrong, I would love to easily get all 5 KIs. I only have the first 3 myself. Unfortunately, that's not how Vagary was designed nor how SE thinks we should be able to obtain our Empyrean 119 pieces.

I agree that making Empyrean 119 Abyssea related is silly because as stated above, Abyssea is 99 content. Rewarding a 119 item for it is unbalanced. Making a soloable boss run is a lot of work for something that already can be won.

I mean, why can't we get a group of new/returning players together, do some research on the zone you want to clear, watch a youtube video, spend a few days/weeks gearing up in Skirmish/Delve in preparation, and go in together and learning how to clear Vagary? I know for a fact that the Fomor zone is pretty straight forward and the Acuex zone is similar. The Elemental zone is a little trickier but still doable even if you wipe once or twice (which I have done). You could join a linkshell and get a few more seasoned players to help you (you probably just need to follow directions, not even have to learn how to do the zone). You could pay someone to clear the zones for you (probably costly but getting gil isn't hard if that's what you focus on). If this isn't possible for you, then I don't know what to say.

Vagary isn't ridiculous content. It's actually becoming extremely outdated and later content (Escha/Reisenjima) gives better rewards for less hassle. Use that to your advantage! You can gear up in those zones and then tackle Vagary in a small group. You should outgear the content difficulty or at least make it less of a hassle. Sadly, not everything is meant to be soloable. SE has kinda backed this up by pushing the Vagary campaign in front of us and giving us the hint that it's not changing.

[Jile]

I think Vagary is fine the way it is.

If SE's goal is to have yet another empty zone for all intents and purposes, then its terrific!

Honestly, SE is failing to retain the dwendling playerbase and making this content viable for returning players to keep the gear upgrade monthly service fee perpetuation chugging along is very much in SE's interest to do so.

Almost nobody that's completed Vagary want's to look back at the content, they completed their macro pieces and moved on.

SE didn't have to make solo option for SMN avatar acquisition but they did.
SE didn't have to make solo focused 'trusts' but they did.
SE didn't have to remove the level cap on Promyvion or Pso'Xja and many level cap fights but they did.

SE doesn't have to make a solo option for Vagary KI-only-fights but it would make sense if they did.



I mean, why can't we get a group of new/returning players together, do some research on the zone you want to clear, watch a youtube video, spend a few days/weeks gearing up in Skirmish/Delve in preparation, and go in together and learning how to clear Vagary?

Because the playerbase of 2016 is casual players who come on the game for 1hr/day and want to get something accomplished or they unsubscribe.

[Raydeus]

I think Vagary is fine the way it is. Similar to my post regarding Sinister Reign...

I also agree with not changing SR and I'm already gearing up for it to get it done eventually, but Vagary is a completely different thing.

First, Vagary has nothing to do with Abyssea. So one of the suggestions to obtain it was hard mode battles against past Abyssea monsters. In my opinion it could preferably be more in the style of Wildskeeper Reives, and they could make it so those monsters only dropped cruor and had a 50% chance of dropping the KIs or even required red triggers to drop it, that would be completely fine.

Second, the main issue for players like me (as I've already posted previously) is the amount of prep required to get Vagary done. My schedule (like many other player's schedules) is fairly random because of work and other things, so I cannot commit to: Get a group of new/returning players + Have everyone do the research + expecting everyone to gear up + consistently going in together for hours at a time to learn how to clear the thing. That is just not going to happen.

Third, there is a difference between content not meant to be soloable and content not meant to get completed by most players. Even among organized people in an active LS there is a lot of BS that needs to happen just to get all the KIs required to unlock reforge +1, and the armor is just not worth all that hassle. Which is why most players don't have Empy reforge +1 unlocked from what I've seen in my server. So why not instead make the KIs more accessible and then let people who are prepared to do Vagary profit from it by selling the items required to reforge armor? That would also increase the amount of players actively doing Vagary repeatedly for items and gil.

Edit > Heck, they could make it so Vagary NMs dropped a single new KI that unlocked all Empy +1 reforge and then leave the individual KIs for those completing the battles outside of Vagary.

[Urmom]

I think you slightly overestimate the difficulty of vagary. I'm pretty sure all clears have been triod. Random shouts work all the time

[Rydal]

Vagary can be completed by any group with mid-level gear (119 Delve/Skirmish gear) because when it was released, that's what people were wearing (or less). It'll be harder and you'll need to make less mistakes, but I mean, the game can still have some challenges. What are you supposed to work towards? Can't just be REM or something like that.

Idk, I'm conflicted because I understand the woes of trying to get people to do Vagary. Many players are busy doing their own thing. Finding like minded groups can be a challenge. Coupling that with teaching/leading/learning with that group can be even worse when there might not be a reward (if you lose many times). Vagary is something people want to do but their is so much competition to do other, more relevant content that is easier and gives better rewards (Escha, Reisenjima, Ambuscade...). On the other hand, I actually do believe Vagary is fine exactly how it is and it is one of the gems that we have left in endgame content (as I said before, I find most of the Seekers of Adoulin extra content to be amazing and I'm glad most of them are still relevant and challenging). 119 Empyrean armor isn't a huge deal, which you can argue that you don't need it so it doesn't matter if it's locked behind Vagary or that it's not important enough to be locked behind group content. The thing is, Vagary needs some kind of draw. Most people do it to get Emp+1 clears for themselves or their friends.

