Gamer Escape Interviews FFXI Dev Team Post VanaFest 2012

[Winrie]

So much cry

[Sunrider]

Greetings,

To answer the question about "why can't these new jobs also use relics?"

The main reason why rune fencers and geomancers will be unable to equip Relic and Empyrean weapons is because those weapons were created and balanced around the jobs that existed at the time. This is also the reason that blue mage, corsair, puppetmaster, dancer and scholar were never given access to relic weapons.

However, as Mythic weapons are job-specific, it won't be a problem to design a weapon that is best suited specifically for rune fencers or geomancers.

As an additional note, when we release content for these new jobs in Seekers of Adoulin, they will be able to earn the equivalent of Relic equipment, Empyrean equipment, and Mythic weapons. We simply used these terms to make it clearer and we haven't officially decided on what names these types of equipment will take.

It's important that the developers understand that, among the players, the difficulty of obtaining Mythics is not commensurate with the value of each to their respective jobs. For all but a handful, the worth of Mythics is far, far below the effort required in getting them.

This is significant because, for each of the original pre-ToAU jobs, even though Mythics are mostly a disappointment, there are still alternative "endgame" weapons in Relics and Empyrean. Less so for the post-ToAU jobs, that are limited to Mythics and Empyreans, but at least still have an "endgame" alternative.

When Rune Fencer and Geomancer are released, their only option will be Mythics, whose requirements are largely regarded as being more arduous than Relics.

[Damane]

Greetings,

To answer the question about "why can't these new jobs also use relics?"

The main reason why rune fencers and geomancers will be unable to equip Relic and Empyrean weapons is because those weapons were created and balanced around the jobs that existed at the time. This is also the reason that blue mage, corsair, puppetmaster, dancer and scholar were never given access to relic weapons.

However, as Mythic weapons are job-specific, it won't be a problem to design a weapon that is best suited specifically for rune fencers or geomancers.

As an additional note, when we release content for these new jobs in Seekers of Adoulin, they will be able to earn the equivalent of Relic equipment, Empyrean equipment, and Mythic weapons. We simply used these terms to make it clearer and we haven't officially decided on what names these types of equipment will take.

Just on a side not:

how can giving BLU COR PUP SCH DNC access to relic weapons be so gamebreaking? In all honesty this is bullshit and allways was bullshit to begin with. This is SEs chance to add ALL the jobs that were left out on the relic part to them includeing RNF and GEO. I really dont see a problem. Job balance was never based around weapons.

A COR with access to annihilator isnt gonna make the cor ofmg ubber. it would just give cors another option
a BLU with access to excalibur isnt gonna make the BLU broken, it would help yes, but it wouldnt break the job
a SCH with access to LOL-Claustrum isnt gonna do jack shit too
A DNC with access to Mandau wont break your pants either
a PUP with access to Spharai wont suddenly outparse a MNK that has Spharai too.

The logic makes no sense. Especially since some of the Empy weapons were more "Broken" to begin with...

Didnt you say you create Weapons around jobs, yet 2 Empy weapons had to be nerfed, because they were too powerfull? Guess building weapons around jobs failed hardcore... That excuse is totaly invalid in my eyes

[Kitkat]

I'll admit that some of the mythic weapons are "decent" in that they enhance certain aspects of the job, but at the same time they aren't anything more than decent. WS are generally "meh" aside from a small few even with the 40% boost in damage. The aftermaths aren't generally desired aside from AM3 because it acts like Double/triple attack instead of normal occasionally attacks twice/thrice (by this I mean it procs in WS) making them the best choice for Merited WS in some cases.

