Elaborating Item Descriptions

Hey everyone,

We received some feedback expressing that items containing “Enhances XXXX,” should be more specific. We definitely agree that this can be difficult to understand and would like to address this, but there are some reasons why the text needs to be written this way:

• There are times multiple effects are combined into “Enhances XXXX”.
• It's not possible to display all of the effects due to exceeding the max character limit.
• Even though stats may have the same “1%” displayed, depending on the calculation method the ultimate effect value may differ.

Since the item specs are rooted very deep in the system, reworking this will be difficult as we will need to completely redo it. While we can’t make any promises currently to address this, there is a possibility that we can look into filtering out cases that do not fall under the above three points and try to make them more specific.

As there are a considerable amount of items to review, this task will take some time, but we will try and see what can kind of methods can be employed to address this.

k

10char

As an alternative solution, could you not simply create an online listing of what these items actually do? Or send a list to the FFXI wiki's we already use?

I think most people would be happy with that. In the interest of a timely solution, there is really no need to waste any developement resources on this at all.

When every response you give us is "this is going to take a long time for us to do" It's time to start looking for faster solutions.

Thanks for looking into the possibility of making more specific item descriptions, Okipuit. In the case of for example haste, where the exact value might be too long, perhaps writing the haste value as a decimal number, like Haste+1.2%. It's still not 100% precise, but more precise than no decimals would be.

I also think making a list that could be distributed via the internet sounds like a good idea.

Considering that almost everyone uses one of the knowledge websites (FFXIclopedia, FFXIAH, Blue Gartr), would it be possible to simply post here on the forums the actual stats of the items in question? No need to program a Tell-All NPC. No Need to rewrite anything in game. This way here we can get the information we need and it can be delivered as fast as the Developer Team and Community Team can get it to us. That way the player base can disperse the information on their website(s) of choice.

To echo what everybody has already said, I think the dissemination of information is the important part and how it is displayed is a very distant second. How long would it take to just e-mail some guys at some fan-sites a few lists of what the goofiest of items do compared to this change?

Anyone who is invested enough to really want to know would be more than happy to look information up, as long as the exact information is available. For some items, such as Savant's Gown +2, even still-vague-but-less-vague-than-the-really-vague-hints-about-a-total-non-description-on-the-item-itself information would be great.

Could you look into raising the max character limit? It would have the additional benefit that food stats could be displayed as well.

The easy method would be to just introduce an NPC (or using an existing one, like a Moogle) that'll give you a more detailed description on whatever you trade them. Most players refer to the various wiki nowadays for the actual stats, but it'd help clarify some particular effect bonuses without requiring extensive testing.

I'd feel sorry for whoever would have to translate all the dialog for such an NPC though, since we've had discrepancies in the past before on the actual item stats, even within the same language.

Knowlege is power. Relinquishing knowlege is relinquishing power.

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Originally Posted by Babekeke

Knowlege is power. Relinquishing knowlege is relinquishing power.

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This is very profound...and true...

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Originally Posted by Okipuit

Hey everyone,

We received some feedback expressing that items containing “Enhances XXXX,” should be more specific. We definitely agree that this can be difficult to understand and would like to address this, but there are some reasons why the text needs to be written this way:

• There are times multiple effects are combined into “Enhances XXXX”.
• It's not possible to display all of the effects due to exceeding the max character limit.
• Even though stats may have the same “1%” displayed, depending on the calculation method the ultimate effect value may differ.

Since the item specs are rooted very deep in the system, reworking this will be difficult as we will need to completely redo it. While we can’t make any promises currently to address this, there is a possibility that we can look into filtering out cases that do not fall under the above three points and try to make them more specific.

As there are a considerable amount of items to review, this task will take some time, but we will try and see what can kind of methods can be employed to address this.

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Good enough Romney... oops I said romney xD

how many more games terms are about to be created to make the game more complex to understand?... poor new players...

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Originally Posted by Frapp

Considering that almost everyone uses one of the knowledge websites (FFXIclopedia, FFXIAH, Blue Gartr), would it be possible to simply post here on the forums the actual stats of the items in question? No need to program a Tell-All NPC. No Need to rewrite anything in game. This way here we can get the information we need and it can be delivered as fast as the Developer Team and Community Team can get it to us. That way the player base can disperse the information on their website(s) of choice.

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Thank you for the suggestion!

This adjustment is something that we are discussing and looking into as we move forward, including what will change and how to change it, so unfortunately we do not have anything in a list-form as of yet that we can release to community sites or other avenues.

As was mentioned in my previous post, there are a vast amount of items, so looking into how to proceed and then to make the adjustments will take some time. However, once we approach completion, we'll keep your sure to keep your suggestion in mind. Should we have any updates, we'll be sure to let everyone know.

I think you are mis-understanding, Okiput. Give us a list of the actual effect of every item, then you don't need to change the descriptions at all, as we can look them up on the player sites, or just ask someone who can.

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Originally Posted by Babekeke

I think you are mis-understanding, Okiput. Give us a list of the actual effect of every item, then you don't need to change the descriptions at all, as we can look them up on the player sites, or just ask someone who can.

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This. They can copy/paste the coding if they're too lazy to actually make a list. Wouldn't be difficult for us to figure out.

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Originally Posted by Okipuit

Thank you for the suggestion!

This adjustment is something that we are discussing and looking into as we move forward, including what will change and how to change it, so unfortunately we do not have anything in a list-form as of yet that we can release to community sites or other avenues.

As was mentioned in my previous post, there are a vast amount of items, so looking into how to proceed and then to make the adjustments will take some time. However, once we approach completion, we'll keep your sure to keep your suggestion in mind. Should we have any updates, we'll be sure to let everyone know.

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Hello. You might have thought of this already, but it might be best to prioritize the gear that is the most relevant first, so you can probably just leave everything below lv75 alone for now.

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Originally Posted by Babekeke

I think you are mis-understanding, Okiput. Give us a list of the actual effect of every item, then you don't need to change the descriptions at all, as we can look them up on the player sites, or just ask someone who can.

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This. We are suggesting that you make a detailed list available online INSTEAD of spending any further programming resources on this issue in the game.

This option also seems preferable because you would not be restricted by text space and could add every single piece of gear that has wording that is less than 100% clear as to what the effects might be.

Example:

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Equipment: Raider's Vest +2
Help Text: "Augments Conspirator"
Effect: This is specifically and mathemtatically what "Augments Conspirator" means.

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Thats all you need. Post a text listing like that on FFxiclopedia, BG wiki, Official Forums and official community sites.

No need to write a single line of code. Problem solved.

This way you can give it to us next month.....instead of 3 years from now.

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Originally Posted by Okipuit

Thank you for the suggestion!

This adjustment is something that we are discussing and looking into as we move forward, including what will change and how to change it, so unfortunately we do not have anything in a list-form as of yet that we can release to community sites or other avenues.

As was mentioned in my previous post, there are a vast amount of items, so looking into how to proceed and then to make the adjustments will take some time. However, once we approach completion, we'll keep your sure to keep your suggestion in mind. Should we have any updates, we'll be sure to let everyone know.

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just make a list like in the updates notes with the New delievery able items or the new 2hours thats all.
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...-Job-Abilities

This would be a Final Fantasy first.

O! The old days of testing gear to find out all it's neat hidden stats!