[Raydeus]

Like I said in the other Vagary thread, I'm still going to attempt hitching rides to get the KIs while the campaign is going, or maybe look into working something out with mercs. But honestly I'm more on the side of saying "screw this" and just forget about it because it really isn't worth the hassle.

[Zeldar]

If most people on your server have yet to unlock empy +1 reforge, you need to hop servers. Vagary is not difficult, as stated a few posts above. On Sylph, when there are events for Vagary like the one coming up, I OFTEN see shouts for pickup groups.

[Raydeus]

Yeah, so I tried hitching a ride to get the Vagary KIs for reforged empy. Couldn't get even one of course, so I'm completely done trying to do any content that requires other people.

On the bright side I recently took a liking for running around fishing. And between that the many quests I never got around to do before I still have some content left to play before I finish it all and retire from the game.

[Olor]

Sorry it didn't work out Raydeus. I totally understand not wanting to do content that requires other people at this point in the game's cycle. It's just not fun unless you're playing with friends.

[Raydeus]

It's ok, specially considering it seems the dev team will only focus on making content for linkshells in the future. As such obtaining empy +1 or newer gear wont make any difference for me if I wont be able to see new content anyway. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[svae]

Not sure if anyone has noticed. SE devs are intentionally frustrating players out of ffxi. I have been playing since NA release and did all the shouting, asking, organizing, group learning I could possibly stand. The content no one will touch should be made reachable. Won't happen though. Not because of game balance or fairness. SE is moving on after the original dev left for new challenges. Ffxi is officially dead. They want us on 14. So don't expect anything. Unless your JP they won't hear you. Has been that way since release.

[Diavolo]

Ffxi is officially dead.

https://media.giphy.com/media/3oz8xLd9DJq2l2VFtu/giphy.gif

[Raydeus]

Not sure if anyone has noticed. SE devs are intentionally frustrating players out of ffxi. I have been playing since NA release and did all the shouting, asking, organizing, group learning I could possibly stand. The content no one will touch should be made reachable. Won't happen though. Not because of game balance or fairness. SE is moving on after the original dev left for new challenges. Ffxi is officially dead. They want us on 14. So don't expect anything. Unless your JP they won't hear you. Has been that way since release.

Yeah, I decided to came back and see what's new, only to find even more stuff I can't do on my own. And since Camate is gone now there's even less communication (if that's even possible), which means things will only get worse for players like me. So I've already cancelled again.

I just wonder if all the things they are adding are really working to force players to party up, because I've seen nothing of the sort these few days I've been back.

PS > Oh yeah, and the forum is even dead-er than before. XD

[Dekusuta]

Yeah, I decided to came back and see what's new, only to find even more stuff I can't do on my own. And since Camate is gone now there's even less communication (if that's even possible), which means things will only get worse for players like me. So I've already cancelled again.

I just wonder if all the things they are adding are really working to force players to party up, because I've seen nothing of the sort these few days I've been back.

PS > Oh yeah, and the forum is even dead-er than before. XD

Vagary is one of the few events that need more people, but even then, you just need to find a group willing to help you clear as you get the first set of synth items need to upgrade your empy 'free' from the records of eminence quest for vagary.
If anything lots of content are soloable ,or low mannable with most content doable by a group of 6. Granted, that group of 6 would need to work together , gear up and cap out on their job points to do some of the harder content, but there is plenty of growth to be had with just that core group.

I'd recommend you give it another shot, and move to a more poulated server like Asura or Odin and you are bound to find a group who needs you.

As for communicaiton, don't let Camate's departure sour you, we now get monthly updates and communication, even if indirectly via their comments on player feedback from their Japanese only livestreams, but it's way way better than the bad old days where we'd go months with nothing. This is as good as it gets for a game alledgedly in its final days.

[Raydeus]

Right now I'm just doing quests I had pending while my sub runs out. Because there is no way I'll give SE more money (for the server transfer) just for the chance of maybe probably finding other people to play with. Specially people who are ok with my play time being so irregular.

[Sirmarki]

Right now I'm just doing quests I had pending while my sub runs out. Because there is no way I'll give SE more money (for the server transfer) just for the chance of maybe probably finding other people to play with. Specially people who are ok with my play time being so irregular.

As Dekusuta mentioned - you would be better off on say a server like Asura as this will help with your play time being irregular.

I moved from Fenrir (during the server move discount campaign) to Asura as it was pretty dead. Fenrir would go from 800 players or so (JP time) to around 280-300 players (my prime time).
When I moved to Asura, there were/are constant shouts all day long, not only that, the server numbers remain pretty consistent whatever time of day youre on. I've also seen population numbers touching 2k many times.