I'm just questioning how they expect RUN to keep hate over current DD's. If it has access to use Resolution that is helpful, but it also seems that currently the job will not be a heavy armor wearing job (looks more like medium grade armor so possibly limitation of gear similar to drg/rdm/blu). Guess what I'm trying to say is by stating this before releasing more info about the actual build of the job you have people worried RUN will suffer in the VE department against DD that already pull out 2~4k dmg on current endgame content. What little we have been told is this:

Rune fencer, as stated in vana-fest, is meant to be a 2nd tank option
They will use Runes, in the form of abilities, to enhance Defense and offense (namely magical defense and offense also)
They will have MP and access to Enhancing magic
They are not meant to have similar damage output as standard DD as it is meant to be a tank.
They will not have access to any currently existing relic, mythic, emp weapon.
You do not plan to give them a relic or emp type weapon, but do plan on a mythic weapon
They will use Great sword and Sword as primary weapons.

Geo is meant to be a new type of enfeebler/buffer for enfeebles/buffs that currently do not exist or are not very long lasting/potent.
Geo is not meant to be overly powerful, but instead serve as secondary support by enhancing other types of effects/enfeeble options.
Will utilize bells?

And that is the extent of what I know about Geo...I'm sure more info was said but I wasn't all the interested in a mage type so much as new tank type.

Other reasons I don't understand the weapon limitation is that pld is also a tank, but has access to DD oriented weapons/gear that can help it with VE in situations where a pld is needed/wanted. Currently Runic Fencer sounds like the bastard child of a pld and rdm union. One dictates it is a tank by use of Runes to enhance survivability and create enmity (I'm assuming), the other states it will melee while using supplemental means to fill otherwise lack luster melee output. I would hope you plan to at least give it temper if some of the assumptions of the job turn out to be correct.

[Karbuncle]

why wouldn't they just add that to Dynamis/Abyssea as it is?

Sorry for the late reply to this.

But probably for the exact same reasons SCH, DNC, BLU, PUP, COR all have Relic Armor, and no Relic weapons.

Or, If you're asking "Why would they not just add their Relic and Empyrean Armor to Those areas" - They probably will... Just like they did with COR, PUP, BLU, DNC, and SCH!

I'm just guessing at this point, But so far the pattern shows they'll add the armor to be obtained the same way everyone else obtains theirs.

[Kaisha]

If we're not going to have a dedicated transportation boat/airship to Adoulin, I'd at least appreciate an intro cutscene showing us taking a traditional means there, even if it means repurposing the existing airship/boat zone data for the cutscene to take place in.

[saevel]

So ... basically SE wants to create more time sinks. Remember "balance" isn't about jobs being powerful / overpowered, it's about how long it takes you to completely content.

If they allow the new jobs on the older legendary weapons then players who already have those weapons won't need to make another one. If SE creates new "legendary weapons" with different requirements and added time sinks then players who want to play those new jobs will waste more time.

Not to bad for geo as it's going to be in the "mage" category, absolutely devastating for RNF. Without access to the OaT GSWD RNG is going to fall way behind everyone else in damage output. It will be a GS using WAR without a Rag.

[SpankWustler]

Not to bad for geo as it's going to be in the "mage" category, absolutely devastating for RNF.

The Development Bros could always play the "we are less sane than a mouse trapped in a 6x6x6 drawer with nothing to eat but psychotropic mushrooms and nothing to drink but Four Loko" card and not add Geomancer to the affinity line of staves.

I was a happier man before I knew such a card existed. Now I'm just happier than that poor mouse.

[Arcon]

Now I'm just happier than that poor mouse.

I sincerely doubt that. At least the mouse has psychotropic mushrooms. It could be happier than you'll ever be, especially considering it doesn't have to put up with our Development Bros.

[Demon6324236]

By the way, rereading Camate's post I will assume they will not actually be giving the new jobs Relic/Emp gear at all. Rather it will be something very similar for the same levels but gotten diffrently from this single line...

As an additional note, when we release content for these new jobs in Seekers of Adoulin, they will be able to earn the equivalent of Relic equipment, Empyrean equipment, and Mythic weapons. We simply used these terms to make it clearer and we haven't officially decided on what names these types of equipment will take.

If they have not chosen a name for the type of equipment then I would assume it will not be Relic or Emp gear, rather it will be something else that is much the same except its being obtained. Which if that is the case it will make people sad that NMs in Aby will likely be getting no extra +2s.