Vana’bout - Sparks of Eminence (VBD) Bug

[Perigueux]

Platform: Windows 10
ISP: SFR
Type of Internet Connection: Fiber
Internet Connection Speed: 1Gbps
Date & Time: 20 November, 2025 15:30 GMT
Frequency: Persistant
Character Name: Perigueux
Race: Tarutaru
World: Bahamut
Main Job: BLU
Support Job: RDM
Area and Coordinates: X
Party or Solo: X
NPC Name: X
Monster Name: X
Steps:
1. The objective states: Sparks of Eminence (VBD) - “Exchange items for the requisite amount of sparks of eminence by speaking with a Records of Eminence NPC. […] Special Reward: 10 plaudits. […] Number Required 0/2500”
2. There exists a weekly exchange limit of 99,999 sparks reset each Sunday at midnight Japan Standard Time.
3. This VBD was set as an objective on Thursday, in case the cap was reached earlier in the week, which is common, it is impossible to complete the objective because no additional sparks are allowed to be exchanged to fulfill the criteria.
4. Failing this objective makes it impossible to reach the rank 1 title.

[Shoopdawhoop]

Locked out. Sigh.

[Richwood]

I fail to understand the design in content like this. The majority of the player base sells off sparks and accolades every week. Making a Vana quest like this an unnecessary jab at the players.

[Alhanelem]

of course, if we knew what all the potential objectives were befhorehand, we could have planned for it so it wouldn't have been as big of an issue (though still potential). Think this one is new?

[Dragoy]

of course, if we knew what all the potential objectives were befhorehand, we could have planned for it so it wouldn't have been as big of an issue (though still potential). Think this one is new?

Indeed and yes.

[Kahla]

Thank you for posting this as I was about to do the same. Management of FFXI needs to realize they once again failed us paid subscribers of their implementation of Vana'bout.
This event has been nothing but headaches. Asura as well as many other servers are still struggling with their communities due to the failure of their last Vana'bout.

If someone in management who actually understood the game and how it's played, this mistake never would of happened. This goes as well for the quests introduced in the previous Vana'bout that caused 'congestion'. It's clear you need to bring on paid or volunteer positions of people that know this game to actually 'play test' or overlook what you're doing. Majority of real players would of been able to tell you this was going to be an issue well in advanced.

If SE is actually listening, you could implement an extremely easy fix as I know based on other areas of the game this is already programmed. Have the quest check if 2,500 Points have been spent already for the week and if so have it automatically completes. If something isn't done fast to correct this mistake you've failed your players once again. I was actually trying to go for first rank and am only shy of this mission to do this and it's not from lack of trying, it's because I'm literally unable to do so.

[Voidstorm]

Agreed, if we knew that sparks would be in the objective list, we would not have spent them all earlier in the week.
I spent mine just yesterday.

[Kahla]

Agreed, if we knew that sparks would be in the objective list, we would not have spent them all earlier in the week.
I spent mine just yesterday.

Mhmmm... Or make this quest be on Sunday or Saturday so you can keep the quest for a day then be able to do it the next day before it's deleted...